This holiday season, it’s no surprise that our pets are at the top of our list for gifts. Of course, holiday gifting is not the same without involving our furry friends, and it’s so fun to see them “opening” (please keep wrapping and ribbon out of pets’ reach!) their presents and enjoying the fun. But, if your cat or dog already has everything under the sun, it can be challenging to find something new and exciting to give them. For the dog or cat who has everything, these unique gifts are sure to please.
Santa Paws: For the Dogs
Barkbox Subscription – Sign your dog up for a monthly box of treats and toys curated to your dog’s interests and playstyle. Each box contains two treats, two toys, and one chew and can be sized to your dog’s needs. They may never look at the delivery person the same again!
Gingerbread Dog Biscuits – For the food lover in every dog, make sure they can join in on the holiday flavors we all enjoy, like gingerbread and pumpkin spice. These handmade treats are gluten and grain-free and baked twice to give your pup that crumbly bite they love.
Outward Hound Nina Ottosson Multi-Puzzle – If your dog loves treat puzzles and has worked their way up from the simple ones, this level-4 difficulty puzzle game will keep your dog thinking for longer and give them the satisfying job of solving the puzzle to get to the treats or food inside. There are four challenges, and you can adjust the difficulty level as your dog learns.
PetSafe Automatic Ball Launcher – Every dog’s physical and mental health depends on getting enough exercise throughout the day. This automated ball launcher is suited to small and large dogs and launches balls up to 7 feet away. So if you can’t play ball as much as you’d like, this toy can motivate your dog to play.
Dog Treat Molds and DIY Treats – If you love to bake and make cookies for your friends and family, why not include your dog in the mix and whip up a batch of these homemade peanut butter dog treats? Use a cute mold to make any shapes your dog will love, and spoil them with a gift made with love. (Just choose peanut butter without xylitol, also called birch bark).
Kitty Klaus: The Cat’s Meow
Buying gifts for our cat companions is a must for cat lovers everywhere. So if you’re ready to show your love to your feline friend, check out our best cat gifts.
Avo”gatto” Catnip Toy – If your cat goes wild for catnip, this handmade, wool-felted avocado toy may hit the spot. The catnip inside is fresh and grown in the US, so you can feel great about your kitty spending hours indulging in one of their favorite things.
CatSmart Pioneer Ultimate Scratching Post – Scratching is a natural instinct for cats to exercise, tone their muscles, and sharpen and keep their nails in good health. So give them a place where scratching is allowed with this scratching post. You’ll keep them healthy and save your furniture in the process!
FurHaven Thermal Pet Bed – Any cat loves a warm, snuggly place to curl up, and this self-warming bed will check all their boxes. It captures and retains body heat, instead of using electricity, to give your cat the ultimate in safety and coziness.
CatAmazing Interactive Treat Maze – Cats, especially indoor cats, need enrichment to get enough physical and mental stimulation. This simple yet engaging toy will elicit your kitty’s natural behaviors and keep them busy for hours while slowing down their mealtime feeding frenzy.
Cat Cave – Cats love to have safe spots where they can rest, hide, and watch the world go by. These Merino wool creations are handmade in Nepal by local craftspeople and are designed to give your cat a favorite and beautiful place to nap in.
Gifts That Keep On Giving
Treats and toys are lovely gifts, but have you considered a more non-traditional gift for your pet that can give them ongoing health and well-being? These ideas might make your pet’s wish list if they could talk.
Rehabilitation Therapy – Is a massage or other bodywork on your own wish list this year? Chances are your pet would love the same, with treatment such as heat or cryotherapy, laser therapy, or aquatic therapy for their chronic pain. In addition, rehabilitation and physical therapy can improve conditions that animals often live with, such as arthritis, spinal disorders, and hip dysplasia. So if your pet has been slowing down recently, or you’ve had rehabilitation therapy recommended to you by your veterinarian, give us a call to set up an appointment and give your pet the gift of a better quality of life.
Pet Insurance Policy – Pet insurance is one of the best gifts you can give your pet. As pets live longer and veterinary medicine offers more advanced care, the costs of pet ownership are also increasing. Pet insurance policies are designed to help pet owners meet the cost of unexpected illness or injury. Ask yourself: if your pet needed life-saving surgery or treatment, how would that impact you financially? When your pet is in crisis, the last thing you want to worry about is how to pay for their care. A pet insurance policy can give your pet the best veterinary medicine while allowing you to make decisions based on medical recommendations, not the cost of care. That kind of peace of mind and a promise of better health in the future is one of the best gifts money can buy!
Spoiling our pets with treats and gifts makes the holidays one of the best times of the year! Many pet owners wouldn’t dream of keeping their pets off Santa’s list, and we hope these ideas have inspired you. From all our veterinarians and staff at Animal Emergency Hospital of Volusia, we wish you and your pet a very happy holiday season. Enjoy!
