Christmas is nearer than I thought. By next week, requests and even slight hints of what my kids would like for presents are expected, so I do my own 'forecasting' since I'd know (more or less) what they'd want and need. I've been browsing the pages and sites and thought of gift surfing for the family cat and dog. Since this would be the only time I'd actually put pets on a Christmas shopping list, am just using “people gifting” rules on this.

Since both pets need identification their tags are not personalized so I've put down Dogs Tags as a priority. Predictably, a dog tag without next years collar is plain nuts! My dog is a female Retriever mix with the energy of a Mexican jumping bean so am looking at a hip and fun kind of collar…maybe the one with snaps instead of D-rings (d-rings sometimes wears the leather collar) since the collar will be of nylon fabric and easy to clean (better to keep smelling good). Our pet cat is getting to be a heavy-set tabby barely a years old, contrary to our she-dog our alpha-cat has the energy of a door knob (active only when people are in sleeping stupor!). For this cat we admired the beaded collars we saw on several Danes…wonder if they have it in small.

And as a pet stocking filler-upper, they get one chew toy each (some toys are typed as chew toys but have small parts that come -off and be swallowed, watch out!). For pet lovers like me to choose a pet toy thing of NEED, FUNCTION and FUN and not because it would make me look like a 'good' pet parent. Sometimes pet parents tend to shower their pets with things they don't need, causing the pet to lose its instincts (perfume some scents are not for pets, switch to colognes and scents made for pets). This season put in mind the trend of toys from China being pulled out, check tags on toys to make sure you don't get to buy a toy coated with lead. Gift buying is as much fun as being able to see the joy of the one receiving it.

Next year, my pet-kids are due for a pet bed surprise!