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Last Christmas, we gave you our heart, and the very next day, you gave it to your cat — which is totally understandable, because what’s better than a feline friend? This year, upgrade your holiday game with DIY cat Christmas cards made in partnership with Truly Engaging.
From photoshoot ideas to template suggestions, we’ve put together a quick guide to creating the perfect cat Christmas card so you can share your adorable furry friend with the world.
Family Christmas Photo Ideas with Your Cat
There are so many ideas on how you can take family Christmas pictures with cats in the mix. From cute and cool poses to festive and fun settings, these ideas should help kick start your brainstorming for your Christmas cards.
1. Kitty By the Christmas Tree
Some traditionalists would argue that there is no better backdrop for cat Christmas cards than a well-decorated Christmas tree. Gather your family in front of the tree, put your kitty on someone’s lap or in its favorite basket, and sing carols to get in the mood. Kitty doesn’t have to sing, of course.
2. In the Snow
We recognize many cats won’t be up for a snowball fight, but faux snow (either in sprinkle form or those cloud-like nests) can give you the feel of an outdoor shoot without subjecting Fluffy to the elements. Play with snow-related props like a mini sled or sleigh for extra whimsy.
3. Gift Wrapped (with a Bow!)
Wrap your kitty in Christmas paper and add a bow on his or head for the perfect final touch. It’s okay if the paper falls apart or gets a bit shredded from a few encounters with you-know-who’s claws. This Christmas photo setup could look even better if the paper is worn and the cat is being interactive with its makeshift outfit.
4. Playing with Christmas Ribbon
Fact: Most cats love batting around balls of yarn, and a spool of ribbon holds similar attraction. Visit your local craft store (or your grandma’s craft cabinet) and bring home a varied selection of Christmas ribbon. Try to mix and match seasonal patterns so you have some plaid, some red and green, some sparkle, etc. Then pile it all up, sit your cat in the middle, and let the good times roll (pun intended).
5. Looking Up at the Lights
If your cat likes chasing the light beams from those handheld laser pointers, it might also enjoy chasing your Christmas lights — especially strands that have different settings. Whether your cat just looks up at the lights or actually tries to paw them, you have the potential for a great photo.
You can expand this same idea to pics of your cat pawing at ornaments or looking at themselves in one of those reflective Christmas balls.
6. Chasing the Christmas Tree Train
Speaking of chasing things, imagine Fluffy’s excitement when you set up the train tracks around your Christmas tree and let that chug-a-chug-chug locomotive loose on the tracks.
Your cat might chase the train, swat at it, or try to ride it. Honestly, it’s all fair game and worthy of a stellar photograph.
7. Cat in the Hat
Step 1: Get yourself a Santa hat.
Step 2: Turn that hat upside down.
Step 3: Put your cat in the hat.
Step 4: Take the perfect cat Christmas card photo.
8. Santa’s Little Snack Stealer
It was so kind of you to leave out milk and cookies for Santa. Too bad Fluffy has her feet planted in that conveniently placed milk saucer and has left footprints across Santa’s note. Actually, it’s just what you intended, and now you have the most charming Christmas card photo you’ve taken to date.
9. Christmas Sweaters
Christmas sweaters aren’t just for adults anymore. Deck your little buddy out in their very own Christmas sweater. It’s up to you whether that sweater is ugly or stylishly vintage, and you can match them to the whole family or go for an artfully mismatched look (everyone in their own thrift store finds) instead.
How to Get the Perfect (Paw-fect) Photo
For any pet owner who has tried to give their furry friend a bath or quick nail clipping, taking Christmas cards with cats probably seems like a risky idea. But even the pickiest cats can be made photo ready with a little planning — and a lot of distraction.
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Make noises. Funny ones, of course. If your cat is the type of fluffy feline that’s typically interested in weird noises, you may be able to whistle, purr, click your tongue, or “pspsps” to hold their attention.
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Take breaks. Even supermodels need to take five sometimes. Give your cat a break to eat, drink, stretch, use the bathroom, or bird watch out the living room window while you reset a scene or take a break yourself.
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Use props. This is the perfect time to give your cat a new toy. Buy a festive catnip holder, Santa-themed scratch pole, or other holiday gizmo and it’ll distract your cat while also adding to your Christmas-y backdrop.
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Capture as many images as possible, as quickly as possible. You never know what shots you might accidentally get when you’re trying to capture something entirely different. Take lots of photos manually and use your camera or phone’s burst feature to capture a series of images in rapid succession. Even if the outtakes aren’t right for your Christmas card, they could be good for social media or your kitty scrapbook.
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Prep them through pampering. Your cat is probably already the king or queen of TLC. But when it’s almost photo time, you’ll want to step up the attention so that your cat is ready to return that attention in front of the camera. Lots of scratches, belly rubs, and treats will help minimize acting out and hopefully win you some very contented expressions while the shutter’s snapping.
Cat-Related Christmas Card Sayings
Your cat Christmas cards aren’t complete until you come up with the perfect thing to write inside. Here are a few pithy, sweet, and seasonally on-point ways to send Merry Christmas wishes with cats as your cosigner.
Remember, these are cat Christmas card messages, not professional letters to a prospective employer. Have fun with them! Get punny. Be silly. Take chances on ridiculous updates on classic Christmas carols, just because you can.
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Feliz Navicat! Best wishes for a wonderful Christmas from our casa (and cats) to yours.
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We’re pawsitively thrilled we’ll be seeing you in the new year! Until then, have a wonderful holiday and enjoy your time with family.
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We wish you a Meowy Christmas, we wish you a Meowy Christmas, we wish you a Meowy Christmas and a bunch of new toys!
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I don’t know about you, but this holiday season has us feeling pawsitively fuzzy! Happy holidays from our fur kids (and the two-legged ones, too).
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Psst…. we have a secret. We think you’re the cat’s meow! Happy holidays, from the [NAME] family.
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‘Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house, the cat was meowing because he wanted out. Sound familiar? Happy holidays to our fellow pet lovers.
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He’s making his list, he’s checking it twice, and we have proof Fluffy’s been naughty and nice! (The perfect message to accompany a couple photos of your cat in the act — one naughty, one nice).
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Merry Christmas wishes to you and your cats.
Christmas Cards with Your Cat from Truly Engaging
You’ve got your photoshoot planned and your cat-themed Christmas message is in the works. Now it’s time to look at some fun cat Christmas card options from Truly Engaging!
One more thing to consider: If you’re so in love with your Christmas card you can’t imagine putting it away after the holidays, consider an alternative. Send out Magnetic Christmas Cards instead and save one for yourself. These Christmas card alternatives stick to most metals, meaning you can display your kitty on your fridge, work locker, metal-framed mirror, or even part of your car’s interior.
1. Feliz Navidad
Wish your friends and family Feliz Navidad — or is it Feliz NaviCAT? — with this festive card from Truly Engaging. There are three spots waiting for your photo uploads, and just a few simple lines of text so that your images stay in the spotlight.
2. Heavenly Song
Heavenly Song looks especially gorgeous as shown thanks to bracketed edges and the almost ethereal peek-a-boo white text used for the “Heaven + Nature Sing” text overlay. This card includes wording that suggests your family is growing, making it a fun choice for anyone who has recently adopted a cat or two and is eager to use the holiday season to show off their newest family members.
3. Scripted Blessings
If you need extra room on your cat Christmas card for a longer message, Scripted Blessings might be the right fit. Traditional scripted letting gives way to a few lines of text that you can edit to wish loved ones a Meowy Christmas and a Catnippy New Year.
4. Ivy Blessings
Here comes the vintage charm! With its retro lettering and vintage-inspired flourishes, Ivy Blessings is practically begging for a vintage-themed photo of you and your cat. Pose your kitty in an upcycled red wagon with vintage Christmas ornaments as decorative accents and experiment with filters to see if a sepia-toned or black-and-white photo might better play up the throwback vibes.
5. Big Bold Joy
Oh my gosh, your cat is cute! Which is why its photo should be put in a place of pride right in the center of this Big Bold Joy Christmas card. This card is all about fun, so use a silly candid of your cat or outtake to match the joy.
6. Modest Cheer
Skip straight to New Year’s celebrations with Modest Cheer, a card that’s ready to help you and your loved ones ring in 2023. Imagine your cat in a party hat and a pair of those 2023 glasses. Champagne glass props and glitter confetti would be a big bonus.
7. Sweet Snowfall
Pair your snowy cat Christmas card photos with Sweet Snowfall, a design punctuated by a few thoughtfully placed snowflake graphics. You’ll have space for two photos plus a short message, like “Snow place like home!”.
Browse Truly Engaging products and order free samples today!
Cat Christmas cards are whimsy, love, and holiday cheer, all rolled into one festive package. Browse Truly Engaging’s Christmas Cards to find the card, postcard, or magnet that best fits your Christmas vision, then order a free sample to experience our quality firsthand before finalizing your holiday order.
