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Updated on April 22nd, 2025
During Hanukkah, we get to bask in the beautiful light of the menorah, enjoy delicious food with family and friends and unwrap beautifully decorated gifts. But those of us celebrating with our pets need to take added precautions to help ensure the holiday is safe and fun for all. So, as you prepare to celebrate the eight nights with your whole family, check out our eight tips for bringing your pet into the Hanukkah festivities.
The centerpiece of the Hanukkah celebrations, the menorah, will require especially vigilant safety precautions if there are pets nearby—especially young or senior pets. Rambunctious kittens and puppies might be curious about the flickering candles or knock the candelabra over when playing. Older pets, whose eyesight may no longer be what it once was, could also be at risk of bumping into tables and knocking over items.
Also consider your pets’ habits if you’ll be lighting up a fireplace during the holidays. If you won’t be able to closely supervise your pet when the fire is roaring, you’ll need to find a safe and secure place where they can relax away from the flames.
As accidents can easily happen, experts recommend using flameless battery candles instead of traditional ones and keeping pets at least 3 feet away from a fireplace or wood stove and out of reach of outside chimney vents. Take a look at the location of your cat’s or dog’s favorite bed or your bird’s cage. If they’re close to a natural or gas fire, they’ll need to be relocated, as the heat, gas and nearby glass or metal surfaces may retain heat that can be dangerous for your pet.
Pets also shouldn’t have access to electrical cords since chewing on them can be fatal. If you are using any additional cords or extension cords for the celebrations, be sure those are pet-safe. There are several sprays that can be used as repellants, but also keep acceptable chewing choices for your furry friends on hand and be sure to cover or protect any cords they may find enticing.
Food prepared for humans isn’t always the safest option for spoiling pets. Consider ordering an extra-special food your cat loves or a food like WholeHearted Fresh, whose ingredients look almost as good as the ones found in our own refrigerators, so your furry family members can join you in a safe mealtime with the family. Keep in mind that treats (of any kind) should make up no more than 10% of your pets’ daily calories. If you just can’t help yourself, however, and want to offer your pets a taste of your feast, consider the following:
For other food considerations, take a look at our previous post: Holiday People Food: What’s Safe for Your Pets and What’s Not.
Scissors, tape and paper can all be hazardous to pets. Consider designating one room in your home for gift wrapping in the lead-up to Hanukkah, and don’t allow your pets access to that room for the duration of the season. If that isn’t an option, keep pets out of the way during the wrapping process, store wrapped gifts in a secure place and clear away all wrapping tools and supplies before letting pets back into the wrapping area.
While you may want to include your pets in all the festivities, some Hanukkah rituals and games include small decorations and objects, like dreidels and gelt, that are dangerous for pets to play with. Gelt coins, whether they’re actual money or foil-covered chocolate, pose a risk in both size and content. Chocolate is toxic to pets.
Ideally, your dog or puppy gets to practice their training consistently. But when you’re expecting several guests, reviewing basic social manners and cues such as “sit,” “stay” and “off” could help you, your dog and your guests enjoy the festivities—or prevent a challenging scene with an overexcited pet. Also, be sure that your dog receives plenty of exercise on the day of the event, especially if you have a younger dog or a highly energetic, excitable breed. Exercise and play will encourage them to burn pent-up energy and help them remain calm when stimulated by new people, other pets (if invited) and the smell of delicious food.
If there is a possibility that a guest might accidentally leave an exterior door, window or gate open, or if your pet does not love the festivities as much as you do, find a secure, unoccupied, out-of-the-way and quiet place for them to relax during the party. Try a spare room or a crate if your pet is crate trained. Only consider putting your dog in an outside yard if it will keep them contained and other animals out, they’ll be comfortable outside for the expected duration of your festivities and the outdoor temperature and conditions are appropriate. Remember, many dogs do not enjoy being outside alone and may bark to get your attention. Wherever they are secured, the length of their stay in that location should be reasonable and comfortable. Make sure they have access to water and set them up with a cozy bed and a few of their favorite toys. Be sure to check in on them periodically during the party. Does your pet have separation anxiety or any other anxiety issue? If the answer is yes, you’ll need to take that into consideration, too. When in doubt about how best to support your pet’s physical and mental wellbeing, consult your vet or trainer.
Regular grooming helps you maintain your pet’s skin and coat health. To prepare for Hanukkah celebrations, grooming gets your furry friends looking their best and feeling more comfortable with a newly washed coat, trimmed nails and brushed teeth.
You might dress up for the holiday parties you host or attend, and if your furry friends are agreeable, they can, too. Some pets don’t want anything to do with that, of course, but others are happy to wear special Hanukkah dog sweaters, collars or bow ties to look extra cute for guests and photo ops. There are also options for your Hanukkah cat. Don’t wait until the day of the party to introduce your pets to outfits. If you are ordering apparel online, allow plenty of time for exchanges in case the fit isn’t right. or consider taking them to a local store for sizing. Limit their outfit-wearing to just a few minutes at a time to help them get used to wearing clothes. If your pet remains uncomfortable in the days leading up to your event, skip it this year and work on it slowly for next year’s extravaganza.
By now, your to-do list for enjoying Hanukkah with pets is probably nearly finished, but here’s a reminder not to forget gifts for your pets! Having a few new festive Hanukkah pet toys will help them feel as part of the celebration as the rest of the family. Select gifts that will help capture your pet’s attention so they are less likely to get after cords (see tip #1) or decorations. Keep wrapping minimal (or nothing) for your pet’s gifts so they remain pet-friendly, and as you lay their gifts out with the rest of your family’s, make sure that any human gifts that may contain food or candy are out of reach, or carefully monitored, to ensure your pet stays safe.
The holidays can be fun for everyone in your family, including your pets. With proactivity and patience, they can have a safe eight nights to remember along with you.
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