Holiday Gifts for Pets

I love using the holiday season as an excuse to get a little something extra for the family pets. In the past, my dog and cats slowly began to realize when there was a tree in the house and boxes underneath it, somewhere amongst the decorative wrappings was a gift or two for them. Here are some delightful ideas for your little friend that are practical to you and just a treat to them.

1.Pet Grass
Green grass for your cats and dogs to eat during the winter season will be a real treat! The garden containers only cost a few dollars and are very easy to maintain, only needing to be watered. Within a few days, healthy grass will have sprouted and your pets will be able to maintain a calm stomach or pass unwanted hairballs.

2.Dog Biscuits
Despite biscuits being something dogs are usually awarded, they can get expensive and not bought often. Make their holiday biscuits something special, like treats to help improve their immune system and maintain healthy teeth and gums, so the price makes you feel good about buying the product. Your dog will be very excited to see the wrapping paper torn away to reveal biscuits!

3.Collars and Leashes
Animals grow and collars can become worn out over the years. Christmas is the ideal time to think about replacing a cat or dog collar, especially if they need new or updated tags. My dog also loved to chew and tug on her leash, so if yours is starting to fray, a new leash only promises more walks and outdoor fun.

4.Cat Dancer
Getting a cat to exercise is like tricking a toddler into eating vegetables. Dancers or charmers, sticks with a hanging toy or ribbon on the end, always seem to get even the laziest of cats to romp and play, but claws usually make these toys, while beloved, rarely have a long lifespan. A new cat dancer is cheap and your pet will adore chasing a ribbon through the piles of discarded wrapping paper.

5.Honey Stick
Birds also need to be spoiled just as much as your cat and dog. A healthy and wonderful treat is honey sticks, which my lovebird absolutely adored and looked forward to. The honey stick provides a variety to the bird's diet, is quite cheap and good for parakeets, cockatiels and other medium sized birds.

6.Jungle Toy
All birds need some sort of wooden or plastic toys that help mature and entertain their inquisitive nature. Toys that have many different bright colors, ropes to hang from or layers for the bird to explore or climb on are good choices. Bird toys are relatively cheap and it is always good to replace older toys often so the bird has something new to explore.

7.Plastic Balls
For all of the smaller, furry little animals in your life, it's hard to ever go wrong with a plastic ball that allows them to explore rooms safely, especially if you also have cats or bigger pets in the same home. Gerbils, hamsters and mice are ideal pets for this toy and occasionally, even my pet rats liked to take a trip in one.