Bonfire Night is a highlight of the autumnal season as fireworks fill the sky with dazzling colours and deafening sounds. But the noisy spectacles can have a very different effect on pets, more than half of whom are afraid of loud bangs.
To soothe our furry friends during the holiday, vets recommend playing soft music or calming sounds that will help to mask the noise of fireworks.
Experts at Opinion Matters have quizzed more than one thousand Scottish pet owners about their listening habits around Bonfire Night to identify the most popular musical genres for calming our pets.
The survey revealed that pop music is the go-to genre to counteract fireworks, with 22.73% of Scots choosing it to soothe animals. Pop music is particularly popular in Glasgow, where 28.07% of opt for it compared to just 12.9% in Edinburgh.
Classical music is the second most popular choice of genre, with 19.32% of Scottish pet owners favouring orchestral sounds to calm their animals.
In a surprising twist, Scots rank rock music as the third most effective genre to help anxious pets settle. 17.05% of pet owners say that rock features on their animals’ Bonfire Night playlists, although this varies dramatically depending on gender: 30.28% of men play their pets rock music, compared to 15.09% of women.
Playing white noise or AMSR sounds is the fourth most common option when fireworks upset pets, with 15.91% pf Scots preferring ambient background noises to calm their animals.
In fifth place is country, which is favoured by 13.61% of owners, followed closely by hip hop in sixth place, which features on 11.36% of owners’ Bonfire Night playlists. R&B was the 7 th most popular choice of genre, appearing on 9.09% of Scottish animal lovers’ playlists.
Despite the proven powers of music to soothe frightened animals, playing no specific types of music or sounds remains the most common option among Scots on Bonfire Night. 27.27% of owners admit that they have not yet created a playlist to drown out the sounds of fireworks.
Dr. Edwina Gildea, Director of Veterinary Operations at Zoetis UK, stressed that music is a great tool to help pets and their owners navigate the noisy celebrations.
She said: “As Bonfire Night approaches, it’s essential to recognise that loud noises and bright lights can be incredibly stressful for our pets. Just like us, they can feel anxious and scared during fireworks displays. By taking some proactive steps, you can help create a safe and calm environment for your furry friends, ensuring they stay relaxed while the celebrations take place.”