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They can have terrible breath, drool on your pillow, knock things from countertops without provocation, give side-eye like nobody’s business and issue demands without saying a word — and yet, we remain devoted. Our pets have trained us well. In addition to the quirks and royal requests, our furry and feathered best friends provide an abundance of love, joy, comfort and calm on a daily basis.
And as any pet parent will tell you — when it comes time to count our blessings, our darlings that swim, climb, crawl, slither, hop, walk and run are undoubtedly at the top of the list.
This year, remember that beautiful beaked or whiskered face with something special. Read on for ideas to spoil a pet, or the person who loves them, with gifts that are off the leash.
Gingerbread cat house
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Courtesy CatCafe Lounge
)
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Does your kitty need a gingerbread cat house? Yes, please! It's a cardboard playhouse and comes with 134 different "candy" stickers for decorating. Assembled, the house is nearly 18" tall and is made out of recycled cardboard. There is one catch — you can't buy this one online. It's only available in person at the CatCafe Lounge, located at the corner of Santa Monica and Sepulveda boulevards. CatCafe bills itself as L.A.'s only non-profit cafe and "catio," where you can frolic with kitties and cats while sipping with a seasonal beverage (a 70-minute play session is $35). Plus, your visit helps socialize the felines, paving the way for their eventual adoption. There are even cat yoga and cat sound bath sessions. If you can't make it in person before the holidays, there are plenty of online options including a cheeky tank, a totebag, and stickers. Every purchase at CatCafe Lounge also helps kitties in need.
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Courtesy CatCafe Lounge
)
Doggie turtleneck ski sweater
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Courtesy The Foggy Dog
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The Foggy Dog’s Apres Ski Sweater, $50, was designed in collaboration with Los Angeles-based artist Gray Malin. Inspired by the beloved photographer’s Dogs of Aspen series, the turtleneck sweaters are created in soft, machine-washable knit. (S.F.-based Foggy Dog donates one pound of dog food to a shelter with every order.) Embroidered personalization available. Fetch!
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A meowcuterie board
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Courtesy Paw Pleasers
)
The Original Paw Pleasers bills itself as San Diego's first cat (and dog) bakery, and is currently going all in on broadening its cat offerings. Why? Because there are so few competitors in that marketspace, said owner Loree Shirazi. So Paw Pleasers offers toys that will drive your cat wild with delight such as the Buggin' Out and Melon Madness puzzle games while offering many other stinky delights such as personalized cat fish cakes (a cake in the shape of a fish, for your cat!) that is made out of tuna and turkey. There's also this meowcuterie board, $21.99. It includes rabbit bites, freeze-dried chicken treats with goat milk, Ahi tuna treats, freeze-dried minnows and an assortment of chew sticks. You can also add on party hats and crowns because why not. Note that these treats must be ordered in advance and picked up in person.
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Bridgerton chew toy
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Maxbone
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Bridgerton fans rejoice. Treat your canine confidante to Lady Whistledown’s Society Paper — a scintillating chew toy designed to sink their teeth into. Plush toy, $25 from the cool collaboration between Los Angeles-based company Maxbone and the blockbuster Netflix series Bridgerton from Shonda Rhimes.
Hanging bird toy
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Planet Pleasures
)
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Why should partridges have all the fun this holiday season? Stimulate and engage feathered pets with toys from L.A.-based Planet Pleasures — which boasts a catalogue of over 120 bird toys, all designed for shredding, chewing, perching and preening. This Gifts & Hearts strand, $8.70, is made in accordance with Fair Trade principles.
Kitties in a teacup t-shirt
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Courtesy Crumbs & Whiskers
)
Cats in a tea cup. This is just one of the many T-shirts and other cat-and-kitten themed tops, sweaters, totes and more that you can snap up at Crumbs & Whiskers, a popular cat cafe on Melrose Avenue. While you're there, $28 will get you 30 minutes of cuddle time with some kitties who are also available for adoption. There's cat yoga and other activities, too. Proceeds from this T-shirt, $30, and other merch goes to the Cat Health Fund, to cover health costs for the cafe kitties until they find their furever homes.
A bird bouquet
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Planet Pleasures
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Created using renewable, non-toxic, natural materials such as palm leaves and bamboo, and also from Planet Pleasures which has a Master Craftsman Award program to recognize the talented artisans who design their collection of toys for parrots and other fine feathered friends. This Floral Bouquet, $8.50.
Upcycled catnip toys
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Free The Ocean
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This catnip-filled toy, $6.95, is available in four different sea creature designs and cut from cloth made from recycled plastic, all designed to make your cat go wild. The toys are double stitched for durability and filled with North American catnip. La Jolla-based Free The Ocean products are shipped in plastic-free packaging and adhere to carbon neutral delivery policies. A portion of the proceeds from each purchase is donated to help remove plastic from ocean waters.
Dog wine holder
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Courtesy Anthropologie
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This gift passes the sniff test. A handsome, handcrafted iron statuette of a very good boy sets the table for dog-friendly oenophiles, good friends and conversation. Dog Wine Holder, $98 from Anthropologie.
A jacket for winter walkies
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Courtesy Maxbone
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A puffy so cute you’ll wish they came in your size. Designed in water repellent nylon with a lightweight puffy fill, the Wrap Puffer Jacket, $75 by L.A.-based Maxbone features a fashionable shawl collar and modernist style that can be layered over a harness.
Buzz-worthy cat toys
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Courtesy Free the ocean
)
Berta the Honey Bee and Sisters, $15.95, are busy bees, ready to be pounched upon and batted about by your favorite kitty. Also from the La Jolla-based sustainability champions at Free The Ocean.
Earth-friendly dog toys
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Courtesy Sun Moon Rain
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Spunky Pup's Clean Earth Collection of eco-friendly pet toys, $16, are made from fabric created from recycled PET plastic bottles extracted from oceans and landfills. (Available at Santa Monica's Sun Moon Rain, where the mission is all about reducing plastic pollution.) Designed to be part of an infinite recycling loop, the toys can be returned back to the recycling bin when your furry friends are done.
Keeping pets and pet parents together
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Courtesy Bonfire.com
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For the pet and pet parent who has everything, consider making a donation in their name to an organization whose work supports animals and the people who love them. Los Angeles-based Paws/LA is an organization that provides the services necessary for allowing low income seniors, veterans and people living with HIV/AIDS to continue living with their pets. Profits from sales of the Paws/LA baseball cap, $24.99, from their Better Together Store will help fund the work of the organization.
Or, donate directly to Southern California-based non-profit animal organizations such as Pasadena Humane, Paws/LA, Farm Sanctuary, The Gentle Barn, Forever Wild Exotic Animal Sanctuary, The Shambala Preserve: The Roar Foundation and Southern California Turtle Rescue, or search online for organizations devoted to a specific species, or perhaps the animal shelter or rescue nearest you or your giftee.
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Credits
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Editing and writing
- Rene Lynch, Gift Guide Editor
- Suzanne Levy, Gift Guide Editor
- Ross Brenneman, Education Editor
- Bonnie McCarthy, Freelance Writer
- Gab Chabrán, Associate Editor, Food and Culture
- Mariana Dale, K-12 Reporter
- Larry Mantle, AirTalk Host
- Laura Hertzfeld, Best Things To Do Reporter
- Julia Paskin, Host, All Things Considered, The L.A. Report P.M. Edition
Art
- Erin Hauer, Visual Designer
- Olivia Hughes, Illustrator
Other support
- Nubia Perez, Community Engagement Administration
- Sabir Brara, Digital Product Project Manager
- Chanelle Berlin Johnson, Director Audience Engagement
- Megan Garvey, Senior Vice President, News
As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.
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