Sit, stay, unwrap: Holiday gifts for your pet
Pets are like a member of the family, right? Throw them a bone on Christmas morning. Show them how much they matter with the purrfect, paw-liday, barking mad holiday gifts
Ruby, an incredibly patient if mildly humilated boxer, models holiday antlers: $6.99 at Pet Valu.
Admittedly, this gift is for human enjoyment alone. For hours - or okay, maybe minutes - of pure holiday glee, reindeer antlers are a no-brainer. Most dogs (unlike this one) won't tolerate the humiliation for long - so have the camera ready. Reindeer antlers, ($6.99), Pet ValuAmberly McAteer/The Globe and Mail
Make your pet's dining table as modern as yours, with these sleek handmade wooden feeders from B.C. architect Glenn Ross. He also creates beds called dog pods (which look as cool as they sound), and great furniture for humans, too. Raised double feeder ($130), Series Three Deluxe ($198), store.vurv.ca
For a kitten climbing, hiding, roaming, scratching good time, we love this five-storey tower from Bow Wow Haus in Vancouver. Each block can be stacked and separated any way you choose, and all cubes will nest in the bottom cubes for easy storage. Cat tower, ($320), bowwowhaus.ca
Not all dogs have adequate coats to enjoy the Canadian winter. These handmade, insulated jackets from Babies & Beasts are sized by breed and keep your dog both warm and trendy, with top-notch materials normally reserved for human wear. For prices, ordering and impawsibly cute photos of dogs: babiesandbeasts.com.Amberly McAteer/The Globe & Mail
For your pup's stocking (she does have a stocking, right?) opt for treats she'll go barking mad for - she'll never know it's nutritious, too. Antlers are high in protein and calcium, and 'Everest chews' are made of an all-natural, preservative-free cheese that will have your pooch occupied for hours. Antler ($24.99), chew ($11.99), thisandthatcanineco.com
Your cat's toys will be sprawled around the house anyway - so they might as well be festive and cute. These tiny mice will entertain your feline friend with hours of batting, and give your place a nice added sparkle, too. Holiday mice, ($3.99), Pet ValuAmberly McAteer/The Globe and Mail
For the pet-obsessed person on your list: a decorative bowl, engraved with their favourite four-legged friend's name, is sure to please. Use it for, you know, dog food - or put it on your mantel or a glass shelf for decoration. Engraved bowl ($19), Personally Yours in Sarnia, Ont.Amberly McAteer/The Globe and Mail
Have your dog lit up like a Christmas tree - literally. This collar has long-lasting LED lights (in a variety of colours) that make dark winter walks enjoyable - and safe. Collar ($19.99), spots-light.com
Ever give your cat a cardboard box? Never has the adage 'one man's trash is another's treasure' been so true. Ditch the box and give Fluffy what he really wants: a piece of iconic Canadiana: cardboard cottages and Native-American teepee houses from Montreal's Loyal Luxe. $24 each, loyalluxe.com
These holiday collars are sure to put your pooch in the spirit. Jingle bells optional. Also in year-round, delightful patterns, the options are endless - cherries or cupcakes, plaid or polka-dots, Elvis or Dr. Seuss. (Makes you rethink Fido's plain black collar, doesn't it?) Above: $30: peachykeenpets.com Below: $27: thehydrantcollars.comAmberly McAteer/The Globe and Mail
Let's be honest, this is pretty much the only thing on your cat's wishlist: cat nip and more cat nip. We know cats love it, but who knew it came in such cute, handmade packages? Cat ravioli, ($8.99 for four): krazykitty.comAmberly McAteer/The Globe and Mail
The first time Fido prances around with a new toy is heartwarming - but by the third hour, that squeak is etched in your brain. Avoid the headache: with a squeak so high that only dogs can hear, this toy is a dog-owner's best friend. Hear Doggy, ($8.09), Pet ValuAmberly McAteer/The Globe and Mail