Christmas Gifts for Pet Lovers: 15 Ideas They'll Actually Use

The best Christmas gifts for pet lovers are about their own pet: a mug, print or ornament with their pet's portrait and name, something genuinely useful for the pet, or an experience they'd never book for themselves. Below are 15 ideas in four groups, from personal keepsakes to stocking stuffers, plus a short pet-safe holiday checklist.

Personalized gifts of their pet

Pet people already own plenty of generic paw-print things. What they don't have is their own dog, cat or guinea pig on something they use every day.

1. A personalized mug. Their pet's portrait and name on a mug they'll reach for every morning. Ours can put their pet in a Santa hat, as royalty, or in watercolor, cartoon or realistic style.
2. A portrait poster. The same idea, but for the wall. Our posters are printed on matte archival paper in 12 × 18, 16 × 24 or 24 × 36 inches, and ship rolled to fit a standard frame.
3. An ornament with their pet's face. A 3-inch ceramic ornament with their portrait, name and year. It hangs on the tree every year, which matters most for a new pet's first Christmas.
4. A framed favorite photo. Simple and always welcome. Choose a photo they've shared and loved, not just the most recent one.

If you'd rather have a gift that isn't Christmas-themed, choose a watercolor, cartoon or royal style instead. It keeps working all year.

Practical gifts for the pet (that the owner will love too)

1. A better bed in the size and shape their pet actually sleeps in: curled up, stretched out or tucked in a cave.
2. A puzzle feeder or snuffle mat. It slows down fast eaters and gives bored indoor pets a job.
3. A quality grooming tool for their pet's coat type. Ask a groomer or their vet if you're not sure.
4. For small pets: a hideout, a hay feeder or safe chews made for their species (guinea pigs and rabbits have different needs from hamsters).

Experiences and kind gestures

1. A pet photo session with a local photographer. Most owners have thousands of phone photos and no good one of themselves with their pet.
2. A donation to a rescue in their pet's name, especially if their pet was adopted.
3. A pet-sitting voucher from you. For someone who never travels because of their pet, this can be the most useful gift of all.

Stocking stuffers

1. A pet-themed book or calendar.
2. Treats from a local bakery that makes pet-safe treats.
3. A lint roller set (it's funny because it's true).
4. A new collar tag engraved with their phone number.

A pet-safe holiday checklist

• Plants: the ASPCA lists lilies as highly toxic to cats, and holly and mistletoe as toxic to dogs and cats. Poinsettias are mildly irritating rather than deadly.
• Food: chocolate, grapes and raisins, onions, and anything sweetened with xylitol are dangerous for dogs.
• Decorations: cats and tinsel or ribbon are a bad mix if swallowed. Anchor the tree if you have a climber.
• Gifts for the pet: wrap them last and keep them up high. Dogs can smell treats through wrapping paper.

If a pet eats something it shouldn't, call your vet or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center straight away.

When to order

Personalized gifts take a little longer than store-bought ones. Our mugs and posters are printed in the US after you approve the design. That takes 2 to 5 business days, then 3 to 7 business days to ship. Order by December 4 (11:59 pm ET) to have it in time for Christmas. US shipping is free, and if anything arrives damaged or misprinted, email us a photo within 30 days and we'll reprint it free.