General Chat

Keep your pets and vets safe.

Most pets do not like fireworks and can be extremely stressed out by them.
Check your bonfires before lighting for hedgehogs.

For the Veterans of war ..those who suffer from PTSD, loud bangs can bring back bad memories. Think of them and be kind

Uzzi :-) <3

Great to see you posting <3

Thank you Mersey, I would like to say I look in but I haven´t that much. I miss so much the banter on here, that is there no more and I miss our Wend,
I did renew my membership in Aug, so there is hope for me yet :-D

As the cats (well, the two I have left) are 'getting on a bit', I'm getting the litter tray out.
I've no doubt Betty will spend the duration under my bed :-(

I wish it was just the 5th of November. We have had to put up with them for the past week and I dread New Year. It seems like some people have no consideration for othes or the poor animals. More money than sense.
I do like fireworks but not the ones that sound like we are in world war 3. Should be banned.
I hope people enjoy firework night and be safe

I like fireworks who doesn't ?

Domestic fireworks though are dangerous and bring a lot of misery to pets and wild animals too not forgetting all the accidents to people and property. Fireworks displays should be solely in the hands of licensed firework engineers inc private parties.

The Digby family are in my family tree and one of them, Everard, crossed to the dark side and got himself over involved in the gunpowder plot . One of my teachers at school somehow discovered the link and as a result I was ragged unmercifully. On one occasion I was tied up and thrown on the bonfire a couple of days before it would be lit. I was less than amused and was then accused of having no sense of humour and even being a traitor!

Another tall tale :-\

I don't like fireworks. Just saying.

Well, I got the cat tray and litter in, so Betty doesn't have to venture out to do her 'business'.
Just tipped the litter into the tray - not really enough :-(

Never mind, she can go through the motions :-D :-D

Maggie :-D :-D :-S

There's a right ding-dong on the local community site. Some people want sales restricted to public displays on 5 Nov, Diwali and NYD - one person said only 5 Nov - others want fireworks banned completely.

...aaaand Betty's under the sofa.


Fireworks for the past 30 minutes - the radio's on loud, so she didn't immediately panic.
I'm glad I managed to 'deflect' her run upstairs and persuaded her to go under the sofa, rather than under my bed, as it's noisier down here (radio or TV will be loud tonight), lights are all on, and I can speak to her immediately a very loud bang happens.
She's also nearer the litter tray :-S

My dog's spark out on the sofa, legs in the air :-D
Not much in the way of fireworks here - just thought I'd mention the dogs somnolent posture :-D

Lucky dog! :-D :-D

I had always wondered what kind of adverse effect fireworks might have on wild birds and animals.

A pub we sometimes use has a large, well stocked duck pond and they do care about their livestock so, before they contemplated holding a firework display they consulted the RSPCA.

It seems that the first firework sets them off in a bit of a panic but then they think it is a thunderstorm and just sit it out.

Betty hides under the bed/sofa during thunder storms :-( :-( :-(

She's just come out from under the sofa- so that's four hours of fear :-(

Has anyone else had a dog that doesn't seem to be at all bothered by fireworks? My black ten year old Labrador has never shown distress, no did the Staffy that I had for 9 years prior... A work colleague has to give her two Spaniels sedatives.

My next door neighbours had a terrier that was a bag of nerves. She was afraid of my pet rabbit and would pee on your foot if she had to step over it.

That dog could not be kept indoors on firework night. She loved them.

Well, Betty, George and the late Mister are/were siblings, and were all born here (on the old sofa), all had the same upbringing, met the same people in the house, had similar stresses etc.
Mister didn't give a wotsit about fireworks, though sometimes he accompanied Betty under the bed, but I think this was in pity rather than fear (he was the dominant cat)
I've seen George, quite happily in the garden during thunderstorms, but he runs in during random firework 'displays'.
Betty has always been terrified of both fireworks and thunderstorms - yet has become used to the incredible banging of doors and thumping whilst 'walking' upstairs achieved by my newest neighbours.
However, I should point out that 'Betty' is shorthand for her 'proper' name - Violet Elizabeth Bott. If she can be offended - she will.
She has always hated being picked up and cuddled - it's a paws on chest and push away as far as possible - that's if you can actually pick her up - she can slide through your hands like mercury. The other two - no problem.
She loves a brush, and occasionally honours me with her presence on my lap - in the (forsaken) belief she will get a brush.
When this fails, she has been known, extremely rarely, to bring me the brush - she gets a brush then, purely for being so weird.
She's longhaired, but grooming herself is her affair, I'll only do it on my terms, or if she gets a 'clump'
She's a midget of a cat (she's small, short, and her mouth and head are half the size of George's). Mind you, George is a very tall, long cat, 4 inches longer than 'average'
She is also the only one of the 3 who has ever spat at (or in front of) a human in my presence. (small cat syndrome?) And, by golly, can she 'talk'. :-S
Mister was fairly vocal, George has trouble meowing at all - he uses body language - I've never seen such a dextrous tail. He actually strokes people's faces with it.
None of the three cats has/had ever attacked a human, not even an enthusiastic screeching toddler, though I have ended up with lacerations from Mister (non-retractable claws) and Betty, (Miss pin-sharp claws) when they were/are being affectionate.
George, nibbles when he's really happy - a shock to those who think he's out to bite them - but once they relax, they realise he's not hurting. The ultimate acceptance from George is to have him chewing your hand whilst stroking your face with his tail

So 3 cats, same upbringing, totally different characters, fears and behaviours..