‘Tis the season of love, family, tacky movies and copious food! As any true pet owner knows, a pet is as much a part of the family as anyone else, so when it comes to lavishing your loved ones with gifts this winter, don’t overlook your four-legged companions.
If you have a dog, the natural instinct might be to get it some fun new toys. Alas, we all know the fate of most of these toys – ripped to shreds in a matter of minutes. It’s great that our canine companions are keeping up with their natural instincts, but it’s a little heartbreaking when a brand new purchase instantly becomes just a heap of stuffing all over the floor. Plus, not all pet toys, in fact, most aren’t exactly a friend to the environment, especially factoring in how often you’d be getting replacements.
There are a couple of solutions to this problem though! Either get super durable toys made of sturdier stuff, to withstand the chewing and rough play. Or, go green and start buying eco-friendly dog toys. More and more suppliers are committed to not only providing your pet with plenty of fun but being mindful of their impact on the planet. Ropes made from recycled t-shirts, food-grade natural rubber balls and kongs, antler chews and so much more!
A particularly fun present is dog-friendly bubbles! Everyone likes bubbles – you’d have to be devoid of joy not to – and your pooches do as well. But you don’t want them biting on or licking up soap and chemicals. So be sure to check out the Dog Tough Bubbles, which are not only food safe and extra tough, but also peanut butter scented – so your doggos will be sure to love chasing these things around!
If you also, or instead, have kitty cats in your life, there’s plenty of fun to be had doing their Christmas shopping as well! The world of tech hasn’t just made advances for us humans, for our pawesome pals as well. Owning a pet comes with many challenges, and among the biggest – namely, because it’s daily, disgusting and inevitable – is cleaning up their poop. Alas, until our pets learn how to flush a toilet, it is our solemn duty to get down on our knees and scoop up after our furry babies. Well, let technology ease the burden. There is now a wide variety of robotic and automated cat litter boxes that can make disposing of your pets no.1s and 2s that much more pleasant. Some of these can be quite pricey, but it all depends on the level of sophistication you want and the available space you have. But if you consider how long you’ll have your fluff ball in your life… and how often said cutie-pie will poop, it may well be a worthwhile investment!
A trend that’s become particularly popular for us is also spreading to the pet world. Just as services like Ancestry can tell you fascinating stories about your background and family, you can also get cat DNA tests done to find out your feline’s lineage and a full breakdown of their underlying breeds. Not only is this fun, but it can also be super useful – you can learn about genetic markers for pre-existing conditions and be that much more informed about your cat’s health and even make adjustments in diet or environment to help stave off any possible genetic issues. This is especially useful if your cat is a rescue and you’re not 100% sure of its breeds.
It would be a little cruel to have our pets watch us gorge on festive feasts and special treats, while they make do with their regular kibble, so why not also get your animals some delectables to enjoy this holiday season. Pet bakeries like Pupcakes have a huge range of delicious treats, including themed holiday yummies! Lily’s Kitchen is a great choice for both cats and dogs, but if you’re feeling particularly ambitious, you could try your hand at making some treats yourself!
And if that fails, you can’t go wrong with a bit of catnip – hilarious entertainment for the family and your kitties will certainly enjoy it. Though of course if you’d prefer not to shock your cat’s tummies this holiday season, there are lots of delicious and healthy options to choose from as well.
