A Christmas Photo with Your Cat and Dog
By EVARILO · November 07, 2026
The dog is watching your hand. The cat has claimed the good cushion. Before you try to get them both looking at the camera, take that picture.
One of the nicest things about a holiday photo is how ordinary it starts to look a few years later. You remember that blanket, the corner where the tree always went, and how the cat could take up half a sofa. Here’s how to leave some of that in the frame.
Start where one of them already is
If your cat has settled on the sofa, you’ve got your location. Sit on the floor and invite your dog over beside the cushion. A cat on the armrest and a dog on the rug can share a frame quite comfortably. Hold your phone vertically and step back until you can see both faces. Leave a little room around their ears, especially if you plan to crop the picture for a card.
Let the window do the work
Try this while there’s still daylight in the room. Stand with the window just behind one shoulder and the tree off to one side. Tap the darker face on your phone screen and check that you can see the eyes. If a pale patch of fur loses its detail, ease the brightness down a little. The tree lights can stay on in the background.
Give each pet a detail of their own
Our schnauzer wears the cream Christmas Tree collar with its green tree charm and red and green beads. The tabby wears the cream Reindeer collar with a tiny red-nosed deer. The cream bands tie the picture together, and each close-up has something different to discover. A plain throw behind them helps those small details show up.
If you’re adding a collar for the photo, check the size guide and fit first.
Keep the frame after the pose
Ask someone they know to sit just behind you. Have them say your dog’s name once, and take a short burst as the ears lift. Keep the camera up for another second. Sometimes the keeper is the next frame, when the dog turns to the cat and the cat carries on looking out the window.
For a holiday card, try pairing that wide shot with one close-up of each pet. It gives the Christmas tree charm, the little reindeer, and those two very different expressions a place on the same card.
For a closer look at the tabby’s style, explore the Reindeer collar. After the holidays, compatible magnetic charms and bead strands can be swapped for a different look. Additional accessories are sold separately.