When you look under the Christmas tree this December, don’t be surprised to see more than a little something wrapped up for your furry family. Whether naughty or nice, Canadian cats and dogs will be the lucky recipients of many holiday gifts this year. Rover.com, North American’s most extensive pet sitting and dog walking network, put out a survey among Canadians which found that over three-quarters of pet owners will be hitting the shops and buying all manner of presents for their pets this holiday season.
Cat vs. dog holiday gifting
Whether they’re Team Cat or Team Dog, Canadians from coast-to-coast plan on hitting the shops – the pet shops, that is. 67% of cat owners will be buying kitty gifts, while a whopping 80% of dog owners will be shopping for their canine companions. 47% of cat owners will spend more than $25 on gifts with 49% of cat owners plan to purchase two or more gifts. Not to be outdone, 61% of dog owners plan to buy multiple gifts, and 68% will be spending more than $25 per gift.
Lucky ducks. And cats. And dogs.
Respondents from Ontario, Manitoba, Alberta and BC all agree on one thing: their furry family matters. They’re not afraid to show it during the holidays. Most respondents in all four provinces said they are likely to spend anywhere between $25-$50 on pet gifts. Between 60-70% of people will be scouring for sales and bargains or coupons before committing to their gifts. And why not? Most people (83%) plan to purchase edible treats or toys that will likely disappear within minutes. Around a quarter of those polled admitted that their pets may actually receive more gifts than anyone else in the family. Talk about sibling rivalry!
Stocking stuffers
More than half of those surveyed have holiday stockings for their cats and dogs. This rings true across all provinces surveyed, with Alberta leading the pack.
Pet owners stuffing stockings this season:
Alberta: 68%
British Columbia: 59%
Ontario: 58%
Manitoba: 56%
Gift buyer demographics
Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, it seems like everyone will be pet present shopping. 54% of males will be grabbing gifts, and 58% of females. While the majority of age groups plan to buy multiple gifts, those ages 45-55 are the most likely to buy 2 or more gifts (66%).
Best bets for pets
Most pet parents will be sourcing gifts at pet stores this holiday season, with 69% heading to their local brick and mortar pet shops. Top gifts include pet beds, outfits, chew toys and stuffies. Feeding bowls and grooming products are also some of Santa’s favourites. New blingy collars and ID tags will have your cat and dog jingling all the way. And then, of course, there are the treats. Homemade or store-bought, doggy treats and cat snacks are great choices and far better for pets than any human leftovers. For cat gift inspiration check out Rover’s Holiday Gift Guide 2019: Gifts for Cats and for dog gift inspiration Rover’s Holiday Gift Guide 2019: Top Gifts for Dog Lovers.
It’s the most wonderful time of the year…to be a Canadian pet! Even though your dog or cat may not know it’s a holiday, no doubt they’ll be sure to enjoy whatever is waiting for them under the tree, even if it’s just the box.
Data: Rover.com survey of 1000 Canadian-based pet parents conducted via Pollfish, October 2019.