4 Fun Things to Do With Your Pets This Holiday Season
We can always count on our dogs and cats to inspire us to find joy in holiday traditions—both old and new. To help you make the most of this festive season, here are four delightful, heartwarming ways to celebrate with your furry family members.
1. Into the Woods: Decorate with Nature
This year, embrace the “Homespun Holiday” trend—stylish, sustainable, and deeply personal. It’s all about using reclaimed, recycled, and natural materials to decorate your home, and it’s the perfect excuse to take a long, leisurely walk in the woods with your pet.
Grab a basket or canvas bag and head out together—choose dog-friendly trails or quiet nature paths where your cat can safely explore (on leash or in a secure carrier). Gather pinecones, dried berries, birch twigs, and mossy stones as you go. Imagine how meaningful—and cozy—that bowl of imperfect, hand-collected pinecones will feel on your mantel, especially knowing it came from a shared adventure.
Turn your foraged treasures into a beautiful, pet-safe wreath—or simply arrange them around candles and photo frames for instant seasonal charm. Bonus: You’ll both get gentle exercise and quality time away from screens and schedules.
2. Oh Snap! Capture the Christmas Cuteness
Picture this: You and your pets wearing matching holiday sweaters—or at least coordinating antlers and festive collars. It’s not just adorable—it’s pure, unfiltered holiday magic.
Create a joyful, timeless holiday portrait of your fur-family. Whether it’s a full costume, a soft knitted sweater, or just a jingling bell collar and reindeer antlers perched playfully on your dog’s head (or gently held in place for your cat’s quick photo op), dressing up your pets adds warmth, whimsy, and personality to your seasonal celebrations.
Use these photos for handmade greeting cards, personalized ornaments, festive social posts—or just to brighten your own walls all winter long. For best results, shoot in natural light, keep sessions short and positive, and always prioritize your pet’s comfort and consent.
3. Get Your Bake On: Host a Holiday Cookie Exchange
Cookie exchanges are a joyful way to share the flavors of the season—without baking a dozen different recipes yourself. Involve your pets, and it becomes even more memorable.
Here’s how: Choose one favorite human cookie recipe and one pet-safe recipe (like oat-based peanut butter biscuits or grain-free salmon treats). Bake about two dozen of each. Then invite 4–6 friends to do the same—each bringing one human treat and one pet-friendly treat.
Host a relaxed, low-stress gathering where everyone samples the variety (with humans enjoying the sweets and pets getting small, supervised taste tests). Keep portions tiny to avoid tummy troubles—and enjoy having a week’s worth of homemade treats for both species.
Need inspiration? Try these FurPetVo-approved favorites:
- Faux Red Velvet Truffles (made with carob and coconut oil)
- Dog-Friendly Gingerbread Cookies (spice-sweetened with molasses and cinnamon)
- Pumpkin Mini Muffins for Cats (packed with pumpkin puree and flaxseed)
4. Snuggle and Stream: Have a Holiday Movie Binge
In the whirlwind of shopping, wrapping, and hosting, carve out quiet moments just for you and your pets. Create a cozy nook—blankets, pillows, warm lighting—and set aside an afternoon or evening for slow, unhurried connection.
Prepare something delicious for yourself and a safe, special treat for your pet: think a pup-perfect “Pumpkin Spice Latte” made with unsweetened pumpkin, warm oat milk, and a dash of cinnamon—or a calming catnip-infused broth for your feline friend.
Then press play on a beloved holiday classic. Two top picks from FurPetVo’s seasonal watchlist:
- How the Grinch Stole Christmas — Max the dog steals every scene with his quiet loyalty and expressive eyes.
- A Charlie Brown Christmas — Snoopy’s playful charm and heartfelt moments remind us that simplicity and presence are the truest gifts.
And if your cat starts purring softly or your dog drifts off mid-movie? Consider it a sign—you’ve nailed the spirit of the season.
