How Pets Reacted to the Northeast Earthquake

A 4.8-magnitude earthquake unsettling portions of the Northeast on Friday morning prompted pet owners to share their experiences as well as their fur babies' reactions on social media.

The quake struck Whitehouse Station, New Jersey, but shakes were felt throughout Pennsylvania, New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and even as far north as Maine. Millions took to the internet, rattled, as earthquakes are uncommon in the area, and now videos are circulating of pets who were just as shocked.

In Queens, New York's, Ozone Park, about 60 miles from the quake's epicenter, a Ring camera caught Andrea Roca's cat, Bolita, quickly jumping up from her sleeping position when the shaking started. Bolita looked around in all directions, confused about what was happening, but stayed on the bed, as seen in the clip posted to the account @andreajroca.

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"After I saw her I immediately wanted to go home and comfort her and check on the other two," Roca told Newsweek via TikTok.

Roca's other two cats have not been seen on her Ring camera all day. Her dad, who is home with the cats, shared that the tabby cat Loki is still nervous and sensitive to any sounds. He seems to be on high alert. As for the third cat, he has not come out from under the bed.

Similarly, a dog in New York was seen sitting on the couch in a TikTok video posted by @raziyc. When the earthquake hit, the dog looked around and bolted off the couch.

The caption read: "Poor baby had to go through it alone."

The owner shared in a comment on TikTok that although the dog was home alone, she's doing great now. She went from the couch to the bedroom to sleep.

In New Jersey, a dog and cat owner known on TikTok as @agallonofsoda shared how her pets felt after the rattling stopped. They were both terrified.

She was sitting on the bed with them, trying to comfort them. Her dog was crying. The orange cat wanted out of there, as he's seen climbing into the pet carrier.

"They're all better now!" the owner told Newsweek via TikTok. "I think we're freaked out more than the pets!"

A parrot in a New Jersey home was flapping around in his cage as it started shaking. The caption on the TikTok video shared by @amazon.parrot reads: "Beto stays caged up when no one is home since he loves to bite and destroy things. Beto is fine now, I am home with him and he is out of his cage."

Beto's owner shared with Newsweek that he was looking at the floor after the quake for three hours. He didn't want to eat and wasn't interested in food.

"When my fiance and I got home like 20 minutes later he was still very startled," the owner said. "Beto actually felt the earthquake we had in NJ in 2009 before it happened. He was flying around the house and screaming. My mom didn't know what to think of."

While several owners have shared on social media that their animals were trembling or hiding from the earthquake, one bunny didn't seem to mind. Owner Katie shared an Instagram reel of Buttercup to the account @buttercupthebun22 lounging on the floor while she sits on the bed.

The video was taken four minutes after they felt the quake, but Buttercup was unfazed. She believes Buttercup stayed so relaxed because she was there with him.

"Overall, I think Buttercup did notice the shaking at first, but because it stopped, I think he figured it was okay and continued on with his usual business for the day," she shared with Newsweek.

Comforting Pets Following Natural Disasters

With the earthquake hitting in the middle of the workday, many pet owners had to wait hours until going home to check on their fur babies. Worries set in, as storms and natural disasters can cause pets to become stressed and anxious.

An article from Consumer Affairs said that owners should try their hardest to avoid greeting their pets with a tight hug. Animals don't enjoy hugs as much as humans and a tight squeeze might cause them to panic following the event.

Instead, owners are encouraged to restore familiarity for their pets. Comfort items such as toys, bedding, bowls or blankets can help ease a pet's stress, the article states. Owners should also take their dogs on a walk in a less crowded area to avoid overstimulation.

If you notice your pet has not returned to themselves, consult your veterinarian to discuss a plan for getting them back to normal.

Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to life@newsweek.com with some details about your best friend, and they could appear in our "Pet of the Week" lineup.