Signs of a cat scared of fireworks may include hiding, excessive grooming, or acting like they are terrified of fireworks and hiding for long periods. Generally, most pets will struggle with fireworks. Animals have acute senses. For them, every flash and bang can be unexpected and alarming. If pets show any of these signs, they might need help coping.

• Cowering or hiding
• Trying to run away or escape
• Housebreaking accidents
• Restlessness, e.g. over grooming for cats
• Excessive vocalization

The terms “fear,” “anxiety” and “phobia” are often used interchangeably. However, veterinarians may view these as three separate diagnoses. ¹

• Fear is a response to a real or perceived threat. This can be a normal response. Fears are considered adaptive, since avoiding or defending dangerous situations helps animals survive.

• Anxiety is a more generalized feeling of apprehension or anticipation of danger from unknown or imagined origins. Anxiety may occur after a fear-inducing event or as a result of unrelated environmental changes that are unpredictable.

• A phobia is a sudden, persistent, and excessive fear of a specific stimulus. For example, a noise phobia is a persistent fear of one or more noises. In these cases, cats may show anticipatory fear even before the noise occurs.

Only your veterinarian or veterinary behaviorist can diagnose your cat with anxiety or a phobia.

If you're wondering how to calm your cat during fireworks or manage cat stress during July 4, early preparation is key. Preparation and planning can go a long way towards preparing your cat for fireworks season. We recommend starting a few weeks before with these four steps.

1. Talk to an expert: It’s a good idea to discuss with your veterinarian any changes you can make in the short term to help your cat cope with fireworks.

2. Make sure cats have adequate resources: Make sure your cat has appropriate sleeping areas, scratching posts, and toys that mimic natural hunting behaviors.

3. Give them Zylkene®
A supplement like Zylkene can help cats cope during fireworks displays. Zylkene works as a cat calming supplement for fireworks, offering a gentle alternative to cat calming treats for fireworks and other stress aids. Start Zylkene at least one week before the event is expected and continue throughout the fireworks season. Zylkene is:

✓ Backed by real-world evidence to help relieve stress without drowsy side effects ²,³
✓ Vet recommended to help cats cope with challenging situations like fireworks, new people, thunderstorms, and more!
✓ Contains alpha-casozepine, a naturally occurring milk protein found in cow’s milk
✓ Made with a lactose- and preservative-free formula

Plus, Zylkene can be used with other supportive calming aids like ThunderShirts, calming vests, or other aids that work for your pet.

4. Update their identification: Cats might try to run away if fireworks go off near them. Just in case, make sure the data linked to their microchips and the information on their tags is up to date so they will be reunited with you more quickly.

Looking for how to calm your cat during fireworks? These tips provide practical cat stress fireworks help. Here are a few tips to support a calm celebration for your pet.

• Make sure all windows, doors, and cat flaps are securely closed.
• Always keep cats inside the house when fireworks are being set off. Do not take your cat to a fireworks display!
• Pull the curtains and switch on the TV or play calming music to dull the noise from the fireworks.
• Try not to leave your pets by themselves while fireworks are going off.
• Don’t force your cat to come to you, especially if they are in their hiding place.

• Don’t react to the fireworks yourself. Cats can pick up on their owner’s anxiety.
• Play with a toy and see if your pet wants to join in, but don’t force them.
• Ignore unusual behavior, such as panting, shaking, or whining unless your cat comes to you first for reassurance.
• Remain calm and confident. Pets often pick up on their owner’s concern.
• Provide distractions, for example new toys or treats.
• DO NOT punish or get angry with your cat! This will only make them more uneasy.

If left unmanaged, these behaviors may get worse over time, resulting in increasingly undesirable behavior. It can also have the effect of worsening their response to other unexpected loud noises such as door slamming or thunder.

Consult with your veterinarian, or a veterinary behaviorist, to work on a behavior modification treatment plan. Calming supplements like Zylkene Plus can provide a sustained calming effect that is ideal for longer stressful periods of time or recurring situations.

In some cases, veterinarians may recommend behavioral plans or cat anxiety medication for fireworks, alongside supplements that provide relief to cats showing anxious behavior during fireworks season.

Vetoquinol Zylkene Calming Supplement, 75 mg for Small Dogs and Cats, up to 22 lbs

ACTIVE INGREDIENTS PER CAPSULE (0.255 G):
Hydrolyzed Milk Protein (Bovine): 75 mg Providing Alpha-Casozepine

INACTIVE INGREDIENTS:
Maltodextrin, Hypromellose, Magnesium Stearate, Water, Calcium Carbonate, Food Starch-Modified, FD&C Blue #1

Vetoquinol Zylkene Calming Supplement, 225 mg for Medium Dogs and Large Cats, 23-65 lbs

ACTIVE INGREDIENTS PER CAPSULE (0.250 G):
Hydrolyzed Milk Protein (Bovine): 225 mg providing Alpha-Casozepine

INACTIVE INGREDIENTS:
FD&C blue #1 (capsule), Hypromellose (capsule), Magnesium stearate, Maltodextrin, Titanium dioxide (capsule).

Vetoquinol Zylkene Calming Supplement, 450 mg for Large Dogs, 33-132 lbs

ACTIVE INGREDIENTS PER CAPSULE (0.470 G):
Hydrolyzed Milk Protein (Bovine): 450 mg Providing Alpha-Casozepine

INACTIVE INGREDIENTS:
Hypromellose, Magnesium Stearate, Water, FD&C Blue #1, FD&C Red #40

Vetoquinol Zylkene Plus Long-Term Calming Supplement, 225 mg for Cats and Dogs 22-65 lbs.

ACTIVE INGREDIENTS PER CAPSULE (0.748 g):
Hydrolyzed Milk Protein (Bovine): 225 mg Providing Alpha-Casozepine White Fish Muscle Hydrolysate: 90 mg

INACTIVE INGREDIENTS:
Carrageenan, FD&C Blue 1, Hypromellose, Magnesium stearate, Maltodextrin, Potassium chloride, Water, Yellow Iron Oxide.

Vetoquinol Zylkene Plus Long-Term Calming Supplement, 450 mg for Large Dogs 33-132 lbs.

ACTIVE INGREDIENTS PER CAPSULE (0.250 G):
Hydrolyzed Milk Protein (Bovine): 450 mg Providing Alpha-Casozepine

INACTIVE INGREDIENTS:
FD&C blue #1 (capsule), Hypromellose (capsule), Magnesium stearate, Maltodextrin, Titanium dioxide (capsule).