As bonfire night approaches, it is important to remember that not all of the family are fans of fireworks, most notably our furry friends.
Joanne McClay, 52, from Barnsley, who owns a 10 year old cat named Ziggy, says she finds this time of year particularly difficult.
Ms McClay said: “Halloween has only just passed and as a black cat owner I worry enough about her safety on the streets due to the superstitions people have around black cats.
“Now we have bonfire night, and Ziggy gets very stressed when we keep her inside, however letting her out would be even worse. In previous years she has run away on bonfire night, and has not returned for a night or two, which was so worrying.
“It’s sad to see how visibly upset she gets by the fireworks. She often refuses to eat and takes herself away to my son’s bedroom for hours on end.”
This comes as statistics from the RSPCA show that 62% of dogs and 54% of cats show signs of distress when they hear fireworks.
Friends of Ferals is an organisation of volunteers who focus on taking in stray cats in Sheffield, as well as paying for them to be seen by vets, neutered, and hopefully rehomed.
Anna Goss, who volunteers with the charity, said: “Keeping your cats inside is definitely ideal on bonfire night, with plenty of litter trays and treats. You can buy calming supplements for the air to help your distressed pets, which would also be beneficial.
“It’s important as a pet owner to remain calm yourself as fireworks are going off. Cats really do pick up on the emotions of humans, so if the owners are upset about fireworks and jumps every time one goes off, their pets will also be more distressed.
“I’ve got three cats myself, and one is particularly sensitive to fireworks. I wish there were more companies who sold silent fireworks, so people could have all the joy of seeing lovely pretty lights in the sky, without the horrible bangs which absolutely terrify some cats.”
The Millers Inn pub in Barnsley are also encouraging local residents to bring in their dogs tomorrow evening, to ensure they are not distressed by fireworks.
In a social media post on the pub’s facebook page, they said: “It’s coming up to the worst time of year for our four legged friends, so on Saturday we are doing our best to provide a safe environment for your favourite pets.”
There will be dog treats available as well as live music from 7pm onwards, to drown out the noise of fireworks.
___________________________________________________________________________________________
Friends of Ferals are entirely dependent on donations. Their Facebook page can be found here.