Keeping small pets calm during Halloween takes a little extra planning, as the bangs, flashes, and constant doorbell dings that make the night so exciting for us can be a real fright for rabbits, guinea pigs and hamsters!
Our littlest furry friends feel the noise just as much as dogs and cats do, and with Halloween fireworks throughout October and Bonfire Night following on the 5th of November, the noisy season can stretch on for weeks.
The good news is that a few simple steps can help your tiny troublemakers feel safe, snug and far less spooked, so here’s how to get them through it all!
Why Halloween can spook small pets
Super-sensitive ears and prey-animal instincts
Rabbits, guinea pigs and hamsters are prey animals, so sudden bangs and bright flashes set off every “run and hide!” alarm bell they have. Their hearing picks up sounds and vibrations we barely notice, and they’ve no way of knowing the whizzing and popping outside isn’t a threat.
Doorbells, costumes and a change in routine
Halloween brings its own brand of chaos: constant knocking, excited children, strangers in capes and masks, and decorations popping up everywhere. Small pets are creatures of habit, so late dinners and a noisy home can leave them unsettled before a single firework goes off.
Signs your small pet is feeling stressed
Small pets are experts at hiding their feelings, so a quiet bunny can still be a worried one. Keep an eye out for:
- Thumping their back feet (rabbits and guinea pigs)
- Freezing in one spot or hiding away
- Trembling or breathing faster than usual
- Trying to escape
- Teeth grinding or chattering
- Ears pressed flat against the body
- Eating less or changes in toileting
- Why a change in appetite matters
Rabbits and guinea pigs need to keep nibbling to keep their tummies moving, so if your little one stops eating or passing droppings, call your vet straight away.
Keeping small pets calm before Halloween night
Move outdoor hutches somewhere quieter
If your buns or piggies live outside, bring their hutch into a cool, quiet room a few days early so they have time to settle in. A shed or garage works well too, just not one where the car is kept, as exhaust fumes are a no-go.
If you can’t move the hutch, turn it to face a wall or fence and drape a blanket over part of it, leaving plenty of room for fresh air.
Build a cosy, burrow-ready hideaway
Pile in extra hay and bedding so your pet can dig down and feel snug. Cardboard boxes and tunnels make brilliant hidey-holes, as long as they have two exits so nobody feels trapped. Check that hides are sturdy too, as a startled guinea pig can dash in at top speed!
Practise with gentle sounds
In the weeks before Halloween, play fireworks sounds at a very low volume while your pet tucks into their favourite greens, so the bangs become a little less surprising.
Keeping small pets calm on Halloween night
Muffle the bangs and hide the flashes
Close the windows and draw the curtains before dark, then leave the lights on to soften any flashes. Soft music or the telly at a comfortable volume will help cover the noise; just skip anything with animal sounds in it.
Keeping small pets calm when trick-or-treaters call
Keep enclosures well away from the front door. A bowl of sweets left outside with a “help yourself” note can cut down on the knocking, too!
Hamsters and gerbils are famous escape artists, so double-check that doors, lids and gates are shut, and do a quick headcount during the evening. Any little ghosts and witches keen to say hello can admire from a distance.
Stick together and stay close by
Keep bonded pairs and groups together, as a familiar friend is a big comfort. Pop in regularly, speak softly and stay relaxed yourself, and offer a handful of fresh hay or a favourite veggie to focus on.
Halloween hazards to keep out of reach
Pumpkins, sweets and decorations
Pumpkin seeds, sweets and human treats are off the menu for small pets, and carved pumpkins that have been sitting out for days belong in the compost bin, not the hutch! Keep fake cobwebs, small ornaments and cables away from curious teeth.
Candles, bonfires and smoke
Pop LED candles in your pumpkins if your pet enjoys free-roaming time, and never light bonfires or fireworks near hutches. Smoke is bad news for small lungs.
Keeping small pets calm after the fireworks
Get back to normal feeding, cleaning and playtimes as soon as you can. Fireworks often carry on for a week or two, so keep the cosy set-up in place until Bonfire Night has passed, and watch their eating, drinking and droppings for several days.
When to call your vet
Call your vet if your pet stops eating, isn’t passing droppings or stays withdrawn. A fear of noises that appears out of nowhere is worth a check-up too, as it can sometimes point to pain or illness.
Keeping small pets calm at Halloween is easier with VETIQ
A cosy hideaway and a steady routine go a long way, and VETIQ Healthy Bites Serene Calming for Small Animals give your little one an extra helping paw. Each tasty bite has a crispy cereal shell and a creamy centre, with:
- Chamomile and lemon balm to help ease stress and anxiety
- Ginger oil to support relaxation
- Only 4½ calories per bite and no added sugar
- No artificial colours or flavours
- 18 yummy servings in a resealable pack
Start offering them in the days leading up to Halloween, following the feeding guide on the pack for your pet’s size. Hand-feeding a treat or two makes a lovely bonding moment on a noisy night; just remember to supervise feeding and keep fresh water topped up.
From Halloween right through to Bonfire Night, a snug set-up and a few Serene Calming bites can help your furry friend feel safe while the sky goes bang. That’s smarter pet health for even the smallest members of the family!
Hoppy Halloween!
Keeping small pets calm during Halloween FAQs
Q: Are small pets scared of fireworks?
A: Yes, most of them are! Rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters and other small pets are prey animals with super-sensitive hearing, so sudden bangs and flashes can leave them feeling very frightened.
Q: Should I bring my rabbit or guinea pig indoors for Halloween?
A: We recommend moving outdoor hutches into a cool, quiet room, or a shed or garage that isn’t used for the car. Try to do it a few days early, so your pet has time to settle in before the fireworks start.
Q: What if I can’t bring my small pet’s hutch inside?
A: We suggest turning the hutch to face a wall or fence and partly covering it with a blanket to muffle the noise and hide the flashes. Just leave plenty of room for fresh air!
Q: How can I tell if my small pet is stressed?
A: Look out for thumping back feet, freezing in place, hiding, trembling, fast breathing, teeth grinding or eating less than usual. Small pets are great at hiding fear, so we recommend checking on them regularly.
Q: How do I keep my small pet calm when trick-or-treaters call?
A: We recommend keeping enclosures well away from the front door and leaving a bowl of sweets outside to cut down on knocking. Double-check that doors and lids are shut too, as hamsters and gerbils love a sneaky escape!
Q: Are Halloween sweets and pumpkin seeds safe for small pets?
A: No, so we’d keep sweets, pumpkin seeds and any human treats well out of reach, along with carved pumpkins that have been sitting out. Stick to their usual hay, greens and treats made for small animals.
Q: When should I call the vet?
A: Call your vet straight away if your rabbit or guinea pig stops eating or passing droppings, or if your pet stays withdrawn after the fireworks. A sudden fear of noises is worth a check-up too, as it can sometimes point to pain or illness.
Q: What are VETIQ Healthy Bites Serene Calming for Small Animals?
A: They’re tasty calming treats with chamomile and lemon balm to help ease stress and anxiety, plus ginger oil to support relaxation. Each bite has just 4½ calories, with no added sugar and no artificial colours or flavours.
Q: When should I give my small pet Healthy Bites Serene Calming?
A: We recommend starting a few days before Halloween, following the feeding guide on the pack for your pet’s size. Always supervise feeding and keep fresh water available.
