Pets

How To Keep Your Furbabies Safe In A Thunderstorm

by Kevyn Gohu
July 21, 2025

Here’s how to calm and protect our pets during a thunderstorm

Our pets (or furbabies) are probably just as freaked about the thunderstorm as our kids are.

The only difference is — they can’t speak human languages.

Our furbabies will usually behave differently. For cats, they’ll hide under the bed or steal our work chairs. Dogs will lose their usual energy and whimper. They may not even eat their favorite treats or their usual meals with much gusto. But the most obvious thing we’ll notice is their tails. They won’t be wagging or straight up.

While we can’t control the thunderstorms, we can help comfort our furbabies through them. Here are some ways to calm down our furbabies:

Here's how to calm and protect our pets during a thunderstorm

Wrap them in a thunder shirt

Thunder shirts (also known as thunder jackets) are more common for dogs, but they can be used for cats. Some furparents even use their leash and harness and make it more snug, simulating a thunder shirt. Thunder shirts apply gentle pressure on their bodies, as if simulating their owners hugging them even if we’re not around.

While some stores sell these thunder shirts, others have just used blankets to make them!

Keep the lights open

It may impact the electrical bill a bit, but to soothe our furbabies’ anxieties, it’s worth it. Dogs and cats are not very fond of the dark, even if our feline furbabies can see well in it. Our furbabies associate the dark with attackers that they can’t see, making them more anxious.

With thunderstorms out, our homes that rely heavily on natural light will probably look creepy.

Ambient lighting helps. Open up a lamp or two to bounce the light around so our furbabies know we’re home.

Leave the room doors open

For feline furparents, this isn’t anything new. But for canine furparents, keeping the doors open may feel like a violation of privacy.

When the thunder gets loud, they may want to hide near us. They’ll dart and bounce around, having what feline furparents call “the zoomies.” To prevent them from smashing their cute little snouts against the door, it might as well keep the door ajar.

With the rainy weather, we won’t need the aircon as much. Keeping the doors open helps the air circulate better. Thus, keeping those nasty molds in check!

Don’t leave them out!

According to the Philippine Animal Welfare Act (or RA 10631), neglecting our furbabies is punishable by law. When they’re left outside to brave the thunderstorms and rain alone, that’s considered animal cruelty to most animal welfare societies and furparents.

If we’re not willing to bring them into the living room, at least bring them into the kitchen, where the floors are easy to mop up should they pee in fright.

Love our furbabies as much as our own

Furbabies or formally pets only have an average of ten to fifteen years of life (twenty if we’re lucky and that meticulous). And when they love us, they do so unconditionally.

When we’re stressed from work or toxic environments, they’re always there to keep us company. Dogs snuggle. Cats activate their “healing sounds” (AKA purring). They become the “person” who always looks forward to us coming home, greeting us at the front door when they hear our keys and footsteps.

So, during the thunderstorms, keep them company. It’s a rare occurrence that they’re afraid. The only other time they are is when they have to take a trip to the vet!