If delivering holiday joy to your pets in the form of treats and toys, you’re not alone.
A recent Petco survey of more than 2,000 shoppers found that 80% consider their pets to be part of their families when it comes to gift giving during the holiday season.
If your furry, scaly or feathery pet has it all, you may be looking for the perfect gift to place under the tree. Here are some ideas for pet gifts you can find in the region for your companion.
Playful surprises
The Abominable Snow Monster from "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer" is a playful fixture from many people’s childhoods. At Ted’s Pet & Feed in Schererville carries a Kong brand Yeti toy ($7 and up, tedsfeedstore.com).
“We’re going to get a lot of toys coming in for the holiday season, so pet owners will have a lot of choices,” said Lynn Woestman, store manager in Schererville. Ted's also has a location in Lansing.
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The perfect size for burrowing and kicking around, the Whisker City Whale Kicker Cat Toy ($10, petsmart.com) at PetSmart stimulates a cat’s natural instincts.
Delectable delights
Naughty or nice, your dog deserves a treat, Woestman says.
“We have lumps of coal made by Bocce ($7), as well as some other treats by Finley’s ($6 and up) that are popular as gifts,” Woestman said. “We’ll also have our individual Christmas cookies ($2.69) that people can pick out of the case.”
Give your dog a smile-worthy gift with Dental Checkups dog treats ($23), says Tom Meyer of Crown Feed & Supply in Crown Point.
Other popular treats for dogs include cow noses ($4) and pig ears ($3).
“We also sell a lot of dehydrated mealworms ($18 for a 2-pound bag) for the chickens as treats,” Meyer said.
Apple-flavored and butterscotch-flavored treats ($13 for 4-pound bags) are popular choices for horses as well, he said.
For feathery friends, Petco sells an assortment of bird treats including Kaytee Forti-Diet Pro Health Honey Stick Parakeet Treats and Parrot Treats ($9 and up, petco.com), and Kaytee Food from the Wild Medley Treat bags ($5) for medium or large pet birds that come with a blend of fruits, peppers and pistachios.
Stylish accessories
Don’t forget your cat when in the family ugly sweater contest. PetSmart offers several options ($10 and up, petsmart.com) for cats and other pets in themes such as “Meowy Catmas” and “On the Nice List.”
Even reptiles can embrace the Christmas spirit with the Merry & Bright Santa Reptile Costume ($6, petsmart.com). Other options include a holiday sweater, snowman costume and gingerbread costume.
For the pet parent
These thoughtful and delightful gifts honor the bond between humans and their companions.
Ted’s Pet & Feed will again have animal-themed pajama pants ($25) and shorts ($20), Woestman says.
“This year, we also ordered Serengeti insulated tumblers ($24) that feature dog and cat breeds,” she said. “We just got these created so we’ll be rolling them out. Many have little sayings like ‘dog moms.’ ”
And it has stickers ($2.49) to customize their tumblers, Woestman said.
Online finds: There also are many gifts for pets and their people alike available on the web.
For cats who love treats, Skinny Pete’s Gourmet Catnip comes in different flavors. The Three-Piece Gourmet Catnip gift set ($16, skinnypetescatnip.com) includes Blue Meowy Wowy with a hint of spearmint, Purruvian Pink with a hint of peppermint and unflavored Furmaceutical Grade.
Chicago-based Ava’s Pet Palace Snappin’ Salmon dog treats ($14, bubblegoods.com) are made with wild Alaskan salmon. An organic baked treats bundle ($24) offers a variety of flavors, including Gone Bananas and Peanutty Paws.
With flavors including sweet potato, chicken, lamb and duck, your dog will be ready for the holidays with Crumps Naturals ($11 and up, amazon.com). Many are made with just one or two ingredients and come in 100% recyclable packaging.
The health benefits of bone broth for humans are widely touted, but this nutrient dense liquid can be healthful for dogs as well. Brutus Bone Broth ($8 and up, brutusbroth.com) adds glucosamine and chondroitin supplements that can help reduce cartilage loss.
If your cat is known to find the closest box to take a nap, the Hepper Cat Nest ($70, amazon.com) is a round, warming bed with a removable fleece liner.
Love to walk your dog but want to keep your hands free? The Walkee Paws ($36, walkeepaws.com) is an all-in-one-bag and leash combo that allows you to safely store your phone, cards, cash and keys in one compartment and treats and waste bags in another. The bag can be worn as a belt bag, crossbody bag, wristlet, backpack, collar and leash or car seat belt for dogs.
Have a family photo wall? Pet Portraits ($60 and up, petportraits.com) crafts one-of-a-kind pet art of your fur baby, turning them into cartoons, watercolors or impressionist artworks. Every order also feeds five rescue animals through the company’s philanthropic initiative.
Though outdoor bird enthusiasts may not consider backyard wildlife as pets, the Old World Christmas Northern Cardinal ornament ($18, oldworldchristmas.com) can be a great gift to reflect their love for their feathered friends.