As the Holidays roll around and shopping lists are prepared, be sure to include your fur-children!  Dogs and cats deserve holiday gifts, too.  What I love about purchasing items for my animals is the fact they don’t care about the price point on the gift, and they don’t pass judgment on the item itself; there is nothing superficial about animals.  Buying for them embodies what the holidays are all about: giving.  There are no rules that you must buy them anything at all.  However, I could make a pretty good argument that they deserve a present more than half the people on your list.  And if you get them something you aren’t sure is a good match, who cares?  They won’t hold it against you!

When you are having a bad day, who climbs into your lap to make you feel better?  When you feel like the whole world is crashing down on you, who accepts and loves you for who you are?  And when you don’t feel like talking, who is happy to oblige and sit by your side without muttering a word?  Animals provide unconditional love.  While the holiday season layers on the stress, our animals help us deflect it. 

What should we buy for our favorite animal? 

I have comprised a list of my top picks of gifts for the family dog and family cat!

Dogs

1.       Whistle Collar:  This device clips on to the dog collar to track your dog’s activity throughout the day, similar to a FitBit.  It will also track other daily habits, such as scratching and sleeping.  And, most importantly, it is a GPS that works off cell service.  You will need to pay for a data plan to go along with the device, and the price point for the collar and data plan are reasonable.   Provided you take your dog to areas with cell service, it assists with tracking your dog if he/she should slip away from you.   The product is small and does not add much weight to the dog collar.  The small device has a light that can be turned on remotely, and this is nice for night walks.  The Whistle Collar is durable and can handle rough play.  It is water resistant, but not totally waterproof.  If you plan to do back-woods hiking away from cell-towers, then you should invest in a heavy-duty Garmin radio collar instead.  The Whistle works best as an urban GPS. 

2.       Appropriate Chew Toys:  Avoid chewing items that are hard, such as bones and antlers.  These will fracture your dog’s teeth.  Rubber chewing surfaces are much better, as they have some “give.”  KONG makes many great products that are heavy-duty and are for the toughest of chewers… without breaking teeth.  Always monitor your dog while chewing on any items and remove them if they begin to fall apart.

If you are looking for safe items to chew on AND consume, please visit www.vohc.org.   This website has a complete list of veterinary-approved dental foods and treats.  Let’s face it, good-smelling dog breath is the gift that keeps on giving!

3.       Seatbelt.  We all buckle up for the ride in the car.  We should do the same for our pooch.  Dogs get injured in car accidents, too.  When slamming on the brakes, dogs will fly around in the car, and possibly out a window.  Harness seatbelts keep your dog secure in his/her seat while allowing them room to find that cozy position.  It’s also a safety measure for when you need to open the car door.  We all know those exuberant dogs that are ready to fly out of the car into traffic when the door opens.

4.       Home-Cam.   Do you ever wonder what your dog is up to while you are at work?  Setting up some home-cams is a great idea and can give you peace of mind.   My personal favorite camera is Wyze:  this can be purchased on Amazon.   I like this camera because it has a running feed, so if you need to go back and review footage, it allows you to do so.   The Wyze camera is a good price point with good quality.  There are many other brands of video cameras out there, such as Ring and Arlo.  Some are marketed as Petcams, but really, any home security camera will do the trick!

CATS

1.       String on a stick (“Cat Wands”):  Cats LOVE this because it triggers their prey-drive.  Some of these toys have clip-on strings, so you can alternate between feathers, fabric, and toys on the end of the string. I recommend being careful with the cat wands made of fabric, as some cats can easily chew through and swallow large pieces of it.

2.       Catnip Mice:  These little toys are super basic, super cheap, and super fun.  These can be found in just about every pet store. Some cats prefer larger mice, others prefer smaller toy mice with a bit of a tail on them.  Use care when choosing your toy: if there are strings hanging off the toy, ensure they are not too long to be accidentally ingested.  Cats will often swallow string-like material, and this can cause an obstruction.  Always watch your animals when they play with toys.

3.       Cat Trees:  Providing your cat with a vertical surface to climb and hide and scratch is a wonderful gift.  Cat trees aren’t cheap, but they are well worth the money.  They may look large in size, but most cat trees will fit nicely in any home.  Placement of the cat tree is important, too.  Cats love looking out windows and surveying the area.  If your cat seems uninterested in it, try placing it in a different location. 

4.       Warming cat bed:  Cats always seek out the warmest spots to rest.  Never ever use a warming surface that has an electrical component.  Animals can – and will- get burned by these.  Warming beds are simply beds that retain heat – their heat.  They come in all kinds of shapes and sizes.  It might be wise to purchase a few different options and let your cat pick which ones they prefer!

When shopping for your animals, remember to shop smart.  If it is an item that looks like it could be consumed, do not purchase it.  And if it gets destroyed from playing, throw it in the garbage before parts of it get eaten.  If gifting with food treats, use caution.   A quick change of food can flare up the sensitive guts of our heartiest animals.  And, always avoid toys with batteries. 

Have fun shopping, and even if your budget does not allow you to purchase items for your animal, the gift of your time and your love will be cherished instead. 

Laura D