Christmas Gifts for Pets: Because They’ve Been (Mostly) Good This Year

In plenty of Australian households, the dog has a stocking. The cat has a little Santa hat it tolerates for exactly one photo. And on Christmas Day, every pet in the country positions itself under the table with the patience of a saint and the eyes of a starving orphan.

Pets are family, and buying them a present is part of the fun. The best Christmas gifts for pets are the ones that keep them happy and safe, which is why we’ve included a few treats made for the occasion, some practical gear for pet parents, and a quick guide to the Christmas foods that should never leave your plate.

Prices are recommended retail in Australian dollars at the time of writing.

Christmas treats for dogs and cats

The easiest way to stop a dog from begging at Christmas lunch is to give them a lunch of their own. The Paw Grocer has a festive range that does exactly that.

Everything in the range is human grade, freeze-dried, and Australian made and owned. The meat comes from Victorian farms and is freeze-dried in Tasmania, so there’s no mystery meat in sight. Freeze-drying keeps the flavour in and makes the treats light and easy to portion, which is handy when you’re trying to share them fairly between two very opinionated pets.

For dogs

• Freeze Dried Turkey, Duck & Chicken Value Pack, 200g, $24.95. The full Christmas spread in one bag, and generous enough to last well into January.
• Freeze Dried Roasted Duck (Happy Dogmas), 50g, $17.95. Yes, it’s called Happy Dogmas. Yes, it belongs in a stocking.
• Black Label Duck & Chicken Roast Christmas Dinner, 72g, $19.99. A Petbarn exclusive for dogs who are used to the finer things.

For cats

• Freeze Dried Turkey, Duck & Chicken Value Pack, 90g, $17.95. Cat-sized portions of the festive feast.
• Freeze Dried Roasted Duck, 50g, $17.95. For the cat who lets you know, loudly, that she’d like some of what you’re having.
• Black Label Duck & Chicken Roast Christmas Dinner, 50g, $14.90. Also a Petbarn exclusive.

For both

• Freeze Dried Beef & Lamb Christmas Roast Dinner, 50g, $17.95. The one to buy if you’ve got a dog and a cat who are always in each other’s business.

Use treats as treats. Even the good stuff should be portioned so your pet doesn’t end the holidays a little rounder than they started.

Christmas gifts for cats

Fussy Cat Dental Defence, $26.50

Not every gift has to be a toy. Fussy Cat’s Dental Defence is a complete and balanced dry food with a specially shaped, crunchy kibble that encourages chewing, which helps clean teeth and reduce plaque and tartar build-up. It comes in Ocean Fish and Chicken flavours in 2.2kg bags. For cat owners, it’s the kind of gift that keeps working long after the wrapping paper has been chased around the living room.

And let’s be real: the cat will be most excited by the box it comes in anyway.

Christmas gifts for pet parents

Sometimes the best gift for a pet is actually a gift for the human who looks after it.

John Paul Pet Shampoo, $25

A summer of beach trips, backyard digging and rolling in things nobody wants to identify means a lot of baths. John Paul Pet shampoo is an easy, useful stocking filler for any dog owner, and at $25 it doubles as a Secret Santa gift for the colleague whose desk is covered in photos of their spoodle.

Wahl Pet Clippers, $284.95

Dog grooming appointments add up fast. A good set of pet clippers lets you keep on top of trims at home between visits, which is especially handy for breeds that grow a full winter coat when it’s 35 degrees outside. Wahl is a trusted name in clippers, and this is a gift a pet parent will use for years.

Tavo Maeve Pet Carrier, $749

If you have someone on your list who takes their small dog everywhere, the Tavo Maeve pet carrier is the splurge gift that’ll make their year. It’s a stylish carrier designed for pets who travel with their people, and you’ll find it at Petbarn. It’s a big spend, so it might be one for the family to go halves on.

Christmas foods that are dangerous for pets

Christmas is one of the busiest times of year for vets, and a lot of that comes down to what pets eat from the table or the bin. Keep these well out of reach:

• Chocolate. Toxic to dogs and cats, and dark chocolate is the most dangerous. Watch for chocolates under the tree, too.
• Grapes, raisins and sultanas. That means Christmas pudding, fruit mince pies and fruit cake are a no.
• Cooked bones. The leftover ham bone or turkey carcass can splinter and cause serious injury.
• Fatty scraps. Ham fat, crackling and rich gravy can upset tummies and may trigger pancreatitis in dogs.
• Onions and garlic. Including in stuffing and gravy.
• Macadamia nuts. Toxic to dogs, and very common on Christmas platters.
• Xylitol. A sweetener found in some sugar-free lollies, gum and baked goods, and very dangerous for dogs.
• Lilies. A popular Christmas flower and extremely toxic to cats, including the pollen and the water in the vase.
• Alcohol. Keep glasses off the coffee table.

If you think your pet has eaten something it shouldn’t, call your vet or local after-hours emergency vet straight away rather than waiting to see what happens.

How to include your pet in Christmas Day

1. Give them their own Christmas meal. A pet-safe treat at lunchtime keeps them busy while you eat.
2. Set up a quiet space. Visitors, wrapping paper and crackers can be overwhelming. A bed in a quiet room helps.
3. Remind guests not to feed them. Especially kids who think the dog looks hungry.
4. Take them for a walk before lunch. A tired pet is a much calmer pet.
5. Watch the bins. The bin is the most dangerous place in the house on Christmas afternoon.

Christmas gifts for pets at a glance

Frequently asked questions

What can I give my dog for Christmas? A pet-safe Christmas treat, like The Paw Grocer’s freeze-dried Turkey, Duck & Chicken Value Pack ($24.95), is a great choice. It’s made for dogs, so you won’t be tempted to share unsafe leftovers.

Can dogs eat Christmas ham? It’s best not to. Ham is very salty and fatty, and the bone can splinter. Choose a treat made for dogs instead.

What is a good Christmas gift for a cat lover? Treats like The Paw Grocer’s Roasted Duck ($17.95) or practical food like Fussy Cat Dental Defence ($26.50) are always welcome.

More Christmas gift guides

Now that the pets are sorted, see our stocking fillers under $25, Christmas gifts under $50, Christmas gifts under $100 and educational toys for Christmas.

Disclosure: Products in this guide were chosen independently by the Parenthood360 editorial team. No brand paid to be included. This article is general information only. Always check with your vet about your pet’s diet and health.