It’s not long at all now until Independence Day arrives! While there is certainly much fun to be had on the 4th of July, it can be quite a distressing time for cats and dogs due to fireworks.
If you live in a populated area, it is very likely there will be many fireworks going off throughout the evening. These loud explosions and lights can cause severe anxiety in our family pets.
Therefore, it’s important we do everything we can to help keep our pets calm during the Independence Day celebrations. In this article, we will take you through a quick few ways we can lessen the anxiety caused in our pets by fireworks.
Have a Mini Trip to a Remote Area
If possible, the best thing you can do for your pets is to remove them from the fireworks entirely.
Taking them to a remote area during the evening for them to play and relax far from the loud noises and bright lights of fireworks can help them to completely avoid all the anxiety that comes with the 4th of July.
You may even try camping out that night, turning what could be a fearful evening into a whole night of fun for your cats and dogs.
Create a Den
However, in many cases, the above may not be feasible. In such situations, your best option is to try and make a calm environment in the home to help your pets get through the evening.
A great way you can do this is to create a cozy den. If your pet has a favorite spot in the home, you could build off of this. Otherwise, look for a quiet and comfy area.
Bring in the pet’s favorite toys and some blankets to help make the den as comfortable as possible. Cover any windows to prevent the flash of fireworks scaring your pet further.
It can be a good idea to also leave some white noise on in their den; sounds from the radio or a TV can help lessen the impact of the booming sounds of fireworks.
Comfort Your Pet or Give Them Space?
While you will likely be very worried about your pet during the festivities, it’s important to not be overbearing and give them space if they need it.
For example, you could make a den for them and they may choose to not use it, and would rather pace around the home instead.
You should let them do this; forcing them to go somewhere they don’t want to go is just going to stress them further.
