How To Prepare Your Pets For The Holidays + DIY Pet Santa Hat Tutorial

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #ToPetsWithLove #CollectiveBias The holidays. They are here. I am ready!! Now, I am not ready in the sense that I have everything bought, wrapped, cooked, etc. I mean I am ready to face the challenge of what the holidays bring. And I don’t mind all the craziness of the holidays because I know what the payoff is. I get to see my three kids in one place at one time. And it’s the only time of the year that happens. So, bring it on holidays! I am ready!

The Holidays; Bringing Families Together

My daughter has two dogs, Ringo and Elvis and they are my loves! When she and her fiance come up for Christmas, they bring my babies. Because we rent, we are unable to have dogs, so I spoil my “grand dogs” while they are here! Because our lease allows cats, we have two rescue kitties. They are sisters. Their names are Meep and Hazel. They are not fond of Elvis and Ringo, but they allow them to invade their living space once a year!

How To Prepare Your Pets For The Holidays

If you have pets, preparing them before the flurry of holiday activities is important. There is a lot of activity going on during that time. This can throw your pet into an anxiety attack if you aren’t proactive. By following a few simple rules, your pet can enjoy the holidays as much as you do! So, please be sure to:

• For dogs, refresh them on their manners. Remind them how to sit, stay, etc. For your cats, good luck because they don’t have manners!
• Make sure small decorations and ornaments are out of your pets reach. They can choke or harm themselves. It’s like us when we step on Lego pieces.
• Know when enough is enough. Just like humans, pets have a limit of how much socializing they can do. I mean, you can only take so much of Uncle Harry who always has one too many drinks, has garlic breath and laughs just a bit too loudly at his own jokes.
• Pets should not eat people food. They need to eat their own foods. Elvis and Ringo eat Purina Beneful dry food and Meep and Hazel enjoy their Fancy Feast Purely wet food.

Kroger; My One Stop Holiday Shopping Store

When I am shopping for my holiday foods, I can find everything I need at my local Kroger. They have the quality I trust at prices I can afford. And I don’t just stock up on human goodies at my Kroger for the holidays! I can also get everything I need for our pets as well. The pet care aisle is filled with food, treats, toys, litter and more for Meep, Hazel, Elvis and Ringo. They carry our favorite dry and wet Purina foods and treats, so spoiling the pets won’t break the bank!

Meep and Hazel have recently acquired a taste for the new Purina Fancy Feast Purely wet food from Kroger. Because it is made without bi-products and fillers, I trust it for Meep and Hazel. All the girls get from the Purely line is real meat, chicken and seafood. Meep loves the Seabass and Shrimp while Hazel can go to town on the White Meat Chicken and Flaked Tuna. Doesn’t it look like Hazel is enjoying herself?

When it comes to snack time, the girls are torn as well! The Party Mix comes in a variety of flavors that are sure to stimulate your kitty’s senses! Meep prefers the Friskies Party Mix in the Beachside flavors. With shrimp, crab and tuna, who could blame her? For Hazel, she enjoys the Whisker Lickin’s in the Tuna flavor. Just like the package says, they are crunchy and yummy! For proper oral maintenance for your dog or cat, be sure to stock up on the new Purina DentaLife! [Meep is camera shy, but my girl Hazel is always happy to eat on camera for me!]

If the prices at Kroger weren’t already affordable, you can save even more on your favorite Purina products for your pets. You can spread the holiday love to your furry friends with the help of Purina! Now through the end of November, you can take advantage of great savings on your favorite Purina pet products available at Kroger with this Coupons.com link, while supplies last.

I love the holidays! Did I already tell you that?! I seriously start buying my gifts in the summer. I am ready to start decorating the day after Halloween! Not only do I want my family to get in the holiday spirit with me, the cats should too! That is why I decided to make this adorable DIY Pet Santa Hat. It is so easy to make and will run you less than $5. If you have a sewing machine, you can use it to complete this project. If not, you can easily do this by hand as well.

Here is what you will need:

1/8 yard of red fabric or felt
1 spool of white faux fur
1 handful of batting or other filler
1 white pom pom
1 package of 1/8″ elastic
Needle and thread

Step One: Measure the top of your pet’s head. Cut out a cone pattern from paper that is one inch larger than your pet’s head measurements. Place one side of the pattern on the fold on your fabric. Pin and cut.

Step Two: Fold your fabric with right sides touching. Sew down the length of the open side. Turn inside out.

Step Three: Sew your fur along the bottom edge of the hat. I used the sewing machine, but you can do so by hand as well.

Step Four: Next,, sew your pom pom on the tip of the hat. Sew the elastic on either side of the hat. You will do this at the bottom, on opposite sides where their ears would be. This should fit snugly but not tightly under your pet’s chin.

 

Now you are ready to dress up your pet in this stylish DIY Santa Hat. If you have a dog, they are sure to cooperate. If you have a cat like Hazel, she may need to be sleeping before you can get it on her head! The entire time I was working on this, I am pretty sure she slept with one eye open. And as I suspected, once she was asleep, we were able to slip it on her for this adorable photo!!!

How do you prepare your pets for the holidays? Do they have a favorite Purina product from Kroger you like to stock up on?