As you complete your holiday shopping, don’t forget about the furry members in your family. You may have picked up some gifts for the dog lovers or cat lovers in your life, but the pets themselves? Well, they deserve some goodies, too. Remember, the best gifts for pets are ones they can enjoy, because their people will have their own presents under the tree. Plus, ask any true animal lover and they’ll tell you that a gift for their four-legged companion is as good as a gift for themselves.
For something that’ll surprise the pets you have in mind, you’ll have to look beyond the boxed treats found in the grocery store pet aisle. In honor of creatures that bark, meow and squeak, scroll on to find exciting new toys, gourmet treats and fun accessories for (almost) every non-human recipient on your list.
Best Gifts For Dogs
Fur The Dog Who Lives Afar
It’s Harry & David but made for mutts. The legendary gift basket purveyor launched Max & Milo, a line of packages designed especially for dogs and cats. The Holiday Dog Stocking comes with treats, a rope toy, a bow tie and more, plus a reusable stocking for stashing goodies next year. (P.S. There are plenty more options to choose from.)
Fur The Playful Pup
When it comes to finding quality, innovative toys, you can’t go wrong with Planet Dog. Even better, the brand is conveniently available at Chewy. The Orbee-Tuff Snoop (sold individually) is flexible but tough. It can be loaded with treats so playful pooches can roll, boop and gnaw it to their heart’s content, all while snarfing up snacks along the way.
Fur The Heavy Chewer
Got a heavy chewer on your gift list? Earth Animal’s No-Hide Chews are the best. They’re pricey, sure, but they’re a worthy treat for a special occasion. Made with natural ingredients, they’re a safe, digestible rawhide alternative that’ll keep chomp-happy puppers busy (at least, for a little while).
Fur The Anxious Pooch
Especially cozy for anxious pets, the Alpha Paw Cozy Calming Dog Bed is donut-shaped, making it perfect for curling up in. The entire thing can be thrown in the washing machine when needed, and it comes in two sizes. Just note that at 32 inches in diameter, even the large size might be too small for dogs over 60 pounds or so.
Fur The Dog Deserving Of A Boxful Of Surprises
You’ve heard of BarkBox, no doubt, and yes, it’s really all it’s cracked up to be. You can buy or gift an individual box for $35 or purchase a subscription in 6- or 12-month increments, which lowers the cost per box. Each is filled with two unique toys, two drool-worthy bags of treats and a chew, so you’ll definitely get your money’s worth. It’s the gift for dogs that keeps on giving (not to mention, the new holiday-themed box is hard to pass up).
Fur The Four-Legged Foodie
These aren’t your average dry and preservative-filled dog biscuits, so they’re paw-fect if Fido is a self-proclaimed foodie (or just likes to eat). Bocce’s Bakery makes bakery-inspired confections with wholesome ingredients in gourmet flavors; there’s also a wellness line that’s focused on health. Snag a few bags and let your favorite pup do some sampling.
Fur The Lazy Lounger
Perhaps you love sinking into a body-molding memory foam bed–and your dog will, too. With its memory foam core, PetFusion’s Ultimate Orthopedic Dog Bed supports joints and includes a wraparound cushion that’s made for snuggling. It’s also easy to clean with a zip-off machine-washable cover on the outside and a waterproof liner on the inside that protects the foam. Plus, you can purchase replacement covers if Fido really makes a mess.
Fur The Hot Dog
PetFusion’s cooling blanket is so refreshing, hot sleepers will be tempted to get one for themselves. This lightweight throw is made with a special fabric that stays cool to the touch for a refreshing feel all year round. It’s machine-washable and resists shedding and pilling, making it ideal for draping on your dog’s bed or the expensive couch they love to lie on. (By the way, it’s great for cats, too).
Fur The Clever Canine
For clever canines who need mental stimulation (or for those who eat way too fast), Fable’s The Game will both entertain and slow the snarf-down. It can hold 1.5 cups of dry food that spills out little by little as it’s swatted around, and the grooved top can be used to serve a peanut butter treat. This gadget comes apart and is dishwasher safe.
Fur The Practical Dresser
This mesh harness is breathable, adjustable and available in sizes XXS to 4XL for Fido’s optimum comfort. But, there’s more: The brand has a line of jackets and coats (both fashionable and functional) that can be attached to the harness to keep hounds warm, dry and stylish all season.
Fur The Friend Who Needs A Boost
Whether you know a four-legged pal with stiff joints or teeny-tiny legs that makes jumping a hassle, this ramp will make life easier for everyone. It’s adjustable to accommodate different heights and is covered with no-slip carpet for safety and traction. It also has an impressive weight capacity of 200 pounds to accommodate breeds of all kinds.
Fur The Cookie-Snatching Canine
If you know a cookie-snatching pup, it means one thing: They need their own box! Wüfers cookies are dog-safe (but made from wholesome, human-grade ingredients) and feature fun seasonal designs that look good enough to, well, eat. Each cookie is individually wrapped for optimum freshness.
Fur The Morning Mutt
No, dogs can’t have coffee and donuts, but they can have coffee- and donut-shaped toys any morning. Even better than playing with these scrumptious-looking squeakers is that they help other pups in need of a home; 20% of all Grounds & Hounds profits are donated to help fund rescue initiatives.
Fur The Nice Gnaw-er
It can be surprisingly difficult to find treats and chews that are as wholesome as they are tasty, but your search can stop here. TickledPet’s single-ingredient Icelandic Codfish Skin Rolls are made from dehydrated codfish skins—and that’s it. They’re considered “human-grade” in quality (although, you still shouldn’t eat them...not that you’d want to), and are low-odor so they won’t stink up the home.
Best Gifts For Cats
Fur The Classy Kitty Across The Country
Harry & David didn’t forget about feline friends and assembled a series of giftable, shippable boxes for them, as well. One is the aptly-named “Meow” Gift Basket, which is stuffed with classy presents like burlap toys and cheesy treats to please any purrer’s palette. Send it to a kitty who lives far away, or surprise your own companion with this basket of goodies.
Fur The Cat Who Prefers Privacy
Of course, any cat owner would be happy to have this sleek and discreet litter box in their home, but so will their cat. That’s because its enclosed top-entry design allows for easy access while providing a feeling of safety. (It’s also harder for canine siblings to sniff around in.) All in all, the Modkat offers a cleaner, more private potty-going experience, which is something any cat will appreciate.
Fur The Catnip Addict
Fur The Meower Who’s Earned A Plethora Of Presents
Get a Goody Box from Chewy and treat your kitty to a treasure trove of surprises. Each Goody Box is chock-full of snacks, playthings and accessories in adorable themes like birthday, retro and holiday. Not only is it convenient one-stop shopping, you get tons of bang for your buck, making it purr-fect for sending or sharing with your own pal. (You can get Goody Boxes for dogs, too.)
Fur The Finicky Feline
Cats are notoriously picky eaters, but even the most finicky among them can’t turn up their nose to flavors like salmon and sweet potato, lobster and cheese and chicken and catnip (or at least, not to all three). This variety pack won’t just last awhile, it’ll let the kitty du jour pick and choose from a trio of tasty flavors.
Fur The Cat Who Appreciates Personal Space
Show your feline friend some love by surprising them with a luxury condo of their very own. The 72-inch Go Pet Club cat tree has platforms for perching, ladders for climbing, sisal for scratching, dangling mice for swatting and covered nooks for relaxing. Better yet, this model won’t become an eyesore in your living room and comes in a handful of neutral color combinations.
Fur The Feline Who Only Drinks Fresh Water
Cats aren’t just finicky eaters, they’re finicky drinkers, too. If you want to keep Kitty hydrated, your best bet is a pet fountain that lets them sip cool, fresh water any time of the day or night. The popular Veken fountain has an adorable daisy-shaped spout that pours in three different modes and filters water for optimum purity. It also comes with a silicone pad to protect your floor from accidental splashes.
Fur Cats Who Just Wants To Have Fun
A chase-able, swat-able cat toy is essential for the frisky kitty who loves to have fun. There are a ton of cat wands out there, but Freddy’s Feather Cat Toy is a top pick for a few reasons: It’s made with natural, bio-degradable materials, is manufactured in the USA and offers a twirling effect that feline hunters simply can’t resist.
Fur The Sneaky Hider
This cozy hideaway is the ideal gift for the feline on your list who’s always sneaking off to a quiet corner. It’s handmade from 100% merino wool, making it durable, lightweight and eco-friendly. The cherry on top is that you can say that Kitty has joined the Meowfia.
Fur Warmth-Loving Whiskered Friends
Fur The Grass-Mowing Meower
This easy-to-grow organic grass blend contains a handful of nutritious grasses that are good for felines and fun to eat. Simply add a soil disk, water and seeds to the mug (all included), and you’ll see the green stuff sprouting within a week—no green thumb required.
Best Gifts For Other Pets
Fur Critters Who Just Want To Have Fun
This four pack of balls, which can be used for a handful of small breeds, offers entertaining movement and textures for playful furballs like a guinea pig or rabbit. Made with natural fibers, they can be safely gnawed on, rolled or pulled apart if the little guy or gal is particularly destructive.
