Poll: Cats Are Naughtier Than Dogs During the Holidays, Pet Parents Say

Is your pet on Santa’s naughty list? If they’re a cat, they’re more likely to be, according to a recent survey of pet parents.

Chewy polled hundreds of pet parents, who reported that their cats get up to more mischief than their dogs during this festive time of year. And that’s not all: From hanging a stocking for your pets above the fireplace to giving them gifts from Santa, you told us your pets are fully participating in holiday cheer.

So, if you do happen to have a cat who loves knocking over the Christmas tree? You’re not alone. In fact, we found that many pets get a little extra sassy around the holidays—and that you wouldn’t have it any other way. That’s because, by an overwhelming margin, pet parents say that their pets make the holiday season brighter and happier. In fact, it just wouldn’t be the holidays without them!

• 89% of pets will receive holiday presents this year
• Of those, 85% will receive two or more gifts
• Top holiday gifts include seasonal treats and festive holiday apparel and accessories

• 52% of pets proudly appear in their families’ holiday photos—and 19% even get their photo taken with Santa
• 52% of pet parents hang a stocking for their pet
• 42% of dogs love playing in the snow
• 19% of pet parents have visited holiday light shows with their pet
• 14% of pets have helped pick out a Christmas tree
• 12% of pet parents have gone sledding with their pets

Cats tend to be naughtier than dogs:

• 48% of dog parents say their pets are “very nice” during the holidays, compared to 33% of cat parents

But dogs have their naughty moments too! For example, pet parents said that if they left out cookies for Santa…

• 67% of dogs would eat them all
• 49% of cats would be good and let Santa have them

We asked pet parents what naughty behavior their pets get up to during the holiday season.

• Howling at delivery drivers: 40%
• “Protecting” their home from visiting friends and family: 39%
• Tracking snow in from outdoors: 35%
• Unwrapping/attacking presents under the tree: 22%
• Counter surfing for holiday treats: 20%

• Climbing the Christmas tree: 39%
• Pulling down decorations: 34%
• Unwrapping/attacking presents under the tree: 33%
• Getting tangled in decorations: 30%
• Knocking the Christmas tree over: 26%

Is your pet the star of the holiday season? You’re not alone. 42% of pet parents say their pets have “main character energy” during the holidays.

• 48% of pet parents say their pet would sound the intruder alert
• 24% of pets would snuggle up to Saint Nick

• 23% of dogs would be Dancer (joyful and playful)
• 25% of cats would be Vixen (sassy and clever)

The holiday character pets embody the most during the holidays: Buddy the Elf. They’re excited about everything!

• 90% of pet parents say their pet makes their holiday season brighter and happier.
• 96% of Gen Z and Millennials can’t imagine spending the holidays without their pet
• 37% of Gen Z and Millennials sing holiday songs to their pet, and 26% give their pets a special holiday-themed nickname

Lots of pet parents give their pets special holiday-themed nicknames during the holidays! A few of our favorites from our poll:

• “Jetson the Red-Nosed Reindeer (I just replace his name in songs)”
• “Jolly Bean and Santa Puppers”
• “Little Star”
• “Merry Milo”

For 63% of pet parents, the holidays are also a time to cherish the memories of pets they’ve lost—and no two traditions are the same.

• “One special ornament that holds fond memories is a small, handmade clay paw print ornament, crafted from my dog’s tiny paws when they were just a puppy.”
• “I had a bulldog named Brownie as a child. Back then, I associated him with Snoopy from ‘Peanuts.’ So I always have a Snoopy ornament for him.”
• “Every year, we hang an ornament that is scratched up because our cat always played with it.”

Shop our lists for the best dog gifts and best cat gifts, whip up a special DIY holiday-themed treat and send a letter to Chewy Claus for a chance to have your pet’s ultimate Christmas wish fulfilled.