Jamming out to Jingle Bells, feasting with friends and family, snowball fights and ice skating–the holiday season is full of fun. But without a doubt, the most rewarding part of this season is giving gifts to our loved ones, and that means our furry friends, too!
Here at Mighty Pet, we think it’s important to shower your pets in thoughtful gifts. It’s a way to express how much you love them, and it’s also a great way to keep them occupied while you’re busy with holiday festivities. In this blog, we’ll talk about how to get your pet a gift they’ll truly love, and share some of our favorite dog and cat gifts with you.
Finding The Best Gifts for Your Pets
We search high and low to find meaningful gifts for our human loved ones, but how does one choose a thoughtful gift for a pet? Always consider your pet’s needs and personality when shopping for their gifts.
Every dog and cat has a few basic needs. In addition to the obvious (food, water and shelter), all pets deserve stimulating toys and a comfortable space to relax at the end of the day. Help your cat or dog exercise their brain and body with an enriching toy. Or, shop around for a cozy bed that they’ll love to crash in after a fun play session.
You can also have fun tailoring your pet’s gift to fit their personality. If your cat or dog has endless energy, get them a toy that they can chase–not only will it be fun for them, but it’ll also help them burn off some energy and give you a little break. If they’re more of the chilled-out type, puzzle toys are a great way to challenge their brains without requiring much movement.
If you have any toys in your house that are already a hit, it’s never a bad idea to add another one (or a similar one) to their toybox. You can even consider the materials your dog or cat usually likes to play with–do they tend to prefer soft toys, balls and rubber toys, or resilient chew toys?
Top Gift Ideas for Dogs
Dog Toys to Keep Them Busy
Studies show that dogs who receive plenty of mental stimulation are far less likely to exhibit ‘problem behaviors.’ They help keep your dog’s energy levels at a reasonable level, and also prevent your dog from making their own fun (a.k.a, chewing up your shoes and furniture).
It’s especially important to provide mental stimulation when your dog is young. We know that kids’ brains develop better when we help them exercise their mind with puzzles and other educational toys. The same can be said for puppies. Plus, brain stimulation can help slow the aging process, keeping your dog sharp for many years to come.
Puzzle toys are one of the best dog toys for boredom busting. Not only do they help your dog’s brain development, but they’re a great way to encourage independent play. When you’re busy cooking up that holiday feast, keep your pup entertained with a fun puzzle they’ll love.
Dog Rope Toys and Silent Squeaker Dog Toys
When it comes to dog toys that promote physical exercise, it’s hard to beat squeaky toys. Dogs love to chase these noisy little toys, and could fetch them for hours. However, those squeaky toys can get annoying for humans, and fast. They can be an even bigger problem if you have babies or young children in the house, as the loud noise can wake them up from their naps.
Your dog deserves to play, and your family deserves a little peace and quiet. That’s where silent squeaker toys come in handy! These toys are just what they sound like (no pun intended), emitting squeaks at a frequency that only your dog can hear. It’s all the fun of a squeaky toy for your dog, without the headache for a human.
A classic rope toy is another great option for your dog. Not only does it let them exercise their body and their instincts, but it’s also great for their dental health. Chewing on the rope helps remove plaque from their teeth and keep their breath smelling fresh. Rope toys offer endless ways to play, whether you chuck it across the house for a game of fetch or start a game of dog versus human tug-of-war. If you have more than one dog, they can have fun battling for the toy together.
III. Top Gift Ideas for Cats
Cat Toys to Satisfy Their Instincts
Veterinary experts estimate that cats are about as intelligent as 2-year-old humans. That’s pretty darn smart, especially for such a small creature. It’s no wonder, then, that cats require lots of mental stimulation. One way to exercise your cat’s brain is to provide them with toys that they can ‘hunt.’
Cats are naturally gifted hunters, meaning that hunting and catching prey is a fun activity for them. It’s also a fantastic way to stimulate their brains. Keep your cat from bringing you any dead rodent “presents” by providing them with plenty of toys that they can chase and catch.
One classic toy option for a cat on the prowl is the feather cat toy. These toys may feature feathers at the end of a stick, or attached to a ball or plush toy. The feathers will remind your cat of a bird, something they would naturally hunt in the wild. They’ll love running after these toys and pouncing on them to catch their ‘prey.’
Another great option, and one which frees up some time for you, is a moving cat toy. Whether it’s a battery powered toy that wriggles around on its own or a ball that your cat can bat through the house, moving cat toys are ideal for independent play. Keep your cat occupied and your hands free to unwrap presents with a moving cat toy.
Cat Beds for Chill-Out Time
Cats sleep between 12 and 16 hours a day, which means that they’re asleep for about half of their lives. It’s very important, then, that they have a spacious and comfortable place to relax! Since cats often like to rotate where they sleep, it’s never a bad idea to have multiple cat beds.
A regular old cozy cat bed makes a fantastic gift for your feline friend. Or, you can take things up a notch with a heated cat bed. Heated cat beds provide a gentle heat that can help lull your cat to sleep, and can even soothe their joints if they suffer from arthritis. Cat tunnel beds are another great option. These beds combine the privacy of a cat tunnel with the comfort of a typical cat bed. A tunnel bed pulls double duty, since cats occasionally like to hide away for a little privacy. Your cat will likely enjoy the tunnel feature even when they’re not sleeping.
Shop Pet Gifts and More at Mighty Pet in Menominee, Michigan
During the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, we may sometimes forget to prioritize our pets. Thankfully, it’s easy to make your furry friends happy with a simple, thoughtful holiday gift. We hope this blog inspired you to pick out a paw-some present for your pet. If you’re in the Menominee, Michigan area, we invite you to do your pet gift shopping with us here at Mighty Pet. Our shelves are stocked with plenty of toys for feline or canine girls and boys.
We wish you happy holidays and happy gifting!
