Move Over Rudolph
December 11, 2025
Decorate with Cats!
Candilee Jackson
Introduction
Christmas thoughts automatically take many of us to Santa’s workshop, reindeer, and polar bears, each signaling the North Pole as the very heart of the Christmas season. But, my friends, this is a petition to move cats into the coveted spot for holiday décor! “And it appears as though some Christmas décor makers have already signed.”2 There is a feline Christmas world out there, just waiting to tap your wallet and wake the Christmas universe to something new, and maybe even a little cuter than polar bears in Santa suits.
More than any other holiday, our garages, basements, and attics are stuffed with plastic bins of Christmas decorations for your home, both inside and out. And with cats, just as with other Christmas favorites, the options are wide open. Besides the usual outdoor blowup characters and figures, there are garden signs, wreaths, door mats, window dressing, ornaments, and flags adorned with cat figures. It should be easy to “convince your neighbors that cats and Christmas go hand in hand.”2
Cat Décor Finds
Looking for cat-themed holiday decorations is literally at your fingertips! Google will introduce you to a world of holiday decorations and artisans who use cats in their creations.
Places to start:
Pinterest, Etsy, Amazon, Christopher Radko, Old World Christmas Ornaments, Chewy, eBay, Wayfair, Walmart (outdoor décor)
The Ugly Christmas Sweater
The third Friday of December is National Ugly Christmas Sweater Day, and this “holiday” is not just in the good ol’ US of A, but in the United Kingdom as well. Initially, the “ugly” sweater thing came about when amateur knitters gave Christmas-themed sweaters to family members, the key word being “amateur.” “They didn’t intend to make it ugly, only to make something for you that ended up looking good.”2
This questionable tradition began with corporate America, where stuffy corporate leaders would dress down on the last Friday before Christmas Day, and unleash the goofy personalities hiding behind their requisite three-piece suits.
“It wasn’t until the 1980s that the item hit the mainstream. The shift came thanks to pop culture and comedies, with goofball dad characters like Chevy Chase’s Clark Griswold in ‘National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation’ turning the holiday sweater into an uncomely but endearing expression of cheer.”2
“Over the last decade, the ugly Christmas sweater has firmly embedded itself in yuletide culture. You know the one. It’s a woolly pullover (or jumper in the UK) usually in different shades of red, white, and green, often of questionable fabric, and with at least one Christmas-inspired motif on it – a snowman, tinsel, a reindeer, or candy canes. Extra points if it features 3D pom-pom or jingle bells.”1
Besides Chevy Chase, Colin Firth also made a statement about the ugly Christmas jumper. In “Bridget Jones’s Diary,” Colin Firth’s character, Mark Darcy, turns to greet Bridget (Renée Zellweger) at a family party wearing an unattractive knitted garment featuring a giant, red-nosed reindeer. Bridget is horrified. So were you, probably, if you watched it in the cinema. But you probably also smiled.”1
The Ugly Cat Christmas Sweater
Meaning different things to vastly different people, the ugly cat sweater represents to some the very real love of felines to those who are totally into dogs, and as cat lovers, we know who rules and who drools. It’s just another way to play with the idea of the ugly Christmas sweater.
Most folks have no idea that it’s a cat living with Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus who has his mittens firmly on the reins at the North Pole. “Santa Claws” keeps tipsy elves in line, ruling the workshop with an iron paw. “If we’re not nice, those razor-sharp talons come out.”2
Another ugly cat sweater theme is the electrified cat. This feline “really knows how to get dolled up for a holiday party. From the awkward headgear to the scintillating strings of blinkers, Miss Kitty is letting her light shine. Check the back for the punchline of this sweater – this cat is tapping into the energy grid in a big way.”2
No doubt, the most popular cat-themed sweater illustrates the various issues that come about when the family Christmas tree meets the cat. Stitched with care, the fallen tree, satisfied cat, and real jingle bells come together in one garish clash of artistic endeavor.
And the Tail End …
Go ahead. You have the permission of the cat fancy to indulge in all things cat for the coming holidays. Have fun! Purr along with your favorite Christmas carols on the radio or your smartphone, and don’t forget to take lots of pictures to share on social media!
References
- Cerini, Marianni. 20234. “A Cozy History of the Ugly Christmas Sweater.” December 18. Accessed September 30, 2025. https://www.cnn.com/style/ugly-christmas-sweater-holidays-history.
- Harvey, Olivia. 2022. “Festive Cat Outdoor Christmas Decorations to Celebrate the Holiday.” The Dodo. December 09. Accessed September 30, 2025. https://www.thedodo.com/dodowell/outdoor-christmas-cat-decorations