The holidays are coming! But did you know that many festive decorations could unknowingly be causing distress to your pets?
We’ve enlisted two pet experts to help you create a truly pet-friendly Christmas this holiday season. Below, find tips for a pet-friendly Christmas tree and recommendations on lights and decorations to pet-safe plants and more - plus expert insights on how pets really feel about your festive decorations!
Key takeaways
- Expert research reveals our pets see a drastically different version of our holiday decorations. For example, the gentle flicker of your Christmas lights could seem much more intense to dogs and cats.
- Animals experience colors differently – dogs see only in shades of blue, yellow, and grey, while cats see a blurred, desaturated version of our festive decorations.
- For pet-friendly Christmas decorations, our expert recommends pet-safe and shatterproof ornaments, providing a decoration-free room for your pets, and keeping all possible hazards out of reach (more on this to follow!)
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Our interactive tool shows traditional holiday decorations through a dog’s eyes (left), and through a cat’s eyes (right). Try it out for yourself below!
Pet-safe Christmas decorations: an expert’s opinion
To make the holiday season special for all members of the family – furry ones included! – we’ve enlisted the help of veterinary expert Dr. Rebecca MacMillan BVetMed MRCVS and interior specialist, Ryan McDonough from MyJobQuote.co.uk.
Together, they provide a mutually harmonious solution for pet parents wanting to maintain their festive spirit while choosing aesthetically pleasing decor their canine and feline family members will love, too.
The reality of the holidays through your pet’s eyes
“Most owners have no idea they may be accidentally creating a stressful environment for their pets,” explains Dr. MacMillan. “Animals have a much more acute sense of smell, sight and hearing than we do, so Christmas can be overwhelming for them. Cats, for example, are particularly sensitive to changes in their home environment as they are territorial animals and the sudden addition of a tree and decorations can cause real stress for some.”
Understanding how our pets experience these changes can help us create a more comfortable festive environment for them. Read on for more tips on pet-proofing your holiday decor below.
Advice for keeping your pets safe at Christmas
The changes around the holidays can be particularly felt by pets who haven’t experienced it before, including rescue animals and young pets facing their first festive season.
“Socialisation and previous experiences, both negative and positive, may dictate how well a pet copes with decorations at Christmastime,” adds Dr. MacMillan.
For pets experiencing their first festive season, experts recommend introducing decorations gradually and maintaining regular routines such as walks and feeding schedules. Create positive associations by offering treats and praise when they calmly interact with their new environment.
Additionally, keep potential pet hazards such as electrical cords and candles out of reach, and avoid decorations or holiday plants that may be toxic to pets.
Signs your pet is feeling distressed over Christmas
Once the home has been aptly decorated for the season’s festivities, pet parents should keep an eye out for the subtle signs that their holiday decor may be causing distress. According to Dr. MacMillan, these warning signs often go unnoticed until they become severe:
- Excessive grooming that could indicate anxiety
- Unusual hiding behavior, especially in previously confident pets
- Unexpected changes in toileting habits
- Visible signs of distress when near decorations, such as trembling, pacing, excessive panting or hiding
- Complete avoidance of decorated rooms
- For cats: Spending more time outside or reluctance to use usual indoor spaces
- For dogs: Increased restlessness or destructive behavior around decorations
Consider subtle, pet-safe Christmas decorations
If your pets show signs of distress during the festive season, you don't have to abandon the holiday cheer entirely! While decorations can be overwhelming, the combination of changing routines, unfamiliar visitors, and new smells can all contribute to holiday anxiety for pets, so be aware of which changes are having an impact.
Understanding how our pets see can help us decorate more thoughtfully. Since dogs can't see reds and cats have muted vision when it comes to different tones, traditional decorations like red lights and baubles, ornaments and musical objects may appear confusing or even threatening to a particularly anxious pet.
“Consider subtle decorations”, explains interior expert Ryan McDonough. “A few carefully chosen ornaments can create a peaceful and elegant look. Use soft, warm lighting to create a soothing ambience, and choose decorations in muted colours such as gold, silver, or white to create a calming atmosphere.”
An artist’s impression of what your Christmas tree could look like if your pets designed it!
How to decorate your home for a pet-friendly Christmas
Pets and Christmas trees: it’s not an immediate match made in heaven! Luckily, Ryan is on hand with some game-changing tips to create a beautiful yet pet-safe holiday display:
- Use shatterproof decorations and explore different textures, like wooden ornaments and soft fabric decorations
- Try using pet-safe, non-glass, oversized baubles as a focal point which also helps avoid choking hazards
- Create height by positioning decorations and any candles safely out of reach
- Choose pet-safe or faux plants instead of traditional options, avoiding mistletoe and holly berries
- Avoid musical items that could stress your pet
- Consider lightweight paper decorations like chains, snowflakes, or origami ornaments that are easy to clean up if knocked down and won’t cause injury if they fall on your pet
- Keep one room decoration-free as a quiet retreat for your pet
- Consider creating pet-friendly visiting hours and gentle guidelines for guests, especially families with excited children, to help your pet feel secure
- Ensure your pet always has access to their safe space during gatherings
Of course, every pet is unique, and what may stress one pet may be embraced by others.
Want to experience how your furry friend sees your festive decorations?
We’ve launched an innovative tool that lets you upload a photo of your holiday tree or decorations and see them through your pet's eyes.
Try the Through Pets' Eyes tool and discover how your festive display appears to your four-legged friend. The tool also works with your camera in real time, perfect for testing different decoration arrangements before committing to them!
Discover how to make this holiday season magical for every family member - paws, tails, and all! - with this list of handy resources:
- Top tips for a dog-proof Christmas tree
- Top tips for a cat-safe Christmas tree
- See the world through your pet's eyes: pet vision filter
- Christmas dog names
- Christmas cat names
Interested in joining our global pet-loving community? Find out more about how it works here, or sign up today and start browsing thousands of loving in-home sitters or unique sits around the world.
Pet-friendly Christmas - FAQs
The artificial snow used on frosted Christmas can be toxic to cats and may cause gastrointestinal upset, or intestinal blockages if too much is ingested.
Pine, fir, and spruce trees are generally considered non-toxic to pets. However, the oils produced by these trees can be toxic and could make your cat very unwell if ingested. Likewise, the sharp pine needles could cause an injury, oral irritation, or gastrointestinal upset if chewed or consumed. While artificial Christmas trees are considered safer, these too can cause gastrointestinal issues if ingested.
Aim to keep your cat away from your Christmas tree for a cat-friendly Christmas by using a baby gate or fence around it. Additionally, opt for cat-safe Christmas decorations (such as shatterproof and non-glass baubles), keep candles and electrical cords out of reach, and opt for pet-safe (or faux) holiday plants.
Here are a few suggestions to help keep dogs away from Christmas trees and ensure a dog-friendly Christmas:
- Use a baby gate or fence to keep your dogs away from the tree
- Use a pet-safe deterrent, such as a bitter apple or citrus spray, or try using aluminum foil around the base of the tree
- Train your dog to leave the tree alone using positive reinforcement
- Keep decorations out of reach where possible, for example, by placing your tree on a table or elevated surface, and only use dog-safe Christmas decorations
Yes, dogs can see color but their range is more limited than humans - they can see only in shades of blue, yellow, and grey.
Dogs can see shades of blue, yellow, and gray. They have a more limited color spectrum compared to humans and cannot see colors such as red, orange, and green. On the flip side, dogs have a broader field of vision than humans, and can also see better than us in very low light conditions.
Yes, cats can see color but they cannot see as many shades as we humans can. It's generally accepted that the colors cats see the best are blue and yellow, while red and pink appear to them as shades of grey.
