How to help your cat de-stress during thunderstorms, fireworks

This new season of increasingly loud thunderstorms may send your feline hiding under the sofa or bed. Anticipating this reaction to thunderstorms and loud noises can go a long way in helping your feline cope.

Your feline needs to feel safe and cozy. You can do this by confining it to smaller quarters; a spare room, den, sewing room etc. Next, provide a welcome environment if your feline wants to hide. Multilevel cat trees or furniture helps here. Every time it storms, my felines automatically run into the spare room with all the cat furniture. I place warm fuzzy beds at each level of furniture. They also feel safe in cubes, or cubby hole type beds. Error on more than you need so that your feline can pick its favorite spot during this stressful time. Boxes and bags with towels inside are good places for your feline to hide. When times are stressful, too much space can be overwhelming.

If you know what time a storm may hit, and you are home, try adding some Rescue Remedy to the water bowl in the room where they will be confined. This liquid calming agent can be purchased at most health food stores. A couple of drops in the water is safe for them, but you should discuss this agent with your veterinarian before you try it.

Also, do not forget to provide a litter box in the safe haven. During times of stress, accidents can happen.

I also consider any celebration with fireworks a reason for seclusion to the safe haven. Fireworks can be much louder than thunderstorms and they continue for a longer duration.

Whenever I know there will be firework displays, I start the roundup to the spare room well before the event begins. The roundup is so much more relaxing for them and for you that way. Once all the commotion begins, they will be thrilled they are in the safety of their spare room. If the fireworks are local, they will be loud, and with any local event, there will be activity in your neighborhood with illegal fire crackers. People who do not have animals seem to be unable to resist the temptation.

My next bit of advice for these explosive holidays, is to go out during the day and stay home with your animals in the evening when all the racket hits.

I also have friends who believe boarding their animal is the solution to the problem. Boarding is a solution only if you are going out of town and there is no one to care for your animal. The animal hospital is not sound proof. What you have now done by boarding your animal, you have exposed your pet to a group of nervous animals, hence more anxiety.

Last, did you know anxiety vests are now available in feline sizes at pet stores? Yes, they are made specifically for felines, which is a sigh of relief for feline owners who have tried to fit their felines in small, dog sweaters. The hugging action of the vest may help them feel safer in times of stress. I would try anything that was safe for my felines to eliminate their anxiety.

Products are constantly evolving to meet the demands of caring pet owners. Research is underway now on soundproofing carriers. We need to be on our toes and grow with the new technology that makes life better for our pampered felines.

• The Buddy Foundation, 65 W. Seegers Road, Arlington Heights, is an all-volunteer, nonprofit organization with all funds directly assisting its animals. Its mission is to provide immediate safety and care to stray and abandoned animals. Call (847) 290-5806 or visit www.thebuddyfoundation.org.