Many people are surprised and delighted to receive animal themed gifts on a special occasion or for no reason at all. When selecting the perfect gift, you should keep in mind the age and interests of the recipient, as well as the type of animal that they like. Perhaps they would like a gift that resembles a pet or maybe they are fond of a certain type of item or everything that they can find with a certain animal theme. The items below represent some of the most popular purchased gift items for your consideration.
Stuffed Animals
Many people love (and even collect) stuffed animals, and the wide variety of styles and animal types make plush animals a gift choice worth considering for both adults and children. When choosing a stuffed animal as a gift, consider the gift recipient and his or her interest in animals and stuffed animals in particular. Is this the type of person who would enjoy a teddy bear (a classic choice for many occasions), someone who collects stuffed animals in general, or someone who may have an interest in a particular animal?
You may be surprised at the sheer number of stuffed animal choices that are available today in themes from animals that share our homes such as dogs and cats to wildlife. Many of these would make a delightful surprise as a gift.
Animal T-Shirts
Who doesn’t love a good tee, particularly in the theme of an animal that we love? Animal tee shirts can have funny messages or an image of a chosen animal and can range from cute to decorative. You can choose an animal that resembles a favorite pet or perhaps a wild animal.
After you have chosen a style that your gift recipient will love, be sure to consult the size chart when ordering online. Keep in mind that many people like to wear their animal t-shirts slightly on the large side, so it may be best to err on the side of the next size up if you are unsure of the exact size.
Animal Coasters for the Home and Car
An animal themed coaster is a gift that is decorative and can protect the furniture at the same time. Some are available individually, but most come in sets of 4 or 8 coasters. Some of the sets also come with a holder, which may be basic or may be animal themed as well. In addition to picking a great design, you will want to consider the absorbency of the coaster, which varies widely depending on the material. The higher quality ones often are stoneware with a cork backing to protect the furniture.
Coasters are also available in a smaller size to fit in an automobile. These car coasters can prevent liquid from accumulating in the cup holder.
Animal Jigsaw Puzzles
Animal jigsaw puzzles make fun gifts for both adults and children, especially during the winter months when an indoor activity is sometimes better. Jigsaw puzzles are suitable for just about any age, from young children to older adults.
When selecting a jigsaw puzzle as a gift, choose an image that will be of interest to the recipient. Some images are simple and some are very complex, and images will have a great effect on the difficulty level. Also, consider the size of the puzzle pieces and the number of pieces. Some puzzles for young children can have as few as 25 or 50 pieces, with large pieces for little hands to handle. Most puzzles come in 100, 250, 500, 1000, 1500, 2000, or for the more adventurous 2500 or 3000 pieces, which will also take varying amounts of time to put together.
Animal Mugs
Since coffee, tea and hot chocolate are popular drinks, animal themed mugs can be very practical and decorative gifts, especially as winter holiday gifts. There are hundreds of different choices, from the funny to the decorative. Many of these mugs have the licensed artwork of some of the most talented artists, creating detailed images of animals, and particularly dog breeds or wildlife. An animal mug gift will ensure that the recipient thinks of you with a smile whenever he or she enjoys a hot beverage. For cool beverages, consider animal themed travel mugs.
Animal Cookie Stamps or Cookie Cutters
If you have someone in your life who loves to bake, consider the gift of an animal themed cookie cutter or cookie stamp that will allow them to create unique cookies. Animal cookie cutters are shaped like the animal of choice and are frequently made of stainless steel or copper. Animal cookie stamps, on the other hand, have images that are pressed into regular-shaped cookies.
Making cookies can be a fun family activity, which children or grandchildren will remember their whole lives, and decorating the shaped cookies with icing is a treat unto itself!
Animal Jewelry
Isn’t it amazing that so many people choose to keep reminders of their favorite animals near in the form of a necklace, bracelet, ring, locket or other jewelry? Luckily, there is a huge variety of animal jewelry pieces available as gifts, and price ranges vary considerably from inexpensive to as much as you wish to spend.
Considerations when selecting animal jewelry as a gift include the age and interests of the recipient, the quality of the jewelry and the budget. Some ideas include purchasing a locket with an image of a favorite animal and putting a special picture inside. Animal rescuers or adopters might also enjoy a special piece of jewelry highlighting what they do.
Animal Figurines
Animal figurines can be whimsical or very realistic and can vary in size and complexity. Many people like figurines depicting their favorite breed of dog or maybe realistic wildlife figurines, if they love nature. Figurines can be made of a variety of materials, with the resin ones usually being the most realistic. If you are searching for a realistic one, be sure to look particularly at the eyes, since this is a huge part of whether the figurine looks quality or not.
Animal Night Lights
Animal night lights have a practical and decorative purpose and can make a great gift. Good night lights provide just that small bit of light to a room that is enough to see without being overpowering. Night lights vary considerably in quality and design, but a decorative design is certainly a center of attention when shining in the night. Night lights are a great addition to a baby nursery and are available in themes that frequently fit in with existing nursery decor, but the perhaps more mature designs of night lights are well-suited for adults of all ages as well.
Considerations when purchasing an animal nite light include the age and interest of the recipient, the quality of the light, and whether there is an automatic sensor that turns on the light when the room gets dark enough.
Animal Throws
Animal throws are sometimes very impressive in design, and allow the gift recipient to cover up in style on the couch when the air gets just a bit too chilly. Throws vary in construction and material and can be a solid piece of fabric or a woven design. Themes vary from pets to wildlife, and a pretty wildlife throw often fits in well with a nature-style decor.
Considerations when purchasing a throw for someone include the style of the recipient and the animals that interest them, the size of the throw, whether the throw is lightweight or heavier, and whether the design is vivid or more subtle.