8 Presents for the Small Pets in Your Home
Eight presents for the small pets in your home. Make your small pets happy.
by Lisa Parks
It’s the season for gifting! And since you love your small pet so much, we know you want to make sure they’re included as well. That’s why we’ve put together a list of presents that your little friend would be happy to unwrap (or gnaw open) on Christmas morning or for each night of Hanukkah.
We’ve covered all the usual suspects (rabbits, hamsters, mice, rats, guinea pigs, and even sugar gliders, hedgehogs, and chinchillas), and included some great gifts they’re sure to love. So if you’ve got a cute little pet in your home—or if you’re thinking about adopting one—we have some great ideas for the holidays!
Small Pets Healthy Treats
There’s no better way to show your small pets how much you care than with some tasty treats with healthy ingredients! Treats are great for giving your small pets a special reward or even to have some fun interactive time with them. Plus, the right treats are not just a nice way to show your love and appreciation for your darling pets—they can also be great for their teeth!
One brand that makes healthy treats is Vitakraft, which uses healthy ingredients and makes treats for rabbits, hamsters, guinea pigs, hedgehogs, chinchillas, and more, in formulas designed for their species. We love their baked Crunch Sticks and Slims, both of which are great for pets’ dental health. They also make soft, yogurt-like Drops that make a great playtime snack—you can even fill up a microfiber stocking with some and let your pet crawl inside for an exciting holiday surprise! Their treats can be found at most in-person pet retailers and on Amazon and Chewy.
Some Nice Bedding
Just like us, our pets love to have a comfy place to relax and sleep. If your small pet’s cage is in need of an overhaul, the holidays are the perfect time to get some new bedding to freshen things up. At stores like Petco, PetSmart, and Chewy, you can find bedding for any need, from natural to eco-friendly to scented, and even in fun colors like pink, purple, and blue to match your aesthetic. Since it’s something you need to stock up on regularly anyway, the holidays are a great time to switch things up for a bit or try out a new, extra soft bedding.
Small Pets Need A Place to Hide
A place to hide is something small pets need in order to feel safe and secure. It’s important that they have some place to go where they can relax and not be bothered by their owner or other pets. A private house is a nice gift for your hamster, rabbit, or guinea pig: it’s quiet and cozy, so they can sleep there if they get tired of running around your house all day. It’s also a safe place for them to hide when they’re afraid of something—like a cat! Or even just so they can feel like they have their own space.
You can even get a cute house to match your own room! These are great because they help you personalize the space and make it fun for yourself too! Chewy and Amazon are full of options in cute shapes like a barn for your guinea pigs, bright colors, and minimalist designs that your pet can chew like a little wood or rope hideout.
Small Pets Need An Active Toy
You may have noticed that your small pets have a lot of energy. And that’s a good thing! Exercise is important for all animals—it keeps them healthy, helps with weight control, and keeps stress levels low. One of the most fun gifts for owners and pets alike is an exercise ball that allows your pet to safely run around the house—just make sure any ledges are blocked off! But what if you don’t have the space to let your little buddy run around the house? An exercise wheel is the perfect way to get them moving anytime while they stay safely in their cage. Plus, they’re made for pets of all sizes and even in chewable materials, so your pet doesn’t hurt its teeth if it chews on the wheel.
Tubes. Lots of Tubes
If you’re the owner of a small pet like a hamster or mouse, one of the most fun active gifts you can get them is a system of tubes for their cage. You can twist them all over if you have the space, for some fun exercise for your pet. Or use them to connect multiple cages and build a cool pet condo for your little whiskered friend. Or if you’ve got a sleepy buddy, you can use them to lead to a private bed. Plus, just like with the bedding and wheels, tubes come in all kinds of colors, from bright to neutral, so your pet’s cage can match your aesthetic perfectly. If that’s your thing.
Gifts for small pets- A New Habitat
You knew this one was coming, didn’t you? Yes, while we’re spoiling our pets and decorating our rooms at the same time, a cool new cage or habitat is a great choice. You can get a tall and exciting one to make your pet feel like royalty, or a cool aesthetic one to make them the center of your room… and your life! As we mentioned in #5, tubes can be great for attaching cages to each other as well, so if you already have a habitat you love, the holidays can be a great excuse to expand your pet’s living space and add a second (or third) room.
A Cat Toy
We know, a cat toy sounds very out of place in a list of gifts for your small pets, but if you have a larger breed like a rabbit, hedgehog, chinchilla, or guinea pig, a small cat toy can be a great toy for them too! Just like dogs and cats, some small animals love playing with plushie toys and will have a run time chewing them or pushing them around. If you do decide to get a plush toy for your pet, just make sure there are no loose pieces they can hurt themselves with!
Grooming Products
Many owners of small animals may not think too much about grooming, but sometimes our little friends need it too! For the holidays this year, a great gift to really spoil your small pet is a grooming kit, with tiny nail clippers and a brush to keep them looking snazzy, especially if they have a newly freshened up cage! This one may be more for you than for them, but you can easily make grooming time a great bonding activity by incorporating treats and toys!
