Are You Getting Your Pet a Christmas Gift?

Buy Christmas presents for pets seems like such an odd thing to do. They don’t know that it’s a holiday, and they certainly can’t be expected to celebrate or give gifts in return. But still, many people still insist on having their pets participate in the holidays with presents, special outfits and more. For example, a new book by QI says that one in four dog owners sign their pet’s name onto Christmas cards.

Buying presents for pets is fairly normal, though. A 2011 PetFinder.com poll found that 63% of dog owners and 58% of cat owners give their pets presents during the holidays. Moreover, 40% of dog owners and 37% of cat owners even hang up stockings for their pets.

Present buying is such big business that Pets at Home even released an app that claims to be able to tell users what their pets want for Christmas. Called the DreamScanner, it shows owners their pets’ “dreams”, then suggests gifts you can give them based on those dreams. Really, though, it just puts your pet’s face in pre-illustrated videos. It’s still pretty cute, though. It also lets users donate to Pets at Home’s independent charity, Support Adoption for Pets.

So it is clear that many people are in fact buying gifts for their pets, but what sort of things are they buying? Below are a couple of ideas for pets of all shapes and sizes.

Meteorlight LED Pet Ball: £12.95

Dogs love chasing balls, but there are some limits to the standard tennis or rubber ball. Dogs can’t see the ball in the dark, severely limiting how long you can play fetch during the holiday season. This LED ball changes all of that. It lights up, so your dog can see it easily, no matter what time of day or evening. It’s incredibly durable, so it is safe for every dog, no matter how much it chews on toys.

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Cat Nip Fish Toy: £4

Cats go insane for cat nip, and this adorable cat nip toy will bring as much joy to you as it does to your feline. They are made from durable cotton and stuffed with cat nip, so they will look great and provide hours of fun for your kitty. Plus, the  fabrics look great under the Christmas tree.

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Fun at the Fair carousel: £2.40

Most people think about cats and dogs when they think about pet toys, but birds like to play, too. Your bird will really enjoy playing with this carousel toy. It features elements that spin and make lots of lovely noise, so your bird can spin, shake and play for hours.

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Mini Coloured Coral: £3.50

Coral provides fish with much needed protection, and this mini coral statue will provide your fish with a sense of security, whilst giving the tank a bright pop of colour. These kinds of ornaments are classics for a reason, and you’ll have great fun watching your fish swim around and interact with the coral.

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Climb ‘N Shred Christmas Tree: £3.50

Just because your pet is small and usually stays in a cage doesn’t mean they can’t enjoy the holidays. With this Christmas tree toy, your hamsters, mice, guinea pigs and other small animals can climb and play on a festive toy. You can even hide treats in the corrugated cardboard, so they can climb, shred chew and scratch away to their little hearts’ content.

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Now that you know others will be buying their pets Christmas gifts and you have a  few ideas for presents, the only question left is this: are you getting your pet a Christmas gift?