National Pet Day: Celebrate Your Furry Friend on Their Special Day

04 April 2024

Celebrate your pets big and small on April 11th - National Pet Day!

National Pet Day is the ultimate celebration for all pets and pet lovers out there. It's a day dedicated to honouring our furry friends who bring so much joy and love into our lives.

Whether you have a small mammal, a reptile, some fish, a playful dog who greets you with excitement when you come home, or a loving cat who curls up and cuddles with you purring contentedly, today is the day to show them how much they mean to you.

There are many ways to show your appreciation for your beloved pets and B&M has got you covered.

Treats, Treats, Treats!

Treats - a language both us and our pets understand.

Whether it's for training, rewarding good behaviour, or simply showing our pets some love ad affection on their day, this is a great way to bond and grow with your animal companion.

There are so many different varieties of scrumptious snacks available from healthy dental bites, to chew sticks, biscuits, tasty yoghurts and drinks. You may need to try a few different treats to find your pet's favourite, but rest assured, they will let you know when you have hit the mark with a good snack!

Spoil your furry friends with delicious and nutritious treats - you know they deserve it!

B&M Top Tip: Browse our range of Cat Treats, Dog Treats and Small Pet Treats to find the perfect snack for your pet.

Toys

After all those delicious treats, your pet will need some exercise to stay fit and healthy. Get them zooming around with a selection of fun and engaging toys!

Fun and interactive toys are a great way to keep your pet entertained for hours. For cats and dogs especially, this will encourage their natural instincts ad keep them stimulated through natural hunting behaviour.

Give your dog a tug and chew toy for biting down on around the house and have some throw and catch balls ready for when you go walking out in nature. Dog toys that provide a variety of sensory and auditory stimulation will engage your pup and keep its tail wagging.

For your feline friend, try cat toys that replicate the movements of rodents or birds to really get them excited and running about. Cats also love to hide while they stalk their prey (or toys) so give them n extra dose of fun by providing them with a tunnel, pop up play space, or a box for them to prowl in.

Keep your pet engaged, entertained and stimulated. Animals get bored too!

B&M Top Tip: Playing with your pet outside? Browse our range of Pet Accessories and Leads for collars, harnesses and walking accessories.

Bedding

Our furry friends love to get comfy too!

For smaller pets like hamsters and gerbils, paper-based bedding is a popular choice and gives your little balls of fluff something safe and soft to burrow in. Wood shavings can also be used for small pets, but make sure they are untreated to save from harming them.

For larger pets like cats and dogs, there are numerous types of bedding available from traditional pillow and blankets to comfy caves, cooling mats, dog houses, cat trees and much more.

Giving your pet a soft and safe place to curl up in and snooze will boost their wellbeing and is a great way to treat and celebrate them. Just like slipping into fresh sheets, your animal companion will also love a fresh change of bedding.

B&M Top Tip: As the weather gets warmer, keep your pet cool with our range of Chilli Paws cooling mats, collars, coats and more.

Grooming

Care for your furry friends by keeping them groomed, gleaming and gorgeous!

Grooming is not just for aesthetic purposes, but it also plays a vital role in maintaining the overall health and well-being of your pet and can give you a good opportunity to bond. Cats especially use grooming as a means of showing affection!

Below are some ways you can give your pet the ultimate pamper:

Regular Brushing - This not only improves your pet's physical appearance, but removes loose hair, dirt and debris from their fur while preventing fur from matting and improving blood flow to the skin.
Dental Care - Often overlooked, animal dental care is just as important as ours. Grab some dental bites or pet toothpaste to avoid your pet suffering later down the line and have regular check-ups on visits to the vet.
Regular Nail Clipping - Overgrown nails can cause pain and discomfort for your pet, especially if they split or break and become infected. Pets need manicures too! For cats, scratch boards and posts can be a useful tool to help keep their nails filed down.
Bathing - Cats tend to clean themselves, but if you have a dog who likes to roll around in the mud then they may need the occasional bath. There are many pet-friendly shampoos available to wash them at home, or give your furry friend the ultimate spa treatment and take them to a professional pet groomer.
Haircuts - Shorthair pets can be groomed with a brush, but if your pet's fur is long and tends to grow over its eyes, then they may need a trim and a new hairstyle from a professional pet groomer!
Clean - Regularly check your pet's ears and eyes for any dirt or grime and gently clean. They will also need their anal gland checking for build-up, which can be checked at the vets.

B&M Top Tip: Many of these steps can be done at home without a vet or a professional groomer. For basic grooming and healthcare, browse our range of Pet Grooming & Healthcare products.

Picture Purrfect

Pictures can speak a thousand words, and when it comes to our beloved pets, they can capture the most memorable moments of their lives. On National Pet Day, it is only fitting to showcase pictures of your furry friends in all their cuteness and quirkiness, celebrating the joy and unconditional love they bring to our lives.

Gather your favourite images of your pet and share to social media. Sharing pet photos to social media can create a great sense of community among friends, followers and other pet owners, brightening people's day with their cuteness. As they say - the internet was created for cat videos!

Why not frame an adorable picture of your pet to make you smile and showcase them in your home just like any other member of the family. Or print off your favourite pictures and create a photo album dedicated to their cute and quirky antics. If you want to go the extra mile to celebrate your pet, book a photoshoot with a local photographer to capture your furry friend in their best light and immortalise your bond with a special picture.

B&M Top Tip: Do you have a dog? Our Home Is Where the Dog Is photo frame is the perfect way to showcase your pooch. Browse more Photo Frames to find the perfect fit for your pet's adorable photo!

Donate to Animal Charities

National Pet Day celebrates our furry, feathered and scaly friends who bring so much joy into our lives. It's also a great opportunity to give back and make a difference in the lives of animals in need.

There are countless pets and animals reliant on our help and support for food, healthcare and welfare. Monetary donations, sponsoring an animal, donating supplies, volunteering and fundraising are all great ways of helping better their lives.

Animal charities are non-profit organisations who rely on donations and support to continue the amazing work they do for animals. Below are recognised UK national charities who work tirelessly rescuing abandoned and abused animals, providing medical care, finding loving homes for rescues and promoting animal rights awareness.

Check out local or global charities for more causes and help create a better world for all creatures great and small.

How are you celebrating your furry friends on National Pet Day? We'd love to know! Share your ideas, plans and purchases with the B&M community on Facebook, X and Instagram.

Back