Everyone who has ever had a pet knows that each one has their own individual personality with unique quirks that make them so incredibly lovable. So when choosing a gift for a pet, why take a one-size-fits-all approach? Shoppers would certainly not take that approach with a husband, daughter, best friend or co-worker and pets shouldn’t be any different.

This holiday, Petco™ is celebrating pet individuality with a gift guide designed to meet the personality of every pet. Read on for their top gift picks:

The Hipster: Have a pet that’s an independent thinker and an edgy dresser? Then you might have a hipster on your hands. A hipster dog wouldn’t be complete without the Petco brand Fashion Bowtie ($8.99), and it’s guaranteed they’ll love kitschy, SimplyShe Holiday Tuxedo Sweater for dogs ($14.99-19.99), a play on the tuxedo shirt. Beards are also a hipster staple, and now envious cool cats can take their hipness up a notch with a Petco brand Santa beard ($4.99) – no more beard envy!

The Health Nut: From a raw diet to an exercise regimen, the health conscious movement has definitely trickled down to pets. Healthy cats will love the Kitty Garden ($9.99); healthy, edible grass in a vintage-inspired wooden planter. The four flavors: barley, rye, oats and wheat not only look great, but help a cat’s digestion and prevent hairballs. The Drinkwell Lotus Pet Fountain ($79.99) has a zen-like feel to it and provides a stylish and convenient supply of fresh, filtered water. Even hamsters can work on their fitness with the Spin City Health Club ($4999), a unique habitat with a wheel that keeps track of how many laps the hamster runs.

The Style Icon: Usually, human fashionistas have mini pet fashionistas that appreciate the latest in haute couture. Pets can travel in style with the BNB“mad about plaid” and passport stamps fashion carriers ($49.99-69.99). They can also be the belle of the ball with the best-in-class Petco brand harnesses($19.99-34.99) that are offered in seven sizes to fit dogs from Chihuahua to Lab in a vast array of colors and prints. Jewelry is always a winner with this set, so a personalized, sparkly Fido Pet ID Tag with crystal accents ($12.00-20.00) is another way to go. And true Parisian fashion, gift a beautiful red or blue Fashion Bow ($8.99) and a Posh Paw manicure service to match mommy’s French manicure.

The Geek: Have a pet obsessed with the latest cutting edge breakthroughs? Cats will love the Littermaid ($129.99-179.99), America’s first fully automatic self-cleaning litter tray. For the family fish that need a new high tech home, the Fluval Spec Aquarium ($69.99) offers a 360 degree view of the tank due to its unique built in filtration system. Reptiles craving an authentic rainforest experience will love the Exo Terra Congo Rainforest Habitat Kit ($199.99). Designed by European herpetologists, it includes a stunning new background design based on the mysterious statues of the dense Congo jungle.

The Foodie: For the food aficionado, The Merrick Holiday Sausage Treats ($9.99) are a beautifully packaged sausage sampler platter that is made with all-natural ingredients, it looks so tasty pet parents can easily mistake it for people food. Foodies can also agree bacon makes everything better and puppies three months or older will agree that the Nylabone Nutri Dent Good Puppy Bacon & Cheese Edible Dental Chews ($7.29-14.99) hits the nail on the head with this good-for-you treat. There are a lot of kitties out there that believe whole-heartedly in the organic movement, so spoil them withBlue Buffalo All Natural Cat Treats ($3.99).

The Philanthropist: For the pet who has everything and wants to lend a helping hand to animals in need, donate on their behalf to the Petco Foundation’s annual Tree of Hope campaign which takes place from November 12, 2012 – January 6, 2013. Donations can be made at the nearest Petco store, Unleashed by Petco store or online at www.petco.com/holiday. Donations help feed homeless pets in shelters, give lifesaving medical assistance, enable rescuers to grow their resources so that they can help ease the burdens of overfull shelters, and provide venues and grants to help usher those without a voice into loving homes.

For more pet gift ideas, visit www.petco.com/holiday.

I’ve got great news… another awesome new app just hit the market and it’s totally going to dominate the pet app market I bet… It’s called Oh Kitty and it is bundles of fun, just like your kitties themselves.

Released with perfect timing for holiday cat pictures to be taken, Oh, Kitty! is a fun free app for cat owners and their friends that provides tons of amusement. It allows you to virtually dress-up and accessorize your cat! MOL! How neat! After sending some family members some creations they are all asking me about it!

With Oh, Kitty! you can:

• Magically bring your kitty into the App using the eraser tool.
• Virtually dress your cat with over 400 items such as wigs, hats, glasses and more.
• Place your kitty in backgrounds ranging from The Eiffel Tower to the beach and more.
• Give your kitty a voice using text bubbles.
• Share your creations with family and friends using Facebook and email.

For more information and to download, head over to www.ohkittyapp.com right now!

Available on the App Store (Link to App Store Download ) Oh, Kitty! is bound to be a hit with cat-lovers the world over.

This kewl Oh, Kitty! YouTube video shows a great reel of how it’s done and how customizations can be made to a cat picture using the App and your phone. MOL again!

Furthermore – coming soon, you’ll be able to purchase keepsakes of the creations you’ve made on items such as iPhone and iPad cases, mugs, t-shirts, posters and more. How cool is that?

I highly encourage you to download Oh, Kitty today. I have it and it’s so much fun. I can’t’ stop sending my sister and cousin and best friend my silly cat pictures.

Use Minted.com for Sophisticated, Loveable Holiday Cards with Your Pet’s Picture on Them

Awhile back I was introduced to Minted.com; they allowed me to create some personalized pet holiday cards for free and now I want to tell you how amazing these cards are.

They turned out wonderful! They are classy but fun, sophisticated but funny. That’s why Minted.com’s personalized pet holiday cards are the Pet Product of the Week!

It’s the kind of amazing that you can’t really see online – you have to see the card in your hand. I ordered a whole bunch to send out to friends and family but am tempted to keep a few for me because I love them so much.

They pet holiday cards, which feature Sasha, Maxwell and Tater Tot, were printed on premium paper that’s so fine. It’s also a bit shimmery – SO pretty.

The front cover of the card!

There are 15 pet holiday cards to choose from at Minted.com right now.The variety is fun and I must have spent 3 hours just playing around and putting the cats’ pictures in different cards!

The pet holiday cards are inventive; some are cute, some are serious and others will make you laugh out loud.

The delivery of my beautiful cards came with a separate pack of high-quality envelopes wrapped up really nicely in a green bow. The pet holiday cards that I finally settled on came packaged in a saran wrap so as not to let them get bent or let the corners get twisted or crooked. The packaging was super-nice and I was really mesmerized.

I was impressed with the professionalism, originality, fun, variety and packaging that Minted.com uses. They are a great company and I seriously recommend you take a gander at their array of pet holiday cards – I guarantee you will fall in love with at least one!

Don’t get lost in pet stores this holiday season; after all, supposedly half of us are shopping online this season for presents. So why should it be any different for you pets’ holiday gifts?

This year, as I told you earlier this month, I found something awesome to help me shop.

It’s a holiday gift guide for pets, brought to you specially by BlogPaws and High Paw Media.

The Holiday Gift Guide 2012 features such special items as the famous dogPACER, Udder Tug toy and awesome Stewart Pet products like the Pro-Treat Freeze Dried Liver, a similar product of which I recently reviewed here.

dogPACER Treadmills: Available in regular and mini sizes for smaller dogs, dogPACER treadmills have revolutionized the dog treadmill market. Developed to offer

dogPACER

exceptional quality treadmills at a price consumers can afford, the original dogPACER and the Minipacer for small dogs up to 55 pounds are made of strong but lightweight carbon steel, to withstand even the toughest workouts. And, the Minipacer was just named one of the year’s top new dog products but the World Pet Association at Superzoo 2012!

The reality is, most dogs simply don’t get enough exercise, contributing to health, obesity and behavior problems. Busy schedules, extreme weather (hot or cold) and even the physical challenges of an owner all contribute to less physical activity for many dogs. Designed as a supplement to quality outdoor exercise, the dogPACER Minipacer is improving the lives of dogs and their owners the world over. For more information, visit: www.dogpacer.com.  DogPACER retails for $499 and is available at www.dogpacer.com, online at various sites and in boutiques across the U.S. MiniPacer retails for $479 and is small. Here are the specs:  L 42 x W 21.5 x H 28.5” – it’s lightweight (48.4 lbs!) so it does not take up space in your home! Visit dogPACER on:

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/dogpacer

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/dogpacer

Udder Tug dog toy: Do you know those rubber liners that dairy farmers use on cow milking machines?  Well, if you never heard of them check out this ingenious and “udderly”

Udder Tug dot toy

cool idea from HelpingUdders.com. Some say they have been a best kept secret.  Here comes the Udder Tug, a rugged and durable dog toy designed for hours of fun and play.  Models are available for small, medium and large dogs. Made in the USA, these tough toys are great for throw and fetch, general play or exercise indoors or outside. Your dog will be intrigued by this product.  They have a “moo-tastic” cow smell that only dogs can sense and then get excited about. Most of the Tugs feature a hand grip for fun and exercise for you and your dog. Udder Tugs are especially great gifts this holiday season for friends, family and their dogs.

Made in the USA from recycled, rubber milking machine liners, the Otis Udder Tug is the newest addition to the full line of proprietary Udder Tugs. A donation of 25% to 50% from each Tug sale goes to supporting customer selected rescues and shelters, across the nation.

Stewart Pet Pro-Treat Freeze Dried Liver: This holiday season, treat pets with Stewart Pro-Treat Freeze Dried Liver beef and chicken treats, providing pets with

Stewart Pro Treats

protein-rich meats for a healthy reward or snack. Maintaining the aroma, flavor and nutritional value of 100% raw liver produced and packaged in the USA, the fresh, all-natural treats are diced into perfect, reward-sized bites. Great for stuffing in Fido’s stocking this year, treats are available in beef or chicken, and contain only one ingredient – perfect for dogs with allergies or those on limited ingredient diets. Where to buy: http://stewartpet.com/where-to-buy/ and PetSmart online. Retails for $22.99 and up. Visit them on:

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/stewartpet

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/stewartpet

I hope you pick something out of the catalog; the BlogPaws Great Gifts for Pets Holiday Gift Guide 2012 is an amazing tool for pet-lovers to use to navigate the most popular pet products this season!

Merry pet gift shopping! I hope these recommendations will make it easier for you. Let me know in the comments what your pet’s favorite holiday gift is this year!

This is a sponsored post. BlogPaws compensated me for sharing these cool gifts with you. But I never post anything that I don’t think would be of interest to my readers…

Recent Survey by TEMPTATIONS^® Treats for Cats Reveals

Holiday Gift-Buying Behaviors

This holiday season, as you’re making a list and checking it twice, don’t forget to treat your most loyal companion – your cat!  While most cat owners think every day is a holiday for their feline friends, a new survey conducted by TEMPTATIONS® Treats for Cats shows that nearly half of cat owners (46%) go the extra mile this time of year to buy their cat the perfect present to put under the tree.

The survey showed that the majority of cat owners who do gift their cats during the holidays almost always purchase treats or toys.  But most cat owners believe that if their cat could manage their own wish-list (should they be able to make one) the majority of them would want their stockings stuffed with treats.

As the leading cat treat on the market, TEMPTATIONS® Treats for Cats are an ideal way to remember your cat, while simultaneously strengthening the playful bond between owners and their pets.

“Incorporating TEMPTATIONS Treats into your holiday and daily routine is a fun way to strengthen your relationship with your cat and reinforce your cat’s behavior,” said Dr. Tiffany Bierer, Health and Nutritional Sciences Manager, Mars Petcare US, the makers of TEMPTATIONS® Treats for Cats.  “A positive reward helps your cat recognize what you want them to do, and creates playful moments during the holidays and beyond.”

Gift Ideas for Finicky Felines

Still stumped on what gift will be the cat’s meow? Check out the wish-list generator on the TEMPTATIONS® Facebook Page, www.facebook.com/temptations. By answering a few simple questions about your cat’s personality, the wish-list generator will produce customized gift ideas destined to delight even the most fickle feline.

Something to Meow About

TEMPTATIONS® Treats for Cats polled 2,500 Americans via online omnibus survey to find out how many cats would meow with joy over their presents this holiday season.  Of those surveyed, TEMPTATIONS® Treats for Cats discovered:

• Women (48.7%) are more likely than men (42.6%) to consider their cat when buying gifts during the holidays.
• However, when it comes to spending, men will go all out to make their cats’ holiday perfect! Of gift-buying men, the majority (38.3%) will spend anywhere from $11 – $20 on their feline friends, while women (38.3%) only estimate spending $6 – $10.
• For those cats lucky enough to have made the shopping list, the large majority (84.9%) of their owners will be purchasing toys for feline friends; despite the fact that owners believe their cats prefer treats in their stockings.

For more information, visit Facebook.com/Temptations.