Bogey's Favorite Things

Bogey spent the week with pencil in paw, working hard to come up with his list of favorite things. He did take time out to pose (sort of) for a picture. Please disregard the hand subtly working to prevent him from removing the Santa outfit. Said hand is now on brief medical leave after a few well-placed puncture wounds.

Despite the drama, we'd like to present Bogey's favorite things:

1. Feather teaser-You know the ones. They're attached by a string to a plastic wand. Whip the feathers around and watch your kitty turn into a tiger. Down, Simba, down!

2. Treats-Bogey adores kitty treats. He particularly favors the Friskies line of treats with a crunchy outside and soft middle. Apparently they are so yummy that he'll sit up and beg like a dog to get one.

3. Box-Any size, any shape, if there's an empty box, Bogey will climb inside. Even if the box is half his size he can somehow stuff his chubby self in. This obsessive box behavior looks a lot like Houdini in action, if Houdini had four paws and fur.

4. Grooming brush-I use a short-wired grooming brush on Bogey. Using the brush amps him up so high it's a good idea to run when done. There's nothing more dangerous than an ecstatic cat.

5. Water fountain-This is indeed the Holy Grail of Bogey favorites. Spoiled boy that he is, he wouldn't dream of drinking from a bowl. And if I so much as unplug his fountain for a few minutes to wash it, he carries on like someone just smashed his tail in a door. A water-loving cat? Welcome to my world.

We hope Indy's and Bogey's suggestions come in handy when finding a gift for your four-footed friend because time is running short. Can you believe there are only 18 more shopping days til Christmas?

Indy's Favorite Things

If Oprah can do it, so can we. Do what you ask? Why, talk about our favorite things, of course. So for your gift giving pleasure, Indy and Bogey are going to let you know what gifts put the pitter-patter in critter hearts.

First we have Indy's holiday picks.

1. A delectable delicious chewy bone. There are few things more delightful than gnawing on a flavored chew bone. Indy loves them all, from softer dental chewies to hard nylon bones such as those made by Nylabone. Nylabone lasts longer than any other chewy and Indy keeps a stash on hand at all times. Happy chewing!

2. Any plush toy with a concealed squeaker. Indy's older and a bit hard of hearing, but a loud high-pitched squeaky toy is still able to perk up his ears. Beware, though, if your dog is a squeak-removal expert. We certainly don't want you to spend Christmas in the emergency vet clinic.

3. Unlike Santa hats and mufflers, a soft comfy dog sweater is a clothing item Indy enjoys wearing. Find a sweater that is not too snug and not too loose. It will help keep old bones warm when the thermometer drops. If your dog has never worn a sweater before, let him/her slowly get used to having it on. You'll soon have a true canine fashionista on your hands.

4. Plush fleece-type bed topper. Indy has several beds throughout the house and insists on snuggling in fluffy layers of softness. Plush blankets are fairly inexpensive, but here's an even cheaper option. Go to the fabric store and buy a couple of yards of plush fleece material. Fold it and place on top of your pup's bed. No hemming needed. Ahhhhh. Now that's luxury!

5. A personalized bandana. Indy has several that range from a checkered flag pattern to snowmen to red-white-and blue. Each one has "Indy" embroidered in a contrasting color. You can find a ton of sizes, patterns, and colors at K9Design. We've ordered from them several times. They do good work and have always gotten the finished product to us FAST. What stylish dog wouldn't want a wardrobe of bandanas?

Okay, there you have it. Indy's top five favorite things. Bogey is now hard at work on his list. We'll share it with you next time.