Easter 2026 falls on Sunday, April 5. The best ways to celebrate with your pet include creating a spring-themed pet portrait, building a pet-safe Easter basket, organizing a backyard egg hunt with treats, hosting a bunny-ear photoshoot, cooking a pet-friendly Easter brunch, going on a spring adventure, having an Easter movie marathon with cuddles, giving a spring spa session, visiting a pet-friendly Easter event, and paying it forward to shelter animals.
Easter is all about new beginnings, fresh starts, and the people (and pets) who make life sweeter. While you're planning brunches, egg hunts, and spring outfits, don't forget about the family member who's been loyally by your side through every season—and who would very much like to know what's in that Easter basket.
Whether you have a dog who'd happily fetch every egg in the yard or a cat who'd prefer to judge the festivities from a sunny windowsill, here are 10 ways to make Easter 2026 unforgettable for your furry best friend.
10 Ways to Celebrate Easter with Your Pet
Create a Spring Portrait
Easter is the perfect excuse to give your pet a seasonal glow-up. Think pastel backdrops, flower crowns, garden scenes, or a full-on Easter Bunny transformation. With PawFav, you can turn your favorite photo into a spring masterpiece in minutes—and print it same-day to display at your Easter brunch. Renaissance bunny? Garden fairy? The possibilities are endless.
🎨 30 minutesBuild a Pet-Safe Easter Basket
Skip the chocolate (seriously—keep it far away) and fill a basket with things they'll actually love: a new squeaky toy, their favorite treats, a spring-scented bandana, a chew bone, or a bag of catnip. Wrap it in pastel tissue paper. Watch them destroy the tissue paper in approximately four seconds. Take a photo. Treasure it forever.
🧺 Gift timeOrganize a Backyard Egg Hunt
This one's a hit with dogs especially. Fill plastic Easter eggs with small treats or kibble (make sure they're large enough that your dog won't swallow the plastic) and hide them around the yard. Let your pup sniff them out. For cats, try hiding treat-filled eggs around the house for an indoor treasure hunt. It's enrichment and entertainment rolled into one.
🥚 EnrichmentHost a Bunny-Ear Photoshoot
Bunny ears, a bow tie, a tiny Easter hat—whatever your pet will tolerate for approximately 30 seconds before shaking it off. Use natural light near a window or head outside for a garden backdrop. These photos become instant classics, and they make perfect Easter cards to send to the grandparents. Pro tip: treats held just above the camera get the best eye contact.
📸 MemoriesCook an Easter Brunch for Your Pet
While you're whipping up eggs Benedict, make your pet their own Easter plate. For dogs: scrambled eggs (plain, no butter or seasoning), a few blueberries, and a small piece of cooked sweet potato. For cats: a bit of plain cooked salmon or chicken. Serve it on a cute plate. They won't notice the presentation, but you'll love it.
🍳 Brunch time⚠️ Easter Safety Alert
Chocolate is toxic to dogs and cats—keep all Easter candy out of reach. Dark chocolate and baking chocolate are especially dangerous.
Easter lilies are extremely toxic to cats. All parts of the plant, including pollen and vase water, can cause acute kidney failure. Choose pet-safe flowers like roses, sunflowers, or snapdragons instead.
Xylitol (found in sugar-free candy and gum) is highly toxic to dogs. Check labels carefully.
Easter grass (the plastic filler in baskets) can cause intestinal blockages if swallowed. Use shredded paper or fabric instead.
Go on a Spring Adventure
April means blooming flowers, warmer breezes, and longer days. Take advantage with a new walking route, a trip to a dog-friendly park, or a hike where the wildflowers are starting to pop. For indoor cats, open the windows and set up a bird-watching station—spring migration means a front-row show.
🌷 Fresh airHave an Easter Movie Marathon
Couch, blankets, your pet curled up next to you—what more do you need? Queue up some feel-good spring movies, make some popcorn (plain, unsalted for a few bites your dog can share), and enjoy a lazy Easter afternoon together. Sometimes the best celebrations are the quietest ones.
🎬 Cozy vibes🐰 Did you know?
Americans spend over $3 billion on Easter candy each year—making it the second biggest candy holiday after Halloween. That's a lot of chocolate to keep away from curious noses! The good news? Pet bakeries and treat companies now make Easter-themed treats specifically designed for dogs and cats, so your pet doesn't have to miss out.
Set Up a Spring Spa Session
Spring means shedding season. Give your pet the gift of a thorough brushing, a gentle bath with a pet-safe shampoo (lavender or oatmeal are great), a nail trim, and maybe a spritz of pet cologne. They'll look fresh for Easter photos and feel amazing. Follow it up with a massage—they've earned it by being adorable all year.
🛁 Fresh & cleanVisit a Pet-Friendly Easter Event
Many cities host pet-friendly Easter events—dog egg hunts, pet parades, photos with the Easter Bunny, and spring markets. Check your local pet stores, dog parks, and community boards for events near you. It's a great way to socialize and celebrate, and the photo ops are unbeatable.
🎉 CommunityPay It Forward to Shelter Pets
Celebrate your pet by helping others find their forever home. Donate Easter baskets filled with toys and treats to a local shelter. Volunteer your time. Share adoptable pets on social media. Sponsor an adoption fee. Every rescue story starts with someone who cared enough to help. Be that someone this Easter.
🤍 Give backQuick Easter Ideas for Pets
Short on time? Here are some easy wins:
Easter Safety Checklist for Pet Parents
Keep Them Safe This Easter 🐾
Every Season Is Better with Them
There's something about Easter that feels perfectly aligned with what pets bring to our lives: renewal, joy, and the simple happiness of being together. They don't care about the fancy brunch or the coordinated outfits. They care about you—your presence, your voice, your hand reaching down to scratch behind their ears.
So this Easter, go ahead and spoil them. Build the basket. Hide the eggs. Take the ridiculous bunny-ear photo. Cook them a plate of scrambled eggs while you make yours.
Because every holiday is better when they're part of it. And they make even a regular Sunday feel like a celebration.
Happy Easter to you and your furry family. 🐣
Give Your Pet a Spring Glow-Up
Create a stunning Easter portrait — garden scenes, pastel vibes, bunny transformations, and more.
Create Their Easter Portrait
