The best Christmas cat videos for Instagram mix one thing your cat really does (attack the tree, sit in the gift box) with one thing they’d never do on cue (wish everyone a Merry Christmas in a Santa hat). Below are 12 ideas split that way, plus how to make the second kind from a single photo.
Everything here works for dogs too.
Ideas you can film yourself
Cats do these on their own. Your job is to have the phone ready.
- Cat vs. the Christmas tree. Film the first time your cat meets the tree. Lock the camera on a shelf and let it run.
- The box is the gift. Wrap a present, film your cat ignoring it and climbing into the empty box.
- The ornament thief. One low-hanging shatterproof bauble, one camera at cat level, wait.
- Fairy lights in slow motion. Turn off the room lights, switch on the tree lights, and shoot in slow-mo as your cat walks past. The background blur does the rest.
- The advent calendar. One treat a day, filmed in the same spot each day. Posts itself for 24 days.
- Paper wrapping chaos. Leave the wrapping paper roll on the floor. No explanation needed.
Tips for Reels: film vertically, put the best moment in the first second, and keep clips under 15 seconds.
Ideas your cat won’t do on cue
These are the ones people actually stop scrolling for, and the reason is obvious: no cat will do them.
- Your cat says “Merry Christmas.” WigglePet’s Merry Christmas template turns one photo of your cat into a short video of them saying “Merry Christmas!” plus your own words, by the Christmas tree, in the snow or by the fireplace, in an optional Santa-style costume.
- Your cat sings a carol. A full performance, mouth synced, body moving. See make your cat sing.
- Your cat in a Santa hat that actually fits. Describe “my cat in a red Santa hat, sitting by the fireplace” and WigglePet generates a realistic photo. No hat, no scratches.
- The list. Your cat reads out who was naughty this year. (It’s you.) Write the line, your cat delivers it.
- Two pets, one argument. Your cat and dog argue about who gets the best spot under the tree with Two-Pet Chat in make your pet talk.
- A New Year’s message. WigglePet’s Happy New Year template has your pet ring in the new year under fireworks. Post it at midnight.
You upload one clear photo, WigglePet keeps your cat recognizable, and videos are ready in one to three minutes, vertical and with no watermark. More examples are on the pet Christmas video and pet New Year video pages.
How to make a Christmas card with your dog or cat
Printed card: take the photo in daylight near a window, with the tree in the background slightly out of focus. Use a card template from Canva or a photo printing service. Kneel down to your pet’s eye level and hold a treat just above the lens so they look at the camera.
Digital card: a video card is easier to send and gets more replies. Make your pet’s Merry Christmas video and send it in the family group chat, or see the pet greeting card page for other occasions.
How to put a Santa hat on your dog or cat in a photo
- Real hat: some pets tolerate a loose hat for a few seconds. Treat, burst mode, hat off.
- Sticker: Canva and Instagram have Santa hat stickers. Fast, but they look pasted on.
- AI: describe the hat in WigglePet and it fits the hat to your pet’s head, ears and lighting. It’s the only option that also works in video.
A simple December posting plan
- Week 1: cat vs. tree (filmed)
- Week 2: Santa hat photo carousel (AI)
- Week 3: the box is the gift (filmed)
- Christmas Eve: your cat says “Merry Christmas” (AI)
- New Year’s Eve: the midnight greeting (AI)
