If your family is one of the estimated 3.2million that bought themselves a lockdown pet during the pandemic, then there will be an extra name on your Christmas shopping list this year.
Whether you own a cat, dog, rabbit, or chinchilla, there are endless ways to express your love for your furry friend on December 25, and make a style statement, too.
From interactive toys to luxurious toiletries, designer jewellery to high fashion, check out our picks for the smartest pet presents on the market, with something to suit all budgets.
Dogs do dream! Dogs and humans have the same type of slow wave sleep (SWS) and rapid eye movement (REM) and during this REM stage dogs can dream. The twitching and paw movements that occur during their sleep are signs that your pet is dreaming
Hugo & Hudson reversible padded dog coat
Keep your best buddy toasty and stylish on long winter walks with the padded puffer style coat, which comes in black, blue, fuchsia pink, or red.
Buy for £34 from Next.Cat scratching DJ deck
Cats love to scratch your furniture, to exercise their muscles, mark their territory, and just for sheer devilment. Give them an alternative with this Instagram-friendly scratching station.
Buy for £22 from The Letteroom.
Did you hear that? Sound frequency is measured in Hertz (Hz). The higher the Hertz, the higher-pitched the sound. Dogs hear best at 8,000 Hz, while humans hear best at around 2,000 Hz.
Sofa topper in flame velvet
LangRay interactive cat toy
If you are back at work, you can give your cat hours of fun in your absence with this rotating play ball with flashing lights.
Once charged up it will roll about for up to four hours.
Buy for £15.22 from Mano Mano.Alessi Dog Food Bowl
It’s not a fever…A dog’s normal temperature is between 101 and 102.5 degrees Fahrenheit. How much do you know about dog health? Take our Doggy First Aid Quiz!
And its tilted design will help stop spills from messy eaters.
Buy for £56 (£42 for a small version) from John Lewis.Christmas hanging garland
Don’t forget about tiny pets over the holidays. This cute garland made of vine and rattan will brighten up the hutches or cage, and they also come stuffed with
lovely marigold or raspberry leaf for snack time.
Organic Catnip Filled Mouse
Stuff a Kong With Treats to Keep Them Busy. Stuff a Kong with some yummy treats to keep your dog occupied, and for a tougher challenge you can freeze them in there. You don’t need fancy dog treats or stuffing either – here’s 39 food & treats I like to Stuff in Kongs.
Encourage your cat’s hunting instinct with this cute hand-made cotton mouse, which is stuffed full of the dried catnip flowers and leaves that felines find irresistible.
Danish Design Arctic snuggle dog bed
We all know the importance of a good night’s sleep and this faux suede and fur dog’s bed is super soft and comfy. And its muted greige colourway will go with most colour schemes.
Buy for £35.99 from John Lewis.
Fairtrade sterling silver dog tag
INTERESTING FACT ABOUT YOUR PET: Man’s best friend? Petting a dog and gazing into their eyes releases oxytocin (i.e the “love hormone”) not only for you, but for them as well.
Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without a little bit of bling and this simple bone-shaped tag can be clipped to your dog’s collar.
You can get their name engraved if you want, and customise with a gemstone or two.
Buy for £105 from Harriet Kelsall Jewellery.Joules leather pet collar
A statement colour, and great quality for the price, this collar is a walkies essential. A matching lead is available too if you want to go the matchy-matchy route.
Buy for £16 from Joules.Tank cat playhouse
Learn how to make your own chicken jerky. Its a healthier alternative to the store-bought kind. Get the directions here.
True, your average moggy would be happy messing around with your discarded boxes and wrapping paper, but for a bit of seasonal fun, upgrade to this army-green foldaway tank playhouse.
Buy for £15.99 from IWOOT.This article contains affiliate links. We may earn a small commission on purchases made through one of these links but this never influences our experts’ opinions. Products are tested and reviewed independently of commercial initiatives.
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No, it’s not just to make themselves look adorable. Dogs curl up in a ball when they sleep due to an age-old instinct to keep themselves warm and protect their abdomen and vital organs from predators.