Failing to present your sister's cat with a gift last Christmas left you sitting in the doghouse while everyone else watched adorable Freckles with her new toy mouse. Then, suspiciously, you were bumped to the kids' table at dinner.
This year, pets -- one's own, a friend's or a family member's -- are showing up on gift lists all over the city, and if you don't want a repeat of last year, they had better make their way onto yours. Today's pet accessories are stylish and playful, and many of Seattle's new pet stores resemble sleek boutiques. So this holiday season, spoil all the four-legged friends on your list with yummy treats, colorful toys and tony trimmings.
Leather dog collars and leashes
Get your doggie dolled up with a gorgeous leather collar or leash ($28-$60) from South Lake Union pet boutique Urban Beast [0]. Beautifully stitched collars and leashes equipped with high-end hardware from Canini [1], Ruff Stuff Designs [2] and Urban Hund [3] make delightful and distinctive accessories. Try a flowered design for little Fifi, a zipper detail for a meatier mutt or a geometric design for your savvy pal.
Snak Shak's alfalfa cage furnishings
Give your couch-potato chinchilla something healthy to munch on. The Feed Bag [3] on Capitol Hill offers cute cage décor for your furry home dweller. Snak Shak's tropical huts ($25), stump-shaped bowls ($5) and adorable little couches ($19) are made from alfalfa and honey. These edible furnishings act as digestive aids for your small munchers, keeping your rabbit, guinea pig or chinchilla a happy and healthy homebody.
Inu Treats
You've seen dry food snubbed frequently enough to know that your pet has a discriminating palate. Inu Treats [4] ($7), made nearby in Tukwila, are Asian-inspired cat and dog snacks made with human ingredients, and without corn, soy or wheat products, which are common allergens. Available at Urban Beast [4], the Paw Sticker cat treats and Nori Bone and Poochi Mochi dog snacks are even handmade to resemble Asian delights. They're sure to be a hit with four-legged foodies.
Pet Candy catnip
Stuff your kitty's stocking with colorful catnip confections in a variety of sizes and shapes from Belltown Feed & Seed [4]. Seattle's own Pet Candy [5] makes cat candies filled with farm-grown catnip ($1-$8). Each one is done in bright fabrics that resemble gift wrap, and some have feathered tails that are sure to catch your kitty's eye.
Dog and cat spa products
You won't be the only one who comes out smelling like a rose when you give these pet spa products. Three Dog Bakery [5] has spa gift sets ($22) for dogs and cats that include four bottles of treatments, such as Fur Breeze Aromatic Mist, Flea the Scene Insect Spray, Pretty Kitty Instant Clean Spray and Dog Smog Breath and Digestive Remedy. Everyone should look and feel their best this holiday season, so begone, hairballs and lackluster fur!
Sweet Harvest bird snacks
Polly may be asking for a cracker, but what she really wants is Sweet Harvest's yummy bird snacks, available at Belltown Feed & Seed [5] and The Feed Bag [5]. Pumpkin seeds, chili peppers, dried fruit and nut mixes ($4-$5) make the perfect party gift for your fowl. Not only will you enliven your feathered friend's diet, you'll give her feathers a healthy sheen.
Portable dog dishes
You're always on the go, which means your best friend is, too. Sierra Dog Supply makes compact, practical, portable bowls for your daily or protracted excursions. The built-in drawstring pouch lets you carry and serve food in the same compartment. And once you've arrived at your destination, the bowl's waterproof material lets your pooch wet his whistle. Available at The Feed Bag [5], the bowls come in two sizes ($7-$9) and are decorated with flowers, skulls and crossbones, or a highway sign for your favorite traveling companion.
Bite Meez dog puppets
For the dog with attitude, a ferocious hand puppet makes the perfect sparring partner. Charming canvas and fleece hand puppets from Bite Meez ($13), also available at Three Dog Bakery [5], are tough enough to take a beating, but so delightfully constructed -- as pink poodles, giraffes, crocodiles, cats and hippos -- you may find yourself siding against your pup. Dogs love these interactive toys, and owners get in on the action without suffering playful war wounds.
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