It’s the middle of winter, so you can already dress your dog or cat in cute and cozy sweaters when they’re out in the cold. But it’s time to change things! National Dress Your Pet Day, January 14, was created to raise awareness about shelter animals.
What a great opportunity to show off your cat or dog in their cutest outfit and also support a great cause. There are plenty of adoption organizations and other businesses celebrating the day, so check out your favorites and see how you can help spread the word about the great work animal shelters do.
But there are plenty of other reasons to dress up your pet too! Whether it’s a modest bow tie or designer jackets, who doesn’t smile when seeing a pet fashionista strutting around? Read on to find out more fun reasons to dress up your cat or dog, and how to keep them safe and happy while doing it.
A birthday paw!
Birthdays are definitely one of the best days to celebrate your pet, so why not get your cat or dog dressed in their cutest (or craziest) outfit? Help them celebrate their big day with a party hat, birthday bandana, or maybe a shiny new necklace from their current list. Side note: Did you know it’s a myth that 1 human year equals 7 dog years?
Have a nice day Gotcha
We know that sometimes your pet’s actual date of birth can be a guess, so celebrate their Gotcha Day instead. It’s the day they officially joined the family, so why not celebrate with a fancy new cardigan or a pretty pink tutu? If your cat or dog was a rescue, you can help raise awareness for pet adoption by posting your pet’s Happy Gotcha Day portrait and tagging the adoption organization.
Outfits for the whole family
For the cutest family photos, who could resist matching pet and pet parent pajamas? For the more fashion-forward family, there are endless options for matching outfits, including shirts, sweaters, and even three-piece suits. Just make sure your dog or cat’s clothes are pet-approved to keep them safe. Sure, you can make your cat or dog look perfect, but the trick is to get them to pose long enough for the picture!
Comfortable and safe
If your pet isn’t used to clothes (or even is), here are some tips to make sure they’re comfortable and safe in their new outfit. Make sure it’s not too tight or too loose and doesn’t obstruct their vision, hearing or breathing. They should be able to continue to move, breathe, eat, drink and do other functions as usual.
Also, make sure there are no loose parts or items that could pose a choking hazard or cause stomach upset or obstruction if swallowed. Also avoid items that could be tempting new chew toys. Be sure to watch your pet and if he shows any signs of distress, abnormal behavior or overheating, remove clothing immediately. If your pet really doesn’t feel it, keep it happy and let it go natural.
Let’s be honest, do we really need a reason to dress up our pet and post a picture on Instagram? Make every day National Pet Dress Up Day, if you and your pet want to. As long as your pet is safe, comfortable and as happy as you are when posing for the camera.
RELATED: Guest Column: 12 Ways You Can Help An Animal Shelter Besides Adopting