It takes a certain kind of pet obsessive to buy their pet a Valentine’s Day present. We already know that people go in for buying their pets a Christmas gift, with 74 percent of owners saying they would — including 59 percent who said their dog would get their own stocking. It just seems wrong to leave them out of the festive giving season. They’re part of the family, too. Being a dog owner myself, I’ll take just about any excuse to buy my three knuckleheads something to chew on, play with, or destroy for their joy and amusement. Go ahead, spoil your cat, dog, chinchilla, rabbit or other furry friend a little with our list of the best Valentine’s gifts for pets.
Deck your dog out in one of four Valentine's Day appropriate bandanas made of 100% cotton. All four designs are available in two sizes: medium for 8 to 15 inch necks and large for 16 to 24 inch necks.
Somewhere between treat and toy, Himalayan dog chews are an excellent choice for your heavy chewer. Made from yak and cow milk, these dense chews put up with a high degree of abuse while also being flavorful. They’re about 53 percent protein, as well, so they’re better for your dog than the average cookie. These typically tend to be quite a lot more expensive, so this is a good deal if you want to treat your dog on Valentine’s Day.
The cats I had growing up liked balls okay, but they absolutely loved the little fake mice. These are catnip-filled and like the ones of my youth, have a seam on the bottom that will eventually give in to your cat’s needling and explode all over the place. Yes, that means you’ll have to clean it up, but it’s the destruction your cat loves, so let them have it. This box includes 12 brightly colored mice, but you could opt for more natural looking mice covered in real rabbit fur.
Every cat owner knows one toy is hardly ever sufficient. Unless you live in a house with absolutely no spaces under furniture anywhere, your cat will pretty quickly lose whatever you give them. You can solve that problem by buying 45 of whatever toy you pick out. In this case, these are balls with knit exteriors and rattling insides. They measure roughly one and a half inches, so they should roll easily across any floor, while the noise will keep them intrigued. Plus, again, there are 45 of them, so you’re unlikely to run out anytime soon.
Suppose you did want to give them a cat tunnel, though? This one is very reasonably priced, if you can forgive having only two color options between black and pink and black and blue. This three way tunnel measures 32 inches long with a 12 inch diameter. It also collapses completely into a flat ring for storage. Naturally, there is a hanging toy on this, as well. If you want to spend a few more dollars, this Prosper Pet version comes in 11 colors.
Taking off from the crinkle tunnel we included in our best interactive cat toys post, this simple pouch achieves some of the same play possibilities but takes up less floor space. This is a plush lined sack with crinkle material inside so cats can pounce on or climb around in it. Some might even be inclined to take a nap inside the pocket. To top it off, there’s a dangling catnip toy to give them something to bat around. If you don’t like this option, there are several other toys from SmartyKat on the same page ranging from $2.88 to $9.99 at the time of this writing.
Since it’s Valentine’s Day and the humans are going to be eating treats, shouldn’t cats get some, too? These pure, freeze-dried, raw treats are the perfect way to give your cat a little something extra without necessarily loading them up on sugar. Each of these flavors are made of just one ingredient: minnows, giblets, salmon, chicken breast, or tuna. I think the minnows are especially fun.
Of all the pet cameras I’ve tested, the Petcube stands out as my favorite. I like the sleekness of the design, the total ease of use, and the interactive fun the treat-flinging mechanism allows. My dogs like it too (though this might have something to do with the treats in question). The Bites comes in three colors, but in order to best celebrate Valentine’s, I recommend you opt for the Rose Gold, which is definitely on trend regardless of the holiday. For an in-depth look at the Petcube Bites, see my head-to-head comparison with the PetChatz HD here. The unit ships with treats, but if you should need more, most of the options on our best dog training treats post will work perfectly.
Speaking of treats, you know you’ll have a couple of sweet things on Valentine’s, so sharing the love with your dog makes sense, too. Though any of the flavors would certainly make a good gift for your dog, the Peanut Butter & Jelly variety is the only one on an on-theme box. My dogs go absolutely nuts for this flavor. These aren’t grain free, but they are wheat and corn free, being made in the U.S. of oat flour, rolled oats, peanut butter, strawberries, eggs, and canola oil. Give your dog a few cookies to munch.
It’s Valentine’s — we have to work some hearts in here somewhere. Whether you use this year round or just for the month of February, this stainless steel dish will more than serve the purpose for your feline friend. There’s a rubber base to keep it in place and to reduce noise. If you remove that rubber ring, you can also wash it in the dishwasher. It’s available in small, medium, and large sizes for any purpose.
Do you have a particularly adventurous cat? Do you wish you could take them everywhere with you? This novel product might be the answer. Available in messenger, purse, and backpack configurations, this pet carrier adds a bubble porthole for your cat to look out of while you travel. Wherever you are, your cat will have just as much opportunity to take in the sights. This isn’t your standard plastic cat carrier by a long shot. This is for cat ownership on the go as a lifestyle.
Ah, the cat wand. A quintessential classic of cat toys. Every cat owner buys one at some point, in part because it’s one of the most fun ways to interact with your pet. Most cats will be able to pull off a backflip or two while chasing one of these around. This is a pretty straightforward version using a 36 inch black elastic cord with a sparkly ball at the end of it. For the ball itself, choose between hot pink, blue, gold, green, red, or white.
Okay, I admit, this is very clearly not for your cat. But we all know that cats see their owners as their property, and to that end, declaring that fact for all to see. These 100 percent cotton shirts are available in cuts for men and women in a variety of sizes, and you can choose between black, red, navy, light blue, and gray.
For Valentine’s Day this year, why not let your cat scratch the furniture? Not as it is, of course, but with one of these novel scratching posts applied. These are very thin molded panels covered in sisal fabric. That fabric comes in your choice of Olive, Moss, Light Brown, Ivory, Gold, Black, and Beige, which will help you choose something close to the color of your furniture. Simply tuck the base under the foot of your couch and you’re ready to let them have at it. Though it was out of stock at the time of this writing, they also make the Sofa-Scratcher Squared for right angle corners.
Pet water fountains are extremely popular of late, if our post on the subject is any indication. Cats are notoriously picky about, well, everything, so having fresh-tasting, running water helps cut down one thing they’ll be reluctant to do. This one is interesting because only running water is available to your cat, where in other designs the basin fills up and still water collects. Three liters of water fit in it at one time, and there’s a water softening filter hidden inside the reservoir (replacements here). It matches Catit’s Multi Feeder if you want to grab the set.
This nifty little gadget mounts either on a corner or a flat wall surface and give your cat a way to brush themselves without human intervention. This can help remove loose fur or just give them something entertaining to do. They include a small pouch of catnip meant to fit inside to pique their interest. The brush itself pops off the mounting for easy cleaning, and adhesive strips are included for installation.
Speaking of catnip toys, if you just want to give your cat a little something to acknowledge that they may very well be your Valentine, these adorable little catnip toys fit the bill nicely. Measuring about four inches, you get your choice of this chili pepper, a cactus, a carrot, a banana, a fish, a snake, or a cigar. The chili pepper is under three dollars as I write this, so that makes it the value option. In time, of course, the nip effect will wear off, but you can douse the toy in catnip spray to keep it exciting.
Finally, to drive home the Valentine’s theme, you could grab them a new collar just for the season. Indoor cats may not especially need collars, but it’s a good idea on the off chance that they escape. (Be sure they have a personalized ID tag, too.) It’s also not a bad idea for your cat to wear a bell so you have some idea of what they’re getting up to at any given moment. The heart charm on this is filled with faux crystals, while the collar itself is adjustable between eight and ten inches. Colors include black, blue, pink, and red, but a similar variation offers a purple version, if you prefer.
Switching out your dog’s collar to match a festive season is an easy way to let your dog celebrate. Valentine’s Day is no exception. This collar is embroidered with hearts to fit the theme perfectly. It’s hand sewn in the U.S. and is available in four different sizes, all of which are adjustable. There’s even a matching leash if you want to go all-out. A cheaper play on this idea is available from Mirage Pet Products, as well, while Up Country also offers another variation on the hearts theme.
For smaller breeds, you could take the Valentine’s dress up to a new level with this fleece bear costume. There’s a big ol’ heart on the back to fit the theme, while the hood turns your little dog into a cuddly bear. Especially good if your dog is cold at this time of year. There are five sizes:
Since you have to swap out your dog’s bowl to clean it regularly, anyway, why not sub in this heart-covered option for February 14th? Available in one, two, and three cup sizes, this is your standard melamine bowl stand complete with non-skid rubber grip and a stainless steel bowl insert. Both pieces are dishwasher safe, and you can either opt to use it as a raised feeder or as a set for food and water.
Though it isn’t necessarily for your dog, you might also ponder your pet food container options while you consider this bowl.
Here’s something a little different. My husky mix is the most curious dog I have ever met. We have a large picture window and he lays in front of it all day, watching people go by in the street. He wants to greet everyone when he’s out in our yard. We have a chain link fence, but for those of you out there who don’t, this is one way to let your curious dog see what’s going on outside their confines. Another true thing about my husky is that without the access he has, he would pretty quickly create his own by digging under the fence. This should help alleviate that impulse. It’s 9.5 inch acrylic dome that will serve as your dog’s porthole to the world.
If your dog is your bestie, this charm will let everyone know it. Taking the form of a friendship necklace, you and your dog will each wear half around your respective necks. You’ll match when you’re on a walk together, and when your apart and people ask who has the other half, you can smile and tell them your dog does. There are variations on this theme, like this matching heart set from Luvalti.
I don’t know about yours, but my dogs are extremely hard on their beds. We have three in addition to the crate pad and some assorted blankets they like to lay on and they still manage to utterly destroy their beds in a few short months. If that’s the case in your house, take Valentine’s Day as an opportunity to pick up a new bed for your mutt. This is a simple and inexpensive option stuffed with polyester fill. It’s machine washable and has a neat decorative bone on the front. This measures 20 inches by 16 inches, so it’s best for smaller breeds.
Now for a few dog toys to make Valentine’s fun for your dog. The first is this leather squirrel, which is among the toughest dog toys I’ve ever seen. These real leather toys are fused and double-stitched and put up with a huge amount of abuse. I was surprised when even my blue nose pit couldn’t get one of these apart. They’re pretty flat, so they fly pretty well when thrown like a frisbee. There’s also a squeaker inside, of course. In addition to this squirrel, you could try any of the following:
The options without little legs that can easily be isolated seem to last a little longer. Still, it’s a dog toy, so it’s meant to be destroyed. Just let them have at it.
If you don’t need something to stand up to a tough chewer and just want your dog to have something fun to play with, consider this three pack of bird toys. They’re definitely goofy-looking with rope legs and necks that will make for good games of tug. There are squeakers inside the head, just like on a real bird. Good for at least a day’s worth of entertainment.
Of course, we can't leave the small pets out of the festivities. For my chinchillas (who you can read about on this post), I try to get them something new an interesting to chew as a small, fun gift for holidays. This lava block chew even comes with a wooden heart, perfect for Valentine's Day.
