Animals and fireworks don’t mix! However, every year on New Year’s Eve they are put through “terror” that they don’t understand. All they know is that their safe world is suddenly filled with noise and flickering lights. It was the same for Chachi, the cat.

It was a good thing that I was home to keep him company. This year, the fireworks started as early as 8:30 p.m. Some neighbors decided that they had waited long enough and it was time to ring the new year in. First, it was a few but even that sent Chachi in a tizzy. He looked at me with his big eyes, sat up on his haunches, looked to the window and then back at me.

HIM: “What is that MOM?!!”

ME: “Don’t worry, you’re safe.”

Then a few more went off and lit up the sky with a splash of color and he took off running. I let him go. He found a spot under the bed and stayed there. Half an hour later, he poked his nose out and looked at me again, suspiciously this time.

HIM: “Mom, why are you making all that noise? I don’t like changes!”

I picked him up to hold him close and to reassure him that there was nothing to worry about but he wasn’t having it. He jumped, scrambled, and went back under the bed.

Then midnight rolled around and the village went up in flames! Well, it was lit up like a stadium, with fireworks shooting left and right, you get the picture. This quiet little village that usually goes to sleep at around 7:30 in the evenings was loud and noisy with children running around with sparklers and parents trying to outdo each other as far as fireworks was concerned. It was a free for all! I watched sans Chachi. He was behind a cupboard and refused to budge!

It took all of 30 minutes but seemed like forever to the little furball. As things settled down, he stayed behind the cupboard. After much coaxing, he showed his tiny little face looking like he had been through a war zone! I picked him up but he was jittery and restless. A lone firecracker going off sent him running again.

Needless to say last night was a sleepless and restless one. He kept waking me up, meowed “Mommy” every five minutes and refused to cuddle. Morning rolled around before I knew it and he was up at 5:00 a.m. ready to go downstairs but not without his mommy! He kept close as I made my way downstairs and stayed close. It’s going to be a long day as I try to get him back to his normal self.

Should fireworks be banned? That’s like the Grinch who stole Christmas? It was banned for a couple of years but they are back at it with a vengeance. I’ll have to go out there and see what kind of damage was done. Each year, they use the garage area to set off their fireworks and this year was no different. Irritating? Absolutely. Cleaning up is left to someone else to do.

Okay, it is the first day of a new year and I’m going to take it in stride and work on getting Chachi back to his normal self.

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!