Gifts for Dog Owners and Cat Owners That Make Pet Care Easier

Good gifts for dog owners and cat owners solve a small daily annoyance: muddy paws at the door, fur on the couch, a pet who finishes dinner in seconds. People with pets rarely buy these tools for themselves, which is exactly why they make thoughtful gifts.

Every pick below is something the owner uses, not just the pet, and most cost under $30. We list sizes and colors so you can match the gift to the animal. Shipping is free on every US order, and you can return any item within 30 days.

• The dog paw cleaner cup (from $23.99) is lined with soft silicone bristles. Add a little water, dip a muddy paw in, and the bristles loosen the dirt before it reaches the floor. The inside comes apart for washing. It comes in Small or Large, in Green, Grey or Pink; pick Large for bigger dogs.
• A lick mat with suction cups ($27.99) sticks to the tub, a tile wall or the floor. Spread a soft treat on it and it keeps a dog busy through bath time. It comes in Green, Orange, Blue or Clear.
• The 3-in-1 dog travel bottle (from $32.99) carries water, has a built-in bowl and stores poop bags, so walks and road trips take one less thing to hold. Choose about 10 oz (300 ml) or about 17 oz (500 ml), in Blue, Pink or Green.
• A slow feeder bowl ($23.99) has ridges that slow down fast eaters so mealtime lasts longer. It comes in Green, Pink or Orange.

• The auto rolling cat ball ($19.99) rolls, turns and bounces off walls on its own. In auto mode, a pat wakes it up. It's rechargeable, wrapped in soft silicone, and comes in Sapphire Blue, Orange Red or Emerald Green.
• The pet grooming glove ($27.99) turns petting into brushing. Silicone strips on the palm collect loose fur as you stroke your cat, and the five-finger shape reaches the face, tail and legs. Flip your hand and the back of the glove lifts hair off the couch. It's a right-hand glove and works on dogs too.
• A fluffy donut pet bed (from $32.99) is a plush bed with raised edges for curling up. Size S is about 16 in (40 cm) across for pets up to about 5.5 lb (2.5 kg), M is about 24 in (60 cm) for pets up to about 16.5 lb (7.5 kg), and L is about 31 in (80 cm) for pets up to about 44 lb (20 kg). Colors are Coffee, Pink, Light Grey and Dark Grey.

Any home with a shedding pet has fur on the couch, the rug and the car seats. These tools deal with it.

• The self-cleaning slicker brush ($22.99) has stainless steel bristles with rounded tips and works on long or short coats, for dogs and cats. Press the button and the collected fur slides off the bristles, ready for the trash.
• The reusable pet hair remover ($27.99) lifts fur off couches and rugs without sticky sheets, so there's nothing to refill.
• For the car, the cordless car vacuum ($29.99) is rechargeable and picks up crumbs, sand and pet hair from seats and floor mats.

If you're filling stockings or buying for a coworker, sort by price first.

• Under $25: the auto rolling cat ball at $19.99, the slicker brush at $22.99, and the slow feeder bowl at $23.99. The paw cleaner cup starts at $23.99 too.
• $25 to $30: the grooming glove, the lick mat and the pet hair remover, each $27.99.
• A bigger gift: the travel bottle or the donut bed, both starting at $32.99.

• Check the pet's size first. The paw cleaner cup and donut bed come in sizes, and the travel bottle comes in two capacities.
• Match the gift to the chore the owner mentions most: mud, shedding, or a pet who eats too fast.
• Pair a small item with a larger one. The cat ball and the slicker brush together come to $42.98.
• Not sure about the color? Every order ships free in the US, and you can return it within 30 days.