Awesome Gifts for Your Cats and Dogs
Gifts for Your Pets
Even if you have a fussy feline or a picky pup, you can find gifts that will make them happy and content.
News flash!
Pets are some of my favourite “people”. They give us so much love, comfort, and fun. I’ve never met an animal that I didn’t like. But my pets are just the BEST.
Sound familiar?
Who doesn’t like to see their little furry friends having fun and enjoying a special treat or a brand new toy?
The holiday season, their birthday, gotcha day, Tuesday…you choose. There’s lots of chances to give our pets a little something in return for all they give us.
I’ve made a list of some of my favourite gifts for my pets. Some, they already have. Some are definitely in their future. All of them have the ability to make your pet happy. And that’s exactly what we want, amiright?!
If you’re looking for ideas for Pet Lovers to celebrate the love of their furry friends, check out Must-Have Gifts for Pet Lovers.
Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, I may earn a small commission on qualifying products that I recommend, at no extra cost to you, when you follow my links and make a purchase.
Snuffle Mat
Dogs love a good sniff. It’s their instinct to use their powerful sense of smell to forage for food and explore with their noses.
A snuffle mat is a fabric pet toy made with fleece strips (like a really plush rug) or pockets that can be scattered and filled with treats or kibble to encourage this foraging behaviour.
With a snuffle mat, you can provide your dog with mental stimulation and enrichment, reduce boredom, ease anxiety, and even slow down fast eaters at mealtime.
I like this snuffle mat because it can be tightened or loosened to make it more or less of a challenge for your dog.
Keep in mind that, while snuffle mats are generally safe for your pets, they should always be supervised to make sure they don’t decide to ingest the mat itself.
Whisker-friendly bowls
Ever heard of whisker fatigue or sensitivity? Neither had I until a few weeks ago. While some veterinarians aren’t convinced it exists, it would explain a few things with my cat.
Hunter has a thing about hooking his kibble or his wet food out of his bowl, and even dipping his paw into his water bowl. He prefers to drink water from Lucy’s big water bowl or the sink tap, if possible. More on that later…
Cats have very sensitive whiskers that can pick up a plethora of information from their environment. When your cat’s whiskers are over-stimulated by repeated contact(such as from the edge of their food bowl), it can cause stress on their sensory system. This can cause your cat to paw at their food, be reluctant to eat, though hungry, to pace and cry in front of their bowl, and to act aggressively to other pets around their food.
These pet bowls are perfect for wet food or kibble. They come in a multi-pack so you can use them for multiple cats or can be put in the dishwasher for cleaning with more bowls available for use. And they’re super cute too!
These are definitely on Hunter’s gift list this year. Shhhhh, don’t tell him!
The Wobbler
Treat dispensing toys provide a mental workout for your pup as they problem solve to release the treats or kibble from the toy.
They can also be used for the dog who eats too quickly. The toy will release the food just a few at a time, extending meal time for your pup.
Treat Dispenser
This Kong Wobbler is a dog toy/feeder that we use almost daily. This is one of our go-to’s for a treat puzzle when we leave to go to work. They give your dog enough of a challenge and mental workout to get the kibble or small treats removed and then they’re relaxed and ready for a nap.
The Wobbler is a dispenser toy that can be filled with small treats or kibble. One end of the toy is weighted so it can be bumped by your dog, releasing a treat or two and then will self-correct itself to a standing position.
If you have a dog that is a destructive chewer, never use it unsupervised as it is made of plastic, though very durable plastic. Lucy knows that she can tip the treats out so much easier by nosing or pawing the toy than trying to chew her way through the heavy plastic.
Even with a seasoned pro like Lucy, it takes a long time to release all the treats so it’s a great way to slow down those power eaters and can be used for meals too.
Cat Water Fountain
This gift idea comes with compliments from my mom.
She bought this cat water fountain for the cat she adopted from a local cat rescue and is quite impressed with it.
It’s has a 3.2L holding capacity, has a double filtration system, and is ultra quiet. I mean, really, really quiet.
All the parts except for the pump and filters are dishwasher safe. Even if you don’t use a dishwasher, the stainless steel parts make it easy to clean.
Depending on your cat’s preference, you can even remove the faucet if she prefers a gentle bubbling instead of the faucet stream. Hunter happens to love drinking from a running tap so the faucet set-up is perfect for him. Hey, kitty, you do you.
Cats instinctually prefer moving water to drink so a water fountain is a good gift to ensure your cat is hydrating properly. Also, they seem to be genuinely entertained at times. So it’s a win-win.
Treat Puzzle
The Brick Outward Hound puzzle by Nina Ottosson
will challenge and entertain your pup
Treat Puzzle
Treat puzzles are a great toy to challenge your dog and mentally stimulate them. You can hide food or treats inside and your dog will use their brains, paws, and snouts to sniff, maneuver, and manipulate sliders, spinners, and hidden compartments to get to the treats inside.
You can even get different difficulty levels to continue to challenge your pup as they solve the puzzles and need more challenges.
Just be aware that these puzzles have removable parts and are made of plastic. Dogs should be monitored while they’re playing with their puzzle. Now, on the up side, it’s an entertaining thing to watch your dog friend work his brain and figure out how to get their rewards from the puzzle.
Self-Heating Cat Bed
What do cats love more than a soft, warm spot to curl up and have a nap? Maybe the person who gives them that soft, warm spot.
This self-heating cat bed is extra thick and cushy. The thick poly filling keeps your pet comfortable while the thermal insulation radiates their heat back to them. The cover is removable and washable
It’s like a sunny patch on your rug for your cat, without the sun!
KONG Aqua
A floating toy that shows up well in the water, grass, leaves in the Autumn, and the snow.
It can be used for fetch but also decent game of tug with your pup
Kong Aqua
Do you have a dog that LOVES to play fetch? How about one that loves the water?
Get them the Kong Aqua! The fetch toy made of durable rubber with flotation material inside and a rope to really wind up and let ‘er rip.
We have used these for years, even just tossing them in our yard. They are bright orange so are easy to spot in the grass, fallen leaves or in the snow.
One of ours even got caught in a maple tree and hung there for years until the branch finally snapped. Good as new! I can confirm that these toys are durable.
They’re great for retriever training or a fun romp with your canine buddy.
Outdoor Cat Enclosure
Do you have an indoor cat that you’d like to bring outside once in a while? But you know you need a safe way for your cat to take in the great outdoors without compromising their safety. How about using a foldable outdoor cat enclosure?
The mesh allows your cat to see the world but keeps them from wandering and prevents insects, spiders, and bees from ruining your cat’s fun. The cube, tent, and connecting tunnel becomes your cat’s perfect little playground.
Then, when you’re ready to go inside, the enclosure folds up into a bag for easy storage.
Interactive Cat Toy
Indoor cats need mental stimulation, exercise, and good ol’ fashion fun times. For a cat, that often means meeting their instinctive need to stalk and hunt their prey. Enter this interactive cat toy.
Prevent boredom, promote healthy exercise, and mentally stimulate your cat with a toy that plays with your cat! The USB chargeable toy is motion activated, moves in random motions, and has lights and chirping sounds to attract your kitty’s attention. The chirping sound can be turned off if your cat(or you) doesn’t like it.
It can be set to 3 different speed levels for your feline friend’s activity level too.
Automatic Ball Launcher
Do you have a dog that loves to play fetch? I mean, REALLY loves it. If you do, this automatic ball launcher might be the perfect gift!
Piper came with that statement in the comment section of her adoption papers.
Jack would play fetch until we had to stop him and give him a rest.
I know both of them would have loved it! I wish I’d know about them sooner.
Just set it out, turn it on, use the remote to set the launch distance, and it will do all the throwing work for you. Teach your dog to drop the ball into the hopper and you never have to have a tired arm or handle slobber-covered tennis balls again.
I like the fact that this particular launcher can be set from 26 feet to 79 feet so it can be customized to the size or energy of your dog. You can even randomize the launch distances to keep your dog guessing. What fun!
