Kathy Ireland Archives

Welcome to day 6! Holy moly. This week has flown by. I hope you guys are having as much fun as I am! If you’ve missed any of the previous days’ gift recommendations and giveaways, be sure to visit: play, eat, eco-friendly,gifts that give back, and for the pet lover.

Today we’re turning our attention to our feline friends! Newt feels slightly offended that cats only get one day. I told her it’s because this is Oh My DOG Blog, but she said that shouldn’t matter. Ah, well. Today is a roundup of the best holiday gifts for cats!

So, let’s kick this feline fiesta off without further ado!

Delightibles

Newt is a treat fiend. We are watching her weight, so we try not to give her too many. But there are times when she either earns one or when I need her to move and she won’t and I don’t want her to bite me. I may toss a treat across the room in those instances. I’ve kept a bag of Delightibles in my desk drawer for such occasions! Now, these aren’t the most nutritious treats around, but they must be tasty because as soon as she sees me pick up that bag, she’s READY! They’re made in the US and come in chicken, turkey (Newt’s fave), tuna, salmon, beef, and dairy. They are free from wheat, soy, BHA, and BHT, and have a crunchy exterior with a filling. At only 1.5 calories per treat, we can give Newt a few a day without worrying about too much weight gain. To buy: Found exclusively at Walmart, Delightibles Cat Treats are offered in 3oz to 12oz sizes, with prices starting at $1.26 per bag (if your cat has a stocking – and she does, right? – these would be the perfect fit!)

Kathy Ireland Loved Ones Collection Catnip Kick Candy Cat Toy and Catnip Heart Feather Bloom Cat Wand

The sweetness of the Loved Ones Collection! The colors are definitely softer and more precious than many pet toys, and for Newt these are absolutely darling. I couldn’t get a decent picture of Newt playing with the wand, but the candy toy? Oh, she loves it. She does this pounce thing, then holds it with her front paws while kicking with her back (perhaps that’s why they called it the catnip kick?). It’s too funny and absolutely adorable. She’s really enjoyed playing with both of these toys. My only complaint – and this might be a Newt-specific problem – is that the wand is a smidge shorter than I’d prefer because when Newt gets going with it, she gets VERY swipey. Otherwise, these have both been so much fun have become regular parts of our daily play with Newt. To buy: $10.70 for the Catnip Heart Feather Bloom Wand* and $13.48 for the Catnip Kick Candy Toy*

Worldwise Petlinks Crazy Tail Mouse

Speaking of cute… This little guy is darling. He has a suction cup on the back and a loop on the top, then when you touch his nose, the tail starts flipping around. Like this:

I have it on the shelf behind my desk. When Newt comes and sits on my keyboard, I can push the nose, and off she goes! It’s erratic in its spinning, so it keeps her entertained longer. From what I could tell, though, it didn’t have an automatic shut-off feature (or, if it does, it stays on past the point where she’s interested, so I end up turning it off myself). It’s designed to promote exercise and play, which clearly it does. It does require 2 AAA batteries – it comes with the first round – but if you’re giving this as a gift, you might want to stash an extra pack in with the present! To buy: $8.90 (currently ON SALE – regularly $18.99) Crazy Tail Mouse*

FroliCat Dart Duo

Despite the fact that the packaging shows a cat and a dog playing with this, I’m only recommending this as a gift for cats. If your cat is into lasers, this is one high-tech toy! It has two separate lasers to keep ’em guessing. You can set the timer on the top and adjust the speed of the rotation. If you have multiples – who get along – the two laser system could keep them both occupied and busy. To be totally honest, this one was too much for Newt. She got seriously over-stimulated, so I’m recommending this for a multi-cat household. However, if you have a super high-energy cat, this could be great. (For Newt’s preferred laser toy, see below!!) To buy: $42.95 from PetSafe

FroliCat Bolt

Now, this one… Newt LOVES. You can’t adjust the speed, but you can adjust the height/distance of the laser. It has a 10-minute automatic shut-off, so what I’ve started doing is turning it on when I need to do a task that doesn’t involve Newt. Like, fold the laundry. Or make the bed. Or a million other little things she loves to interrupt. I have the Bolt on my bedroom dresser, and as soon as I turn it on, it makes a distinct noise that gets her to come running. Then I have the perfect 10-minute window to get a task complete. It also works well to keep her upstairs and out of the way if we’re training with the dogs downstairs! I think over the past month or so of testing, the Bolt has gotten near-daily use! More exercise for the Princess. To buy: $22.95 from PetSafe

Imperial Cat Holiday Kit

This just might be the perfect holiday gift for a cat! Though the items are assorted, the kit contains a seasonal Scratch ‘n Scratcher, a 9-gram bag of organic catnip, oat seeds to grow, a wand, and a seasonal catnip toy. Absolutely everything a cat could want for the holiday season! The scratcher is comprised of a much thicker cardboard than some of the others we’ve tried, which makes me think it’s going to last longer, too. I think if any of your holiday events this season are hosted by cat lovers, this would be the PERFECT hostess gift! To buy: $30 in stores

And now six of you lucky cats have the chance to win each of these prizes! This is a Rafflecopter giveaway. The widget should load below in a few seconds, or if you’re reading via email or feed, you may have to click the link. Winners will be drawn and notified on Friday, November 28. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Don’t forget to come back tomorrow for the last day of gift recommendations and giveaways!

Disclaimer: We didn’t receive any compensation for this guide, though some of these brands sent products for our consideration. Not all made the cut! The ones here are ones we really, truly love. Any link followed by an asterisk (*) means it’s an affiliate link – you won’t pay a single extra penny if you purchase through those links, but OMD! will receive a tiny bit of commission, which we use to offset the costs of producing this guide! Questions? Send me an email: info {at} ohmydogblog {dot} com.

Welcome to the first of seven days of our annual Holiday Gift Guide and Giveaway Extravaganza! After months of rigorous product testing, we’ve whittled down the list to the very best holiday gifts for pets! Today’s gifts are all about PLAY!

We spent the last couple months testing a huge range of dog toys. Some did not pass muster. Others we fell in love with instantly! (Bonus: Most of the testers and extra toys are going to the shelter once the guide closes!)

Today, I’m sharing our TOP 10 favorite dog toys, which would make great gifts (some are even small enough to fit in a stocking)! So, let’s get going!

KONG Jumbler Ball and Jumbler Football

We love KONG around here but hadn’t played with these Jumbler toys before. They’re fairly solid and have a tennis ball inside the toy, which makes them bounce erratically. The football is a fun shape for playing catch in the yard, though this one didn’t hold up as well as the ball. The ball? Oh. Em. Gee. Cooper is obsessed. Not just a little. He takes it with him everywhere.

He even tries to bark with it in his mouth because he doesn’t want to put it down. It has handles on either side, so it’s great for tug, too. We enjoyed both toys, for sure, but if you were in the market for just one, I recommend the ball. I’d let you play with ours, but Cooper hasn’t put it down yet! To buy: the KONG Jumbler Football Toy in Large* and the KONG Jumbler Ball Toy in Large/X-Large* (the one in Cooper’s mouth is this size but orange, which I can’t find online).

Tuggo

For the past few years, we’ve had a running joke about getting Cooper a tire. Something huge and heavy and massive that he can’t destroy and will actually wear him out. Well, wouldn’t ya’ know! The Tuggo fits the bill and isn’t toxic like chewing tire rubber! We tested the large. You fill it with water, and it ranges in weight from just the ball to 20 pounds when full! Twenty pounds! We filled it halfway, and Cooper spent an afternoon dragging it around the yard. It was a total victory, and nearly two months later, it’s still in one piece! One caveat: This is NOT an inside toy. He tried winging it around a bit… I could see it taking down a whole bookcase. Now that it’s cold out, it’ll be a bit of a chore to empty and fill it for outside play sessions, but I know we’ll get a ton of use out of it this spring. If your dog is strong, high-energy, or just shreds toys, this is the one for you! To buy: Tuggo is available in two sizes: 7 inch and 10 inch .

PetSafe Tug-a-Jug and Kibble Nibble

Obviously treat puzzles had to make my list! We LOVE treat puzzles. It keeps them busy and occupied and makes them really think about getting their food. These two are very different but both are so fun. The Kibble Nibble is sort of a “beginner” level treat toy because once they figure it out, they have it down. The good thing, though, is that it forces my gulpers to eat their food slowly, which I appreciate. The Tug-a-Jug is much harder because the rope through the bottle has a stopper. They have to really work to get that kibble! It keeps them very busy! Although, one word of warning: If you have a dog who FLINGS puzzle toys like Lucas, don’t give this one near breakable objects or your TV. The rope/bottle combo can fling FAR! To buy: Tug-a-Jug from $9.99 to $19.99 and Kibble Nibble from $13.99 to $19.99 (Oh, and hint: The Kibble Nibble is great for cats, too!)

Chukit Launcher, Tumble Bumper, and Glow Ball

With these super short days upon us, it’s tougher to do much outside playing after work. Well, bundle up and take these glow-in-the-dark Chukit toys! For dogs who love to run and chase, nothing beats the Chukit. We had one that disappeared in the move, so I was excited to get these testers – and, better yet, since they glow, the game can go on well after the sun sets. At 4 pm. Sigh. The bumper is great for fetch, too, but we let our guard down for about 30 seconds, and Cooper shredded it. If you have a dog who loves to fetch, these are prefect! If you have a dog who loves to shred, go for the launcher and ball and skip the bumper! To buy: $4.93 for the Chuckit! Medium Max Glow Ball*, $8.79 for the Chuckit Tumble Bumper* and $10 for the Chuckit! Pro 18M Launcher*.

Worldwise’s Kathy Ireland Loved Ones Collection: Durable Fox Dog Toy and Hide & Seek Dog Toy

I saved the cutest for last! So, I have a confession: Sometimes I think dog toys are boring looking. Not all, of course, but many look similar, same color range, and so on. These Kathy Ireland toys? They’re so fresh and different! And darling! Like, seriously adorable! We tested the Hide & Seek ball first, and it’s such a clever product – it has a delayed light and noise function. We can hide it in the craziest places, and Cooper finds it! Such a fun and highly interactive way to play with a ball. At just under $30, it’s way more than we’d normally spend on a ball, but the added features are pretty neat (and it fits in standard launch toys, like the Chukit above). Next up was the durable fox. I seriously adore this toy. I didn’t want to give it to the boys to play with; it’s that cute! But they loved it – all three of them, which is rare for any toy! To buy: $29.82 for the Kathy Ireland Loved Ones Hide & Seek Dog Toy Electronic Light & Sound Ball – Blue* and $22.84 for the Kathy Ireland Loved Ones Durable Fox Dog Toy*.

We LOVE all 10 of these pet products, and now five of YOU get a chance to win some for your pups! This is a Rafflecopter giveaway. The widget should load below in a few seconds, or if you’re reading via email or feed, you may have to click the link. Winners will be drawn and notified on Friday, November 28. Good luck!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Seriously, all 10 of these toys would make a great gift for the right dog! Come back tomorrow for our next day and a whole new theme for recommendations and giveaways!

The best holiday gifts for cats

The best holiday gifts for dogs who love to PLAY!