Fireworks are a great way for us to celebrate, especially through the autumn and winter. With the return of the cold weather and the dark night’s drawing in, the British evenings become perfect conditions for firework use, to celebrate the likes of Halloween, New Year’s Eve and of course, Bonfire Night. However, for many pet owners, fireworks are not seen as a positive thing. A lot of dogs are easily frightened and startled by unpredictable and inconsistent loud noises, such as the noises of fireworks. In this article we discuss ways in which you can help your four-legged friend through the anxious autumn evenings containing fireworks.
Why are dogs scared of fireworks?
Many pets and other animals, including dogs, are frightened by fireworks – in fact, it is estimated that around 1 in 2 dogs show signs of fearing them. One of the main reasons they find fireworks scary include loud explosive noises and bright flashes. To a dog, occasions such as Bonfire Night are just a normal day, so when fireworks begin it is likely to scare your dog due to the unfamiliarity of them. Your pup may also look to try and escape or hide from them, which is natural. Fireworks may make your dog feel trapped, so they will look to run away from them or find a safe space where they can feel safer.
How loud are fireworks to dogs?
Dogs’ senses are not the same as humans. Though they have a worse sense of sight than us, their sense of smell and sound are much more acute than that of our own. They can easily escape the bright flashes, especially if curtains/blinds are closed. However, the sound of fireworks is difficult to escape for humans, let alone dogs. To put it into context, the average dog has 4 times better hearing than the average human, which explains their reasoning for being so scared of loud noises such as fireworks.
How to tell if your dog fears fireworks
There are a variety of signs to look out for in your dog when fireworks are going off. The severity of these signs can depend upon how frightened your pup is, the signs can include: Mild signs – shaking, pacing up and down, heavy breathing or panting. Moderate signs – bark more than usual, trembling, hiding, drooling. Severe signs – destruction of toys or other in-home items, soiling unexpectedly.
What to do when a dog is scared of fireworks
If you do see any of the signs listed above in your dog when there are fireworks going off, it is likely that your dog feels frightened or scared because of them. There are a range of things you can do to try and help reduce the levels of anxiety and stress of your dog when fireworks are going off, which include:
Closing windows and blinds in your home.
Create a safe and comfortable hiding place.
Drown out the blasts with background noise from a radio or TV.
Walk them in the daytime prior to fireworks going off (if you must walk them in the evening, we advise on-lead only when fireworks are going off.
How to relax a dog during fireworks
It is important to act normally and in a calm way with them as dogs are sensitive to changes in your mood, so if you start acting strangely, they will think something is wrong. We also recommend creating a safe, comfortable, and compact space for them that they can hide away in, this will ease their stress levels. The best way of doing this is with a Lords & Labradors Crate Set – the perfect cosy den for your pup to retreat to for a snooze or to escape moments of fear and anxiety.
How to calm an anxious dog during fireworks
Keeping any dog calm during fireworks can, at times, be a struggle for many pet owners. The loud blasts that cause your pet higher levels of anxiety than usual can be a troubling time, especially on Bonfire Night. However, if you find that you have an anxious dog, or your dog seems stressed during fireworks then it may be worth purchasing anti-anxiety products to reduce their stress levels. At Lords & Labradors we understand that your dog may have moments of anxiety and stress, this is why we offer a range of calming and anti-anxiety products to aid them through stressful times, such as Bonfire Night and Halloween.
Can dogs be trained to ignore fireworks?
Training your dog to ignore fireworks or just to get used to them is like training a dog anything else. If you have a puppy, then it will be easier and take a shorter amount of time to get them used to fireworks. However, if your dog has an underlying and deeper fear of them, then this will be much more difficult.
How to get a dog used to fireworks
The best thing to do is to get them used to loud noises gradually. Start by turning up the TV/radio to high volumes to acclimatise them to loud noises, this may work best with action films with gunshots that make similar explosive sounds to fireworks, or find recordings or videos of firework sounds online. Whilst playing these loud sounds for your dog, reward them for being calm with treats and ensure they have a hiding place where they can feel safe. Build this technique up with real fireworks whilst rewarding your dog. We would also advise staying close to them for as often as possible to support them through their fears.
Fireworks are a great way for us to celebrate, especially through the autumn and winter. With the return of the cold weather and the dark night’s drawing in, the British evenings become perfect conditions for firework use, to celebrate the likes of Halloween, New Year’s Eve and of course, Bonfire Night. However, for many pet owners, fireworks are not seen as a positive thing. A lot of dogs are easily frightened and startled by unpredictable and inconsistent loud noises, such as the noises of fireworks. In this article we discuss ways in which you can help your four-legged friend through the anxious autumn evenings containing fireworks.
Why are dogs scared of fireworks?
Many pets and other animals, including dogs, are frightened by fireworks – in fact, it is estimated that around 1 in 2 dogs show signs of fearing them. One of the main reasons they find fireworks scary include loud explosive noises and bright flashes. To a dog, occasions such as Bonfire Night are just a normal day, so when fireworks begin it is likely to scare your dog due to the unfamiliarity of them. Your pup may also look to try and escape or hide from them, which is natural. Fireworks may make your dog feel trapped, so they will look to run away from them or find a safe space where they can feel safer.
How loud are fireworks to dogs?
Dogs’ senses are not the same as humans. Though they have a worse sense of sight than us, their sense of smell and sound are much more acute than that of our own. They can easily escape the bright flashes, especially if curtains/blinds are closed. However, the sound of fireworks is difficult to escape for humans, let alone dogs. To put it into context, the average dog has 4 times better hearing than the average human, which explains their reasoning for being so scared of loud noises such as fireworks.
How to tell if your dog fears fireworks
There are a variety of signs to look out for in your dog when fireworks are going off. The severity of these signs can depend upon how frightened your pup is, the signs can include: Mild signs – shaking, pacing up and down, heavy breathing or panting. Moderate signs – bark more than usual, trembling, hiding, drooling. Severe signs – destruction of toys or other in-home items, soiling unexpectedly.
What to do when a dog is scared of fireworks
If you do see any of the signs listed above in your dog when there are fireworks going off, it is likely that your dog feels frightened or scared because of them. There are a range of things you can do to try and help reduce the levels of anxiety and stress of your dog when fireworks are going off, which include:
Closing windows and blinds in your home.
Create a safe and comfortable hiding place.
Drown out the blasts with background noise from a radio or TV.
Walk them in the daytime prior to fireworks going off (if you must walk them in the evening, we advise on-lead only when fireworks are going off.
How to relax a dog during fireworks
It is important to act normally and in a calm way with them as dogs are sensitive to changes in your mood, so if you start acting strangely, they will think something is wrong. We also recommend creating a safe, comfortable, and compact space for them that they can hide away in, this will ease their stress levels. The best way of doing this is with a Lords & Labradors Crate Set – the perfect cosy den for your pup to retreat to for a snooze or to escape moments of fear and anxiety.
How to calm an anxious dog during fireworks
Keeping any dog calm during fireworks can, at times, be a struggle for many pet owners. The loud blasts that cause your pet higher levels of anxiety than usual can be a troubling time, especially on Bonfire Night. However, if you find that you have an anxious dog, or your dog seems stressed during fireworks then it may be worth purchasing anti-anxiety products to reduce their stress levels. At Lords & Labradors we understand that your dog may have moments of anxiety and stress, this is why we offer a range of calming and anti-anxiety products to aid them through stressful times, such as Bonfire Night and Halloween.
Can dogs be trained to ignore fireworks?
Training your dog to ignore fireworks or just to get used to them is like training a dog anything else. If you have a puppy, then it will be easier and take a shorter amount of time to get them used to fireworks. However, if your dog has an underlying and deeper fear of them, then this will be much more difficult.
How to get a dog used to fireworks
The best thing to do is to get them used to loud noises gradually. Start by turning up the TV/radio to high volumes to acclimatise them to loud noises, this may work best with action films with gunshots that make similar explosive sounds to fireworks, or find recordings or videos of firework sounds online. Whilst playing these loud sounds for your dog, reward them for being calm with treats and ensure they have a hiding place where they can feel safe. Build this technique up with real fireworks whilst rewarding your dog. We would also advise staying close to them for as often as possible to support them through their fears.
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Summer can feel relentless when you’re trying to keep a cat comfortable and you don’t have air conditioning to fall back on. This guide covers everything from cooling your home and encouraging your cat to drink more, to the comfort items worth trying and the signs that tell you your cat needs a little extra help. Learning how to keep cats cool in summer without AC turns out to be more straightforward than most people expect, and a few small changes can make a genuine difference to how your cat feels through the warmest months.
Why summer heat hits cats harder than you might think
Cats are remarkably good at finding a cool corner to curl up in, but when temperatures climb and your home starts to hold onto that heat, even the most laid-back cat can begin to struggle.
Unlike dogs, cats rarely pant to cool themselves down, and they can’t sweat the way we do. Their main tools are grooming and seeking out cooler surfaces — which works well enough on a mild day, but can fall short fast during a proper heatwave, especially in a flat or a south-facing home without air conditioning.
It’s also worth knowing that some cats feel the heat more than others. Flat-faced breeds like Persians and British Shorthairs have a harder time breathing in warm air at the best of times, so hot days can be genuinely uncomfortable for them. Older cats, overweight cats, and young kittens are more vulnerable too. If your cat falls into any of those categories, paying closer attention through the summer months isn’t being overprotective — it’s just sensible cat parenting.
The reassuring part? Keeping cats cool in summer without AC is far more manageable than it might seem. You don’t need specialist equipment or a complicated routine. A few thoughtful tweaks, a shaded spot they’ll actually use, and a bit of awareness around the hottest parts of the day can make a surprising difference to how your cat feels and behaves.
If you’d like a broader look at warm-weather care, our essential summer tips for pet owners pairs well with this guide.
Easy ways to keep your home cooler for your cat
You don’t need a specialist setup or expensive equipment to make a real difference to how your cat feels on a hot day. Small, consistent changes to your home environment can reduce heat build-up significantly — and help your cat stay comfortable through even the warmest spells.
Open windows safely with a screen or security latch. Fresh airflow matters, but cats will treat any gap as an open invitation. A fitted window screen or a latch that limits how far a window opens lets the breeze in while keeping your cat safely inside.
Position fans to create cross-ventilation. Place a fan at one end of a room and open a window at the other. Moving air feels cooler than still air even at the same temperature, and cats will usually find a comfortable spot in the flow on their own.
Close blinds on south-facing windows during the afternoon. Sunlight through glass heats a room faster than you’d expect. Drawing the blinds between midday and 4pm can keep things noticeably cooler with almost no effort.
Find the coolest room and make it accessible. Rooms with tiled floors, north-facing windows, or less direct sun stay cooler for longer. Leave the door open so your cat can move there whenever they need to.
Lay a cool, damp towel on a tile floor. It sounds almost too simple, but many cats will happily stretch out on a slightly damp surface without any coaxing at all.
Skip the oven during peak heat hours. Cooking generates a surprising amount of warmth. Cold meals or stovetop options keep your kitchen much more comfortable for everyone.
Once these steps become part of your morning routine, they stop feeling like effort. Keeping cats cool in summer without AC is really about working with your home rather than against it. If your cat lives indoors full-time, environment management matters even more — our indoor cat care guide has plenty more ideas to help them thrive at home throughout the year.
How to help your cat stay hydrated when it’s hot
Water plays a bigger role in keeping cats comfortable through summer than most people realise. Cats are naturally low-thirst drinkers, which means mild dehydration can creep in before any obvious signs appear. If you want to know what to look out for, our guide to cat dehydration symptoms is a handy read before the warmer months arrive.
The good news is that encouraging more drinking doesn’t have to be complicated. A few small changes around the house can make a real difference:
Spread water bowls around the home. One in the kitchen, one near a favourite napping spot, one by a sunny windowsill. The easier it is to find water, the more likely your cat is to actually drink it.
Keep water and food bowls separate. Cats instinctively prefer their water source away from where they eat. Moving them apart is a simple change that often prompts more drinking.
Top up bowls with fresh, cool water regularly. Cats notice stale water and will often walk straight past it. A quick refresh a couple of times a day goes a long way.
Try a cat water fountain. For fussy drinkers, moving water is often far more appealing. It stays cooler, stays oxygenated, and many cats who ignore a static bowl will drink happily from a fountain.
Switch to wet food during hot spells. It can contain up to 80% water, making it one of the easiest hydration boosts going — even if you usually feed dry.
Drop a few ice cubes into the bowl on very hot days. Some cats are curious enough to investigate, and it keeps the water cooler for longer.
Every cat has their own quirks around water, and that’s completely normal. If your cat is ignoring their bowl, it’s usually worth experimenting with placement, temperature, or switching to a fountain before assuming they’re just not thirsty.
Cooling mats, shaded spots, and other comfort helpers cats actually use
The most effective heat relief for cats is usually the kind they find for themselves. You can’t place a cat somewhere and expect them to stay, so the best approach is simply to set up options and let them decide.
Here are a few comfort helpers worth trying:
Cooling mats — designed to absorb body heat without needing to be chilled, they give cats a cool surface to sprawl on whenever they need it
Elevated beds — raising your cat off the floor improves airflow underneath them, which helps dissipate heat more efficiently than lying flat
Ceramic tiles — cats often seek these out naturally because the surface stays cool even when the rest of the room doesn’t
A lightly dampened towel — laid flat on a cool floor, it gives a similar effect and costs nothing to set up
Shaded hiding spots — a cardboard box tucked in a cool corner, or the space under a bed, gives cats somewhere dark and sheltered to retreat to
A fan angled toward a wall — this keeps air circulating without blasting directly at your cat, which most of them hate
Placement matters more than you might expect. Put a cooling mat somewhere your cat already gravitates toward rather than somewhere convenient for you. A favourite corner of the sofa or a shady patch of floor they already use in the afternoons is a much better bet than somewhere new. If your cat is on the cautious side, try placing a worn item of clothing nearby or dropping a few treats on the mat so they can investigate at their own pace.
Not sure whether a cooling mat is right for your cat? The Lords and Labradors guide to cooling mats for cats is a good place to start before you buy, covering how they work and what to look for.
The best setup is always the one your cat discovers and quietly claims as their own. That is really the whole point.
What to watch for: signs your cat may be too hot
Cats do love a sunny windowsill, so a warm, sleepy cat is not always a cause for concern. The key with keeping cats cool in summer is knowing when “just relaxing” starts to look more like heat stress.
A cat who feels too hot may show a few clear signs:
Panting: cats do not usually pant like dogs, so this is one of the biggest red flags
Excessive drooling: more saliva than normal can mean their body is struggling to cool down
Lethargy or unusual stillness: if your cat will not get up, seems flat, or ignores things they would normally react to, pay attention
Rapid or laboured breathing: check for breathing that looks faster, heavier, or more effortful than usual
Wobbliness or loss of balance: seeming weak, shaky, or unsteady is never something to brush off
Seeking unusual cool spots: lying on bathroom tiles, stretching out by the back door, or hiding behind the toilet can be your cat’s way of saying the house feels too warm
It can help to think about what is normal for your own cat. A lazy nap after lunch is one thing. Panting, drooling, or looking disoriented is something else entirely.
When to call your vet
If your cat is vomiting, seems confused, loses coordination, or becomes unresponsive, contact your vet straight away. These can be signs of heatstroke in cats, and it is always better to act early. While you arrange help, move them somewhere cool and quiet, offer water, and avoid forcing them to drink.
If you are working out how to keep cats cool in summer without AC, trust that small changes really do help. Most cats stay comfortable with a bit of extra care, a cooler place to rest, and close observation on hot days. If you need extra support, the Lords & Labradors cat wellbeing collection has practical options that can make summer cat care easier.
A simple summer routine that keeps your cat comfortable day to day
Keeping cats cool in summer without AC doesn’t need to be complicated. A loose daily rhythm is all it really takes, and once it becomes habit, you’ll barely think about it.
Start each morning by opening windows on opposite sides of the house to draw cooler air through before the temperature climbs. If your cat has a favourite windowsill, make sure there’s a shaded spot nearby for when the sun shifts. Cats are naturally good at finding cool corners, but they appreciate a little help getting there.
Through the afternoon, check that their water bowl is full and fresh. If they’ve been ignoring it, try moving it somewhere quieter, or add a second bowl in another room. Some cats simply drink more when their water isn’t sitting right next to their food. A cooling mat placed in their usual nap spot can also make a real difference during the warmest hours, with very little effort on anyone’s part.
In the evening, take a minute before bed to refresh the water, crack a window if it’s cooled down outside, and notice how your cat seems. Are they settled, or still restless? A calm end to the day is usually a good sign the routine is working.
None of this needs to be perfect. Some mornings you’ll forget the windows, or your cat will completely ignore the cooling mat. That’s fine. The consistency is what counts, not getting every detail right every single time. For more ways to support your pets through the warmer months, our summer survival guide for pets is well worth a read.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are cats ok in a house without AC?
Yes, many cats can be comfortable in a house without AC if you help keep the space cool and give them choices. Improve airflow, close blinds during the hottest part of the day, offer fresh water in several spots, and make sure they can reach the coolest room or a shaded resting place.
How do I keep my cat cool in 100 degree weather?
Keep your cat indoors, focus on the coolest room, and make cooling options easy to find. Use safe airflow with open windows and fans, shut blinds on sunny windows, refresh cool water often, add extra bowls or wet food, and watch closely for panting, drooling, or unusual lethargy.
Will my cat be ok in 90 degree weather?
Maybe, but it depends on your cat and how hot your home gets. Older cats, kittens, overweight cats, and flat-faced breeds can struggle more, so keep rooms shaded, water fresh, and cool resting spots available. If you notice panting, drooling, or weakness, contact your vet straight away.
