You’ve got mum and dad crossed off the list now, but that still leaves one even more important family member to buy for: the pet.
Dog, cat, assorted rodent, you name it, they’ll be gutted if there isn’t a box under the tree with their name on come Christmas. Probably. We’ve gone through the catalogues to come up with the very best animal gifts out there – and they’re all practical for you too. Read on to see what they are.
Maybe your dog’s in the dog house after nipping you, or you just don’t think that spending money on creatures that can’t speak is very sensible. Either way, there’s some top quality budget buys available.
Doggles
One of the biggest dangers of taking your dog to the park is that they’ll walk eyeball first into a spiky bush and never see again. It’s true, it happens to one in two dogs over their lifetime. Better equip them with the best eyewear ever, doggles. Put them on your pet, safe in the knowledge that they can see safely while looking like a World War One aviator. We made that stat up by the way, but you really can buy them for between ten and twenty squid.
Humunga tongue
No it’s not what you think it is, though it might attract a few odd looks for that reason in the park. It’s a fetch toy shaped like a lolling doggy tongue, so even if your canine is mouth continent, he’ll still look comical when he picks it up. Firebox will fetch this for you for under a tenner. Seriously, don’t be so revolting.
Pet Doorbell
The name’s a bit misleading, as unless you have a large member of the cat family in the back garden, this is dogs only. It’s still a godsend though for noisy canines that bark to demand to be let in. Train them to use this giant, wireless doorbell by standing on it instead so they don’t wake the neighbourhood. Fantastic value at £16.99.
Do you prefer the company of animals to other people? Go for broke and pamper your pet with these gifts over £50.
Petmate Electronic Feeder
Don’t you just hate having to remember to feed your pet at regular intervals every day? What a chore. This feeder lets their food out three times a day so you can head off to work knowing your pet will still get some square meals, for just £60.67. Once your cat figures out that there’s a timetable to it, it’ll wait for it like clockwork. Dogs will be eternally surprised though.
Zoombak GPS Pet Locator
Collars with contact details on are essential for any pet that leaves the house, but should you lose them, you’re still relying on the kindness of strangers to call up and return them rather than sell it down the pub. With Zoombak’s service you can find out exactly where they’ve got to from your computer, and even set safety zones for you to be alerted when they leave them. If your cat is a wanderer or dog a bolter, Zoombak will give you peace of mind for a year for £100.
Luxury Pet Sofa
A ragged old blanket or tatty cushion won’t cut it any more for creature comfort. You can now spoil your pet rotten with a chaise longue of their very own. Unsurprisingly, the sofas, which come in three colours and two sizes, are made in America, although more worryingly they’re being sold as “Love Seats”. Still, these are perfect sofas whether your pet’s been spayed or not, even if £110 is a high asking price.
