Following the latest trends and products for dogs, cats, and other pets
All cats love catnip, but you don’t want the loose stuff all over the house. That’s why a catnip toy is a fun choice for kitties. They can smell the catnip and will have fun batting around the toy, but dried herbs won’t escape to coat everything.
This handmade catnip toy is shaped into a fuzzy little caterpillar. At 8″ long, it shouldn’t get lost very easily. The toy is stuffed with 100% pure catnip. Available at Etsy for $6.
Does your dog eat too quickly? Are you worried about gas and bloating that can be caused when dogs wolf down their food at lightning speed? Then here’s a dish to slow your Fido down:
The Brake-fast dog bowl from Katoby has a special design that will force your dog to eat more slowly. “The three prong design creates obstacles that keeps your dog from engulfing his whole meal in seconds by reducing the amount of food he can grab at one time. This lessens the incidence of swallowed air resulting in less gas and discomfort for your dog and could even save his life!”
The dog bowl itself is dishwasher safe and has a no-tip shape. It’s available in a 5-cup size and works with kibble or canned food.
Is your dog one of those pets who always has his head on the pillows? Whether on the couch or your bed (or is it his bed?), the pillows are fair game, right? Well, if that’s the case, why not get Fido a pillow just for him?
There will be mistaking whose head goes on this dog bone throw pillow from Frontgate.
“Finally — a pet pillow that isn’t an embarrassment to have out around guests. Our Dog Bone Pet Throw Pillow is a chic alternative to traditional dog accessories. With its luxuriously soft upholstered exterior, it’s sure to become a favorite nap companion for your pooch.”
$49 at Frontgate
Are you tired of Fido swiping all of your freshly opened tennis balls? Or maybe you just want to find pet toys made from natural, organic materials.
These dog fetch balls are made from organic, dye-free wool from small family farms throughout the U.S. The wool is processed only with gentle, non-toxic soaps, so there’s nothing in them that can be harmful to your pet. The center of each 2 1/2″ ball contains a small squeaker that is safely tucked in a cloth packet (it has no metal parts that could be swallowed).
$25 gets you a set of two from Eco-Artware
Looking for a cat bed that isn’t made from plastics or other unnatural materials? This Pet Pod is made from paper mache.
The “hand pulpted” (I guess that’s similar to sculpted… must be a paper mache term) dome offers the perfect hidey hole for your furry friend. A cushion inside makes it a comfortable place to lounge.
With a base diameter of 17″ and a height of 18″, the Pet Pod could also be used for small dogs. £55 in the UK.
If you’re looking for feeding bowls for your cats, check out this fun set by Miriam Mirri and Alessi. The Tigrito Cat Bowl is sure to be a winner with pets and people.
Made from easy-to-clean polypropylene and stainless steel, the dishes frame a startled kitty (whose tail conveniently works as a handle, so you don’t have to bend so low to pick the dishes up from the floor).
The cat bowl set can hold 9.5 oz of food and water and is available in three colors: light blue, yellow, and gray.
$75 from Unica Home
If your cat is like many other kitties, he or she may get a kick out of chasing things or batting around a crumpled up piece of newspaper on the floor. This is because their prey instinct tells them to catch mice. You probably don’t want to introduce any real mice into the house for them to chase, but this remote control toy mouse might be just as much fun. It’s also a way to get your kitty some much needed exercise.
With the remote, you can tell the mouse to move forward, backward, and into wild tail-spinning rolls. The toy is rechargeable and connects to the remote to power up.
The cat toy is $20 from SmartHome:
Did you know hampsters can be potty trained? Their natural instinct is to eliminate in one specific area, so you can teach them to use a corner of their cage, or better yet a “hampster potty.”
Just as cats learn to use a litter box, hampsters can learn to use a box such as this one. This makes clean-up less of a chore and gives them a little privacy to do their jobs.
The potty shown here is $4 from Cool Pet Stuff.