Coronation Street star Kate Ford has opened up about her cat’s fear surrounding Bonfire Night.
The annual celebrations – which commemorate the arrest of Guy Fawkes during the Gunpowder Plot’s plan to blow up the House of Lords – took place across the UK last night.
From fireworks displays to bonfires, the loud noises and change in environment can be a worrying time for many. In recent years, the impact it has on our beloved pets has also been a growing concern.
Events, which were once only scheduled for 5th November, have been taking place since Hallowe’en.
On Sunday, Corrie icon Kate opened up about the welfare of her two cats, in a sad Instagram post.
Alongside a picture of one of them, she wrote: ‘Little Walt has been really scared by the fireworks this year, our other cat Ted wasn’t as affected.’
‘Seeing how badly it has bothered him has been an eye opener. He’s inside and more relaxed now thankfully.’
Fans flocked to the comments section to express their sadness for Walter, and to also share Kate’s upset.
‘Bless him, so sorry to hear he’s struggled with them Kate, hopefully they will be over soon but there seems to have been more than ever this weekend’ wrote one.
Another added: ‘I would love if fireworks were silent!! Could still watch them and how cool they look without the stress of the sounds.’
One fan thought that displays, in public or at home, should be limited to Bonfire Night: ‘Fireworks should only be let of on the 5th November. Had quite a few going on for what seems hours’ they said.
The RSPCA offers advice to worried pet owners, including training them to associate the noise with a positive experience, playing classical music on the radio and ensuring animals are kept indoors before it gets dark.
Kate has played Tracy McDonald on The Street since 2002, taking a short, three year break whilst the character was locked up for the murder of Charlie Stubbs.
Earlier this year, after a story that saw her cheat on husband Steve McDonald (Simon Gregson) with ex-footballer Tommy Orpington (Matt Milburn), she moved to Spain.
Despite her apparent exit she returned for a brief spell in the summer to clash with adoptive dad Ken’s (William Roache) carer Cassie Plummer (Claire Sweeney) and support daughter Amy (Elle Mulvaney) when she was scammed out of £40,000.
It’s not yet known when, or if, she will return on a permanent basis.
