More Pets to Receive Gifts This Holiday Season

Christmas could prove to be a holiday bonanza for cats and dogs across the U.S.

The poll found that six in 10 of those who own only dogs planned on shopping for their pet for the holidays. Forty percent of those with only cats planned to pet shop.

An Associated Press-Petside.com poll suggests 52 percent of pet owners plan to buy their animals a holiday gift -- up from 43 percent last year. The bounce in pet gifts is expected despite the fact that fully 93 percent of Americans say they'll spend less overall or about the same as last year, according to a separate Associated Press-GfK poll.

Jessica Douglas, a spokeswoman for the PetSmart pet supply store chain, says plush holiday-themed toys are very popular, as are candy cane-shaped rawhide chews. Gifts shaped like bones are also in the mix.

Source: ap