Holiday Gift Ideas for Your Furry Loved Ones

December 1, 2022December 1, 2022
by ruthmacpete

Our pets give us so much love and joy all year round, they deserve a holiday gift to show them how much we appreciate them. How do you pick the perfect gift? Our pets can’t tell us what they want and there are so many pet products to choose from. In order to make shopping for your pet a little easier this holiday season, I’ve put together my annual list of some of my favorite pet gift ideas.

Treats
Who doesn’t love a treat? Treats always make great gifts and stocking stuffers for your pets and your friend’s pets. My dog’s love Artisan Inspired® Handcrafted Biscuits. They are handcrafted and made with real meat, veggies, and fruit, and most importantly to your dog they are available in irresistible flavors like barbeque chicken, and maple bacon and blueberry. For Jerky lovers, try Artisan Inspired® Culinary Jerky Bites. They come in drool-worthy flavors like smoked beef brisket or slow roasted pulled pork. You can find all of these treats at your local grocery store or Walmart.

Toys
Toys are another great gift for your pets. Dogs and cats love to play and toys bring out the puppy and kitten in your pet. Toys not only keep your pets entertained, but they also help keep your pet busy so they stay out of trouble when you are away from home.

Chew toys
Nylabone Gourmet Style Chew Toys are long lasting, flavored chew toys that are great for strong chewers. They come in different flavors and sizes so you can find the perfect chew toy for your pooch.

Tug toys
Nylabone doesn’t just make chew toys. They have a new line of creative play toys. They come in several fun shapes that your dog can pull, grip, twirl, and fetch. My dog’s favorite is the Tuug toy. Marley’s always in the mood for a game of tug of war.

Puzzle Toys
Entertain and educate your dog with an interactive and engaging puzzle toy. Brightkins makes several puzzle toys to prevent boredom, especially when your dog is home alone. They are designed to keep your dog busy and their mind stimulated. Their Surprise Party! Treat Puzzle rewards dogs with a treat whenever they figure out how to open these treat-filled presents! It can also be used as a slow feeder. Brightkins also makes interactive pet training tools to make training your pooch fun.

Cat toys
Let’s not forget about your feline friends. Catit makes a wide range of gifts for your cat. I love how Catit’s stylish cat tree looks in my home and my cats love to climb up and lounge from high above. Catit also makes cute scratchers to keep your cats happy and to save your furniture and curtains. Finally, Catit makes a variety of toys to keep your cats entertained. My cats love the award-winning Catit Senses Mushroom. It has a motion sensor and auto-mode to keep my cats entertained while I am away. Finally, don’t forget about catnip. What cat doesn’t love playing with a catnip?

Clothes
Keep your dog warm and fashionable this winter with a cute sweater or hoodie. Grumpy Dog Club is an apparel and accessory line designed exclusively for small to medium sized dogs who want to dress to impress. They offer a wide selection of fashionable hoodies (including holiday themed hoodies), shirts, bandanas, and decorative dog tags. You can even have your dog’s name embroidered on many of their items. Their clothes are all made-to-measure, limited-release clothing and made in the USA. If you are looking for the perfect holiday outfit, be sure to check out their winter sparkle or holiday sequins short sleeve shirts. Your dog is sure to be the best dressed in either of these two outfits. Check them out at: www.grumpydogclub.com

Good Health
The most important gift you can give your pet is the gift of health. Make sure your pets receive regular check-ups from their vet. All pets should be seen at least once a year; and pets older than 7 years old should be seen every 6 months. These examinations allow your veterinarian to ensure your pet is protected against preventable diseases and helps them stay ahead of potential health problems. Routine veterinary care is the best way to ensure your pets will live a long and healthy life.

For Pet Parents
It’s tough leaving your pet home while you’re at work. Catit’s Mouse Camera is the perfect gift for pet parents who want to check on their pets while they away from home. It has a built-in microphone and speaker so you can listen and talk to your pet. It may be a Mouse Camera but it can also be used for dogs. It’s great for pet parents who can’t get enough of their pets or those who want to spy on their fur-babies while they are away.

For Pet Loving Kiddos
What do you get for the kid who loves animals? If they are like most kids and want to be a vet when they grow-up, check out my picture book Lisette the Vet. The book is about Lisette, a little girl who loves animals and wants to be a veterinarian when she grows up. When something happens to the new class pet, will Lisette overcome her fears to save the day?
Available at: Amazon or for a signed copy at: www.lisettethevet.com

Hopefully these gift ideas will help you find the purr-fect gift for your furry friend. Even if your pet is sometimes a little naughty, they always deserve to be on the “Nice” list.

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How to Keep Indoor Cats Active & Engaged

November 14, 2022November 14, 2022
by ruthmacpete

Most people know that there are several health benefits to keeping cats indoors. Cats that are allowed to roam outside face many health hazards and have shorter lifespans than indoor-only cats. Outdoor cats can get into fights with other cats leading to infected bite wounds. They can be exposed to deadly viral diseases like feline leukemia virus (FeLV), feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV), feline infectious peritonitis (FIP), and on rare occasions, rabies. In addition, outdoor cats are more likely to become infected with internal parasites, like roundworms, hookworms, whipworms, heartworms and toxoplasmosis than strictly indoor cats. Finally, outdoor cats can get hit by a car or attacked and killed by a coyotes, foxes, or other wildlife.

There is no doubt that being outdoors can be exciting for your cat, but is the thrill worth the health hazards and shortened lifespan? To me, the answer is a resounding no! I love my cats too much and don’t want something bad to happen to them. So how can you make sure your indoor cat stays active and stimulated without exposing them to the hazards of the outdoors?

Actually, it is easy to create an indoor environment that stimulates your cat’s senses and mind. The underlying principle is to provide your cat with plenty of new sights, sounds and smells to stimulate them. Here is a list of a few things you can do to keep your indoor cat happy and engaged.

1. Set-up a bird feeder

Cats are natural predators and one of their strongest drives is their prey drive. Set-up a bird feeder or bird bath next to a window to channel your cat’s inner predator. Your cat will spend hours watching birds feeding or bathing. Not only will your cat’s prey drive be satiated, but also no birds will be hurt in the process!

2. Aquariums

Aquariums are another great source of endless entertainment. Cats love watching and swatting at fish in an aquarium. It keeps them entertained while keeping the fish safe and sound.

3. Olfactory stimulation

Cats also enjoy experiencing different smells. Providing cat grass or catnip will fulfill your cat’s need for aromatherapy.

4. Climbing

Cats amaze us with their remarkable ability to climb. It’s a skill they inherited from their wild ancestors. Unfortunately, climbing can sometimes can get them in trouble, like when they climb up a tall tree but can’t climb down. You can harness their desire to climb by giving them a cat tree. The Vesper High Base XL is a 5-level cat tree and high-rise scratching post. It is ideal for cats that love to perch up high. Multi-level cat trees are not just fun for your cat, but also good for keeping your cat active and healthy by promoting jumping, scratching, and climbing. For an added bonus, you can set-up your high-rise cat tree next to window so your cat can watch the birds at the bird feeder or bird bath.

5. Scratching

Scratching is a natural feline behavior. Cats scratch to sharpen their nails and exercise their paws. Unfortunately, scratching can be destructive if your cats decide to scratch on your curtains or furniture. Give your cats scratching posts to encourage scratching on the post rather than your curtains and furniture. The Vesper Minou is a cute cat-shaped scratcher that also serves as a cozy hideout.

6. Toys

Cats are curious and playful by nature. Stimulate your cat’s mind with interactive toys to keep your cat busy and engaged. My cats love the Catit Senses Mushroom. The Catit Senses Mushroom is a motion-activated feather toy for your cat. Cats also love playing and chasing laser pointers.

7. Play

As previously mentioned, cats love to play. Play with your cat to keep them stimulated and active. Cats love to chase after feather toys. Some cats can even learn to fetch. I had a cat that loved to play fetch and was better at it than my dog!

Keeping your indoor-only cat active and engaged is easy. Follow these suggestions to ensure your indoor cat is stimulated and not bored. Your cat will enjoy the entertainment and thank you for keeping them safe from outdoor hazards.

Tag: catit

Holiday Gift Ideas for Your Furry Loved Ones

How to Keep Indoor Cats Active & Engaged