BEFORE you grab a sparkler and join in the fun of fireworks season, spare a thought for your feline friends’, is the message from the UK’s leading feline welfare charity, Cats Protection.
Despite the fact that the Fireworks Act came into force in August 2004, Cats Protection’s staff and volunteers still see too many incidences of needlessly injured cats, suggesting that the new laws have yet to make a significant difference to the welfare of cats during the fireworks season.
It is clear there is still a long way to go before government legislation can protect cats from all the dangers of fireworks so Cats Protection advises cat owners to take the following precautions during fireworks season:
* Keep your cat in after dark and provide him or her with a litter tray if he/she is used to having garden access
*Try to reduce outside noise by keeping windows shut and curtains drawn. Playing soothing music or having the TV on may also help
* In order to feel secure, cats need to be settled in cosy, familiar territory such as a comfy bed or favourite chair
* Cats that are known to be skittish, sensitive or new to a home, will be particularly vulnerable to firework noise and could panic and run away. Make sure doors and windows are securely fastened.
Other general precautions to ensure animal safety include:
*Buying hand-held cascading fireworks rather than the noise-making varieties
*Keeping fireworks and bonfires as far away from homes as possible, to minimise any adverse effects on animals indoors. This does not meat that wild animals will not be affected
*Check bonfires before lighting them to ensure that no small animals are sleeping inside
“Apart from the obvious physical damage by accidental or malicious contact with them, cats can be severely affected by fireworks noise and lights”, explained Beth Skillings, Head of Veterinary Services at Cats Protection. “Carrying out a few sensible precautions can help to lessen the trauma”.
Cats Protection’s national telephone Helpline (Tel. 08702 099 099) can provide general advice concerning keeping felines safe and happy during the fireworks season.
