Pamper your furry, feathered or scaly friends this season with these gift ideas that bring joy, comfort and a little extra tail wag or purr.
Clothes can make the dog or cat — or their hoomans.
Know a dog owner who loves a little pampering? At Ted’s Pet & Feed in Lansing and Schererville, you can pick up robes ($40, tedsfeedstore.com) and matching slippers ($27).
The store also carries dog coats and sweaters ($15 and up) that combine warmth and style, ensuring your pup stays cozy and fashionable on chilly walks.
At The Barketplace in Tinley Park (thebarketplacetinley.com), accessories can complete your pet’s look for holiday pictures.
“We have some adorable locally made bow ties and bandanas that make great basket stuffers,” owner Amanda Daly said.
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For an online option, check out Lucy & Co. Holiday Plaid Pajamas and Human Eye Pillow ($42, lucyand.co) for Christmas Eve snuggles and Christmas morning pictures. The PJs include a tiny pocket for treats.
Toys by Tangled Tugs are in demand at The Barketplace, Daly says.
“They are high quality and locally handmade,” she said. “Toys by West Paw are also popular as they are amazing for heavy power chewers.”
For older pets or those who can feel anxious at times, the Chill Kuzzi Far Infra-Red Healing Blanket ($30 and up, alsipnursery.com) at Alsip Home & Nursery in Frankfort and St. John helps dogs and cats relax more easily and calm down faster, says Sandy Richwalski, pet manager and buyer.
Richwalski also recommends dog and cat toys such as Woof Pupsicle, Catit Senses ($22) and Kong Scrumplez plushies ($13).
“Kong Scrumplez toys let dogs play tug of war with you or another dog, while Catit Senses toys can keep a cat occupied chasing a ball or finding treats,” she said. “Woof Pupsicle ($20) is a toy that you can add premade treats to or make your own for long-lasting treats to keep both dogs and cats occupied and stimulated.”
Available at EarthWise Pet in Frankfort, Trixie Puzzles ($16 and up, earthwisepet.com) can be a great option for challenging your pup.
“These puzzles are a great way to keep your pet mentally stimulated in the cold months when stuck inside,” spokesperson Dani Ziebart said. “They have different levels of difficulty.”
If your pet has a stocking, Ted’s Pet & Feed offers several stuffers, including cat snacks with holiday themes ($7 and up).
At The Barketplace, Grandma Lucy’s organic cookies, the Butcher’s Companion sausage treats and snacks from Zignature are popular with pets, Daly says.
“I love these treats because they are very palatable and use high-quality and even some human-grade ingredients,” she said.
At Alsip Home & Nursery, Richwalski says popular limited-ingredient dog treats include Open Farms freeze dried treats ($10) and Whimzees dental chews ($20), as well as bully sticks and collagen chews ($13-$30) that can keep dogs stimulated.
“Simple ingredient treats are easier on your pets’ stomachs, especially during the holidays when extra house guests are feeding them,” she said.
For a fun twist on gifts and treats, check out the Polkadog Advent Calendar ($20) for dogs and cats or Finley’s Sleigh Ride Snacks ($8) at EarthWise Pet.
“These come in either duck and sweet potato gingerbread shaped or lamb and sweet potato mini Christmas trees,” Ziebart said.
Other popular options include Preppy Puppy holiday cookies ($2 and up) and Bocce holiday cat treats ($4.49), she said.
“Don’t forget about the kitties,” Ziebart said. “We have Bocce’s crunchy Lumps of Catnip that are chicken and catnip, and Snowflake snacks that are chicken and carrot.”
The Preppy Puppy holiday cookies are free of common allergens such as corn, soy and wheat, she said.
“This company has been around since 1994 and is a trusted brand in the pet industry,” Ziebart said.
For an online option, Zora’s Best Friendz is known for its 100% human-grade Beef Liver dog treats ($13 and up, zorasbest.com) that are slow roasted and freeze dried to lock in the taste and nutrition.
Crumps’ Naturals Chicken Collagen Jerky ($14, crumpsnaturals.com) are high protein treats that offer the benefits of collagen, which promotes healthy skin, stronger nails and coats and joint health.
Though wild birds aren’t pets in the traditional sense, people often love them just as much and provide shelter and feeders to brighten their backyards.
Ted’s Pet & Feed carries several types of wild bird feeders ($35 and up) and wild bird seed ($10 for 20-pound bags of seed blends).
“Blends attract any type of bird, but we have breed-specific bags as well,” assistant manager Stacey Netko said.
For an online option, FeatherSnap’s Wi-Fi-enabled smart bird feeder ($180, amazon.com) connects users with their natural environment using a high-resolution, motion-activated camera. The FeatherSnap app also includes premium features with tools including ornithologist-trained AI identification.
“Reptiles and small animals have become more popular over the past years and are now being looked at as family members just like cats and dogs,” Richwalski said.
Alsip Home & Nursery has several gift options for scaly friends and other small pets such as ferrets and guinea pigs.
The Komodo brand offers different styles of decor and natural looking hides ($20-$40) for reptile tanks, she said. Adding live plants such as Pothos or spider plants can help the critter and purify house air.
The store also carries Prevue brand bird toys ($7-$30).
“Foraging toys help with mental stimulation as well as offering a reward for their efforts,” Richwalski said.
Other options include play mats such as the ferret Octo-Play ($35), which can be used for rats and guinea pigs as well, Richwalski says.
“They can dig and tunnel through to find treats and find a warm place to snuggle,” she said.
