Guy Fawkes is this Saturday (5th November) so of course many animal lovers are concerned about their animal’s safety and well-being. Here are a few tips to help you and your animals have a safe, and stress free Guy Fawkes.

• Keep them indoors throughout the evening. Keeping doors and windows closed, with the curtains drawn.

• Take special care of any elderly or nervous animals. If you have any special concerns about keeping your furry friends content, you should get in contact with your vet for specialist advice.

• Make sure your furry friends have their collars and ID tags on. This is to help reunite you with your cat or dog if they panic and escape.

• Stay at home with your animals, or find a reliable person that your animal trusts to look after them, preferably in their own environment. If you cannot be home with your animals, then ensure that you leave the radio or TV on for them.

• Turn on music or the TV in an attempt to muffle any sounds – but not too loud!

• Don’t fuss over or punish your animals if they become stressed out, this will only make their anxiety worse.

• Try to act as though everything is normal and ignore any anxious behaviour. This helps reassure your furry friends that everything is okay.

• If your animals need to hide, then let them. They obviously feel most safe there. Speak to them reassuringly, and allow them to come out in their own time.