Festive photos, family dinners and trick-or-treaters — the holidays are the one time of year when lots of pets end up in an outfit. The costume is usually the least risky part of the evening. Here is how to choose something your dog or cat can comfortably wear, and how to keep the season's real hazards away from them.
The Rules That Come Before Style
A good festive outfit passes four checks before you ever think about how it looks:
- Freedom to move — your pet can walk, sit, lie down and turn normally.
- Clear senses — nothing covers the eyes or ears, and nothing presses on the throat or nose.
- Clear toilet area — the underside is open so toileting is never obstructed.
- Nothing to chew or catch — no dangling cords, beads, bells, sequins or small glued-on parts.
If a piece fails any of these, it is decoration rather than clothing — and it belongs on the mantelpiece, not on your pet.
What to Avoid in a Pet Costume
The risks in cheap costumes are predictable: tight elastic around the neck, plastic masks over the eyes, swinging accessories that snag on furniture, and glued-on pieces that come loose and get swallowed. Batteries and LED units are a particular hazard if chewed. Fabric matters too — a non-breathable plastic or rubber shell traps heat fast, and a festive jumper worn in a warm room can overheat a dog, especially a flat-faced breed such as a French Bulldog or Pug.
Human clothing should stay in the human wardrobe. It is cut for shoulders and arms an animal does not have, which is why human jumpers end up tight at the neck, loose at the belly, and bunched around the legs.
Halloween: Costumes, Candles and Chocolate
For many pets, the costume is fine and the evening is the problem. A constant doorbell, strangers in masks, and shouting from the street can push a nervous animal well past their comfort zone. If your dog barks or shakes at the doorbell, set them up in a quiet room with a familiar blanket and something to chew rather than keeping them in the middle of the party.
Keep the sweets genuinely out of reach. Chocolate contains theobromine, which dogs process poorly, and dark chocolate is the most dangerous. Raisins, grapes, xylitol sweetener, alcohol and onion or garlic snacks are also toxic. A dropped sweet in a hallway is the classic Halloween vet visit. Burn candles and pumpkins well out of tail and whisker range, and add a reflective detail to any costume worn for an evening walk.
Christmas: Jumpers, Trees and Tinsel
A well-fitted festive jumper is the easy part of Christmas. The tree is where most accidents happen: tinsel, ribbon, baubles and string lights are all tempting to chew, and swallowed decorations can cause a blockage that needs surgery. Chocolate coins and advent calendars are the other December classic. Keep the lower branches of the tree out of reach, secure the tree itself, and avoid edible-looking ornaments.
With a warm fire, central heating and a house full of people, a jumper can also simply be too much. Our advice is the same in December as in July: dress for a short moment, not a whole day. Our winter clothing guide covers how to tell when a pet is genuinely cold rather than just festive.
Cats at the Holidays
Cats are honest critics of costume choices: if yours freezes, slumps or starts rolling to remove an outfit, that is a clear no. Many cats tolerate a simple collar-sized bow or a soft knit far better than anything with sleeves or a hood. Never dress a cat for long periods unsupervised, and never leave a costume on a cat who might climb and snag it. There is much more on this in do cats need clothes?
Fit, Size and Dry Runs
Buy festive knitwear the same way you buy everyday clothing: by chest girth and back length, with the two-finger test at the chest and neck. Try it on at home a few days before the event, not five minutes before the photo, so a first-wearing wiggle does not become the memory. For breed-specific sizing — Chihuahuas, French Bulldogs, Dachshunds and Whippets all fit differently — see our small dog sweater sizing guide, or start with the complete pet clothing size guide.
When to Take It Off
Take the outfit off when your pet settles down to rest, when you leave the room or the house, and at the first sign of chewing, scratching, panting or pawing at the garment. A festive jumper is for the photo and the toast — not for the whole evening, and never for a night's sleep.
Shop Festive Knitwear
Our seasonal knits — ghost, skull, bee, heart and classic Christmas patterns — are cut for comfort with soft, stretchy fabric, an open belly and no dangling parts, in sizes XS to XL for dogs and cats.
Keep Reading
- Best winter clothes for small dogs and cats — the cold-weather wardrobe
- Small dog sweater sizing — Chihuahua, French Bulldog, Dachshund and Whippet
- Do cats need clothes? — a gentle guide for cat owners