Gifts for All Your Four Legged Friends

The holidays are here once again, and many of us have started thinking about the gifts we will be handing out this season. Pets often become a part of the family, and for some, a pet can be a best friend. Including four-legged friends and "family members" in the holiday gift-giving always adds to the spirit of the season.

  1. Bedding

    • Pet beds make great gifts.

      Beds for dogs, cats or other four-legged friends make great gifts. Most pets love having a spot that's all their own to curl up in. For older pets who may be experiencing joint pain and arthritis, a soft bed can be a welcome spot to relax, taking pressure off the joints and keeping the pet from tossing and turning on a cold or hard floor.

    Blankets

    • Cats like to claw at, crawl through, and curl up in soft, warm blankets.

      A pet blanket makes a cozy gift for your pet. The blanket could be a simple fleece throw or even an old comforter. Avoid comforters, however, if the pet tends to claw at or chew items, as the stuffing inside the comforter could pose a health hazard. Alternatively, two large squares of fleece fabric can be stitched or tied together to make a custom or personalized blanket for four-legged friends. Fleece is great for dogs that chew and pull.

    Toys

    • New toys are always fun.

      Pets love new toys. Too many new toys can distract from the fun, though, so select two or three new toys to give and present them to the pet. Tennis balls, rope toys, squeaky toys, and similar items make great gift ideas for dogs, while balls with bells in them, crinkle toys, and catnip mice make great ideas for cat gifts. Toys can also be fun for children to give as gifts to the four-legged friends in their lives, since new toys are something a child can easily relate to.