We’ve recapped gifts for our pets (and, let’s be honest, for us, too) each year and this year is no different! We’ve got perennial favorites and toys and items that baffle me with their efficacy.
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I’ve asked our resident animals for their recs. First, Katie, who we adopted at the end of August and is still appalled that we have dogs and they are in the house, like ALL DAY long. She likes to sit on the stairs and look down upon them in great disdain.
She also loves the heating pad I put by the window. I had to get another so Wilbur could have his heating pad time, too.
Thermo Kitty Heated Cat Pad, $34
But while researching heated cat options, hooo boy. Get a load of this:
A heated kitty window bed. Good heavens. I WANT ONE TOO.
Why aren’t there heated human window beds?
If you don’t have an outlet near where your cat likes to recline and exist in splendid luxury, this pet pad is self warming, so the longer they lounge, the warmer it is.
This bed was listed under “bestsellers for cats” while the image features a (very adorable and comfortable) dog, which cracked me up:
It’s also available in medium and large, and on some retailers, extra-large.
And hey, if it’s in stock in your area, Costco at one point sold a jumbo beanbag for adults, too. It’s hard to find, according to the Costco subreddit.
But let’s not forget the dogs. Zeb, the Very Elderly, and Buzz, the Anxious and Also Elderly, are Champion Nappers. Especially after Zeb has his meds. Epic snores.
This is still their favorite bed, since I first wrote about it, wow, 6 years ago now.
After I bought pillows for our bed, I learned that I could recycle the old pillows, which to a dog smell freaking magical, and use them for a dog bed:
The DIY Pet Bed Dog Pillow Bed Cover ($25) comes in a bunch of different colors, and in two different sizes.
We put two king size pillows in the larger one, and they fit perfectly – and they’re pillows so it’s easy to squish them in to zip up the two covers.
We ordered the blue denim cover, and both dogs pretty much live on it all day. They love it. We covered it with a fleece blanket which makes it easy to keep the area clean, too.
Then there’s caves for furry friends!
Elyse says this is Dewey’s favorite. She adds, “It’s not cheap but it’s stood up to him clawing the shit out of it. He climbs and inside and lurks.”
There are several styles, too – Elyse says that Dewey’s looks like a leaf. (With a cat in it.)
AMZ: $66 The MEOWFIA (heh) bed is also lovely and Katie adores it:
It still gives me no end of amusement that the company is called “MEOWFIA.”
I’ve also seen other felt cat nests at Chewy.com, and there are many on Etsy as well.
…Including one that looks very much like an upright sperm.
Now that we’re all warm and cozy, let’s look at TOYS. (For the animals).
Elyse has this nifty toy for her cats:
Northmate Interactive Cat Feeder, $27
Elyse says, “I put some treats in it and they have to maneuver them out.”
Dogs often need food bowls and toys that prevent them from gulping their food.
Shana loves this one, from a past gift guide:
“My yellow lab mix would INHALE her food in seconds and then treat us to dog farts for the rest of the day. None of our other slow feed bowls really worked until my wife found this one. It’s like a food puzzle and actually takes her 8ish minutes to eat. (The manufacturer claims it will take 15 minutes but they’ve clearly never met my furry vacuum cleaner).”
Look how CUTE this snuffle mat is! You hide food or treats inside different parts to be snuffled out (and enjoyed).
And there’s a pizza one, too!
Amanda says that Linus “loves a crinkle toy.”
Claudia says her cat adores the SnugglyCat Ripple Rug play mat:
Wilbur and Katie LOVE this absurdly simple toy:
Is this the most simple toy? Yes.
Are both Wilbur and Katie absolutely obsessed with it and I have to HIDE it? Also yes.
I just moved it to count the number of pieces of rolled cardboard (7) and they both came running. It’s absurd but it is the greatest toy and I initially bought it to get free shipping from Chewy. Bizarre, I tell you.
What about you and your pets? Do you (or they!) have any absolute favorite toys, beds, or treats?
Whelp my cat and my sisters cats are now getting some new toys….
Can 100% confirm that the Cat Dancer (the last item, the wire with cardboard nubbins) is a big hit in our house! My daughter first introduced me to that toy, but it quickly became one of the few things that Mac will play with for more than 30 seconds before it’s dead to him.
I bought one of these dog shampoo dispenser massage things for my sister’s dog.
The Cat Dancer has been a favourite of every single cat I’ve ever had.
Sascha recommends this puzzle toy – https://tinyurl.com/2uvzmask. The link says it’s for dogs, but it’s fine for cats. Sascha is super lazy and takes the easy ones, leaving his sister to work hard for the more difficult challenges.
Lily recommends the little plastic springs that you can find in most pet stores – https://tinyurl.com/ytcsdhu9. They’re awesome for playing fetch, and for tripping humans on the stairs.
My husband got a dog bed that’s about 25×40 inches for our ferrets, which are about ten inches long plus tail, and they love it and look so cute on a giant bed.