‘Tis the season for tail wags: Making the holidays fun for your pets
By Lauren Rey
‘Tis the season to celebrate and if you have four-legged family members at home, chances are, you’re looking for ways to include them in the holiday fun. While some holiday traditions are off-limits to pets (sorry — no hot chocolate for Fifi or Fido), there are plenty of fun, safe ways to bring your pets into the celebration.
Here are 10 ways to celebrate the holiday season with your pet!
1. Holiday pet photos
Holiday photos are one of the easiest ways to incorporate your pet into the festivities, and you’ll have memories that’ll last a lifetime. During the holiday season, you can often find holiday-themed pet photo shoots or “pet photos with Santa” events held at your local pet stores, Christmas tree farms, and veterinary clinics.
If you can’t find a pet-friendly holiday event or your pet is not the social type that will enjoy sitting on Santa’s lap, you can have an at-home holiday pet photo shoot. Grab your cat’s Christmas sweater or your dog’s holiday bandana and find a cozy spot in front of the Christmas tree or Menorah to snap some photos. You can also find fun holiday backdrops online or add some lights in the background to make it extra festive.
2. Making ornaments
Have some festive fun and create a one-of-a-kind ornament featuring your pet’s paw or nose print. You can buy a specialized nose or paw print ornament kit online or in many retail stores or make your own with some pet-safe clay or ink from the craft store.
While salt dough is a common holiday craft for children, salt dough (even once dried) can be dangerous to dogs and cats if ingested and should be kept out of their reach.
3. Baking holiday treats
From cookie swaps to Christmas morning muffins, the holidays are all about baking up some yummy festive treats — and our pets are usually eager to volunteer as taste testers! Unfortunately, most traditional holiday treats contain chocolate, yeast dough, nuts, and other ingredients that are off-limits for sharing with our four-legged friends. But don't worry; you can whip up some special pet-safe holiday treats in no time. Try one of these pet-approved recipes from 24Petwatch:
Homemade holiday dog treat recipes
- Holiday blackberry dog biscuits
- No-bake nutty pumpkin pup ‘ems
- Apple pup pretzels
- Red velvet pupcakes
- Pet-friendly pumpkin cheesecake
Homemade holiday cat treat recipes
If you’re short on time or just not into holiday baking, check out the seasonal treat selection at your local pet store. You’ll likely find plenty of fun, festive treats you can spoil your pet with for the holidays.
4. Playing some reindeer games
Whether it’s a festive game of fetch in the snow or setting up a treat treasure hunt around the house, the holidays are a perfect time to play some games with your four-legged friends. You can find holiday-themed toys, games, and snuffle mats at your local pet store, or create your own fun by wrapping up some treats for your pet to open (watch them closely so they don’t eat the wrapping paper), or try one of these DIY projects from 24Petwatch:
5. Counting down ‘til Christmas or Hannukah
There’s no better way to get into the holiday spirit in the days leading up to Christmas or Hanukkah than with treats or toys to open each day. While the concept of advent calendars for humans has been around for quite some time, nowadays, you can bring your pet in on the fun. You can find a variety of advent calendars for dogs or cats online or at your local pet store.
Some pet advent calendars come prefilled with special toys and treats, while others are empty so you can fill them with your pet’s favorite things. You can also create your own cat or dog advent calendar with an ice cube tray glued to the inside of a slender box (like a cereal or cracker box), then covered in wrapping paper with some squares cut out. If you have kids, they’ll probably love to help with this fun holiday craft. It’s a win-win for everyone!
6. Dazzle your dog with holiday lights
Driving around to look at holiday lights has been a holiday tradition pretty much since people started stringing up lights outside their homes for the holidays — so why not bring your dog along for the ride? Dazzle your dog with a drive through the neighborhood to check out some lights, and maybe make a special stop at your local coffee shop for a “puppuccino” and some hot chocolate for the humans. Of course, if your dog is not a fan of car rides, don’t force them to go. Maybe take a long walk around the neighborhood instead.
7. Get your cat a Christmas tree
If you have a cat and a Christmas tree you probably know all too well the struggle of keeping your cat happy and your tree intact. But what if your cat had their very own tree to play in? Cat Christmas trees, which you can find online or at pet stores around the holidays, come in many different shapes and sizes and have special features like scratching posts and dangling ornaments designed for cats to safely play with.
Presenting your cat with their own Christmas tree for the holidays may not only provide an excellent enrichment opportunity but may act as a deterrent from your other tree, especially if you sprinkle it with some catnip!
8. Cozy up on the couch for a Christmas movie
There’s nothing better than snuggling up on the couch on a cold winter night and watching a Christmas movie to get in the holiday spirit, and if you have pets at home, the more the merrier! Invite your four-legged friends to movie night and make it extra cozy with blankets and special snacks, like some of those homemade holiday pet treats.
9. Spread holiday cheer to pets in need
‘Tis the season of giving and while we’ve covered some great options for pampering your pet this holiday season, it's also important to think of others and give something back. Consider donating to a local pet charity in your pet’s honor, volunteering at a holiday pet adoption event, or dropping off some new toys at your local pet shelter. If your pup is social and enjoys car rides, maybe even bring them along to help spread the holiday cheer.
10. Give a gift that keeps on giving
While around 70% of pet parents already plan to buy their pet a gift for the holidays, for many dogs and cats, spending more time with their families is at the very top of their wish list. Of course, we’re not saying not to give your four-legged friend some new toys and treats for the holidays, just remember to also carve out some quality time with them amid the holiday hustle and bustle.
Whether it’s a fun car ride to see some holiday lights and pick up a “puppuccino” with your pup or cozying up on the couch with your cat for an extra cuddle session — spending more time with your pets will only increase the strength of your special bond.
Keeping your pet happy and safe all season long
While the holidays are all about having a jolly good time, it’s also important to keep safety in mind, especially when planning any special outings with your pet. Be sure your pet has ID tags and a microchip, and always keep them leashed or safely secured in a carrier during transport, in case they get spooked by Santa or try to run off after Rudolph.
For added peace of mind this holiday season, you can also protect your pet with a Lifetime Protection Membership from 24Petwatch. This gift that keeps on giving will grant you access to vet telehealth for any pet health questions, in case your pet overdoes it on the holiday treats, discounts on pet-sitting and dog-walking services, if you’re traveling for the holidays, and lost pet recovery specialists standing by to assist should your pet go dashing through the snow on their own. 24Petwatch has reunited over 730,000 lost pets and will be there for yours too, during the holidays, and beyond!