Sixty-six percent. That's the share of pet owners who told the RSPCA that firework displays were a major concern for their animals after the last bonfire season. Two in three of us are bracing for late October and early November before a single rocket has gone off.
It's not an overreaction. Fireworks can produce sound between 120 and 175 decibels, and dogs and cats hear with a far greater range and sensitivity than we do. Add sudden flashes of light and the smell of smoke drifting over the garden fence, and it's easy to see why so many pets try to bolt.
The good news is that most of bonfire night's risks are manageable with a bit of planning. Here's what actually helps, from building a proper safe space to the one thing most owners forget until it's too late.
Build a Safe Space Before the First Rocket Goes Up
Don't wait for the first bang to set one up. Give your dog or cat a quiet, interior room away from windows, kitted out with their favourite blanket, a couple of toys, and something that smells reassuringly of home. Close the curtains, and if your dog is crate trained, draping a blanket over the top helps dull the flashes of light as well as the noise.
Cats will usually pick their own hiding spot, a wardrobe, under the bed, behind the sofa, so make sure whichever one they choose stays accessible and undisturbed. Set all of this up days in advance rather than on the night itself, so it already feels familiar by the time the first firework goes off.
Time Your Walks Around the Season, Not Around the Sky
Shift your dog's main walk to daylight hours through firework season, ideally a good hour before dusk. Displays can start well before the 5th of November and carry on for weeks around Diwali, New Year and local events, so this is worth keeping up longer than just one night.
Keep cats indoors from late afternoon onwards where you can, and double check that cat flaps and windows are properly secured. A startled cat can clear a fence or squeeze through a gap it would never normally attempt.
Mask the Noise, Don't Fight It
Once the bangs start, close the windows and curtains, and put the television or a calm playlist on to blur the sharpest sounds. Try to carry on as normal yourself: pets read our body language more than our words, so a relaxed household helps more than a worried one.
Let your dog or cat pace, hide, or come to you in their own time. Forcing cuddles on a frightened animal rarely helps, even when it comes from the best intentions, and can sometimes make the anxiety worse.
The One Thing Most Owners Forget: Secure ID
Microchipping is a legal requirement for dogs and cats over 20 weeks old in the UK, but a chip only helps once a pet has already been found. On the night itself, what matters just as much is a collar that's properly fastened and easy to check at a glance, ideally with a way to find them the moment they're missed rather than hours later.
This is exactly why we made our AirTag Holders: a secure way to add real-time location tracking to a collar or harness your dog or cat already wears, so if the worst happens, you're not relying on luck to bring them home quickly. Pair it with a snug, well-fitted collar (or cat collar with a safety release) and you've covered both bases: found fast, and safe while you look.
If Fear Runs Deep, Start Working on It Early
For pets whose firework fear is more than a wobbly hour on the sofa, a bit of groundwork in the weeks beforehand makes a real difference. Playing recordings of fireworks at a very low volume, gradually building it up over several sessions, can help some dogs and cats become less reactive over time. Plug in pheromone diffusers are worth asking your vet about too, ideally started a few weeks before the season rather than on the night.
Your Calmest Bonfire Night Starts Now
Firework season catches a lot of us out simply because we leave the prep until the day itself. Set the safe space up this week, shift the walk times now, and check that collar fit before the first display lights up the sky.
If your dog or cat's fear is severe, or doesn't ease once the season passes, it's always worth a chat with your vet, who can point you towards the right calming support for your individual pet.
Sources: RSPCA fireworks advice, RSPCA fireworks advice for pets
