Well, as its bonfire night soon (Great! :rolleyes: ) me and the OH have been talking and are thinking we are going to keep Mickie (Newly homed here cat) inside until its well past the fireworks spree. She's very timid and jumps at the slightest thing, shutting a door, walking near her, washer on the fast spin.. So im dreading the numptys with fireworks.. What do you think of keeping her in until shes gained confidence in us, aswell as the rest of the world?

I live on a main road, so the last thing I want is for her to get scared by the bang and end up darting across the road and well .. (insert here what could happen!) I just dont want to even think about it to be honest.

Aswell, this is our first bonfire night with Minnie and we arent too sure on what she'll react like, do you think that after 5years of being an outdoor cat, she could become a mainly indoor cat until the season is over?

We dont want to scare the cats but we certainly want to make them feel as safe as possible. The rabbits are coming in (at night) certainly around this time! Just the cats im scared of..

Any ideas? Advice? I'd be very greatful if I knew other peoples plans for this event! xxxx

I think you'd be doing the right thing. If she's not confident enough outside, it's probably best to keep her in. As you say, she'll be darting here, there and everywhere with every firework if she goes outside.

Just my opinion though :)

I keep all my cats in from tea time onwards as it approaches halloween and bonfire night as apart from the obvious danger of fireworks, you never know what some idiots may do at this time of year. I once had my wheelie bin set on fire at halloween :( . As they say"it's better to be safe than sorry"

Im dreading it to be honest. The rabbits will be brought in, around 5pm until 9/10am next day because I simply dont trust the idiots. Theyve started already round here, heard them earlier this evening so it sort of sparked discussion between me and OH. Its the cats im worried about, I love this area and the people in it but there are a few idiots and I simply dont trust them. I think im going to have them both as mainly indoor cats, like Minnie will go out in a morning, do her stuff then come back about 11am, Mickie seems content indoors though, she loves laying on our bed all day then curled up on the sofa at night! She keeps perching herself on the window frames letting the wind go in her face but shes not attempted to get out. Im pretty sure i'll be able to keep her in.

Yes true Helen, better safe than sorry, I think I might get a nice bed for them (Doubt they'll use it.. They prefer my big double bed!!) and theyve already got a litter tray, so hopefully, they'll be content. I just wondered if anyone else has managed to do this?

xx

I'm all for keeping them in during any fireworks too, although last year Molly was flapping (as she often does when there's lots going on) so I took her for a walk whilst it was all happening and did lots of interactive stuff with her including a tricks training session while we were outdoors, with the world sounding like Beirut on a bad day around us. She wasn't bothered in the slightest because I was happy and she was getting all of my attention.

The cats, however, were a different matter. 2 of them spend all of the time when they can hear fireworks (or thunder actually) behind the sofa in their place of safety. Of the others, one is deaf and so just doesn't give a hoot about what's happening around her and the other is the most self assured creature on the planet, so it takes more than a few flashes and bangs to upset him.

For any nervous animals the ongoing advice must be to have them somewhere calm and safe for the duration.

When I had cats that went out, they were kept in as soon as it started turning dark, from when I heard the first fireworks!

It's not cruel, as long as they've got a litter box, it's common sense. Even if the beggars wanted to go out, they weren't allowed to! They suffered no ill-effects and it was far better than risking them running in the road or getting hit by a firework.

I think you're being very responsible, I wouldn't let a nervous cat out until she's gained confidence as I'll be too scared of her running off and hiding and me not being able to find her.

Thanks everyone.

Well Minnie keeps venturing out but not far, as shes started using Mickies tray so we might be able to keep her in.

We heard the first fireworks a few nights ago so I think they're staying in.

xx

you do right better to be safe

I won't say what happened to my nan's cat during firework season a few years ago now but let's just say it was not pleasant and Gina I would advise you to keep your cats in. As children and teenagers with fireworks are idiots :rant:. But that is another thread. But keep them in. Of course it won't be classed as cruel. No-one could accuse you of being cruel hunny, you are a great pet owner :D x