Great Christmas Gifts for Your Favorite Feline Fan

By Tamara L. Waters

Christmas,  Christmas time is here, time for joy and time for cheer. . . chipmunks may sing about what they want for Christmas, but what do cat lovers want? Is there a song for that? Probably not, so instead, here are a few ideas for your favorite feline fancier. Give them something that appeals to their love of cats and you're sure to make them purr (sorry, bad pun).

Cat Pattern Blankets - Buy or make fleecy blankets that have a kitty pattern on them. Your kitty lovin' friend will enjoy a snuggly blanket with pictures of their favorite animal scattered all over it – great for a chilly winter evening!

Coffee Table Books - Pictures of cute kitties are always a hit. How about a collection of pics? Check your local bookstore or an online retailer like Amazon for a coffee table book filled with pictures of cool kitties.

Kitty Calendars - Cats might rule over your household, but they're not the greatest when it comes to keeping track of what day it is. Get your favorite cat lover a kitty calendar to help them stay on track in light of their cat's lack of date keeping.

Stuffed Kitty Cats - How about some whimsy for that kitty collector? Stuffed animals are not just for the kids; grown up cat lovers can enjoy them too. A cute stuffed kitty cat will put a smile on your friend's face and add a touch of fun to their decor.

Jewelry - Because I am an animal lover, my kids know it's always appropriate to give me fun and funky pet jewelry. Take a browse through a novelty jewelry store in your local mall for some cute cat-inspired jewelry. At my local mall, I have found necklaces with kitten charms, earrings, hair accessories, watches and more.

Tree Ornaments - While most of us with cats presiding over the household know that the cat spends time in the Christmas tree, give a Christmas tree ornament for those times when kitty is occupied elsewhere. After all, what is a Christmas tree without a cat? Better yet, if you can snag a picture of your friend's kitty cat, look for a ready-made ornament that will hold their kitty's picture. You can bet your friend will love it!

Christmas Decorations - Deck the halls with cats and clawies. . .okay that's lame but it's a great idea! How about a fun set of cat-themed Christmas decorations?

Framed Art or Statues - Does your friend like art? Look around for cat statues for the home or garden, or framed artwork featuring cats.

White Elephant Gifts - This is probably my favorite cat loving gift idea. Browse through your local thrift stores for anything cat-related and fill a box or a gift bag full of gently used items. Small knick knacks, decorations, pillows, clothing and more can be a fun and unique Christmas gift for your friend.

Kitty Socks - This is a perfect gift for me or any sock-loving friend who also loves cats. Funky socks with cats are a must have for any cat lover. My favorite cat socks have a puffy kitty face on the top of the foot and they're adorable – they keep the tootsies warm and they're cute too.

Take a look at what is available in local stores and browse through some websites for fun cat gifts. Check out websites like cat-lovers-gifts-guide.com or great-gifts-for-cat-lovers.com for more great ideas.

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10 Christmas Gift Ideas for Dog Lovers

By Tamara L. Waters

If you have a friend who adores their canine pals, consider getting them a gift that caters to this special love. You can rest assured your friend will appreciate a present that remembers their favorite four-legged pal. Check out these ideas for perfect Christmas gifts for your favorite dog lover.

Dog Calendars

The Pink Ribbon Puppies calendar features adorable yellow lab puppies, and all proceeds go toward breast cancer research. Local book stores and online retailers offer a multitude of dog themed calendars too. Choose a wall calendar, a desk calendar, a planner or all three that feature dog photos. Whether your friend has a special dog breed that’s their favorite or they squeal over cute puppy pictures, they can stay on schedule with their favorite pet breeds. Some specialty stores even offer pet calendars that include special sections for veterinary records. This is a great option for your favorite responsible pet owner.


Fleece Blanket

Keep your favorite dog lover warm and cozy this winter with a decorated fleece blanket. Don't settle for just any fleece blanket though; many retailers offer blankets featuring dog photos, dog drawings and even paw prints and bones. If you are a little crafty, check your local craft store for fleece blanket kits. At my craft store there are blanket kits dedicated to almost any hobby or interest. These blankets have fringe that is used to tie two pieces of fleece together to form the blanket. It's a fun and easy craft project (especially if you have kids wanting to help out) and a useful gift.

Holiday Decorations

Does your favorite dog lover decorate a Christmas tree? If so, search for some adorable doggy tree ornaments to give them. Many stores offer holiday decorations in a variety of themes, and dog and cat themed decorations are really easy to find.

Gift Certificates or Gift Cards

If you can't figure out exactly what to get for your dog loving friend or they could use a practical gift, get them a gift certificate for their favorite pet boarder, groomer, obedience school, trainer or pet store. Non-pet stores can also provide great gift card and gift certificate ideas (book stores, farm supply stores etc.).

Dog Food and Treats Gift Basket

Find out your friend's preferred formula of CANIDAE dog food and put together a “care package” along with Snap-Bits™ or Snap Biscuit® dog treats.

Decorative Clothing

Check around local stores for clothing items that feature “man's best friend.” A sweatshirt and a pair of socks featuring a cute dog would be a hit.

Stuffed Animals

If your favorite dog lover doesn't currently have a pet for one reason or another (perhaps they live in a home or facility that doesn't allow dogs), give them a stuffed toy dog! If you have kids, let them pick out the stuffed dog to make it more meaningful.

Magazine Subscription

Purchase a gift subscription to a favorite dog-related magazine for your friend. Check at your local pet store or book stores for titles.

Coffee Mug

Does your favorite dog lover enjoy coffee or hot chocolate? Pick out a coffee mug that features a dog photo (or some other type of dog theme) and create a gift basket that includes specialty coffee or hot chocolate mix, and a dog magazine for some great reading material!

Cookie Cutters

Dog-themed cookie cutters make a fun gift for a dog lover who also likes to bake. Along with dog bones and paw prints, there are cookie cutters featuring Poodles, Labs, Schnauzers, Collies, Corgis, Boxers and many other dog breeds.

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Great Gifts for Pet Lovers

By Anna Lee

Gift giving is something we do all year long whether for a birthday or Christmas, a thank you gift or a get well gift. Many of the gifts we buy are given to pet lovers such as ourselves. Instead of giving that pet lover a box of candy or a bouquet of flowers, why not give them something more near and dear to their heart?

If your friend has an Akita or a Cocker, a Black Lab or a German Short Haired Pointer, why not give them a beautiful sand-cast figurine of their particular dog. Figurines last a long time and can be used on a mantel, a bookcase or as a table decoration.

The website Remmeer has a variety of unique gifts for the cat lover on your list. I found photo frames, books, DVDs, wallets, totes and a whole lot more. For example, a tri-fold faux leather wallet with a kitty appliqué on the front is only $21.96. It is very colorful, and any female cat lover would enjoy owning it. They also have garden stepping stones and even salt and pepper shakers. For dog lovers, I saw adorable wall clocks and rugs for around $30. They are brightly colored and different from other clocks and placemats I have seen.

An idea I have used in the past is to buy a Christmas stocking for the dog lover on my list. I then purchase small items such as toys, shampoo or a name ID tag to put in the stocking. If I want to spend a little more, I sometimes add a gift certificate to a pet store. You might also consider putting in a homemade certificate good for one free weekend of dog sitting, which is a gift every dog lover would appreciate.

Most retail stores sell pet related items, so it is not necessary to have Internet access to buy gifts for pet lovers. You can find dog-themed note paper and stationary at most card stores. Check the computer section where they sell supplies and you will find mouse pads with dogs or cats on them. I have seen purses featuring dogs and cats in several stores. You can buy clothing items such as sweaters, blouses, scarves and socks emblazoned with a dog or cat somewhere on the item.

A book about the person’s favorite pet is a great gift for an animal lover. Maybe a magazine subscription would be appropriate? There are sheets, pillowcases and towels with either dogs or cats. My sister-in-law gives me a “Labs Only” calendar every year – it means a lot to me because she realizes how much I love my dog. There are calendars available with virtually any animal you can think of.

All you need is a little imagination and a few dollars, and you can come up with the perfect gift for a pet lover. Whether the recipient loves dogs, cats, horses, hamsters, bunnies or pigs, there are gifts available that will fit the bill!

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