Top Ten Gift Ideas for Pet Lovers

Shopping for gifts for a dog or cat lover shouldn't be too hard. Original gifts, on the other hand, might be more difficult to come across, especially during the holiday season. Here is a compiled "top ten" list of some of my favorite gift ideas, beginning with the very mundane (because, let's face it - sometimes the most common choices are those that people really love the most) and ending with the most (in my opinion) unique.

10. Dog or Cat Calendar

It's the perfect time to give this particular a gift for the approaching new year. The closer it gets, the more and more places you will be able to find a variety of calendars. For a nice extra touch, and for those who enjoy a good sense of humor, try looking into comedic calendars for lovers of cats or diehard dog fans. The laugh they receive each month is sure to be greatly appreciated.

9. Animal Magazines

Magazines of a favorite pet are always welcome by an animal lover. If you know of a subscription that they already have, you can either do them a favor and renew it or add a different magazine to it; either choice is a wonderful gift to give (and to receive).

8. Computer Monitor Shelf for Cats

How often have you gone on your computer without your furry little friend jumping in front of the screen, on top of the monitor, or directly on top of your keyboard while you're trying to type? Chances are it's the same for others, as well. Give them the gift of this, and you also give them the gift of being able to hang out with their cat while working on the computer.

7. Wooden Wine Carriers

For the dog lover who is also a wine lover, a mixture of both is a great present. Each wine carrier at the Dog-in-a-Shell website is made of high-quality wood in cherry finish, displaying a dog breed of your choice.

6. Dogopoly or Catopoly

If your friend or loved one has ever enjoyed Monopoly, then they will surely appreciate - and perhaps even show more love for - this modern animalistic twist on the game. In the choice of either Dog-opoloy or Cat-opoly, this is the perfect family gift that is also appropriate enough for children of many ages.

5. Fun With Your Dog Science Kit

For the child dog lover, there is an incredibly fun learning experience, full of activities and safe science experiements in order to discover interesting things about dogs. Such experiments include, "Read Your Dog's Mind," "See the World Through a Dog's Eyes," and "Bake Tasty Cookies Your Dog Will Love." This is something educational that both children and parents alike will greatly enjoy.

4. Kitty Cat Garden Collection

As a lover of unique gifts, this one really stood out to me. Especially if you have a gardener in your life, who also shares their home with a cat or few, this package provides everything one needs to plant a miniature garden either indoors or out. Grown in pots, it is much easier to give a feline companion the extra vegetarian goodness that he wants (or needs) all year round.

3. Handheld Electronic Petmaster

The PetMaster is an electronic organizer where one can save vital information about their cat or dog - along with veterinarian and emergency phone numbers, groomers, and more. At the same time it also holds a huge reference library full of pet care tips and a list of nearby animal hospitals, and even pet-friendly hotels in your particular area.

2. Reader's Digest's "Animals You Will Never Forget"

This classic book is something that just about every animal lover will enjoy, and for the price it can be bought, it's almost not worth it to pass it up. Full of individual stories of true animal tales, from the happiest to the very sad, it's truly a great read that will never be forgotten.

1. Pencil Sketch from Photo

For a more personal gift, hand over a photo of a specific pet to the myDaVinci artists to be turned into a beautiful piece of hand-drawn art. If the gift is for a friend or distant relative, don't be afraid to ask for a copy of a favorite of one of their animal's photos! This one took the number one spot on my list simply because of its original quality and heartfelt touch.