Holiday
Gift Ideas 2005
By
Steve Dale
Not
only do people buy Holiday gifts for their pets, increasingly
folks are buying gifts for ‘grandpets,’ as well as
their sibling’s and friend’s pets. What follows are
mostly new products. (Prices do not include taxes or shipping.)
Playful Pets
A
duck plush toy that quacks “Jingle Bells,” $13.50;
a bagel toy plush toy, of course, has cream cheese, $8. The most
chic of the plush toys is the very plush Kate Spray pink purse.
All these toys are from www.barkerandmeowsky.com,
(or call 773-868-0200).
The
John Deere tractor plush toy isn’t all too intimidating,
instead of an air horn, there’s a little squeak, $13.99
from selected pet stores.
Here’s
the first toy ever than an Irish Wolfhound or Great Dane may even
call over-sized. This is a rope toy – intertwined in brown,
red and gold colors called a Colossal Monkey Fist. The toy, which
weighs nearly 5 lbs., is appropriately manufactured by Mammoth
Pet Products, $19.99, at Petco and many other stores.
This
won’t be on evening news: Cats love catching mice. While
this mouse isn’t real, it does smell of catnip and is controlled
by you using a wire, called the Catnip Cat Dancer. With a catnip
mouse on one end and a lure on the other end, Catnip Cat Dancer
is the first double-ended interactive cat toy in the history of
the world, $7 at Petco, PETsMART, and other pet stores.
This
is a gift you might want to give before the holidays. While you’re
off socializing at holiday parties, at least your pup will have
something to do. The manufacturer says Kong Time is ‘doggie
day care in a box.’ An appliance holds four Kong toys (which
are included). You stuff the hard rubber Kong toys with treats
or kibble, and over time the appliance releases the individual
Kongs one by one. At least home-alone dogs will have something
to do. The appliance delivers the Kongs randomly over the course
of four or eight hours, depending on how you set the timer, $139.95
to $149.95 at Petco, and at many other pet stores (800-995-8996).
Wear
It
Jewelry
is a traditional way of saying “I love you;” the folks
at Phoebe’s Phashions Haute Couture are convinced that guy
dogs are equally as proud to strut a necklace as the girl dogs.
Charms on the necklaces include a bone or a fire hydrant. There
are faux pearl necklaces and necklaces with real Swarovski crystal.
There are necklaces with a Christmas theme and a necklace with
the Star of David for Hanukah. Most necklaces are $20 to $44;
www.phoebesphashions.com
(866-748-4852).
While
your dog wears a Cashmere sweater – which is not only stylish
but also serves a purpose – you can wear matching gloves
which are included, $60 (in various colors), from www.doggles.com
and selected retail outlets.
Wearing
this cowboy hat, your dog won’t appear a whole lot like
a villain, but perfect for a pooch who prefers to bark ‘howdy
partner,’ $14.95 from www.doggles.com
and selected retail outlets.
Hold
on partner. What if your pet is Jewish? Oye vay, www.barkerandmeowsky.com
(773-868-0200) is prepared with pet yamulke’s, $10.
Homes
Sweet Home
Here’s
proof that the housing craze is still on! Here’s a wooden
framed house, called Kitty’s Purrfect Playhouse, for your
cat with a woven sisal roof good for scratching. And there’s
a kitchen-nook for grazing on cat grass. There’s even a
mailbox so kitty can read the daily paper. Such is the price of
real estate these days, the cat house doesn’t come cheap,
$159.99, www.esmartcat.com
(866-317-6278).
If
you’re looking to buy an easy to care for pet, check our
hermit crabs. It’s true, that they’re one pet who
carry their homes with them, but they still require a low rent
place to live. The Hermit Crab Cove is decorated to appear like
a sandy beach with real sand. A cave for the crabs (you’d
think living in a shell, they get enough privacy) is also included.
There’s a coupon for the crabs (which are mail ordered),
and a kit to decorate their shells your own way, $29.99 at www.unclemilton.com
(888-742-2484).
Every
home needs a swing, even your bird’s. A bird perch called
the Tire Biter Bird Swing is made pretty much out of the same
rubber as a car tire, $13.99, available at selected pet stores.
Here’s
a way to avoid the gas crisis, check out the rodent operated motorcycle.
Gerbil, hamster or mouse power makes the wheel go round on this
hot rod, and your pet can hang out with in any part of the house.
The Critter Operated Chopper is $24.95, at many pet stores.
We
all know dogs need a license, but is a driver’s license
really necessary? Well, maybe not, but $250 is required to stretch
out in the Furrcedes plush dog bed in the shape of a car, from
www.barkerandmeowsky.com,
(or call 773-868-0200).
Yummies
It’s
important you make sure Fido and Fluffy don’t get into those
cookies you leave out for Santa. Instead, they can have their
own treats. Ittty Bitty are the name of new dog treats from Cloud
Star, known for their all- natural ingredients. They’re
the perfect size for toy dogs who prefer tiny treats, or overweight
dogs who are better off with small amounts. Available in seven
flavors including bacon and cheese and wheat-free sweet potato,
$4.50, www.cloudstar.com
(800-361-9079).
Four
different varieties of organic grasses for cats to snack on, oat,
wheat, rye and barley can be grown from seed, $11.99, www.esmartcat.com
(866-317-6278).
Additional
toys of all sorts are also available at www.dogtoys.com
and www.cattoys.com.
