The best gifts for pets (and their parents): 35+ ideas that the internet and Mashable reporters stand by
Pets count as children and you can't convince us otherwise.
By
Leah Stodart
,
Leah Stodart
Senior Shopping Reporter
Leah Stodart is a Philadelphia-based Senior Shopping Reporter at Mashable where she covers and tests essential home tech like vacuums and TVs, plus eco-friendly hacks. Her ever-evolving experience in these categories comes in clutch when making recommendations on how to spend your money during shopping holidays like Black Friday, which Leah has been covering for Mashable since 2017.
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Dylan Haas
, and
Dylan Haas
Lead Shopping Reporter
Dylan Haas is a Lead Shopping Reporter for Mashable, where he covers all things gaming, laptops, fitness, and shopping events like Black Friday and Prime Day. Before joining the team at Mashable, Dylan received a B.A. in Communications from Pace University and contributed to publications like Paste Magazine, Bandsintown, and others following a brief stint as a marketing and management assistant in the music industry.
Read Full Bio
Jae Thomas
on
Jae Thomas
Shopping Editor
Jae Thomas is a Colorado-based Shopping Editor for Mashable. They specialize in pet tech, smart fitness gear, finding the perfect gift, and sourcing the top deals on shopping holidays like Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Jae has worked at Mashable since 2020, where they've written countless deals roundups and product reviews. Before Jae came to Mashable, they received a B.A. in Journalism and English Literature from New York University and wrote food and lifestyle content for publications like Bon Appétit, Epicurious, The Daily Beast, Apartment Therapy, and Marie Claire.
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Credit: Image Credit: Ian Moore / Mashable Composite; Lesure / PETLIBRO / Shark
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We all have a loved one who treats their pet like their literal baby — as it should be. These pet parents would probably be more than happy to receive a gift that doubles as a gift for their pet. (In fact, they might just prefer that.) And with the holidays right around the corner, we know a lot of you are searching for Christmas gifts for pets — and pet parents.
The best gifts for pet owners range from useful pet tech like pet cameras and GPS collars to enrichment toys, unique pet furniture, and enticing scratchers. Anything that introduces a new way to give treats is a guaranteed home run, of course.
We've pulled together a really fun list of unique gifts for dog lovers and cat lovers in 2025. You'll find some of the most-recommended pet products on the internet, recommendations from pet owners or foster parents on TiKTok, and several suggestions from Mashable's own pet parents and product reviewers.
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Credit: Cleverpup
The Cleverpup Bistro Box
Best for dogs who travel a lot
Packing dog food to go is so much easier with the Cleverpup Bistro Box. This beloved travel kit covers everything a dog needs for meals on the road: two zippered food cubes, two collapsible bowls and a collapsible scoop, and a folding mat, all packed into an insulated backpack. Choose from a few plain colors or opt for a fun patterned one.
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Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable
An automatic wet food feeder
Best for cats who only want wet food
An automatic dry food feeder doesn't help much during a pet parent's weekend away if a cat is on a strict wet food rotation. Yes, an automatic wet food feeder does exist. The Petlibro Polar refrigerates three sections of wet food on a rotating try for up to three days. The little door opens to welcome the cat to mealtime on a schedule you can set in the app.
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Credit: MKsSoul
A custom pet t-shirt
Best for the *super* obsessed pet parents
Tired: a mug with their pet's face (no one has cabinet space to store another mug). Wired: a customized t-shirt dripped out with their pet's face and name, music-artist-of-the-90s style. This Etsy seller gets great reviews for speedy previews of the design, quick shipping, and high-quality prints of the pet photos that you send.
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Credit: Ruffwear
Ruffwear Polar dog boots
Best for cold weather pups
Any pet who lives in a state with real winters should have weather-appropriate shoes. The Ruffwear Grip Polar boots not only protect puppy paws during bathroom breaks in the snow, but safely expand a pup's exploring opportunities to cold-weather hikes or ski trips. They're waterproof and insulated with special grip on the bottom for traction on slippery trails, ice, and slush.
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Credit: Le Sure
A cozy cat tunnel
Best cat bed/toy combo
Nothing may ever be as fun as the humble cardboard box. But this sherpa cat tunnel could be the next best thing: it's a toy and a bed in one, and it happens to come in the most adorable patterns. It can be zipped into a circle, S-shape, or semi-circle, complete with interactive balls to bat at. Cats on TikTok love theirs.
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Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable
The Shark StainForce
Best weapon against pet stains
Three things are certain in life: Death, taxes, and a pet throwing up on a pristine rug or sofa at least once. Quell any pet owner's mess anxiety by gifting the Shark StainForce. Just released in fall 2025, this cordless handheld carpet cleaning wand comes with a proprietary stain removing spray. It's all stored in an included caddy that's easy to carry around the home or to the car.
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Credit: The Sill
A pet-friendly plant
Best for pet and plant parents
Having a pet doesn't automatically relegate someone to faux greenery life. They just need to stay within the realm of pet-friendly plants, and The Sill has three pages of options. Shop indoor plants from tabletop orchids or calathea to money trees and palms that get big enough to sit on the floor. You can even choose the pot style and color.
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Credit: SnugglyCat
A Ripple Rug
Best for cats who love weird textures
The Jackson Galaxy-backed Ripple Rug is a heavy-duty play mat that offers an outlet for hiding, claw sharpening, batting at toys, and general nosediving. The rug has a nonslip backing that goes on the floor, while the rippled top rug has holes — perfect for reaching in or out to chase a toy. The carpet-like material, which is also great at collecting loose fur, is made from post-consumer recycled bottles.
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Credit: Dexas
Dexas MudBuster paw cleaner
Best for muddy puppies
Mud tracks: The recurring fear of every dog owner after any trip outside. The Dexas MudBuster ensures clean paws every time a dog enters the home: Just fill it with water, dip their paws in, and dump the dirty water out. It's portable too, so it'd be great to keep in the car for outdoorsy dogs.
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Credit: Wisdom Panel ; Mashable composite
A pet DNA test
Best for mixed breed owners
While you may not be able to accurately gift a mutt owner any breed-specific home decor, you *can* gift the elusive breed breakdown with a dog DNA test. Not only is Wisdom Panel's breed database massive, but the mouth swab can also pick up on potential health risks via genetic markers. Wisdom Panel makes cat DNA tests, too — is their cat just huge and fluffy, or is it part Maine Coon?
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Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable
A nice air purifier
Best for pet allergies
Regardless of whether residents have pet allergies, a reliable air purifier is a must for neutralizing inevitable pet odors and capturing floating dust and dander. We tested and loved the Dyson HushJet — it's as quiet as it sounds, and the filter lasts for five years.
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Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable
A suction cup window hammock
Best for cats who ignore normal cat beds
Being up high and watching out the window are two pillars of cat core. A cat bed that suction cups to the window satisfies both. One of our senior shopping reporters' cats has used theirs daily for two years, and though they're not exactly dainty at 10 and 12 pounds, the bed hasn't fallen down once. If your giftee lives in an apartment, a window cat bed is a space-saving alternative to a big cat tree.
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Credit: Fable
The Fable Crate
Best joint gift for dog owners
Combining funds with your squad for a joint gift? If it's a dog parent you're shopping for, they'll be over the moon about a dog crate that doubles as a chic end table. The enclosed wooden design of the Fable Crate is a much more luxurious option than a metal cage, both in terms of a dog's comfort and a dog parent's room decor. We love the garage door design — no more running into open crate doors.
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Credit: Atlas Pet Company
A hands-free leash
Best for running partners
Give the gift of never having to drop money on a shoddy pet store leash again. The Lifetime Lite Leash from Atlas Pet Company is made of legit climbing rope and metal (not plastic!) rings, complete with a lifetime guarantee. It can even secure around the human's waist to go hands-free on a hike or long run.
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Credit: Freezbone
A Freezbone or Freezpaw
Best for treat-motivated pets
Switch up their pet's post-dinner routine with a Freezbone (for dogs) or Freezpaw (for cats). The homemade recipes are endless — your giftee can blend whatever ingredients they want and freeze the paté in one of these durable refillable molds. TikTok says Freezbones last even the most high-energy dogs for hours.
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Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable
The Dyson V12 Detect Slim
Best vacuum for pet hair on hard floors
Pet hair is no match for the Dyson V12 Detect. If your gift recipient's home has a lot of hardwood or tile, Dyson's cheapest vacuum with a laser will point out exactly where hard-to-see pet hair, kitty litter dust, and dander is hanging out on the floor. It's super lightweight, so they can easily use it in handheld mode to suck pet hair out of the car.
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Credit: West Paw
A durable tug toy
Best for tug of war fans
Forget a soggy rope toy that frays after a few hardcore tug sessions — the West Paw Bumi is the one tug toy to rule them all. West Paw's eco-friendly Zogoflex material can stretch twice its length and floats in water. Plus, it's recyclable and dishwasher safe.
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Credit: Mau Lifestyle
A unique cat tree
Best for carefully-decorated living rooms
Finding an actually-cute cat condo that doesn't fall apartment in six months is a tall order, apparently. But Reddit and Amazon agree that Mau cat trees are worth it. They swap the traditional carpet-like pole covers for natural wooden posts, topped with fluffy perches and woven baskets. There are several designs and heights to choose from.
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Credit: Petlibro
A stainless steel water fountain
Best for parched pets
Most animal people probably know that cats prefer running water to drinking from the bowl. Instead of relying on the sink, this Petlibro water fountain provides a filtered flow when it senses a pet around 20 inches away. The stainless steel tray is more hygienic than the plastic one on the popular flower water fountain.
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Credit: Whisker
The newest Litter-Robot
Best joint gift for cat owners
Combining funds with your squad for a joint gift? If it's a cat parent you're shopping for, an automatic litter box will be a life changer in any multi-cat household. Past convenient self-scooping, the Litter-Robot 5 Pro uses a dual camera system and AI facial recognition to keep track of each cat's bathroom habits.
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Credit: Violà
A treat pouch from Voilà Pets
Best for dog training
Anyone who trains their dogs knows how gross fabric treat pouches get. This silicone option from Voilà Pets is easy to clean, is available in two sizes, and comes with a spring-assisted closure which helps prevent spills and keeps your dog's treats fresh.
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Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable
A ChomChom
Best for furry furniture
The ChomChom is essentially a reusable lint roller that doesn't require sticky sheet refills. Instead, hair gathers in a compartment as you push the roller back and forth across a pet's favorite couch spot. It can then just be emptied into the trash. We can confirm it works extremely well — and is definitely quicker to grab than a handheld vacuum in a pinch.
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Credit: Casper
A Casper dog bed
Best for sleepy dogs
Humans go all in on luxurious mattresses for themselves, so why not spread the wealth to their dog's sleeping setup? Casper's dog bed combines pressure-relieving memory foam and durable support foam, covered by a mashine-washable nylon cover that can withstand digging and scratching.
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Credit: JosephJacobs / iStock / Getty Images Plus
USB-C charging laser pointer
Best stocking stuffer for cat lovers
Need stocking stuffer ideas for cat parents? We have just the thing. This under-$10 laser pointer for cats is available via Amazon Prime with fast shipping, and you can even charge it via USB. That means you can stick it in a laptop USB port when it needs a charge up. These simple toys provide endless fun for cats and their parents alike.
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Credit: Woof
Woof Pupsicle and Treat Tray
Best stocking stuffer for dog parents
For new dog parents with a teething puppy, the Woof treat tray and dispenser lets you create your own frozen treats at home. The toy provides 30 minutes of chew time and distraction. And for adult dogs and heavy chewers, Woof also has larger sizes available, so every pup can get in on the fun.
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Credit: Outward Hound
An interactive treat puzzle
Best for dogs who like to dig
We love Outward Hound's treat puzzles for keeping a pup's brain busy. The brand has a ton of different difficulty levels that will keep your dog pushing, pawing, and nudging their way to the treats hidden within. The level 2 puzzle is great for most food-motivated pups, even if they haven't played with enrichment toys before.
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Credit: Petlibro
An automatic dry food feeder
Best for pets who love their kibble
Whether it's getting stuck at work late or taking a quick overnight trip, an automatic feeder can alleviate some of the guilt about missing feeding time. This well-reviewed dry food feeder from Petlibro can serve up to 10 scheduled meals a day, down to portion size. Everything can be customized in the app, which'll send a notification when the 5-liter canister is almost empty.
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Credit: Orvis
A car seat extender
Best for doggy road trips
If your giftee is constantly on the go with their dogs, they'll get a ton of use out of this car seat extender. It creates more room for dogs to get comfy in the back seat of a car while preventing the actual car seat from getting furry. Organizational pockets inside can store extra dog gear, and it comes with its own storage box.
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Credit: Necoichi
An L-shaped scratcher
Best for cats who like their nails sharp
How to get a cat to stop scratching furniture? Give them a surface that feels even better to scratch nearby — but is still in that upright position. With an L-shaped cat scratcher, upholstery isn't the only option for cats to stretch upward and sharpen. A ton of Chewy reviewers say it was a successful distraction from couch clawing.
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Credit: Tractive
A Tractive smart collar
Best for cautious pet owners
For anyone who's worried about their pet getting lost — so, everyone — a smart collar is the most reliable way to track their whereabouts. The new Tractive 6 collar can attach to most existing collars and works for any dog over eight pounds. Past live location updates, the Tractive monitors heart and respiratory rate and sleep and barking patterns. Subscriptions start at $5/month.
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Credit: PET ZONE
A challenging treat ball
Best for bored dogs
Keep their dog mentally and physically active with the Pet Zone IQ ball. Both a toy and a problem-solving puzzle, dogs learn how to dispense treats through trial and error while chasing and chewing. It's compatible with most bite-sized treats, and encourages slower, healthier feeding habits.
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Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable
A pack of catnip kickers
Best for bored cats
Cats who don't like to play with anything can usually still go for a good ol' kicker. There are infinite options to choose from, but these popular ones at Amazon are particularly potent — we can personally confirm cats go HAM when attacking these.
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Credit: Zlata Ivleva / Mashable
A smart pet camera that dispenses treats
Best for busy pet owners
For pet owners with packed schedules, an interactive pet camera is a great way to squeeze in (makeshift) quality time. With over 6,500 five star reviews, the internet definitely thinks Furbo is the best camera and treat dispenser. Parents can monitor what their pet gets into while they're home alone, and can toss treats through the app.
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Credit: THUNDERSHIRT
A ThunderShirt
Best for anxious animals
If their pet is famously terrified of loud noises, vet visits, or simply anxious on a regular basis, the ThunderShirt can help calm some of that stress. This weighted, comfortable vest swaddles your pet with gentle pressure to soothe them whenever life gets to be a little too much. It comes in a variety of sizes and styles for both cats and dogs.
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Credit: YOUR CAT BACKPACK
The Fat Cat backpack carrier
Best for adventurous cats
If someone is lucky enough to have a cat who actually likes leaving the house, they need one of those iconic bubble backpack carriers. The well-reviewed Fat Cat backpack is roomy, sturdy, and well-ventilated, complete with a window for curious cats to check out their surroundings.
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Credit: AsFrost
A high-speed chasing game
Best for energetic cats
Wand toys are hardly the pinnacle of ways to satisfy a cat's natural hunting instincts. Cats on TikTok obsess over this interactive remote-controlled chasing toy. It involves little feather doodads zipping down wires across a pulley system on the floor, which can be rearranged into different shapes. Pictures don't do the pouncing possibilities justice, but customer videos are extremely entertaining.
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Credit: Tuft & Paw
A nest-like cat cushion
Best for cats who like to curl up
The nest-like construction of this Tuft & Paw cat bed is incredibly inviting to cats who prefer cozy, tight spaces. On the human side of things, it'll speak to any cat owners still trying to preserve their home's minimalist aesthetic.
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Credit: Delomo
A pet hair remover glove
Best for pets who hate regular grooming
Know someone whose dog throws a fit at the groomer or whose cat hisses at the brush? A pet hair remover glove is a genius gift. Nothing to see here guys, just giving pets like normal — but with all of the loose shedding gathered in the rubber bristles. The flip side of the glove works great on furry furniture.
Leah Stodart is a Philadelphia-based Senior Shopping Reporter at Mashable where she covers and tests essential home tech like vacuums and TVs, plus eco-friendly hacks. Her ever-evolving experience in these categories comes in clutch when making recommendations on how to spend your money during shopping holidays like Black Friday, which Leah has been covering for Mashable since 2017.
Dylan Haas is a Lead Shopping Reporter for Mashable, where he covers all things gaming, laptops, fitness, and shopping events like Black Friday and Prime Day. Before joining the team at Mashable, Dylan received a B.A. in Communications from Pace University and contributed to publications like Paste Magazine, Bandsintown, and others following a brief stint as a marketing and management assistant in the music industry.
Jae Thomas is a Colorado-based Shopping Editor for Mashable. They specialize in pet tech, smart fitness gear, finding the perfect gift, and sourcing the top deals on shopping holidays like Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Jae has worked at Mashable since 2020, where they've written countless deals roundups and product reviews. Before Jae came to Mashable, they received a B.A. in Journalism and English Literature from New York University and wrote food and lifestyle content for publications like Bon Appétit, Epicurious, The Daily Beast, Apartment Therapy, and Marie Claire.
When they're not testing products or writing about online shopping, you'll find Jae whipping up an elaborate meal, hiking, camping, or training their dogs, Miso and Dashi. Reach out to them on X at @jaetaurina or by email at [email protected].
