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Most of us love Christmas, but it can be a tough time for introverts, especially if our tailmates are just like us. Thankfully, you can have a lovely, memorable Christmas, without exhausting yours or your pet's social battery. We're here to tell you how.
Below, we discuss how to have a quiet Christmas as an introvert with a dog or cat, some of our favourite Christmas activities with pets and what to do when festivities with others comes around.
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Christmas ideas for pets: creating a cosy time for you and your tailmate
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Festive walks
Boxing Day walks are popular, but a festive walk is just as good. Exploring a local park, woods, or a new spot is a great way to feel relaxed and refreshed. Pick a quiet spot if you want you and your dog to get away from the festive hustle and bustle.
Best Christmas movies to watch with a pet on your lap
Want to get away from the world for a while this Christmas? We love nothing more than chilling on the sofa with our pet with some blankets, a hot drink and some pet-safe treats. In fact, film watching and snuggling is one of the best low-stress Christmas activities for cats and introverts specifically.
Not sure what to watch? Here’s our list:
The Aristocats
Christmas with the Kranks
A Dog Named Christmas
A Charlie Brown Christmas
How the Grinch Stole Christmas
The Search for Santa Paws
Beethoven's Christmas Adventure
The 12 Dogs of Christmas
Lady and the Tramp
The Nightmare Before Christmas
A Christmas Story
Photo ops
Want to capture this special festive time? Why not try a low-pressure photoshoot at home, with some festive props, your Christmas tree, and get some adorable snaps to look back on? It's good fun too!
Enrichment and play
Christmas is a great time to prioritise enrichment, so try some indoor games as you and your pet spend some time in your cosy indoors.
Our articles on dog enrichment ideas and indoor games for cats have a lot of recommendations, but some common ones involve hiding treats around the house or using a festive puzzle toy.
Quiet cuddle time
Sometimes, you don’t need to overthink it - just spend some quality time together and de-stress.
Baking pet-safe treats
We have a few articles on baking pet-safe "cakes" and treats, and this is a nice thing to do on Christmas Eve ready for the next day. Making homemade dog treats for Christmas morning sounds nice, doesn't it?
How your pet can help you during Christmas as an introvert
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Pets can help us de-stress and maintain a calm presence during the chaotic festive build-up. Cats and dogs have been proven to help our mental health, and, as introverts, they can keep us company and stay relaxed when we want to take some time away.
They provide us introverts with companionship during the festive holidays - they can give us comfort without conversation, all while giving us emotional support. It’s what tailmates are for after all.
Plus, a pet can give us a good excuse to take a break from all the social events that are going on, even if it’s stepping away from a Christmas party for a bit to feed the cat or walk the dog - being in sync with our tailmates can give us all an excuse to rest and get away for a while.
Overall, we shouldn’t become pet parents so our pet can help us, but being a pet parent and having a tailmate does bring joy to so many of us, whether we’re introverts or extroverts.
How to handle all the festive bustle and noise with your pet
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Stick to your normal schedule
Follow your usual schedule with your pet. Feed them at the same time, go for walks at similar times and keep playtime as normal. This will help reduce stress for you and your pet.
Create a quiet room
Make a calm, quiet space away from any festivities you’re having at home where you and your pet can chill in when you’re overwhelmed. Stock it up with some pet toys and a comfy bed.
Make sure your pet is well-socialised before guests come over (and let them know too)
We wouldn’t recommend having lots of guests over until your pet is well-socialised. Once they are, make sure any guests know the house rules, and remind them to follow steps like keeping doors and gates closed.
Otherwise, your pet should enjoy the company (but will enjoy the quiet time with you more afterwards).
Should I miss out on family time to look after my pet at Christmas?
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So, should you skip out on time with your people to look after your pet, and is it okay to skip Christmas parties to stay home with your pet?
This is the toughest question every pet parent introvert faces. First, let's establish this: your peace and your pet's comfort are valid priorities. It is absolutely okay to set boundaries.
We understand it’s your tailmate, but life’s about balance, and we’re sure you can find ways to spend time with family and your pet this Christmas.
For example, if it’s not possible for you to take your cat and dog to a family event, you could meet out and about somewhere with them, like a walk or at a pet-friendly place.
But we get it: you and your tailmate are in sync, and it’s hard to go anywhere without them. Ultimately, it’s up to you, and as long as you spend some time this Christmas with those you love, we’re sure it’ll be fine.
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