Has your pet been naughty or nice? Chances are, probably both. It’s part of their special charm. You love them no matter what, so when the holidays come around, you want to give them something they’ll appreciate — or at least not throw up. Lucky for you, we’ve scoured the finest international online purveyors and our own Key West pet stores to help you find that purr-fect gift that’s bow-wow WOW! No need to wrap — just throw the box across the room and let the fun begin.
Kitty Laptop
Does this ever happen to you? You’re deep in thought churning out social media when your cat decides to “help you” by sitting on your laptop keyboard. If so, we’ve got the purr-fect gift for your technology-loving feline. The Catbook Pro Scratching Post features dual-scratch-powered stations that provide aggressive scratchers plenty of content to shred. For a more realistic version, try the hopefully inappropriately named Suck UK Scratch Laptop, which comes with its own furry mouse and cute stickers like, “I Heart Catnip” and #feedmehuman. On a limited budget? Try powering up your old laptop, the one you don’t know how to get rid of, and re-gift it to your cat. It’s loaded with what they really love about laptops: a battery-powered heated keyboard and your sniff-worthy fingerprint smells. Add a fluffy mouse attachment and your cat will be pounding out emails all day.
The Catbook Pro Scratching Post $34.99 at amazon.com
Suck UK Scratch Laptop $35 at walmart.com
Puppy Cheifer 3000 and CBD Treats
You don’t need a medical marijuana card to give your dog a toy “high” with the Puppy Cheifer 3000, their very own canine bong. Realistic looking plush pipe will provide hours of giggles for you and your stoner friends and squeaky fun for your pup. For a true cannabis wellness experience, try giving them Hemp/CBD treats available at local stores. Many pet parents swear by them. I can’t say they mellow out hyper-poodle Ozzy, but boy does he get happy when I pull out a Pet Releaf Sweet Potato CBD treat. It’s not only tasty, but a perfect munchie for his sensitive stomach, which is more that I can say for any plush toy than has the misfortune to end up in his jaws.
Puppy Cheifer 3000 $27.90 at kol.pet
Pet Releaf Hemp Edibites: $26-$30 (various flavors): available locally at Lilly and Lola’s American Dog Outfitters and Pet Supermarket
Dog and Cat Socks
If you’ve tried, you know it. Dogs and cats hate wearing socks. But they sure love to play with yours. So why not build on their natural appreciation for cloth footwear?
A large holiday stocking makes the perfect sleeping bag for cats and (very) small dogs. The Halco Red Velvet Plush stocking with Kris Kringle Foldover cuff not only has a long name and length (21”), but it’s also cheap. For a more upscale version, check out Lulubelle’s Power Push Holiday Stocking, which comes with a slot to insert the giftee’s photo so Santa knows who’s a good boy or girl.
For a truly affordable socktastic action toy that combines your pet’s favorite smells with the sounds of plastic crinkling, try a homemade Bottle Rocket. It’s easy to make. Simply stuff an empty water bottle into a smelly sock and tie off at the top. Like most pet toys, your supervision is needed for this one. Works great until the sock is shredded or your pet begins eating the bottle.
Halco Red Velvet Plush stocking with Kris Kringle Foldover Cuff $5 at amazon.com and others.
Lulubelle’s Pow-er Plush Holiday Stockings: Lily and Lola’s Pet Boutique Key West
Bottle Rocket: Sock drawer and recycle bin.
Gifts for Bored Pets
How would you feel if you were left alone for long periods with no smartphone, laptop or TV remote in your hand and no way to get out and go anywhere? Bonkers, right? Maybe even up for a little furniture scratching or ripping apart the sofa cushions. Luckily, there’s an entire industry dedicated to entertaining pets by frustrating the heck out of them.
For a low-tech choice, you can’t go wrong with the Kong Classic. This old standard, whose iconic shape resembles a poop emoji, keeps your pet licking incessantly for a taste of peanut butter or chemical-laden squirt cheese until they realize their tongue is too short to get all the food. (Pros: Immediate interest. Cons: Washing remaining rock-hard peanut butter out of hole).
Puzzle games are another route, and there are many out there, all created to stimulate your pet’s brain by having your dog or cat overcome obstacles to find the treats. They’re touted as “boredom busters.” All our local pet stores carry them and maybe they can help you understand how they work. I couldn’t figure it out.
The one toy I’m excited about getting for Ozzy this year is the Cheerble Wicked Ball, an automatic, self-moving ball for both cats and dogs. Think of it as a ball-shaped Roomba that keeps going and going and going without you having to throw the ball again. And again. And again. Pros: Fully rechargeable with three modes of movement: gentle, normal and active. Cons: Website says may not be suitable for tough chewers. Let’s be honest, what is?
Kong Classic (various sizes): American Dog Outfitters Key West Pet Supermarket and Lilly and Lola’s $9.99- $19.99.
Cheerble Wicked Ball for dogs (3 sizes) $31.99-$35.99; Cheerble Ball with bell for cats (2 sizes) $21.59- $28.99 at cheerble.com.
No matter what you give your pet this holiday season, remember it’s the little things that count. For my dog, it’s the box the stuff comes in — nothing excites him more than the sound of squashed cardboard. And for Captain Boo, my friend and feline mayor of Seaport’s D Dock, it’s an almost empty tub of butter. Most of all, our pets want our time, our love and a comfortable place to nap.
Cheese wouldn’t hurt either. Happy Holidays to all!
