A roll of paper, a handful of ribbon and an open gift box can quickly spread across the room. Before your holiday wrapping session starts, decide where your supplies, finished presents and curious pets will go.
We suggest treating gift wrapping as a small household project with a clear beginning and cleanup step. The plan below works for Christmas, birthdays and other gift-giving days. It does not require a special room makeover or a new shopping list.
Before: give every item a place
- Choose a work area you can keep pets out of. A separate room with a closed door is easier to manage than supplies scattered across a shared floor. Arrange your pet's usual comfortable space before you begin.
- Put scraps straight into a container. Place it beside you, so cut ends and discarded packaging do not become a pile you intend to clear later. Keep the container inaccessible to pets.
- Separate edible gifts. Label food-containing packages for yourself and store them somewhere pets cannot reach. The ASPCA warns that pets may smell food inside wrapped presents, so wrapping is not a protective barrier. ASPCA holiday guidance.
During: contain the decorative extras
Keep ribbon, bows and string away from pets. VCA veterinary guidance warns that wrapping paper, string and ribbon can be dangerous if swallowed. Store decorated presents where pets cannot investigate them, rather than using the floor as a holding area. VCA holiday guidance.
For presents that will be around pets, consider leaving off loose decorative extras entirely. Printed paper and a flat label can still look festive. This is a practical styling choice, not a claim that paper or adhesive is safe to chew.
If you pause to answer the door or take a call, close the work area or put the supplies away first. A half-finished project needs the same access control as an active one.
After: reset the room before pets return
- Return unused supplies and cutting tools to closed storage.
- Collect ribbon ends, bows, packaging and other loose pieces from the table and floor.
- Check beneath the chair and along the edges of the work area.
- Secure or remove the scrap container.
- Move finished presents to their planned storage spot, including any edible gifts.
Repeat that cleanup after presents are opened. VCA's veterinary holiday guidance recommends promptly discarding wrapping paper, string and ribbon rather than leaving them available for pets to play with. VCA holiday tips.
Put one person in charge of the reset
When several people are wrapping or opening gifts, agree who will collect scraps and check the floor. A simple reminder helps: “Paper and ribbons go straight into this container, and food gifts stay out of reach.”
If you think your pet swallowed a decoration or packaging, contact your veterinarian promptly for advice. If poisoning is suspected, contact your veterinarian or ASPCA Poison Control immediately. Do not wait for a household checklist to answer a medical question.
For a separate decorating project, see our Christmas tree setup guide for homes with cats and dogs.