Christmas Pet Presents Made Stress Free

‘Tis the season to catch up with loved ones, exchange gifts and watch our cats and dogs curl up by the fire. That’s right – the magic of Christmas is for the whole family, pets included.

Which, if any, Christmas traditions / pet festivities do you get your pet involved in?

As our survey shows, many pet owners are keen to get into the Christmas spirit.

• Dog owners get a little more Christmassy than their cat counterparts. A majority of dog owners (52%) involve their pets in receiving gifts and stockings – this compares to 45% of cat owners. The dog-cat divide was the same for family photos (55% versus 36%), special treats and meals (44% versus 38%).
• Pet owners in Greater London are the most likely to include their pets in family photos (57%) and take them on Christmas outings (43%).
• Attitudes differ by age. For example, the Silent Generation (80+) are significantly more likely than Gen Z (16-28) to say their pets do not participate in Christmas traditions – 46% versus 3%.

Christmas is the season of giving, whether we’re partial to a pig in blanket or pulling a Christmas cracker. We polled pet parents on the presents they love to gift their animal companions.

What types of gifts do you typically buy for your pet at Christmas, if any?

We found that cat owners are more likely to buy grooming products than dog owners (20% versus 14%). In contrast, those dogs are likelier than moggies to be treated to experiences such as a 'pet-friendly holiday' and a 'special outing' (13% versus 8%).

The type of gift changes as our pets age. Toys are the most popular gift for pets aged five (67%), but this falls to 35% for pets aged 16+. Similarly, just 23% of people get beds or blankets for their one year-old pets, but by the time they reach 14 years old, this rises to 42%.

Of course, you can’t put a price on pet Christmas. Or can you?

• Among all pet owners, the average spend on pet Christmas presents is £37. Most commonly, pet owners are spending between £10-£20 on pet gifts (25%).
• Dog owners spend significantly more on average (£42) than cat owners (£28).
• Gen Z (£44) and Millennials (£46) have the highest average spend on pet presents.

For pet owners, Christmas isn’t all bright lights and Yule logs. For one thing, there’s the logistical challenge of looking after the cats or dogs while we’re away.

Who, if anyone, looks after your pet when/if you’re away over the Christmas period?

• Gen Z (52%) and Millennials (46%) are most likely to have family look after their pets. Gen Z (17%) and Millennials (13%) are also the likeliest to bring their pets with them abroad.
• Owners of older pets are far more reluctant to leave them. People were more likely to agree that they wouldn’t leave their pet alone for Christmas as their pet gets older – from 17% for pets aged less than one to 40% for pets aged 16.
• Pet owners in Greater London are the most likely to use kennels (17%) or bring their pet abroad (19%). Meanwhile, those in the north west are most likely to rely on family (45%).

And away from the festive cheer, pet owners are faced with an array of potential hazards around the home.

Which, if any, potential Christmas related hazards or stressors are you aware of?

• Higher income earners (£55,001 and over) express higher levels of worry across all specific concerns, such as eating something toxic (53%), knocking over decorations (40%) and stress from noise/visitors (41%).
• Worries are highest in Greater London, where owners are most concerned about their pet knocking over decorations (41%) and experiencing stress from noise/visitors (46%).

New pet owners tend to be the most anxious about hazards. Those who have owned their pet for two to three years show the highest levels of worry across multiple categories, including their pet eating something toxic (48-51%) and knocking over decorations (40-45%).

Twinkling lights and tempting treats are like catnip for any of us – let alone our beloved pets. But here are some tips for how to keep your home pet-safe this Christmas.

1. Provide a safe room for your pet away from all the noise.
2. Don’t leave food unattended! Especially food that can make pets unwell, like chocolate and raisins.
3. If you have a real Christmas tree, sweep up the pine needles – these can be mildly toxic for our pets.
4. Don’t let decorations dangle. Those baubles might look fabulous, but they can be a choking hazard.
5. Keep fairy lights safely out of reach so your pets aren’t tempted to chew on them. We’re looking at you, doggies!

For more ideas on how to keep your pets safe this festive season, read our guide. 

And consider our pet insurance to help cover the cost of any unexpected vet bills this festive season. 

Win a prize just in time for Christmas

Got space to fill in your pet’s stocking? Check out the Petplan Advent Calendar which has hundreds of paw-some prizes up for grabs between December 1st-24th. Follow us on Facebook or Instagram for your daily reminder to enter Good luck!