Pet Gift Ideas

Pet gift ideas: what to buy a dog, a cat, or the person who owns them

Pet gifts go wrong in predictable ways. The treat sets off a sensitive stomach, the toy is destroyed in nine minutes, the collar is the wrong neck size, and the outfit never leaves the drawer. The good ones are boring on paper and used every single day.

We make cards, pin badges and prints in house, printed in the UK - we don't sell treats, toys or harnesses. So the guides below are honest lists, and the only thing we're selling you is the card that goes with it.

Pick the guide that matches the pet or the owner, check the avoid list before you buy, then add the card at the end.

By budget

• Under £10: a single safe treat pack, a tennis ball multipack, a card, a pin badge.
• £10 to £30: a hardwearing tug toy, a slow feeder, a puzzle feeder, a spare lead.
• £30 and up: a bed in the right size, a harness fitted in store, a pet portrait.
• Group gift: pool it for the bed or the portrait rather than four squeaky toys.

By who you're buying for

• Dogs: chew-durable toys, treats matched to their diet, a spare towel for walks.
• Cats: height, hiding places and rotation - novelty wears off fast, so buy small and often.
• New owners: the unglamorous kit - poo bags, a lint roller, a car seat cover.
• Grieving owners: a keepsake, a portrait or a handwritten card, never a replacement pet.

Check before you buy

• Allergies and prescription diets - always ask the owner first.
• Size and breed: a toy safe for a spaniel can be a choke risk for a terrier.
• Supervision: rawhide, small squeakers and string toys are not leave-alone gifts.
• Read the avoid list below before anything scented, edible or wearable.

Pin badges for pet people

Enamel pin badges for coats, bags and lanyards, designed and printed in the UK.

And the card to go with it

Not a gift on its own, but it's the bit they keep.

Where to shop next

• Safe pet treats to gift
• Dog toy gift ideas
• Cat toy gift ideas
• Dog accessory gift ideas
• Cat accessory gift ideas
• Pet gifts to avoid
• New pet gift ideas
• Gifts for dog lovers
• Gifts for cat lovers
• Christmas gifts for pet owners
• Pet portraits UK
• Pet loss keepsake ideas
• Pet gift guides
• Pin badges
• All guides
• Planning the party? Birthday party ideas
• How to make a balloon arch
• Photo booth prop ideas
• Gifts to make someone smile
• Thinking of you gifts

Frequently asked questions

What is a good gift for someone else's dog?

A hardwearing toy, a walking accessory like a spare lead or towel, or a treat you've checked with the owner first. Avoid anything edible if the dog has a sensitive stomach or a prescription diet.

What is a good pet gift under £10?

A tennis ball multipack, a single safe treat pack, a snuffle mat for a small dog, or a card and pin badge for the owner.

What pet gifts should you avoid?

Costumes, scented candles near cats, rawhide, small squeakers, string toys left unsupervised, and anything sized by guesswork. Our pet gifts to avoid guide goes through each one.

Do you sell pet treats or toys?

No. We make cards, pin badges and prints in house, printed in the UK. The pet guides are honest lists with no sales pitch attached.