Firework Anxiety in Dogs and Cats: How to Keep Pets Calm During Fireworks

Fireworks season can be extremely stressful for dogs, cats and other pets. Loud bangs, flashes of light and unpredictable noises can trigger fear, trembling, hiding, pacing, panting and even attempts to escape.

If your dog is scared of fireworks, your cat hides during Bonfire Night, or you already know your pet struggles with loud noises, preparing early can make a significant difference. Environmental changes, safe spaces and calming products such as Anxitane, Protexin SereniCare and Pet Remedy can all form part of a practical fireworks plan.

Why Are Dogs and Cats Scared of Fireworks?

Fireworks combine several things that pets can find frightening: sudden loud noises, vibration, flashes of light and unfamiliar smells.

Unlike many everyday noises, fireworks are unpredictable. Pets cannot understand where the sound is coming from or that it is not a threat.

Signs of Firework Anxiety in Dogs

  • Panting or pacing
  • Trembling or shaking
  • Hiding
  • Clinging to their owner
  • Barking or whining
  • Refusing food
  • Trying to escape
  • Toileting indoors
  • Destructive behaviour
  • Being unable to settle

Signs of Firework Anxiety in Cats

  • Hiding for prolonged periods
  • Becoming withdrawn
  • Reduced appetite
  • Restlessness
  • Attempting to escape
  • Changes in toileting behaviour
  • Becoming unusually clingy
  • Refusing to come out after fireworks

How to Prepare Your Pet for Bonfire Night

If your pet has previously struggled with fireworks, do not wait until the first bang goes off. Preparing several weeks beforehand gives you time to create a routine and introduce calming support gradually.

Create a Safe Space

Give your pet somewhere quiet and secure where they can retreat. Dogs may prefer a covered crate, quiet room or familiar bed, while cats often prefer enclosed or elevated hiding places.

Let your pet choose whether to use the area. Avoid forcing them into a hiding place.

Reduce Noise and Flashes

  • Close windows and external doors.
  • Close curtains and blinds before dark.
  • Use television, radio or music to mask outside noise.
  • Exercise dogs earlier in the day.
  • Keep dogs on a lead outside during fireworks season.
  • Bring cats indoors before dark where possible.
  • Check that your pet's microchip details are up to date.

Calming Products for Dogs and Cats During Fireworks

Calming supplements and environmental calming products can be useful alongside behavioural and environmental measures, particularly for pets with mild to moderate anxiety.

Where possible, introduce calming support before fireworks season rather than waiting until Bonfire Night itself.

Anxitane for Dogs & Cats

Anxitane is a calming supplement for dogs and cats containing L-theanine, an amino acid naturally found in green tea.

It is designed to support relaxation and normal emotional balance without causing drowsiness and may be useful during predictable stressful situations such as:

  • Fireworks and Bonfire Night
  • Thunderstorms and loud noises
  • Travel
  • Veterinary visits
  • Changes in routine
  • Moving home

For anticipated stressful events, Anxitane is generally best introduced in advance rather than waiting until the event itself.

View Anxitane

Protexin SereniCare for Dogs & Cats

Protexin Veterinary SereniCare is a calming supplement formulated for dogs and cats.

It combines ingredients intended to support normal emotional balance and the gut-brain axis, including:

Alpha-casozepine – a bioactive peptide derived from milk protein.

L-tryptophan – an essential amino acid involved in serotonin production.

Prebiotics and postbiotics – included to support the gut microbiome and normal gut-brain communication.

SereniCare may be particularly useful during fireworks, thunderstorms, travel, separation-related stress or changes in the home environment.

View SereniCare

Pet Remedy Calming Products

For owners looking for environmental calming support rather than an oral supplement, Pet Remedy offers sprays, plug-in diffusers and other calming products.

Pet Remedy products use a blend containing valerian, vetiver, basil and clary sage and are designed to provide environmental calming support without sedation.

Popular options include:

  • Pet Remedy Plug-in Diffuser
  • Pet Remedy Calming Spray
  • Pet Remedy Mini Calming Spray
  • Pet Remedy calming wipes
  • Pet Remedy calming kits

The plug-in diffuser can be used in the room where your pet spends most of their time, while sprays can be used for bedding, travel or other stressful situations.

Shop Pet Remedy

Which Calming Product Is Best for Fireworks?

There is no single calming product that will suit every pet. The right option depends on the individual animal, the severity of their anxiety and whether you prefer an oral supplement, environmental product or combination approach.

Product Type Suitable For Useful For
Anxitane Oral supplement Dogs & cats Predictable stressful events and ongoing calming support
SereniCare Oral supplement Dogs & cats Noise sensitivity, environmental stress and routine changes
Pet Remedy Environmental calming support Multiple species Home environments, bedding, travel and safe spaces

Don't Wait Until Bonfire Night

If your dog or cat has a history of firework anxiety, start preparing before the fireworks begin.

Introducing safe spaces, environmental calming support and appropriate supplements in advance gives your pet time to become familiar with the routine before the busiest fireworks nights.

Browse Fireworks & Calming Products

What Should I Do on Fireworks Night?

Before Dark

  • Exercise dogs earlier in the day.
  • Bring cats indoors.
  • Close windows and curtains.
  • Prepare your pet's safe space.

During Fireworks

  • Use TV, music or radio as background noise.
  • Allow your pet to hide if they choose.
  • Comfort them if they seek reassurance.
  • Offer food or enrichment if they are interested.

Avoid

  • Forcing pets out of hiding.
  • Punishing frightened behaviour.
  • Leaving frightened pets outside.
  • Giving human medication.

What If My Dog Is Extremely Scared of Fireworks?

Calming supplements and environmental products are not substitutes for veterinary treatment in animals with severe noise phobias.

Speak to your veterinary surgeon if your pet:

  • Panics during fireworks
  • Attempts to escape
  • Injures themselves
  • Cannot settle at all
  • Stops eating for a prolonged period
  • Shows severe or worsening distress

Prescription medication or a structured behavioural programme may be appropriate for some animals. Never give human sedatives or prescription medicines unless they have specifically been prescribed for that animal by a veterinary surgeon.

Prepare Early for Fireworks Season

If your dog or cat is scared of fireworks, preparing early can help make Bonfire Night, New Year's Eve and other noisy events easier to manage.

Vetalia stocks a range of calming products for dogs and cats, including Anxitane, Protexin SereniCare and Pet Remedy calming products.

Browse Calming Products

Please note: This information is provided for general guidance only and is not a substitute for individual veterinary advice. If your pet is experiencing severe anxiety, sudden behavioural change or significant distress, contact your veterinary surgeon.