Keep Calm This Holiday Season: How To Help Your Pets Relax During Festive Celebrations
Between jingle bells and festive feasts, the holiday season can feel merry and bright. But for your furry family members, it can also be stressful. From booming guests to tinsel temptations, holiday hustle can throw your pets off balance. At Petdirect, we get pet — and we’re here to help make festive season a calm, cosy and comfortable time for your cats and dogs.
In this blog, we’ll walk you through practical ways to reduce holiday stress for your pets, using expert advice and products we trust – because peace on earth should include your pets, too.
Why Festive Season Can Be Stressful For Pets
Your pet might be the life of the party every other day, but during the holidays, routines change. Visitors come and go, decorations pop up in every corner, and noisy celebrations can be overwhelming. For some pets, new sights, sounds and smells can trigger anxiety behaviours like shaking, hiding, vocalising, or even toileting inside.
Common festive season stressors include:
- Unfamiliar guests and noisy gatherings
- Changes to routine (especially feeding and walking schedules)
- Overstimulation (decorations, flashing lights, party music)
- Lack of quiet spaces to retreat to
Create A Safe And Calm Space
One of the easiest stress-reduction strategies? Helping your pet escape the chaos. Set up a calm, quiet area where they can rest undisturbed – ideally in a separate room away from the festivities. Add their favourite bedding, water bowl, a few beloved toys, and perhaps a gentle diffuser or pheromone spray to create a comforting "zen zone".
Consider cosy dog bedding or cat bedding to give them a place that smells familiar and feels safe. For cats, be sure to include a scratch post to help them release tension naturally.
Bonus tip: Use a Feliway or Adaptil diffuser to mimic natural calming pheromones.
Support With Calming Supplements Or Aids
If your pet tends to feel anxious during busy times, calming supplements can help take the edge off. Visit our Calming Essentials collection for safe and natural support – including chews, oils, treats and sprays made specifically for cats and dogs.
For higher stress levels, talk to your vet about further support – but for everyday tension during the holidays, our gentle, pet-friendly options are a great helper. You’ll find calming aids in our:
Keep Them Enriched And Entertained
Boredom and overstimulation often go paw in paw during the holidays. Help your pets burn off restless energy with some festive fun. Keep up walking and playtime routines for your dog, and for cats, break out the toys to keep their minds busy.
Explore our pet toys collection for interactive options, or check out our smart tech toys to keep them amused while you’re entertaining guests.
Need a recommendation? The KONG range is a classic for a reason – stuff it with treats and let your pup go to town. For felines, teaser wands and catnip mice are always a hit!
Stick To Familiar Routines
As much as possible, keep meal times, toilet breaks and bedtime rituals predictable. Pets thrive on routine, and during busy periods, sticking to a schedule can curb stress. If you’re expecting guests or heading away, make arrangements early – and be sure your pet’s needs are covered.
Consider an Autodeliver subscription so you never forget essential food and treats, or explore smart pet feeders to maintain consistent feeding times when life gets hectic.
Watch What Goes In — And What Stays Out
Treats are part of the season, but many human foods are dangerous for pets. Chocolate, grapes, raisins, cooked bones, and fatty or heavily seasoned dishes can all cause illness. Keep harmful goodies out of paw’s reach and treat them instead with safe and tasty options from our pet treats range.
Need a few festive-themed goodies? Browse our stocking stuffers for tasty nibbles and toys that add joy without the risks.
Give The Gift Of A Stress-Free Holiday Season
With a little planning and a lot of love, you can help your pets enjoy the holiday season just as much as you do. Whether it means creating a quiet hideaway, offering calming aids, or sticking to routine, every step counts when it comes to your pet's wellbeing.
At Petdirect, we’re here to help you make your pet’s festive season joyful and stress-free. Explore our full Christmas range to stock up on gifts, calming helpers, and festive fun for your furry family members.
Because holidays should be happy for every member of the family – paws down.