Eco-Friendly Pet Gifts

If you have been wondering what to get the furry little friend in your life as a holiday gift this year, you should seriously consider gifts that are eco-friendly. As the world becomes more environmentally conscious, pet owners have begun to realize that their pets are just as susceptible to the many toxins found in everyday products as they themselves are. Such damaging chemicals are found in pet products, like flea treatments and shampoos. Harmful chemicals can even be found in dog and cat food in the form of so-called preservatives.

Not only are these types of gifts good for the environment, but they are also good for your pet!

Go Organic

Buy your pooch toys that are made with organic cotton or hemp. These toys will have no chemicals infused in them and will give your dog hours of playtime.

A New Collar

A great way to show off how eco-friendly your pet really is, is to buy them their very own, all-natural hemp collar. Not only is hemp grown without the use of pesticides or herbicides, but it is also 100% biodegradable and hypoallergenic.

A Bed to Call Their Own

Just like humans, every dog and cat longs for a nice, soft comfortable bed to call their very own. When choosing a bed, opt for one that is made from organic fibers without the use of industrial chemicals. Make sure that it has a removable cover as well so that you can wash it on a regular basis.

Personalized Dog Blanket

The next step up from a pet bed is a dog (or cat) blanket that has been personalized with your pet's name. Again, choose a blanket that is made from 100% cotton or is otherwise certified to be organic. You can choose to have your family name embroidered onto the blanket or have a simple design done instead, such as a dog bone or a fish.

Pamper Your Pooch

Every dog deserves a day at the spa! You can give your dog a real treat by booking her into your local doggy day spa for a milk bath and pedicure. Or, in case your dog has given herself a mud bath instead, you can rinse her clean using spa products developed especially for dogs using natural essential oils.

Treat Time

A great gift for any pet is a yummy treat, or two! Take a walk down the dog treat aisle at your local pet supply store and you will see that there is a wide variety of organic, wholesome and nutritional dog biscuits and treats. You can also find such treats made especially for cats in the cat aisle.

Homemade Toys

Dogs, and cats, can never have too many toys! An easy and cheap alternative to store bought pet toys is to make your dog or cat a toy for the holidays:

Make a Rope

Every dog loves to play a game of tug-of-war! Gather up several strands of organic cotton rope or hemp rope and braid them together as tightly as you can, before tying them at the ends with a good, solid knot.

Make a Catnip Toy

There aren't many cats that can resist catnip. Purchase organically grown catnip from a farmers market, your local pet supply store, or even grow your own. Make your kitten a special toy by placing the catnip inside a circle of scrap fabric and tie it together with a pretty ribbon.

Cat Grass

Cat grass is most certainly eco-friendly! You can buy organically grown cat grass from your local pet supply store or grow some yourself inside a pot plant. This is the perfect gift for indoor cats to munch on. You can even go big by using a flat piece of cardboard, some soil and planting organic, cat-friendly grass seed. Try to keep it out of your cats reach until the grass starts to sprout.

Photo Credit: JAGwired