Well last night the fireworks started. Obviously they're going to be particularly bad over the weekend, but they have started already and the cats are NOT HAPPY!

Monty was fast asleep snoozing on my tummy last night as I was watching the telly. He was purring loudly and seemed in a deep sleep. Then a firework went off, I felt his entire body tense up and his eyes shot open as he looked around to find where the noise had come from. He went into completely frantic panic mode and Dinah shot under the table to hide.

With them being born in March this year they haven't heard fireworks before so I'm wondering how best to deal with them this week and at the weekend! I expect we'll get a few more tonight, then loads tomorrow and Saturday, probably Sunday too and possibly during next week. It's usually quite bad in our street, sometimes with kids setting them off in the road right outside our house - last year a firework almost hit our car parked outside. We live almost "on the street" too with just a small patch of land outside the front door so everything feels very close.

What are your tips for keeping them calm? Maybe playing music, keeping the TV on, lots of cuddles, extra treats, etc.? I'm not sure... never had cats before.

__________________
Bonnie and the gang xxx

I would get a feliway plugin to start with. Load music, tv etc distracts them and I would keep the curtain closed in the evenings. If they look scared give them treats as this can carm them down. You are so lucky fireworks started 2 weeks ago where I live.

__________________

Black with white around his private area



Black Tortoiseshell




R.I.P Patch my well behaved boy dog
R.I.P. Abby and Rebel my beautifull litter sister cats

If you have rooms that are more to the 'inside' of the house, I would suggest trying to keep them in there where the other walls & door will help to dull the sound. Have Rescue Remedy to hand if they get really spooked. As Etienne said, try making the TV a bit louder than usual to block out the firework noise (although you might want to warn your neighbours in case they think you have suddenly been struck with deafness!!! )

To date, I have been lucky with mine - Oscar is laid-back to the point of being horizontal so he doesn't bother at all with them. Merson used to like watching them when he was younger but doesn't bother any more. I don't know about the Youffs though as this will be our first one together. However, we are going to be out on Sat night so they will be restricted to the inner rooms anyway and so, hopefully, will not be too fazed by them.

Good luck with your babies hun and, fingers crossed, they won't be too upset.

__________________
.

Mine freaked out the first time they heard them and bolted under the bed. Now they either pay them no attention after the first few, or if they can see them they stare at them!

We used a feliway plugin, turning the TV on and when they started to spook, to gently tell them they were being silly. I used to get very stressed about it and when I relaxed they seemed to to follow suit. I still stay home with them on bonfire night though

I'm afraid I don't know what I'm going to do either! Behind our back garden there is an estate and they like to have loud parties and have been shooting off fireworks. Benji wonders what it is and goes shooting to the window and doesn't seem to scared, just interested, but I'm worried about my Stormysausage as he is a little bit nervous

Nothing ever phased Sooty, he was what we call "bombproof", he could never really care less about loud noises, big cats, dogs, anything really

__________________
Mummy to;

Sooty 9.6.1996 - 28.04.2011 Rest in peace my love!
Storm (Sueragdandy Phantom) 28.02.2010
Benji (Kassaro Benjamin Franklyn) 08.03.2011

Its our two's first with us so not sure what they are like either, they have heard a few going off and have looked around and Lilly has done her impersonation of a spatchcock chicken in trying to hide under the sideboard but shes getting too big she dont stay under there for too long.

Have pre-warned OH that i will not be out this weekend, so for me and cats and possibly OH if he stays in, a takeaway, dvd on tv, heating on and thick curtains drawn with loads of fusses and re-aasurances

__________________






One day i'll learn where the spellcheck is on my phone, so sorry for any mistakes

We are quite lucky, as when the Furbies heard fireworks last week (for Diwali I think) they pricked their ears up, but that was the extent of their movement.

They are either very chilled or just incredibly lazy....

__________________

We had some last week too for the same reason. Abby & McGee just gave us some big wide eyes as if to say "What the F...?" and then went right back to sleep again.

I wasn't that keen on being out on Sat night but OH really wants to go to a display as we haven't done one for about 4 yrs.

__________________
.

I would love to go to a display but there are no organised displays in North London, except towards either Enfield or Southgate - neither one is close to us.

Over the past few years they have cancelled Finsbury Park, Primrose Hill, and then from last year the fab one at Ally Pally too.

I do wonder why I pay so much extra Council Tax for the "privilege" of living in London when we get no fun stuff in return.

__________________

In all honesty hun - moving out was the best thing I ever did!!!!

The experience of being there was great and I have much to thank London for but hanging around until I popped me clogs was never going to work.

It sounds like you will soon be on your way too so just hang on in there a wee bitty longer.


Sorry Bonnie - hi-jacked your post a touch there.... You can have it back now.

__________________
.