Fireworks and pets: how to keep dogs and cats calm (2026 UK)

• Halloween: Saturday 31 October. Some people let fireworks off that weekend.
• Bonfire Night: Thursday 5 November. Organised displays are often on nearby weekends, so expect bangs from late October to mid-November.
• Diwali: Sunday 8 November. In England and Wales, fireworks are allowed until 1am that night.
• New Year's Eve: Thursday 31 December, also until 1am.
• Chinese New Year: Saturday 6 February 2027, also until 1am.

In England and Wales, registered sellers can only sell fireworks for private use from 15 October to 10 November, from 26 to 31 December, and in the three days before Diwali and Chinese New Year (at other times only licensed shops can), so those are the busiest times.

Fireworks mustn't be set off between 11pm and 7am, except on Bonfire Night (until midnight) and on New Year's Eve, Diwali and Chinese New Year (until 1am). Setting fireworks off in the street or another public place is against the law too, and GOV.UK says breaking the rules can mean an unlimited fine and up to 6 months in prison, or an on-the-spot fine of £90. Check which local displays are planned, so you know which nights to prepare for.

In Scotland, people can only set off fireworks between 6pm and 11pm, with the same later finishes on Bonfire Night (midnight) and New Year's Eve, Diwali and Chinese New Year (1am), and breaking the rules can mean a fine of up to £5,000, up to 6 months in prison, or both. Councils can also set up firework control zones, where nobody may set fireworks off at all, even in their own garden: Edinburgh, for example, will have 14 from 30 October to 8 November 2026. Check your council's website for zones near you.

In Northern Ireland, you need a fireworks licence from the Department of Justice to buy, keep or use fireworks, apart from indoor fireworks and sparklers.

• Trembling, shaking, panting or drooling.
• Hiding or cowering behind furniture.
• Whining, whimpering, barking or crying.
• Smaller changes in how they normally behave: PDSA says some dogs don't show such obvious signs.

• Check your pet's microchip details are up to date, and that their collar and tag are on. A QR code dog tag or cat tag lets whoever finds them reach you straight away, even if they bolt at the bangs.
• Walk dogs while it's still light and get home well before dark, as PDSA advises. Later on, wait for a gap in the fireworks for a quick toilet trip, on a lead.
• Bring cats in well before dark and lock the cat flap. PDSA suggests moving their dinner a little earlier a few weeks ahead, so they get used to coming home before dark, and putting a litter tray near their den (one per cat, plus a spare).
• Make a cosy den in a quiet room, with blankets over the top and a few favourite toys. Let your pet use it whenever they like, but don't shut them in.
• Check fences and gates (see how to stop your dog escaping), and close windows and curtains.
• If you'd like to try a calming pheromone diffuser, PDSA says to plug it in a few weeks before fireworks season and keep it topped up until the season ends. Calming supplements help some pets more than others.
• If your pet is very frightened, speak to your vet well before the season, as PDSA advises, so there's time to find the right medication. Never give medicine your vet hasn't prescribed, and read the label: Dogs Trust says many need to be given before the fireworks start.

• Close the curtains and turn the lights on to block out the flashes, as Dogs Trust suggests.
• Put on the TV or some music to help muffle the bangs. Dogs Trust's free Sound Blanket, made with the University of Salford, is designed to mask firework noise.
• Let your pet hide if they want to, and don't pull them out of their den.
• Stay calm yourself. If your dog comes to you for reassurance, Dogs Trust says to calmly comfort them: ignoring them won't help.
• Never tell them off for being scared, or for any mess they make while frightened.
• Take care when opening the front door, so nobody slips out.
• Stay with your dog if you can, because Dogs Trust says they could panic if left alone, and never force them outside during fireworks.

Small pets get frightened too. PDSA says to bring them inside if you can, into a cool room, or else into a car-free garage or shed. If the hutch has to stay put, turn it to face the wall or partly cover it with blankets, keeping it well ventilated, and give them extra bedding and hiding places with more than one way out.

More pets go missing around fireworks: Petlog had 81% more dogs reported missing in the two weeks around Bonfire Night and Diwali in 2023 (30 October to 13 November) than in the two weeks before, and in a Royal Kennel Club survey 13% of owners said their dog had tried to run off during fireworks. In 2021, Petlog saw 34% more dogs marked missing in the fortnight of Bonfire Night and Diwali than in the two weeks after. Our UK pet statistics have more figures on pets and fireworks.

Search nearby straight away and tell your neighbours. If your pet wears a PetTag, turn on lost mode, so anyone who scans the tag knows they're missing and you're emailed when it's scanned. Then work through our lost dog or lost cat checklist.

If your pet is very frightened of fireworks, talk to your vet well before the season starts. They can check for other health problems and suggest a plan, such as slowly getting your pet used to the sounds, or refer you to a qualified behaviourist.