For someone who just adopted a puppy or kitten, the best gift is one they will use in the first week: a bed or hiding spots, safe toys, a brush, a second litter box, or money toward a training class. And if you were thinking of giving the animal itself as a surprise, shelters such as the SPA de l'Estrie advise against it: it is a commitment of many years that the person has to choose for themselves.
Updated October 7, 2026. Québec sources read on that date and linked in the text.
Why not to give a pet as a gift (especially at Christmas)
The SPA de l'Estrie shelter puts it plainly: a pet "is a long-term responsibility and should not be given on a whim" (in French, our translation). It points to allergies, the person's lifestyle and the costs (food, vet care, supplies). According to the 2026 cost sheets of the Association des médecins vétérinaires du Québec (AMVQ), a puppy's first year can cost up to $2,778 (small breed) or $3,943 (large breed) before tax, and a kitten's up to $2,237 (indoor cat).
If you really want to help someone adopt, talk about it first, then offer to go to the shelter with them or to chip in for the first costs. They choose the animal and the timing.
Gifts that actually help
| Gift | For | Why it helps |
|---|---|---|
| Hiding spots and a cat tree (box, basket, tree) | Kitten | The Montreal SPCA recommends hiding spots in the arrival room, ideally up high (welcome protocol, in French). |
| A second litter box (uncovered) | Kitten | The Montreal SPCA advises two boxes in different places: it can prevent a lot of house-soiling problems. |
| A chew or stuffable toy (Kong type) | Puppy | Useful to teach the puppy to stay alone in another room, a step the Montreal SPCA recommends. |
| Training treats (made for puppies) | Puppy | During socialization, the SPCA suggests a treat every time the puppy discovers something new. |
| Brush and nail clippers | Both | Part of the "basic supplies" listed by the AMVQ. |
| Harness and leash | Both | Also in the AMVQ's basic supplies; it estimates the whole set (bowls, brush, crate, etc.) at $365 to $470 for a puppy and $325 for a kitten (2026 sheets). |
| Cushion or blanket | Both | Among the gift ideas from the Montreal SPCA shop, along with puzzle bowls and water fountains for cats. |
| Part of a training class | Puppy | The AMVQ estimates one class at $340 before tax: a contribution really helps. |
| The city licence or tag | Puppy (kitten depending on the city) | A practical, unusual gift: it is mandatory and has to be done quickly (see below). |
| Your time | Both | Pet-sit for an evening, do a midday potty break: at 2 months, a puppy needs about one outing an hour, according to the Montreal SPCA. |
Before buying big items (crate, bed, cat tree), ask what the person already has, to avoid duplicates.
Printable checklist: the first week
Based on the Montreal SPCA's welcome protocol and the AMVQ cost sheets. Tick what is missing, then pick your gift from what is left.
Kitten
- ☐ A quiet room for the first days
- ☐ Two uncovered litter boxes in different places, and litter
- ☐ A water bowl away from the litter
- ☐ A feeding spot
- ☐ Hiding spots: box, basket or cat tree (up high is a plus)
- ☐ Toys and a familiar object
- ☐ Brush, nail clippers, harness
- ☐ No access to dangerous hiding places (behind an appliance, for example)
Puppy
- ☐ Harness, leash and tag
- ☐ Bowls, a crate or a spot of their own
- ☐ Chew toys to learn to stay alone
- ☐ Small treats to reward each new discovery
- ☐ Brush and nail clippers
- ☐ A potty schedule: about 1 outing an hour at 2 months, 1 every 3 hours at 3 months
- ☐ The first vet appointment
What is mandatory in Québec (and can become a gift)
- Register a dog within 30 days. Québec's provincial dog regulation requires owners to register a dog with their municipality within 30 days of getting it (or of the day it turns 3 months old), and the dog must wear its tag at all times (CQLR, c. P-38.002, r. 1, s. 16 and 19, in French).
- Québec City: $39 a year for a dog and $13 for a cat, taxes included; registration is mandatory for both (Ville de Québec, in French). Cats must also be spayed or neutered and microchipped; the City offers microchipping for $38, registration included.
- Lévis: dog tag $44, sold by the SPA de Lévis; the dog wears it at all times (Ville de Lévis, in French). Maximum of three cats per dwelling.
- Montréal: cat permit $13.60; after 6 months, proof of microchipping and sterilization (Ville de Montréal).
Elsewhere, check your municipality's website: fees and rules vary from one city to the next.
Gifts to avoid
- A bouquet of lilies for someone with a cat: the whole plant is toxic, even the pollen or the vase water, and can cause fatal kidney failure in less than 3 days (FDA).
- Homemade treats meant for people: xylitol (in gum, candy and baked goods), chocolate, coffee and grapes are dangerous for pets, according to the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center.
- Bones to chew: the ASPCA warns of injuries and blockages that can require surgery.
- A surprise pet: see above.
Later: the adoption anniversary
Some families celebrate the day their pet came home, often called "Gotcha Day" (Dictionary.com). Note the date now: it is a lovely gift occasion a year from now, once the pet has grown and its personality has settled. For ideas, see our guides for dog lovers and for cat lovers, or cat lover gifts made in Canada.
This guide is published by Chibiyo, a small shop in Québec (pre-launch). For that first adoption anniversary, once the pet is grown and its features are set, we make 3D chibi figurines of the pet from a photo of its face: $89 CAD, shipping included in Canada (founders' price: $79 for the first 100, until November 30 at the latest; regular price after that: $89). AI helps us draw the chibi version and build the 3D model. A person checks every model, and you approve the preview before printing.
FAQ
What do you give someone who just got a puppy?
A chew or stuffable toy, training treats, a harness, a brush, or money toward a training class (about $340 before tax according to the AMVQ). Ask first what they already have.
What do you give someone who just adopted a kitten?
Hiding spots or a cat tree, a second uncovered litter box, a water fountain, a brush or toys. The Montreal SPCA recommends two litter boxes and hiding spots up high.
Is it a good idea to give a pet for Christmas?
Not as a surprise. The SPA de l'Estrie reminds people that a pet is a long-term responsibility that should not be given on a whim. Talk with the person first and let them choose the animal and the timing.
How much does a puppy or kitten cost in the first year in Québec?
According to the AMVQ's 2026 cost sheets, up to $2,778 for a small-breed puppy and $3,943 for a large breed, and up to $2,237 for an indoor kitten, before tax.
Do you have to register a new puppy in Québec?
Yes. The provincial regulation requires owners to register a dog with their municipality within 30 days of getting it, or of the day it turns 3 months old, and the dog must wear its tag. Some cities, such as Québec City, also require cats to be registered.