Give yourself a laugh. The new battery powered Fling-ama-String cat toy ($24.95, www.moodypet.com) hangs on a doorknob and pulls a string around on a sort of conveyor belt so that it disappears into the toy, then flops back out again and again. It's absurdly simple but cats react in a way that's entertaining for both of you. And for dogs, Moody Pet's Humunga Tongue ($12) is a ball with a long tongue sticking out - when a dog is carrying it around, the effect is hilarious.
Keep the chewing and scratching where it belongs. For dogs, a great natural chew treat is Sam's Yams "veggie rawhide." Made of dried American grown sweet potato - nothing else - it comes in two sizes of ripple-textured slices as well as the Bichon Fries sticks (starting at $4.99 for 5 oz., www.front porchpets.com).
Your cat can't have too many of those refillable corrugated cardboard scratching pads, available at pet stores and online pet suppliers for around $5.
Share a treat. Bubba Rose Biscuits (starting at $8.25, www.bubbarosebiscuit co.com), in flavors like "Roast Beef & Swiss" and "I Smell Bacon," are made with ingredients that sound like the contents of a human pantry - organic oat and brown rice flour, cheddar cheese, organic eggs. For dogs with allergy problems, note that they're wheat, corn, and soy free.
Feel good by helping others. Call your local shelter and see what donations they are looking for, or send them an online gift certificate at Petfinder.com (www.petfinder.com/awo/ e-gift.cgi).
