# Do you buy your pets Christmas presents? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 15, 2009, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-buy-your-pets-christmas-presents/521419 "2009-12-15T23:47:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Cat\_Fight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/90ced4/32.png) [@Cat\_Fight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Fight)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2009, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-buy-your-pets-christmas-presents/521419/41 "2009-12-17T19:02:57Z")
> [@elfkin477](#): > > I used to buy my dog suet and a special treat for my ferret every Christmas. Dogs can eat suet? Like the kind for birds or something else? My pup doesn’t deserve a damned thing, the little terror, but I’m curious nonetheless (and sorry for your loss). ---
**Author:** ![schnuckiputzi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecb155/32.png) [@schnuckiputzi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/schnuckiputzi)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2009, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-buy-your-pets-christmas-presents/521419/42 "2009-12-18T21:06:06Z")
The dogs have their own stocking, which will be stuffed with rawhide bones and stuffed animals. The cat will sit on the sidelines disdaining all toys and snacks. She won’t even eat canned cat food. Only one kind of dry cat food. She’s a killjoy. ---
**Author:** ![Palo\_Verde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/65b543/32.png) [@Palo\_Verde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Palo_Verde)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2009, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-buy-your-pets-christmas-presents/521419/43 "2009-12-18T21:19:03Z")
I have 2 cats and one dog. They have no idea it’s Christmas and so I see no point in getting them anything. My kids will give them an extra milk bone, but that’s it. ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2009, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-buy-your-pets-christmas-presents/521419/44 "2009-12-19T00:07:16Z")
The cays need a new toy (mousies, mostly) so they will leave us alone while we open our gifts. Cats pouncing on wrapping paper is only cute the first 300 times. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2009, 11:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-buy-your-pets-christmas-presents/521419/45 "2009-12-19T11:44:24Z")
I generally don’t, as I hardly ever have money, but my sister does. She actually asked our dachshund whether he wanted a Christmas gift this year, and he nodded his head and started wagging his tail. When she asked, “Would it be okay if we just wrap your Christmas gifts from last year?” he started growling at her. He’s definitely spoiled. ---
**Author:** ![Vambo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/6de8d8/32.png) [@Vambo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vambo)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2009, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-buy-your-pets-christmas-presents/521419/46 "2009-12-19T14:12:49Z")
I wonder if this will ever be used as evidence that I am indeed nuts? Of course we do and we make a bit of a scene over it. Like those jerks who spoil their kids rotten, hypocritically we do the same for the pets in our house. In my own defense though, our dog and two cats have never once asked to “borrow” money, the car, our clothes, called from the police station asking for bail, drank all our booze nor left their smelly laundry in the kitchen for us to take care of. They never said they hate us for not giving in to their wishes, argued with us about their rights nor whined because other pet owners are way cooler than we are. It may be crazy but it sure feels right. ---
**Author:** ![Campion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4491bb/32.png) [@Campion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Campion)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2009, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-buy-your-pets-christmas-presents/521419/47 "2009-12-19T16:11:28Z")
I don’t usually, because I’ve figured out that not only can they not tell time, they don’t know times of the year. So Christmas is, to them, just another day I don’t go to work. But this year I got a tree, and it looks kind of sad without presents underneath. So I picked up a couple toys at the pet store this week, and I’ll wrap those and put them under the tree. It amuses me, and the animals don’t care, so it’s all good. ---
**Author:** ![rhubarbarin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/eb9ed0/32.png) [@rhubarbarin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rhubarbarin)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2009, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-buy-your-pets-christmas-presents/521419/48 "2009-12-20T03:29:09Z")
I don’t. I do buy my pets a lot of shit. New scratchers, cat trees, I replace their beds every so often, different kinds of meat, chews for the dogs. But not for holidays. ---
**Author:** ![congodwarf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e36b37/32.png) [@congodwarf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/congodwarf)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2009, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-buy-your-pets-christmas-presents/521419/49 "2009-12-20T21:00:23Z")
Well I have a fish. I don’t think he wants a present. I did buy presents for my sister’s cat though. I got him some treats and a toy. ---
**Author:** ![Two\_Many\_Cats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8dc957/32.png) [@Two\_Many\_Cats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_Many_Cats)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2009, 6:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-buy-your-pets-christmas-presents/521419/50 "2009-12-21T06:35:00Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > Like me, my cats are atheists. But I don’t have the heart to deprive them of Christmas presents. If your cats are atheists, do they not believe in themselves? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2009, 7:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-buy-your-pets-christmas-presents/521419/51 "2009-12-21T07:13:12Z")
Well, as guinea pigs, they’re pretty well unaware of the passing of seasons. Their underaged human servants, however, think everyone should celebrate Chrismahanukwanzukah. So while at PetSmart last fall, I bought them a couple of chew things that looked like furniture. And we’ve gotten them new ones for this year also. ---
**Author:** ![Gala\_Matrix\_Fire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/4da419/32.png) [@Gala\_Matrix\_Fire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gala_Matrix_Fire)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2009, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-buy-your-pets-christmas-presents/521419/52 "2009-12-21T15:24:16Z")
I’ve bought them presents other years, but not this year. They’ve never been unduly impressed, plus they get everything they could want all year long. ---
**Author:** ![troub](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troub/32/14802_2.png) [@troub](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/troub)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2009, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-buy-your-pets-christmas-presents/521419/53 "2009-12-21T16:15:38Z")
Every year my dog gets a giant (something like 24") rawhide bone. When he was a pup, it lasted about a week. Nowadays, it lasts almost all year (he mostly just carries it around proudly). By the next Christmas it’s looking pretty gross, so it gets replaced. The cats get catnip and little fuzzy/jingly things, feathers on string teasers, etc. ---
**Author:** ![palindromemordnilap](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/db5fbb/32.png) [@palindromemordnilap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/palindromemordnilap)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2009, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-buy-your-pets-christmas-presents/521419/54 "2009-12-21T16:55:11Z")
I used to get my cats gifts, but most of them have not been visibly aware of the holiday season. My current cat does not play with toys and he gets treats on a daily basis and catnip often enough that there is no gift I can give him that is worth the trouble of wrapping. ---
**Author:** ![Hazle\_Weatherfield](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Hazle\_Weatherfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hazle_Weatherfield)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2009, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-buy-your-pets-christmas-presents/521419/55 "2009-12-21T17:47:55Z")
Scout, the parakeet, gets an Xmas “mitten.” It will usually contain millet and some ribbon. This is mostly for the entertainment of my niece (5) and nephew (3), but, I have to admit, I’d probably do it anyway! He’s quite interactive and plays with his toys and his people a lot. Says quite a few things, as well. He likes to be in on everything! ---
**Author:** ![MadTheSwine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MadTheSwine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MadTheSwine)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2009, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-buy-your-pets-christmas-presents/521419/56 "2009-12-21T18:29:43Z")
> [@tygre](#): > > I love my cats and buy them toys and treats often, but cats(and dogs) don’t know it’s Christmas!! > > /rant off Mebbe not,but my cat knows something special is going on when we all sit at the big table at my parents house.He sits and waits for his dinner. I always buy him a can of food that matches the meal we are eating.(plus he loves sweet potatos, so he always gets some of mine.) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-buy-your-pets-christmas-presents/521419.md?page=2)