Gifts for Cat Lovers and Dog Lovers That Feel Personal

Finding gifts for cat lovers and dog lovers is easy if you want a novelty mug. It's harder if you want something that feels personal, something that shows you've noticed how much that particular animal means to them.

This guide starts with nose print jewellery (it's what we make, so we'll be upfront about that), then moves on to plenty of good non-jewellery ideas for pet people in Australia, at different budgets.

Nose print jewellery: personal gifts for cat lovers and dog lovers

Every dog and cat has a nose print that belongs to them alone, a pattern of ridges as individual as a fingerprint. We hand-engrave that real print into a ring, bracelet or pendant, so the gift is about one specific animal, not pets in general.

• Dog nose print ring: from A$259 in silver-plated copper, or A$359 (open, adjustable) and A$399 (closed, made to your measurement) in platinum-plated 925 silver.
• Cat nose print ring: A$359 open or A$399 closed, both in platinum-plated 925 silver.
• Nose print bracelet: A$339 in 925 silver or platinum-plated silver, for a dog or a cat.
• Nose print pendant: A$339 single-sided, or A$369 double-sided with a name or short text on the back. The chain isn't included.

Every piece arrives in a solid walnut keepsake box with a polishing cloth and a card. Prices include GST, and shipping within Australia is free and tracked.

Order early

Each piece is made to order, so allow about 4–5 weeks from when you approve your details to delivery. That matters for gift dates:

• Christmas: aim to order by late October or early November.
• Mother's Day (the second Sunday in May in Australia): order by early April. Dog mum gifts and cat mum gifts don't get much more personal than this.
• Birthdays and anniversaries: count back at least five weeks, plus a few days to get the photo.

If a date is tight, email us before you order and we'll tell you honestly whether we can make it. Our shipping and delivery page has the full breakdown.

Keeping it a surprise

You'll need a clear photo of the pet's nose. If you live with the pet, take one during a daylight nap. If not, ask a housemate or family member, or take one yourself next time you visit (most dogs will pose for a treat). Our guide to taking a nose print photo covers what works. You can also order now and email the photo later.

Not sure of their ring size? The open rings are adjustable (46–65 mm inner circumference for the dog ring, 46–62 mm for the cat ring), or choose a pendant, which needs no sizing at all. Because every piece is custom-made, we can't exchange for a different size, so if you're guessing, the open ring or a pendant is the safer choice. If you go with a pendant, pair it with a chain.

Gifts for dog lovers and dog owners

A quality lead, harness or bed

These are things dog owners use every day but rarely upgrade for themselves. A well-made leather lead, or a supportive bed for an older dog, is a practical and thoughtful choice. Check the dog's size first, and keep the receipt; plenty of dogs have strong opinions about beds.

A day trip to a dog-friendly beach

Australia has plenty of off-leash beaches. Plan a day out together, pack towels and a thermos, and check the local council rules before you go, since many beaches restrict dogs in summer or at certain times of day.

A pet-sitting or dog-walking voucher

Homemade counts. Offer a weekend of pet-sitting so they can get away, or a week of walks during a busy stretch at work. For many dog owners, reliable care is the gift they'd actually choose.

A professional pet photo session

Most people have hundreds of blurry phone photos of their dog and hardly any good ones of the two of them together. A session with a pet photographer fixes that.

Gifts for cat lovers

A window perch or cat tree

Cats love a view, and cat owners love watching them enjoy it. A sturdy window perch or a well-built cat tree is a gift for both of them. Choose something solid, as wobbly towers tend to be ignored.

Enrichment toys and puzzle feeders

Especially good for indoor cats. A few puzzle feeders and a wand toy can make a real difference to a bored cat, and to the furniture.

Help with a catio

Many Australian cat owners keep their cats indoors or contained. A voucher for materials, or a weekend spent helping build a simple catio, is generous and genuinely useful.

Gifts for any pet person

A custom pet portrait

Commission a local artist or illustrator. Styles range from watercolour to minimal line drawings. Allow plenty of time and send several clear photos.

A photo calendar or photo book

Twelve months of their pet on the kitchen wall. Affordable, easy to make, and always used.

A donation to a rescue in the pet's name

If they adopted their pet, a donation to that rescue is a meaningful way to say thanks. Some rescues send a card or certificate you can pass on.

A handwritten note about their pet

It sounds too small to count. It isn't. Tell them something specific you love about their animal and tuck it in with any gift above.

Dog lover gifts in Australia by budget

Prices vary a lot, but as a rough guide:

• Under A$50: a photo calendar, enrichment toys, or a handwritten note with a homemade pet-sitting voucher.
• A$50–A$200: a quality lead or bed, a window perch, a donation, or a beach day out.
• A$200 and up: a custom portrait, a professional photo session, or nose print jewellery.

If you'd like a gift that carries one very specific nose, browse our nose print jewellery, and give yourself about five weeks to get it there in time.

Shopping for a cat person? Our cat nose print jewellery page has tips for photographing even the least cooperative cat.