7 Household Noises That Are Making Your Pet Feel Unsafe, According to a Vet
Earlier this year, I had a malfunctioning smoke alarm that would randomly go off even when there was no reason for it to do so. Well, my shih-tzu-Yorkie mix Bruce was not a fan to say the very least, and they would freak out and bark like crazy every time the smoke alarm decided it was a good time to start screaming. It was not fun for me or Bruce, and it caused a lot of stress until I was able to get my apartment maintenance to finally replace it.
My experience is not unusual. As it turns out, many dogs and cats are sensitive to noises like the smoke alarm, whether it's fully going off or simply chirping. The reason for this is simple: dogs and cats have far more sensitive hearing than us humans do, which means sounds that we may not even notice may cause them distress or discomfort. Certain noises may make your dog or cat feel anxious, on edge or even afraid.
But beyond an evil malfunctioning smoke detector, are there other sounds that can make your pet feel unsafe? And how can you help your pet feel safer in the presence of these noises? Is there a way to create a "safe zone" for your pet in the event a sound they don't like happens to occur?
To get more information on these topics, we spoke with a veterinarian about common household noises that may make your pet feel unsafe, how to make them feel more at ease and more. Here's what we learned.
Our Expert
Dr. Lisa Weeth is a veterinarian and the head of veterinary research at Freshpet.
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Household Noises That Make Pets Feel Unsafe
"We often think of loud, infrequent noises (fireworks, gunshots, thunderstorms) as being the most stressful sounds a dog or cat can experience, but animals have much more sensitive hearing than people, and a lot of normal household sounds that may not bother their human companions can provide frequent lower-grade stressors in a pet's life," Dr. Weeth says.
Common household sounds that may cause distress in your pet include the following:
- Microwave ovens (running and beeping)
- Vacuum cleaners (regular or automatic/robotic)
- Smoke detector chirping
- Smoke alarms going off
- Unfamiliar car sounds
- Ultrasonic small animal deterrents
- Lawnmowers
While there's no way to prevent pets from experiencing these upsetting sounds, there are ways to help them become more comfortable when they do happen.
"These sounds are often at a higher frequency than human ears can detect, and can be part of everyday life in many households, so there isn't really a way to prevent pets from reacting or to completely avoid them," Dr. Weeth says. "Gradually exposing them to these sounds ideally starting at a young age (desensitization) and providing positive associations (counterconditioning) or rewards can help mitigate their stress response."
How to Create a Soundproof "Safe Zone" for Your Pet
"There really isn't a way to make a 'safe zone,' as many of these sounds are part of normal everyday life, so gradual desensitization and creating positive associations is key to helping pets deal with life in a typical home," Dr. Weeth says.
However, in the event of an infrequent sound exposure, Weeth says you can create a safe haven for your pet.
"For the really loud, infrequent sound exposures (like fireworks or thunderstorms), create a safe place in your home, ideally with no external windows or doors for better sound dampening, and talk with your veterinarian about medical management of short-term anxiety if needed," Dr. Weeth says.
Even though we can't stop common household noises or celebratory fireworks from happening, with these tips we can at least make our homes feel safer for our furry friends and help reduce their stress around these sounds.
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This story was originally published May 31, 2026 at 4:56 PM.