Holiday Gift Giving For Pets

By Lawrence Gerson, VMD

THE BOND BETWEEN HUMANS AND COMPANION ANIMALS IS STRONG. Most owners consider pets as part of the family and include them in their holiday celebrations. Gift giving is a wonderful part of the holidays, but owners need to make good choices when purchasing gifts for pets.

Cats can become behavior problems without environmental enrichment. Cat trees, high perches, and quality scratching posts are all great suggestions for the cat on your shopping list. Cats love to climb and look out picture windows to keep occupied while owners are away. If you want to go the extra mile, a cat patio, or “catio,” is the ultimate gift for felines. A catio is an enclosure at a window or a screened back porch that permits a cat some fresh air but still protects them from the dangers of the environment. Outdoor cats face multiple hazards and

should never be out unattended. Keeping a cat visually stimulated but safe makes the catio a great gift for the special cat in your life.

Cat toys are a common gift and can provide hours of enjoyment, but owners must be careful to prevent accidental ingestion of string, bells, and other foreign material. Ribbon and especially tinsel are potentially fatal if ingested. Christmas trees can also be a hazard to pets. A gate or pen around the tree can prevent a curious cat from climbing and tipping it over or a dog from chewing on electrical cords, which can cause mouth burns or short circuits.

An upgrade to a cat’s essential equipment is also a nice way to include your pet in gift-giving traditions. Cats love to lose their collars, and they should be replaced as needed. A breakaway collar is best, and identification on a collar will help if your cat escapes from the house. Microchipping is now common, and every cat and dog should have a chip for their own protection. A new litter box with quality litter to their liking is another must for cats. Old boxes get etched and retain odors. While you’re at it, make sure you are tending to the box regularly. Daily scooping and frequent changing are essential to prevent house soiling. A quiet place for the box is critical, and multiple cat households need more than one litter box per cat. Finally, good quality food is not just a treat for your cat, but a necessity.

Dogs also need good food. Other inexpensive gifts for dogs can include a license, a collar with ID, and a leash. When buying and using a leash, keep these notes in mind: retractable leashes can be good for walks in the parks but tangle easily when dogs greet each other; owners must be aware when dogs run to the length of a long lead and prevent a sudden jolt; care must also be given to keeping your fingers from getting caught in a retractable lead. A quality leash is especially important to keeping dogs in heat safe. Current thought for the right age of spaying and neutering is changing on a breed-by-breed basis. This new theory of waiting until some breeds are more mature before surgery is complex, but keeping dogs safe while in heat requires close observation and a strong leash until they are surgically altered.

Chew toys are a popular and widely available gift for dogs, but chew toys at a pet store can range from good to dangerous. Rock-hard chew toys like antlers and bone can fracture teeth while chewing. Look for hard rubber toys with some “give,” as root canals or removal of broken teeth can be quite costly.

One final gift suggestion is to make sure that you are ready to care for your animal in an emergency. Routine veterinary care should be included in every owner’s budget. Emergency and specialty care, however, can consume savings with unanticipated costs. Pet insurance can provide owners with peace of mind when the unexpected happens. Multiple companies provide pet insurance, and owners should be good consumers and read policies carefully to understand the coverage. Cancer care, major operations, or prolonged hospitalization can all be covered with a good insurance plan. Getting insurance for young pets before preexisting conditions develop will help keep pets healthy and happy for many more holiday seasons to follow.