My black cat’s favorite holiday is definitely Halloween. After all, it’s real life scary decoration.

But this Christmas is special because it’s his first in his forever home. Last December, my young cat Snoopy was just a 2-month-old kitten living with his mom, littermates, and a family who would soon give him up for adoption. So this holiday season is the highlight of the Snoopy and Me year we found ourselves.

As a pet owner, I think carefully about what products to buy for Snoopy, and my reporting has influenced some of my purchasing choices. Even though I don’t have a dog, I’ve also learned a lot about what our canine companions need to thrive.

A surefire way to win someone’s heart is through their pets. So maybe this holiday season, consider giving someone something their pets need.

Giving an animal the care it needs it’s not cheap and helping someone with the costs could mean there is more money left over for sterilization procedures and dental care, said Max Branch, director of community programs for the Flatbush Cats rescue group in Brooklyn, New York.

“The majority of American households can no longer afford a basic visit to the veterinarian,” Branch said. “Something as simple as a gift card is a great way to help people get what they need.”

This Christmas I have some gift ideas for the pets in your life, some of which I use myself. This is just my advice on what might make daily responsibilities easier for pet owners.

What not to do: Don’t surprise someone with a puppy or kitten this Christmas

Cool Cat Gifts

1. Treats

Every cat I’ve ever known goes wild (not literally) for tubes of tuna goo. These cat treats are special because you can take them out of the package while letting your cat lick the tube.

These treats are popular in every cat household I know, so the cat owner in your life will appreciate you refilling their cache – which is probably dwindling faster than stocks of more traditional kibble treats, which are available in addition to units per package.

2. Pay for a cat’s microchip

If and when cats escape, they can be difficult to find because they naturally try to hide feel safe. Once stuck to its hiding place, a frightened cat may not come out when its owner calls it.

Snoopy always wears an orange collar (I told you he loves Halloween) with a tag displaying my cell phone number. Above all, it is a detachable collar, sold for both cats and dogs. Detachable collars are safer than regular collars, animal cruelty prevention groups saybecause if a fleeing cat’s collar gets stuck or tangled in something outside, a strong pull from the cat will release the collar latch.

This is important because with regular collars, cats that get stuck can break their necks, and dogs can strangle. But detachable collars won’t help identify your pet once they come undone and get stuck on a tree branch, for example.

“Microchips are the only permanent method of identifying our pets,” said Will Zweigart, executive director of Flatbush Cats, a Brooklyn rescue organization.

3. Soothing spray

Unlike dogs, which often like to go for walks, indoor cats usually hate be removed from their family environment. They cry and scratch, and it’s especially frustrating having to take them to the vet.

This year, when I wrote a story about how to travel with catsI discovered the pheromone calming spray that Ashlie Saffire, president of the Feline Veterinary Medical Association, calls a “game changer.”

Cats mark their territory to feel safer, veterinarians told me, which is why they rub against furniture and even their owners. When they are crated and placed in a car or plane, none of their familiar odors – which come from the pheromones in their cheeks – are present.

Sprays you can buy at pet stores or online mimic the comforting scent of a cat’s pheromones. After I sprayed Snoopy’s crate for the first time, he was more receptive to being placed inside and I saw him sniffing the sides of the box.

4. Self-cleaning litter box

Snoopy didn’t one of them. But sometimes I really wish he would.

As automatic feedersSelf-cleaning litter boxes ensure you never forget an important step in your cat’s daily routine.

Snoopy recognizes when I recently cleaned his litter box – he acts like I would when I come home to a neat house or lie down in a bed with clean sheets. Self-cleaning litter boxes make this phenomenon automatic.

Unlike treats in a tube or calming spray, giving a cat owner a self-cleaning litter box would definitely be a splurge as a gift.

Gifts for good dogs

1. Winter coat

It was it’s quite cold where I live in New York, and I’m happy I don’t have to walk my dog.

But if I owned a dog, I would try to make sure he did. spend a lot of time outdoors and were not cooped up at home during these cold, dark months. Seasonal depression is real after all, and we humans shouldn’t let it affect our dogs, veterinarians told me.

“In the winter, it’s important to maintain their routine, and it’s good for you too,” said Dana Varble, chief veterinarian of the North American Veterinary Community.

Dog owners who live in colder parts of the United States may need extra help keeping their pups warm and comfortable in freezing weather. Dog Coats Can Make a Differenceespecially for short-haired dogs and small breeds, which lose body heat more quickly than large fluffy dogs.

2. Dental chews, treat puzzles, snuff pads

Chewing gives dogs a rush of endorphins, and munching on dental chew treats can be especially good for stimulate dogs indoors during particularly bad winter weather. Otherwise, they might start chewing household items.

“They will be more likely to start having behavioral problems because they need a way to burn off that energy,” said Wellness Pet Company veterinarian Danielle Bernal.

Likewise, dogs are stimulated by figuring out how to hide treats in a puzzle toy. Dogs may become preoccupied with toys and the tasty treats inside them, leaving their owners free to do other things. Puzzle toys also make great gifts because even if a dog already has one, you’ve just given them an exciting new puzzle to solve.

Anxious dogs who like to lick, dig, or sniff obsessively might also like cushion toys. They they look like small thick rugs and come in other fun designs. The owners hide treats among tufts of fabric and the dogs have fun chasing them with their noses and snouts.

3. Dog DNA Test

Genetic variation in dogs is astonishing. They have been so domesticated that many popular breeds bear little resemblance to their wild canine ancestors.

But with shelter dogs, especially if the owner knows nothing about their life before adoption, DNA testing can be a fun way for an owner to learn the identity of their pet.

The price makes this another splurge gift – so ask yourself if a new dog adopter among your family and friends would care about the genetic makeup of their rescue pup.

4. Dog Furniture Steps

Many dog ​​owners do not allow their pets to climb on furniture. But some wouldn’t have it any other way.

Jumping on and off the couch or bed can be painful for dogs that suffer from arthritis − a disease about which we are still learning much more in dogs. Recent research from the North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine found up to 40% of pet dogs may suffer from arthritis. More younger dogs than previously thought may have arthritis and may not show signs of pain until it is completely debilitating, veterinary researchers told me.

Miniature stairs which can be placed in front of or next to your dog’s favorite furniture could help him avoid joint pain, especially in the elbows, the most common site of the disease in dogs.

This article was originally published on USA TODAY: Pet Christmas Gift Guide: Best Christmas Gifts for Cats and Dogs