It’s that time of December, when I finally decide to get the holiday decorations out of storage and sort them out tote by tote into the living room. The dogs have to be as close as possible to the commotion and activity.
They poke their heads under my arm, sniffing at the strings of burnt out lights that I swear were working when I put them away last year. They’re fascinated with the shiny ornaments and the puppy is no doubt wondering if they fit into her favorite ball-thrower.
Meanwhile, the cats are conspiring and placing bets with each other. Every time I turn around, I end up fishing out a cat or two out of the boxes. Boxes and cats go together like cocoa and tiny marshmallows. It’s such a known behavior that it’s become an internet staple.
Plop an empty box down randomly in a cat’s house and within moments you’ll find them camped in it, happy as can be. Heck, set a box outdoors and there’s a good chance you’ll come back to a cat in it, that’s how the universe works.
My cats are no exception as I work on the holiday decorations. Even as I tip a cat out of an empty crate to close it up, another feline dashes past to slip inside. I swear I don’t have as many cats as have ended up in the boxes. In fact, I’m positive there’s a dimensional cat portal in the living room.
It’s also the time of year where pet owners and their friends stop in at the shop here to look for gifts for their animals. The amount of people who come in on Christmas Eve looking a little harried because their kids or spouse ask “What are we getting the pets?” has grown throughout the years. Pets are usually delighted with whatever they get, unlike some hard-to-buy-for family members.
Most often, the first question I get from shoppers this time of year is about the perfect toy or treat that all dogs or cats will love. To be honest? There isn’t really the absolute perfect treat or toy that works for all pets. They’re individuals and have likes and dislikes as much as their humans do!
So here are some tips that might help folks to cross the pets off their lists.
A first impulse tends to be to buy dog treats for the dogs. I’m not going to lie, I can’t think of too many dogs who don’t absolutely love this idea. My own greedy crew is all about food. However, there can be some issues with treats, especially with dogs that have allergies.
If your dog has an iron stomach like my youngest pup and can gleefully eat anything from carpet lint to the random book you left on the sofa, that’s wonderful! It makes things so much easier for all, but a lot of dogs are super sensitive. Gifting your friend’s dog something that upsets their tummy is something you should also give with apologies before you also go get them a carpet cleaner.
We tend to recommend freeze-dried meat treats to many shoppers; these tiny tidbits tend to be low-calorie, well-tolerated and digestible and are sold in all sorts of proteins. Chicken and beef are available in abundance, but you can find these treats in some allergen-friendly meats like emu and rabbit too!
There’s even some vegan options like dehydrated sweet potatoes and freeze-dried squash. (Which is surprisingly my old dog’s favorite treat. He’ll pass up everything else, but he loves sweet potatoes.)
Consider your pet’s age, size and personality when choosing a gift for them this holiday season.
From tummies to toys
Toys are a huge hit for so many dogs, and there’s nothing better than seeing a dog’s eyes light up and their tail helicoptering with excitement over an awesome new toy.
With toys, it’s important to understand what sort of play personality the dog has. Are they a soft-mouthed, gentle soul who carefully carries around their stuffed toy for years and years, or are they a whirling dervish who delights in destruction, gleefully tearing apart every fluffy bit they can?
If they’re the latter, it’s best to consider different toys, such as heavier rubber and recycled materials that can hold up to rougher play. These come in all shapes and sizes and many now are made from some really cool sustainable and reclaimed pet-safe materials. If you have a dog who loves the water, many of these toys float beautifully and are made into shapes that are easy for throwing and retrieving!
Or maybe you have a super intelligent dog who gets bored easily? For those dogs, puzzles and snuffle mats come in all shapes, sizes and difficulties for them to enjoy.
Gifts for the pet parent
Other things you can gift? There’s not a dog owner out there who couldn’t use extra leashes and collars. In our soggy state, consider a dog coat as a gift, as well as BioThane leashes. These leashes and collars are made from a polyester webbing with a TPU or PVC coating. They’re soft, waterproof, easy to clean and last forever without stretching or cracking.
Consider buying a pet friend a microfiber pet rug; these rugs absorb so much mud and water off of dirty paws that they’re amazing to put at the doorway to help with everything their canine buddy tracks in.
Christmas treats for cats
Cats also love to get presents! In my house, catnip toys are a huge hit with the crew here.
Surprisingly though, not all cats respond to catnip. Catnip reaction is actually genetic – either your cat has the genes to be a nip fiend, or they don’t!
Silvervine is a climbing plant found in mountainous areas of China and Japan, and it is known there as “Japanese Catnip.” In the last few years it’s been growing in popularity with cat owners here in the States and you see a lot of toys now that are pure silvervine, or a blend of it and catnip. Cats who do not react to or have become habituated to catnip often love silvervine.
One of my favorite gifts to give my feline-loving friends as a gift are catnip kickers. These kickers come in all sizes from tiny kittens to large-and-in-charge adult felines. They wrap their paws around them, bite and kick them, and wrestle with them. For those cats who don’t like catnip, a lot of these are made with only a soft material inside that makes awesome crunchy sounds as they play.
Interactive wand toys are wonderful for cats too! These are toys you and your cat can have fun with together. These toys look like fishing poles for your feline, and are fantastic for busy, active cats. There are fleece versions, ones with feathers on the end, others have fake fur.
Many of these toys have interchangeable end pieces so that you can change it up when your cat gets bored or when the toy gets caught so much it barely is recognizable. I always recommend customers put wand toys away when they’re done playing with them; you don’t want your cat chewing the string in half or possibly swallowing it.
Practical gifts like cat scratching posts are always appreciated in a cat household. Scratchers come in all shapes and sizes, from cardboard ones to huge carpeted posts for your cat to lounge on. Metal litter scoops are also surprisingly a welcome gift.
Most cat owners have broken a plastic scoop or two, often at the worst possible time. The metal ones are amazing – they hold up to everything your litter box can throw at them. Unless you do what I did – drop it accidentally it into the trash with the bag and not realize it. Totally my fault, not the scoop’s fault. I’m sure it’s still in one perfect piece even after being crushed by the garbage truck. Metal scoops are tough!
If you have an adventurous cat, maybe consider one of the cat backpacks out there. More people are including their feline family members on outings, and these packs are designed to make it safe and fun for everyone.
Please make sure though that your treats and toys are appropriate for the size of the pet. Most packaging has a weight or chew strength recommendation on it and you should absolutely follow the guidelines. You want to make sure your holiday fun is safe. Nobody wants to go take a trip to the emergency room this time of year for any reason. That’s not jolly or joyous.
So go and enjoy the holidays with your favorite furry, feathered or scaly friends. Don’t forget though, the wonderful thing about living with your feline overlords is that even if they ungraciously ignore everything you went out and so thoughtfully bought them, they’re at least going to have fun in those darn boxes.
Maybe someday we can convince dogs (and the cousins you only see once a year and don’t know what to buy) to enjoy the glory of empty boxes. It would sure make the holidays a whole lot easier!
Learn more at pawsfinspetshop.com, visit at Suite 104 – 1050 Hildebrand Ln NE, Bainbridge Island and stay up to date with the latest news on Facebook.
Bio / Paws and Fins Pet Shop, Bainbridge Island
