By Roslyn McKenna, PetSafe Web Content Specialist
Black Friday and Cyber Monday are coming up, and I’m starting to create my Christmas lists for my friends, family and pets. My family’s pets are probably the easiest to shop for, but my pets are a little spoiled. What do you get for the pets who have everything? If you haven’t already planned what to get the pets on your holiday shopping list, here are some gift ideas to get you started.
Knit your pet a sweater, or just embroider his initials on it!
Homemade Gifts - Cats love simple toys like cardboard tubes and crinkled paper balls. Your dog would be happy with a new set of tennis balls or a voucher to go to the dog park. If you’re extra crafty, you could make a personalized stocking for your pet. Or just give your pets the leftover boxes and wrapping paper; that’s my animals’ favorite part of Christmas.
Useful Supplies - Kind of like getting socks and toothpaste, you can always go the practical route and get your pet the everyday care items you know he’ll need. Poop bags, treats, flea medicine and kitty litter won’t exactly thrill your pet to open, but your wallet will be happier and you won’t have to remember to buy them later.
Toys to Slim Down for the Holidays -
Our Busy Buddy® Squirrel Dude™ is another great gift! Even before your pet can make his New Year’s Resolution, you can help him start getting in shape. Food-dispensing toys are a great way to keep your pet active.
I give Doc half of his dinner in his Busy Buddy® Magic Mushroom™ , and he spends the next 30 minutes after dinner rolling the toy around the house and down the stairs as he tries to get the food out.
My cats are getting a little pudgy too, so I like to break out the FroliCat® BOLT™ once in a while to give them some extra exercise. I can hear them tearing around the room after the little red dot! The vet said my cat Lily has lost some weight since her last checkup, so the in-home laser workout must be working.
Festive Treats - The cheapest treats can be made at home. Here are some of my pets’ favorite recipes. You can even dress these treats up in fancy packages or have fun with food coloring and pet-friendly decorations. Add bits of broccoli to your dog’s homemade biscuits or sprinkle some catnip on your cat’s tuna juice popsicles to make festive and healthy treats. If you’re not much of a baker, get your pet a gift basket of his favorite treats. My cats love the Feline Lickety Stik®. Doc has just discovered rawhide treats and indigo™ Fresh Floss Bones.
Self-Cleaning Litter Box - A self-cleaning litter box is as much a gift for you as it is for your cat. With all of the travel, family, shopping, cleaning, and everything else going on during the holidays, the last thing you want to worry about is the litter box. But many cats are not very forgiving about a litter box that hasn’t been cleaned in a while. (I know mine are.) Electronic litter boxes automatically clean up your cat’s waste, so you don’t have to worry about cleaning up any extra messes. 
Lily got to try out the Sweep One™ Advanced Auto-Cleaning Litter Box System. Maybe Santa will bring her one?
Protect the Presents - My pets can smell which present is theirs through the wrapping. Stop your pet from getting into his gifts early or stealing his sibling’s gifts with pet proofing products. You can find barriers and mats to keep stubborn pets out of the present-wrapping station or tree, or go low-tech with pet gates and tinfoil. 
You can prevent a scene like this with some simple pet proofing.
What will you be getting your pets for the holidays?
