Don't Forget Fido: 7 Geeky Gift Ideas for Pets

Next week, to celebrate Christmas, many families will excitedly gather around the tree and a warm fireplace to exchange an abundance of gifts. But what about your pet, who's sitting there patiently as you unwrap gift after gift? Must they simply play with abandoned wrapping paper and empty boxes?

Rewrite that sad scene this year by making your pet the star of your Christmas gathering. What do you buy for your furry pride and joy? It can be tricky to know just what your pets want when they can only woof, meow, or caw.

Lucky for dog owners, Scandinavian designers are creating a device called No More Woof, which fastens to your pup's head to analyze his or her brainwaves and translate animal thoughts into human language. Soon enough, you might know exactly what's on Bella's list. Before your dog can start speaking her mind though, the designers need your help. They've created an Indiegogo campaign with the goal of raising $10,000; as of this writing, the project is almost 50 percent funded.

In the meantime, while you're left deciphering those purrs and growls, we've picked out some fetching presents that are sure to please your dogs, cats, and birds, and keep everyone entertained. One will bring you and your dog closer emotionally and another—a doggie doorbell—will bring you closer physically. Still another will keep her safe in case she frolics a little too far away. (For more tips on keeping tabs on your animals, read our guide on how to remotely monitor your pet.)

Happy holidays from PCMag!

1. Tagg the Pet Tracker

$99.95 plus $7.95/month after first 90 days
Protective pet owners will love this GPS-enabled device for accurately pinpointing their pet's whereabouts. Designate a home zone—a front yard or a whole neighborhood—and should Fido chase the mailman a few blocks too far, you'll receive a text or email alert immediately. An integrated accelerometer also monitors daily activity based on your best friend's breed—like a Nike+ FuelBand for your furry friend. PCMag awarded it four out of five stars, because it's "fun to use" and "an invaluable safety net."

2. Cat Scratch DJ

$29.99
Cats are all over YouTube, but their fame is generally derived from posing in front of mirrors or trying to squeeze in tiny boxes. Equip your cat with all he needs to become the next YouTube musical sensation when you gift him this turntable-shaped scratching mat. Add a few sprinkles of catnip and voilà, DJ Whiskaz is in the house!

3. Dognition

$19 for toolkit only; $79 for toolkit and yearly membership
Is your dog an Einstein or a Socialite? A Charmer or a Maverick? Don't know? Dognition will sort it out. Using an online questionnaire and five science-based games, you can discover your canine's cognitive style, helping you understand and connect with your companion in new ways. After all, "great relationships are built on more than bacon," the site reminds us. Once you learn your dog's learning style, Dognition can provide you with games and tips to help your pup prosper, and even refer you to behavior experts for training help.

4. Talk 'N Play Bird Toy

$8.99-$9.99
If Polly is too taciturn, this interactive toy will get her talking. She'll learn to press the four buttons to trigger lights and phrases like "Calling all birds!" and "I love you!" The unbreakable mirror is perfect for preening and it comes in two sizes: small for parakeets to conures and large for conures to Amazons.

5. Pet Chime Doorbell

$27.99
Let Buddy tell you when he wants to go outside or come back indoors by training him to use this doggie doorbell from Lentek Koolatron. Place the paw-shaped wireless transmitter by the door and when your dog steps on it, the receiver chimes, cueing you to open the door. Worried it's too late to teach your old dog new tricks? Follow the directions in the included training manual or watch how this guy trained his Goldendoodle to use it in about three weeks.

6. Games for Cats

Free
Brought to you by Friskies, these seven feline-friendly tablet games appeal to cats' curiosity with flashy colors and animated actions. Titles include CatFishing 2 (iOS, Android), Happy Wings (iOS, Android), and You vs. Cat (iOS, Android). But Friskies warns: "We've found that the alkali-aluminosilicate glass screen on the iPad stands up to our cat's claws with no problems, but please be aware that a cat's sharp claws could damage add-on plastic film 'screen protectors.'"

7. BarkBox

$29/month for 1 month; $24/month for 3 months; $19/month for 6 months
Show your pup some love all year round with this subscription service that sends a box of goodies to your dog's doorstep each month—like BirchBox, but for dogs. Simply specify your dog's size (Small & Cute, Just Right, or Big & Bold) and select a monthly plan to get started. Each box typically includes a curated mix of four to six toys, treats, and hygiene products, and best yet, 10 percent of BarkBox's proceeds benefit dogs in need.