Diary of a Cat Mom
Diary of a Cat Mom is a reflective cat podcast created and hosted by Dagmar Gatell about understanding cats more deeply — and creating a calmer, more connected life for both you and your cats.
Based on real experiences caring for over 50 cats throughout her life, each episode shares quiet observations, emotional moments, caregiving reflections, and gentle insights from everyday life with cats. From routines, behavior, and emotional wellbeing to grief, gratitude, overstimulation, trust, and the small meaningful moments many people overlook — this is not a traditional “how-to” podcast, but a space for understanding, awareness, and lived experience.
Beyond cat care itself, Diary of a Cat Mom also explores our connection to nature, emotional presence, personal growth, and the way our inner state can influence the animals who share our lives. Because living with cats is never only about feeding and routines — it’s also about energy, safety, trust, patience, and how we show up emotionally in the spaces we create together.
Created for cat lovers who see their cats as family, this podcast offers companionship, reassurance, perspective, and emotional support during seasons of caregiving, uncertainty, healing, change, and letting go.
Diary of a Cat Mom is a personal storytelling podcast and does not replace professional veterinary advice. Every cat is unique, and medical or behavioral concerns should always be discussed with a trusted veterinarian or qualified professional.
You’re not alone on this journey.
We’re learning, loving, and growing together — one paw print at a time.
Diary of a Cat Mom
How to Keep Cats Calm During Fireworks | Understanding Cats | Ep. 105
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Fireworks season can be terrifying for our feline friends, and every cat reacts differently — some barely notice, while others bolt and hide for hours.
In this episode of Diary of Cat Mom, podcast host Dagmar Gatell shares the personal story of how her cat Sheiba's panic over a loud noise first opened her eyes to just how sensitive cats can be. From there, she walks through the practical system she now uses every 4th of July and New Year's Eve to keep her cats safe, secure, and as calm as possible — including door safety, creating hiding spots, testing calming tools ahead of time, and managing her own energy so her cats take their cues from her.
What You'll Learn in this Cat Podcast Episode:
- Why every cat reacts differently to loud noises like fireworks — and why that means one-size-fits-all solutions don't work
- A simple, low-cost way to prevent escape risks using baby gates on exit doors
- How to set up safe hideaway spots around the house so cats have somewhere to retreat
- Why it's important to test calming tools (like Jackson Galaxy's solutions) before you actually need them
- How a cat parent's own emotional state can directly influence how anxious or calm their cats become
- Why regular music doesn't help skittish cats, and what kind of calming audio (528 Hz purring tracks) actually does
- The value of starting calming routines days in advance rather than only during the event itself
Timestamps
- 0:00 – 0:35 — Intro: Why fireworks and loud noises are so hard on cats; the story of Sheiba's first panic reaction
- 0:35 – 1:00 — The "aha moment": every cat responds differently, so preparation is key
- 1:00 – 1:25 — Tip #1: Using baby gates on exit doors to prevent escape risk during fireworks
- 1:25 – 1:55 — Tip #2: Creating enough hideaway spots (cat houses, blankets, cozy corners) around the home
- 1:55 – 2:15 — Tip #3: Testing calming solutions (like Jackson Galaxy's methods) ahead of time, not in the moment
- 2:15 – 2:50 — Tip #4: Staying calm yourself — how your energy affects your cat's stress levels
- 2:50 – 3:25 — Tip #5: Why regular music doesn't work, and using calming 528 Hz purring audio days in advance
- 3:25 – 3:40 — Wrap-up and invitation for listeners to share their own tips
This is where I’ve gathered everything that supports me and my cats:
https://diaryofacatmom.com/cat-care-resources/
About the Diary of a Cat Mom Podcast
Diary of a Cat Mom is a personal cat podcast created by Dagmar Gatell, sharing real moments from life with cats. Everything shared comes from lived experience as a cat mom and is not intended as professional veterinary advice. Every cat is unique, and for health concerns, it’s always best to consult your trusted veterinarian.
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Diary of Catmum How to Keep Cats Calm during fireworks. Welcome to Diary of Catmum. As I had my first cat, Shiba, I had no clue about how skittish cats would be to loud noises. So the first time, as a pot felt on the floor and I created this huge sound wall, Shiba totally flipped out and she ran away and underneath the bed. And then and there I realized, wow, okay, I have to be conscious about how cats are reacting if there's a loud noise, especially to protect them and make sure they are safe. So then with every kitty, whenever something like that happens, something fell down or a door closed too loud or the fireworks, I saw that some cats does not bother them at all. And other cats they will hide and not come out at all. And then other cats they will run and ask I had this aha moment that every cat is different, every cat reacts differently, but that means I need to prepare. So what I did, I got baby gates and I put the baby gates before fireworks, like Fourth of July, New Year's and all the doors I would leave and go outside. In this way, the chance was much, much less that I would open a door where the door wouldn't close fast enough that the cat could get outside. And the other thing what I did, I made sure that there were hideaways enough in the house, like a little cat house or a blankie on the bed or an opening where the cat could hide and feel safe and not feel frightened. And then I also checked out Jackson Galaxy solutions for cats to feel safe. But you want to to test them before you come into the situation that you need them because every cat reacts differently and you don't want to rely on something and then be surprised than it's not working. And the other thing what I did was calming myself. So when I heard the fireworks and I got concerned about how the kitties could react, I stayed calm and I stayed peaceful because they look up to me and they watch me how I react. So the more I'm getting skittish and anxious and stressed out over the fireworks, the more they would get. The more I would stay calm and peaceful, the more they would realize that's not a big thing. And I tried music, but music itself didn't help them. I needed calming music. So I turned on the calming cat videos who have the 528 hearts and purring. And that for sure helps not to turn them on louder than the fireworks, no way. But like for days in advance, I did it so they would already have internally a more balanced nervous system. So when the fireworks happened, they were perhaps a little bit skittish, but it didn't affect them so much as if they would be anxious and skittish before. So I hope these little practical tips helps you in case you have a skittish or stressed out or fearful cat doing fireworks. I would love to hear what you do to help the little ones getting through this phase in a happier and in a calmer and a less stressed out way. Please share. Thank you so much for joining me here in the diary of Cat Mom. There's always another lesson, another story, another insight waiting right around the corner to be shared. Join me for my next entry. Hi, we all the Cat Mom.