Noise phobia is unfortunately a common problem in cats and dogs. Loud noises like thunderstorms and fireworks can leave your pet trembling with fear. Noise phobias can get worse over time, so don’t leave them untreated. If your pet has a noise sensitivity, here are some tips to help your pet overcome their fearful response.

What is a Noise Phobia in Cats and Dogs?

A noise phobia is an excessive sensitivity to loud noises. Dogs and cats that are sensitive to noises will show signs of anxiety, fear, or a phobic response to these noises. They'll typically have an increased heart rate, often pant, tremble, cower, be restless and may urinate or defaecate. They’ll want to run away or hide to get away from the noise.

A fearful pet will try to make themselves as small as possible – crouching down, lying flat with their ears flat against their head and tail tucked under. Some may show defensive aggressive behaviour.

Cats and dogs that are scared may become aggressive (the fight reaction), run away (the flight reaction), stay still (freeze), or display appeasement or attention seeking behaviours. Fear can become self-reinforcing and rather than helping your pet to learn that they can survive multiple exposures, they can become sensitized to the noise that provokes their fear.

It’s best not to leave noise phobias untreated, so ask your vet for advice. Keep a diary of the triggers and the response from your pet. Many dogs with separation anxiety can have sound sensitivities so this problem may also need to be addressed.

Common Noise Triggers in Cats and Dogs

Some pets’ fears of loud noises can extend to common noises in everyday life. Helping young puppies or kittens to become used to a wide range of different noises is important for long term confidence. They should be exposed to common noises such as doorbells, telephone rings, vacuum cleaners, lawn mowers, motorbikes, and alarms.

Thunderstorms and fireworks often provoke strong reactions in cats and dogs. Fireworks can be extremely loud and may even be physically painful for your pet. Pets may even react before the noise occurs if they’ve learnt to predict when a certain noise will occur. They may detect a drop in barometer pressure and react before a thunderstorm occurs.

Cats and dogs with noise aversions may also become constantly anxious.

How to Prevent Noise Phobias from Developing in Cats and Dogs

Try to prevent noise phobias from developing from the start by exposing your kitten or puppy to as many different sounds as possible. Always make the experience positive – reward relaxed behaviour. Playlists are available online of the sounds that your cat or dog may hear in everyday life.

However, kittens and puppies that have been well-socialised and exposed to a wide range of noises may still develop a noise phobia. Some may have learnt fearful behaviour from their mothers and some breeds may be more susceptible than others. Never punish your pet when they’re afraid as this means that they’ll associate the punishment with the noise, and this will make the problem worse. Also try not to comfort your pet when they’re scared as this may encourage the behaviour.

Ways to Help Cats and Dogs Cope with Noise Phobias

Keep your dog or cat inside if you expect a thunderstorm or know fireworks are due to be set off. Many frightened cats or dogs will want to run away, and no-one wants their panic-stricken pet escaping. Keep your pet indoors in a darkened room with curtains or blinds shut so they're unable to see any lightening or fireworks and the sound is muffled. If you need to, walk your dog before the thunderstorm or fireworks start, and if you have a cat, make sure they’re inside.

How to Create a Safe Space for Your Cat or Dog

Creating a safe space in advance where your pet knows they’ll be secure. The safe haven should be a confined area, and a place where your pet has had no negative experiences before. If your pet tends to hide in one corner of the room, place the safe haven in a different corner of the room.

If your pet feels safe in a crate or pet carrier, this can be used as their safe haven. The crate or carrier can be put under a table and covered with a blanket. A pet bed can also be placed in a cupboard if your pet feels safe in small, confined spaces.

Encourage your dog or cat to use their safe haven with toys or treats. Allow them to relax in their haven and give them treats but no direct contact. Make these treats less frequent so that the haven becomes an area specifically for relaxation.

Don’t allow any potentially unpleasant events to be associated with their haven – don't give them medication in there and don’t allow children or other pets to bother your dog or cat while they’re there. This is a place where your dog or cat can be in control.

Appeasing Pheromones for Cats and Dogs

An appeasing pheromone can also be used to help your pet feel safe and remain calm. A pheromone diffuser can be placed close to their safe haven, a calming collar can be worn, or a spray can be applied to a bandana or the blanket. While this won't necessarily cure noise anxiety completely, it can aid in your dog's interpretation of the noises and help them produce a less fearful reaction.

How to Distract Cats and Dogs with Background Noise

Background noise can also be used to try and mask the external sounds. Loud music or noise from a TV can provide good cover, but only if your pet will tolerate it. Be mindful of how much you increase the volume of the sound, and lookout for any signs of fear in your pet. Make sure to only gradually increase volume - a sudden blast of sound would make anyone jump!

You may find that your pet finds some music more calming than others. Music CDs and playlists specifically designed for calming purposes are also available, covering a range of sounds which your pet may find comforting.

Earplugs for Cats and Dogs

Earplugs can be used but take care not to damage your pet’s ear by pushing something into it. Anything left in the ear can cause a nasty infection. Ear defenders (earmuffs) for dogs are available but not all dogs feel happy wearing them.

Invite a Doggy Friend Over

For noise phobias in dogs, try inviting your pooch's friend who isn't scared of the offending noise and let them play some boisterous games together. This should help them take their mind off the noise, as well as positively reinforcing how they feel about the noise.

Using Behaviour Modification and Medication with Cats and Dogs

Desensitisation and counter-conditioning therapy are useful ways of modifying your pet’s fearful responses. Desensitization is the process of teaching your pet to be less sensitive to sudden loud sounds while counterconditioning is changing the fear response for a more positive feeling, e.g. associated with play, or eating. Your pet can learn to experience the noises at a volume that doesn't cause fear and anxiety, and in a situation where they don’t feel scared. Ask your vet for a plan.

If nothing works, and your dog or cat has developed a severe phobia, your vet may prescribe a short course of anti-anxiety medication. This should be given before your dog becomes upset so can be given even if you’re unsure if the noise will occur – it's better for your pet to take the medication on a false alarm rather than go through another traumatic event without medication. Your vet may also suggest a calming diet or supplements.

If you’ve tried all the above and noise phobia is sadly still an ongoing problem, ask your vet to refer you to an animal behaviourist.

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