Skip to main content
Donate
Donate now
Two white guinea pigs cuddle together inside a cardboard box, surrounded by hay and wooden sticks, looking curiously out from their cosy hiding spot.

Fireworks: how to keep your small pet safe

From Bonfire Night to New Year celebrations, every year thousands of small pets suffer as a result of fireworks being let off. Find out how to recognise fear in your pet and keep them safe and happy.

Two rabbits with mottled brown and white fur sit close together on a wooden surface covered with hay.

While fireworks can be exciting for us, for small pets like rabbits, guinea pigs and rodents they can be frightening. Although fireworks themselves might be out of our control, learning to recognise signs of stress and making some changes to your routine can help you to keep your pet safe around fireworks season and minimise the anxiety they experience.  

All pets experience and show fear differently but there are some common signs that your small pet may be experiencing fear or stress due to fireworks. We’ve gathered our top tips to help you spot the signs and know what to do to help your pet.

Hear from the experts

Spotting stress in your small pet

Although your pet can’t tell you if they’re feeling anxious, if they find fireworks stressful, you may notice some changes to their usual behaviour and temperament. Your pet’s body language is a good indicator of how they’re feeling and some common signs of stress to look out for include:  

  • Frightened rabbits may: 

    • Stamp their back feet repeatedly, this can continue for several minutes and often occurs after unexpected noises or movements within their environment 
    • Hide in a corner 
    • Have wide eyes 
    • Breathe rapidly 
    • Kick and bite when picked up 
    • ‘Freeze’ 
    • In some cases, a bonded pair of rabbits may have a fight 

    Frightened guinea pigs may: 

    • Dart around 
    • Have wide eyes 
    • Stiffen their body 
    • Breathe rapidly 
    • Hide in a corner 
    • ‘Freeze’ 
    • Dig at the floor trying to cover themselves 

    Frightened rodents may: 

    • Hiss 
    • Squeal when picked up 
    • Hide in small spaces 
    • ‘Freeze’ 
    • Move to bite you when your hand enters the accommodation 

Preparing your pet for fireworks season

If your small pet lives outdoors, it may be tempting to move them inside when firework displays are on. Although some pets may benefit from moving into a shed or garage overnight to protect them from the sight and sounds of fireworks, many pets would find this distressing. 

Moving your small pets from their familiar environment could cause them additional stress, so it may be better to leave them in their normal space. However you can help your pet by adding additional hiding spots and bedding to their accommodation. 

Boxes, carriers, small chairs and tables can be added to your pet’s home and lightly covered with blankets, towels or bedding to give your small pet a choice of spots to retreat to when fireworks are being let off.

Setting up hiding spots for your small pet

A room with several hay-covered cages and shelters, a black rabbit and a white rabbit sit near a water bottle, some green leaves, and a plastic tunnel. The floor is scattered with hay and toys.
Two guinea pigs are on straw under a red plastic chair, covered with hay. One guinea pig is brown and white, the other white. Cardboard tubes and a blue water bowl are nearby.

Our top tips to keep your small pet calm

  1. Companionship is the biggest protector against fear for most small pets (other than hamsters). A pair or group of the same species are far more likely to remain in a relaxed state as their companions offer security and comfort
  2. Add extra hiding spaces and bedding to their accommodation to help them feel safe and secure
  3. Partially cover hutches and enclosures with thick blankets. This will help muffle the sound of fireworks, whilst also providing enough ventilation
  4. For small pets living indoors, close the curtains and put a radio on for some background noise
  5. Provide them with their favourite healthy treats to encourage foraging which will help them focus. This could include hay kebabs, paper rummage bags, stuffed toilet rolls, feed balls and activity treat boards

Looking for more advice?

You can also find a variety of advice for dogs, cats, and small pets in our Pet Advice section. If you have a question about your pet or would like any support, contact our team.

How helpful was this?

Thanks for your rating

Rated this article 3 stars or less? Tell us what we could do to make it more helpful.

4.8
(213)

Related content

Ginea pigs playing in their cage
ADVICE

Foraging for guinea pigs

Although growing your own food and foraging for your pet rabbits and guinea pigs was once a traditional way of feeding them, it slowly became a lost skill as pets became more commercialised.

Read more about 'Foraging for guinea pigs'

© 2025 Woodgreen Pets Charity. Woodgreen is a registered charity (no. 298348) and a company limited by guarantee (no. 02073930). Registered office Kings Bush Farm, London Road, Godmanchester, PE29 2NH.

Let's do it