It’s that time of year again. To celebrate the season and share our joy with those who mean the most to us. For many of us, our fur kids are at the top of that list. Whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, or Kwanza, gift giving is part of the tradition and we can’t leave out our four-legged friends. The joy they express over a new toy or bed is an unfettered pleasure to behold.

We’ll start with dogs, then move on to kitties and then to rabbits & other small pets.

Toys are often at the top of the list. The new interactive toys are great entertainment for the animals and help keep them happy when we’re at work or busy at home. My dogs personal favorite is the Kyjen Hide A Squirrel. It comes in sizes appropriate for the teacup Chihuahua to the Labrador Retriever.

Although the squirrels (which look more like crazed chipmunks) are pretty tough, the are soft and fun to carry around. Thankfully, replacements are also available. As you can see, there are many variations on this theme. The original is the Hide-A-Squirrel and it comes in many sizes. There is even a “ginormous” version and one that comes with ten squirrels.

A different style of interactive toys are the puzzles that you load with small pieces of kibble or treats. These can actually be used to feed meals (it slows down the dogs who vacuum their food) or just for fun and entertainment. Kyjen also makes some excellent puzzles and Pet Safe (formerly Premier) has a line of food dispensing toys also. Some examples are:

Now attire for our kids is a whole different option with literally thousands of options in collars, sweaters, jackets and even footwear. Fortunately, our Florida dogs generally do not need foot protection. Handmade dog collars are available from several designs, one of which, Camargo Creations, makes some very classy designs. For designer dog collars, Mode Dog is a good choice. Collar Planet has a nice selection with a bit less bling. If you’re interested in a hands-free leash for running with your dog, several options are available, including the CardioCanine below (link attached to image).
             

For clothing, the options are innumerable. You can select anything from funny T-shirts to holiday attire to costume wear. Some interesting choices are available from Patis-Paws, PoochieHeaven, The SassyPup or if you’re very crafty, you can get patterns to sew your own!
                             

We can’t leave the dog section without mentioning music and videos. Most don’t have personal I-pods yet, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t into electronic content. Through a Dog’s Ear offers a variety of musical compilations for dogs young and old. Many are helpful for reducing anxiety.

In my experience, the cats are typically far less fond of clothing and attire as gifts. But toys are generally a big hit, as are nice cozy beds. As with the dogs, interactive toys are very popular. Laser toys keep kitty playing (and can help with weight control).

Many cool cat items have appeared recently and deserve some extra attention.

For cat furniture & beds, the following companies have some cool offerings….

The Canopy Lounge (see an example below)

KittyPod (furniture & beds)

Kitty’scape Modular Play Structures

Hepper for Hip cats

Catty Stacks (cardboard stackable furniture)

Cat Cribs (hammocks for beneath chairs)

Square Habitat (modern furniture ideas)
Catreesort (cool tree-like furniture)
KittiCraft (modern furniture & scratching posts)

 

 

 

 

For carriers, many new lovely options have arrived…
Sleepy Pod (fantastic carriers for cats, small dogs & small mammals)
Jaraden (upscale carriers)
Feline Fantasies

 

And let’s not forget the ever important litterbox…

SmartyKat (new literbox “systems” and other fun cat stuff)
Cat Genie (actually self-flushes)
Cats Play (furniture to hide the litterbox)

 

And new, cool, different cat toys and accessories….

 

 

Holiday ideas for bunnies, guinea pigs and other small pets coming soon…..