Life & Style

Gifts to eat, catch and sleep on: keep your dog or cat happy this Christmas

Cats don’t like to play dress up over the festive season but they do like to keep their nails in check

Cat’s scratching drum

Gary Quinn
Sun Dec 5 2021 - 00:00

Let’s face it – our pets are easy to please. Give them something to eat, chase and a place to sleep and they’ll stay loyal forever. Here’s our guide to keeping your pet happy this Christmas.

EAT

Pupcakes

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The Joules Bee dog raincoat

Gizmo's Goodies in Balbriggan, Co Dublin, hand-bake 100 per cent organic treats for dogs with high nutrition. These peanut butter, bacon and cream cheese cupcakes are a bestseller, using all-organic peanut butter, flour, eggs, oats and low-sodium bacon. Vegan treats also available. Gift boxes of four cupcakes, €10. Delivery nationwide. facebook.com/gizmosgoodiesdublinBarking Mad boutique food

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This south Co Dublin pet boutique works with Irish and international producers to create top-end meals for your cats and dogs. Try their Angus beef with sweet potato and carrot while your cat will flip for their grain free turkey with sweet potato meals. Around €19 barkingmadpetboutiwue.ie

Cat’s Christmas stocking

Cat's are notoriously fussy eaters but Dec's Pets in Wexford always have this Xmas Cat Stocking at their heart of their cat gifts range. Always in demand it has milk drops, catnip drops, biscuits and toys to keep your cat happy. €7 decspets.ie

CATCH

Gum-safe frisbees

Dogs love frisbees but many of them can splinter, damaging their gums. These soft natural rubber disks have a low risk of injury and also suit sensitive dogs. €6.99 from petworld.ie

Pet-safe Frolicat multi-laser cat toy

This interactive laser pointer comes with two lasers and lights that rotate 360 degrees, plus a built-in timer and preprogrammed settings to keep you cat entertained for hours. It also switches itself off automatically. Strong and stable enough for rough play. €25.99 from zooplus.ieNerf dog tennis ball blaster

This high powered toy blaster can send tennis balls up to 15m and allows you to pick up the balls hands-free. You can adjust the power to suit your surroundings. Works with standard tennis balls. €29.99 petworlddirect.ie

RELAX

Grizzly Bear dog bed

This enormous luxury bed is 130cm in diameter of faux fur and suede. With three back supports and a non-slip base it's the high end of luxury beds with high quality filling, insulation and strong stitching. €249.99 from petmania.ie

Trixie Minou Cuddly Cat Cave

Your cat will love sleeping through winter in this cute, faux-fur lined cat cave. Soft plush padding, lined with fleece and a removable, reversible cushion with a polyester fleece filling. €34.95 from petparlour.ieWinter Berry spa

In the "nothing's too good" gift bracket you'll find this wonderful dog spa and styling experience through December from Petmania.ie. Available in all their stores around Ireland, the Winter Berry spa offers a deep clean, paw and parts treatment with festive conditioning spray and a free Christmas gift for your dog. €35-€80, depending on dog size and breed. Petmania.ie

IMPRESS

Joules Bee dog raincoat

Wrap up for winter with this handsome olive green raincoat that won't get in the way of their rough and tumble. Machine washable, designed for use with leads and with adjustable Velcro fastening. €24.99 from petmania.ieScratching drum

Cats don't like to play dress up but they do want to keep their nails in check. This Christmas-themed scratching drum can be put on the ground and has two balls inside to encourage your cat to play. €11.99petstop.ie

K-9 Float Coat

If you're hoping to bring your dog out on your new paddle board or boat then kit them out with one of these dog life jackets. Premium quality and with a handle to help lift them out of the water. €39.99 from petworld.ie