If you’re shopping for gifts for kids who love animals, you’ve come to the right place! We’ve rounded up some really cool gift ideas that are perfect for birthdays, Christmas, and every ocassion in between.
All three of the writers here at Thrifty Nifty Mommy have kids who are animal lovers. Truly, they all just LOVE animals of all kinds!

Our kids love to visit the zoo and often play with animal toys at our house. My family has 1 dog, 3 cats, 3 hermit crabs, and fish, with plans to add some chickens in the spring. Miranda’s family actually lives on a farm so they have dairy cows, calves, chickens, cats, dogs, and even used to have some ponies and horses in the past. Holly’s kiddos get to love on their menagerie of cats and dogs too. We all just love our pets so much.

I know that lots of other children love animals too, so today I wanted to share a list of the BEST gifts for kids who love animals.

Gift Ideas For Kids Who Love Animals
Looking for some general gift ideas to consider for kids who love animals? Here are my favorites:
- Stuffed Animals (Plush animals)
- Animal-Themed Craft Kits
- Animal-Themed Play Sets
- Veterinary Role Play Set
- Clothes Featuring Animals
- Accessories Featuring Animals
- Gifts That Donate to Animals
Check Out These Click To Shop Specific Gift Ideas Too!
The BEST Gifts for Kids Who Love Animals
We've searched the web and compiled a list of the BEST gifts for kids who love animals!
These are items that my animal-loving kids have really enjoyed over the years, so I think yours will too!
Melissa and Doug Animal Care Veterinarian & Groomer Wooden Activity Center
Looking for that "WOW" gift? Any child who loves animals will LOVE this wooden activity center. Kids will have hours of role-play fun pretending to be a veterinarian and groomer with their stuffed animals!
My kids have this set and have played with it so much!
Sloth Warmies
Have you heard of Warmies? These adorable animals are actually weighted! They are designed to aid in sleep and comfort and even feature a light lavender scent.
My kids love theirs! And I like how they can be chilled in the freezer or warmed in the microwave, depending on what my kiddos' needs are.
Discount:Use the code "NIFTY15" to save on your order today!
Goats' Day Out Game
Goats are actually a pretty popular pet in the country so having a game featuring these beloved animals is sure to be a hit with a lot of people I know.
Start by choosing from 5 hillarious goat boards and then pick the shapes that will best fill your goat's belly. Strategically place those shapes and score bonuses as you work to help the loose goats eat everything in sight!
This is a game of strategy that's geared for ages 8 and up.
Pix Brix African Elephant
We're planning a trip to the Minnesota Zoo soon in hopes of seeing an elephant so this brix set looked like a fun way to surprise the kids about the upcoming trip.
Kids can activate their building power along with their love of animals with the fun Pix Brix building sets. Pix Brix are designed to allow users to create 2D pixel art and 3D builds with only one unique patented piece design.
These building sets are geared for ages 6 and up and are fun, safe, re-usable, and compatible with other brick brands and sets.
Seek & Hide Sardines -Hide as a Group with a Singing, Wriggling Fish
One of our favorite family games is hide and seek. A really fun twist is called Sardines! Well, now it's even easier and funnier to play thanks to Starlux Games Seek And Hide Sardines.
Saraphina, the singing fish is the WORST sardines teammate as she'll intermittently burst into song and must be silenced before giving away the hiding spot. It's a race against the fish!
Bears! Dice Game
We're a huge game playing family and dice games are a favorite because they tend to offer fast paced fun. After checking out this Bears! dice game, I'm thrilled with how quick and easy it is to learn and play.
For any competitive family, check out this fast-playing game where you score points by pairing dice. Shoot bears and run from tents for a few points, or take a risk and score big by sleeping through the attack. But watch out. If bears are left at the end of the round, your sleeping campers are done for.
Bears! Trail Mix Expansion Pack
Once you've mastered the original Bears! dice game play, grab this expansion pack for even more fun.
Before each round of Bears!, roll the expansion die and discover what new rule is in effect. This switch keeps you on your toes and thinking fast.
Butterfly Bash - Sleepover Bag
I'm obsessed with this sleepover duffle bag! Not only does it feature a beautiful, colorful butterfly pattern, it packs SMALL making it perfect for travel!
Fully opened, it's a generous 18" x 10" x 10", which means it's great for sleepovers and weekend travels.
The premium, high quality zipper is easy to open and close and the kids also love the phone pocket where they store their Gabb phone. (If you're looking for a safe phone for kids, check out my full Gabb review.)
Playmobil Wiltopia: Tropical Jungle Playground
My kids LOVE Playmobil! In fact, everyone from my youngest to the oldest will play together when they are playing Playmobil.
Playmobil has so many cool sets to choose from, but for animal-loving kids, I'd definitely recommend the new Wiltopia: Tropical Jungle Playground.
Wiltopia is Playmobil's first eco-friendly product line consisting of, on average, more than 80% sustainable materials.
This fun set contains a variety of animals including monkeys, an alligator, a parrot, and more!
Skipper the Clownfish Plushie
Animal lovers will be delighted with the adorable plushies from Moosh Moosh! They are so soft and cuddly and available in so many fun animals, like this cute little clownfish.
You can also find a large variety like a deer, octopus, crab, leopard, sloth, and so many more!
Save The Herd: Kiki + Tembo + Baby Chaba Bundle — The Elephant Project
Any child who loves animals is sure to love this gift! Not only are they getting an adorable stuffed elephant, but you can also tell them that when you purchase one of these adorable stuffed elephants, 100% of net proceeds go to various organizations that help aid in fighting the poaching crisis and also provide care to injured, abandoned, orphaned, and abused elephants!
Kiki is an 8" stuffed elephant doll made out of soft grey fabric and a beautiful pink dress. Tembo, meaning 'elephant' in Swahili, is an 8" stuffed elephant doll made out of soft grey fabric and green overalls. Chaba is the newest addition to the herd.
You can purchase these adorable elephants individually or as a group.
Veterinarian Starter Kit | KiwiCo
Animal lovers will love this fun veterinary kit from KiwiCo! Kids can check up on a favorite stuffed animal with a stethoscope, syringe, and other handy vet tools.
They'll also be able to explore animal anatomy by assembling organ and muscle systems.
Play a "find the fracture" game using an x-ray lightbox and a set of animal cards. Kids will even learn to read cat and dog body language, and how vets understand animals when they can't talk. (It's ruff, but possible!)
Bird Bingo
Bird Bingo is a fun, family friendly, educational classic that everyone enjoys playing. Whether you're a serious birder or just a casual fan of birds, this game is a delight!
Each picture card comes complete with an entertaining, scientific description of a real live bird.
Younger children love the colorful pictures; older children like the challenge of racing to get bingo; and everyone learns something!
Dogs and Cats Pet Print Color Changing Umbrella
This fun umbrella will have children wanting it to rain! Not just an ordinary umbrella, this one can do magic! When it gets wet, the cats and dogs come alive by changing from neutral colors to bright colors. Soon they'll be jumping in mud puddles and singing in the rain!
VIP Pets Cats
Cat-loving little girls are going to love this unique toy from VIP Pets!
Meet the VIP Pets Cats, they just arrived to Glam City! They're a collection of 6 fashionable neon cats with super long hair! Their hairstyles and face decorations glow in the dark! They come in a new shampoo pack that looks like a cat and includes a UV flashlight!
Press the button on the vessel and you will have a glowy reveal of your surprise character! Each doll includes 10 different surprises to unbox and 8 exclusive accessories to create a neon hairstyle! The vessel is also a playset with an included salon chair to make styling even easier!
Recommended for girls and boys 3+ to have fun brushing and styling hair. Kids can recreate their favorite scenes from the series or create their own adventures!
Set of 4 Realistic Kitty Cat Pets for 18 Inch Dolls
These adorable kitties are the next best thing to a real pet! Perfectly sized for play with 18" dolls (or you can play with the cats alone too).
Features Include:- This adorably realistic set of 4 different kitty cats is the perfect gift for any kitten lover!
- Each kitty measures 5.25"L x"5.25 H x 2.5"W. Sized perfectly for 18" dolls.
- Set includes a white, long haired kitty, a gray Maine coon cat, Siamese cat and a tabby cat.
- Individually packaged in a kennel-shaped box with handle.
Use the code "NIFTY" at checkout to receive 10% off your order!

Foothill Toy Co. Matchbox Mice & Friends
This may just be one of the cutest animal stuffie toys I've seen this year! Foothill Toy Co. has created a number of small, adorable mice and other animals friends who live in boxes. Each comes with a small stuffed animal wearing a soft fabric outfit, themed accessories, as well as a matching miniature blanket and pillow that nestle neatly inside the sturdy storage box.
The mouse shown here is Scout The Camp Mouse who sleeps in a Graham Cracker Box Bed. Packaged in a beautiful, reusable box, Scout is wearing a soft camping-themed fabric outfit, a removable backpack, roll-up sleeping bag, and a plush marshmallow on a stick ready for making s’mores.
These are perfect as stand-alone gifts or stocking stuffers for kids who love animals! My own kids have a few of these and love them!
Melissa & Doug Veterinarian Role-Play Costume Set
Kids who love animals will love being able to dress up as a veterinarian and take care of their plush friends!
Your child will have everything she needs to take care of all of her stuffed animals with this fun set!

Easy and Fun Paint Magic with Water: Animals - Paintbrush Included
Your animal lover is going to love this paint with water book! Using the provided paintbrush, simply wet with water and watch the colors magically appear on each black-and-white animal illustration. You'll find kangaroos, monkeys, elephants, alligators, and more!

Chompin' Charlie Game by Goliath
Help store up nuts for winter! Roll the dice, then feed Charlie the matching colored acorn. Watch his eyelids - when they reach the top, he's ready to pop! Grab the acorns that scatter from Charlie's tree as fast as you can to fill your stash to win!
My kids have this game and its' been well-loved, especially among my preschool-aged kids!
Klutz: Wild About Horses Activity Kit
Calling all horse lovers! If you can't have a real pet horse, here's the next-best thing. Give them a Wild About Horses Book & Activity Kit!
Now she can learn all the essentials of caring, loving, and riding horses with her very own model horse.
From what they eat to how they sleep, the included photo-filled book covers everything a budding horse-lover would ever want to know about their favorite animal.
Then, test your new knowledge and skills by crafting a cozy blanket and tiny tack from faux leather.
Featuring simple projects and lots of learning, this kit is sure to be a hit!

Bright Stripes LED Candle Critters
The Candle Critter kits from Bright Stripes include a high-quality ceramic animal, LED tea light, 3 ceramic markers, and instructions all packaged in an adorable cottage-style box.
Candle Critters make a perfect night light or end table light as well as a home decor or classroom decor piece.
There are a variety of different animals available including this bunny, a fox, a turtle, and more!

Lottie Pony Pals Doll with Horse
Move over Barbie - Lottie Dolls are the next big thing! Based on the average proportions of a nine-year-old child rather than those of an adult woman, Lottie Dolls celebrate childhood and promote the empowerment of children by encouraging kids in how they look right now.
This Lottie Doll and horse set comes complete with horse-riding gear: jacket, pants, boots, shirt, tie & helmet. Any animal-loving girl will love this set!
Veterinarian Horse Activity Set
Aspiring veterinarians are now able to get hands-on experience caring for – and cuddling! – an adorable plush horse with this interactive Veterinarian Horse Activity Set!
Little horse lovers can adopt the plush horse, then complete activities including:
- conducting a mane to tail exam using a working stethoscope
- caring for a wound
- and more
- eventually they can even earn a diploma!
Adorable giftset includes a premium plush horse with adoption certificate, blanket and curry comb; real, working stethoscope; horse assessment form; English & Western riding activity: wound care activity; bones, sticker and organs sheet; horseshoe and bandage stickers; student ID badge; dry erase marker; and diploma.
- STEM-inspired play provides exposure to career in veterinary science
- Role-play activities can be conducted independently or with a parent or friend
- Kids can complete the activities again and again to hone their veterinary skills
- Encourages empathy, health awareness, imagination, creativity, and problem-solving
- Designed for children ages six and up

Back to the Roots Water Garden, Self-Cleaning Fish Tank
Give your animal-loving kid a self-cleaning fish tank that also doubles as a mini garden! Not only will they learn about animal care, but they will also learn about gardening. What a fun way to study science with them!
The Back to the Roots Water Garden Duo is an award-winning hydroponic and aquaponic ecosystem that makes the perfect gift, educational family project, or piece of living home decor.
This mini hydroponics ecosystem creates a sleek, low-maintenance, self-watering planter for growing luscious bamboo, succulents, and houseplants! You can customize the interior of the tank however you'd like and create a beautiful underwater scene. You may also choose to add fish into the tank so you can turn this scaled-down hydroponics into a functional aquaponic system.
Your Water Garden becomes a self-cleaning fish tank that also grows fresh food up top. The fish waste fertilizes the plants on top and the plants clean the water — so fewer water changes are required.
The Water Garden grows year-round and comes with EVERYTHING you need to get started —no green thumb or big backyard needed. It has a 3-gallon capacity.

Safari Colored Smencils
Give your animal-loving kid these awesome Safari Colored Smencils! They are perfect to tuck into his/her stocking at Christmas or give as a fun back-to-school item!
The Safari Colored Smencils includes 10 gourmet scented colored pencils from Scentco that are made from 100% recycled newspapers. Vibrant pre-sharpened colored pencils are ideal for coloring books, arts, crafts, activities, and more.
The scents are guaranteed to last for two years so your Smencils smell great every time you color, sketch, and draw.
This set comes with the following scents: Bubble Gum, Wild Cherry, Passion Fruit, Blueberry, Pineapple, Juicy Apple, Banana, Mango, Kiwi Fruit, and Blackberry
Playmobil Farmhouse with Outdoor Area
Another must-have Playmobil set for animal lovers is this Farmhouse with Outdoor Area! My kids have this set and play with it all the time.
It comes with a farmhouse (of course) plus a variety of animals including cows, cats, and even mice.
All new Playmobil farm world playsets are made from more than 80% sustainable materials so they are better for the environment too!
Face Paintoos
Let the kids BE the animals they love with this awesome Face Paintoos Kit from Play Monster.
Face Paintoos are a face paint revolution – temporary play tattoos that make the magic of face painting a fun and easy activity for everyone!
It’s easy to achieve perfect, long-lasting results every time, without the need for a professional face painter.
Each fun design is easily removed using the included wipes and they make a great addition to parties, dressing up, and role-play fun!
Li'l Woodzeez Honeysuckle Hillside Cottage
I've been a huge fan of the Li'l Woodzeez lineup for the past few years for 2 big reasons.
1. They are super affordable, especially compared to their main competitors.
2. They are well made and sturdy playsets. Compared to the top competitor, these are much better made and easier for younger children to play with, while still being appealing to older kids.
The Li'l Woodzeez Honeysuckle Hillside Cottage is a GREAT starter home for kids who are new to the Li'l Woodzeez lineup. The set includes a light, a swing and lots of furniture. Just pair it with an animal family and you're ready to place!
Animal-loving kids, especially girls, will love Li'l Woodzeez!
Li'l Woodzeez - Squirrel Family Set with Grandparents
The possibilities are endless when your kiddo plays with all the adorable figures included in this Li'l Woodzeez Squirrel Family with Grandparents Set.
It includes seven members of the Nicnacker squirrel family — grandma, grandpa, mom, dad, one child and two adorable little babies. I love the fact that this family unit incorporates grandparents!
With cute accents like glasses, dresses, a shirt with a tie and little diapers, this squirrel family playset is the perfect pick for any kiddo who loves furry critters and imaginative play.
Li'l Woodzeez Food Truck
You've got a house and a family - now you need an activity for them, and what's better than a food truck?!
The Li'l Woodzeez Honeysuckle Sweets & Treats Food Truck has all the treats that you need to satisfy your sweet tooth; order up for a chocolate ice cream on a strawberry ice cream cone with a cherry on top! You better not spoil your appetite with dessert though: The Li'l Woodzeez Honeysuckle Sweets & Treats Food Truck has all of your favorite lunchtime specialties, from pizza, to burritos, to burgers. Don't forget the ketchup and mustard with your fries!
This truck is really the perfect place to fill up on tasty dessert or satisfying Honeysuckle specialties. It's such a fun add-on to a Li'l Woodzeez collection!
Melissa & Doug Sea Life Friends Hand Puppets
My kids, from ages 3-9 all love to put on "shows" for each other and any adult who will sit and watch. They will put on plays, puppet shows, joke shows, magic shows, you name it! It's a great way for them to practice using their imagination and many times working together too.
This Melissa & Doug Sea Life Friends Hand Puppets set is a great choice for kids to role-play a scene with animals.
Made with brightly patterned, washable fabrics and built to last, these soft and sweet hand puppets are sure to be go-to toys for years to come.
Twisty Petz Cuddlez
Girls love Twisty Petz! My oldest received her first Twisty Petz bracelet about a year ago and was instantly hooked on the brand. Now you can find Twisty Petz as Cuddlez - a new plush Twisty Petz!
These soft and cuddly plush animals are your favorite Twisty Petz, in plush form. Each Cuddlez plush is super soft and colorful and transforms into a boa you can wear!
Pull the head and tail to turn your animal into a fashionable accessory! With 2 simple twists, turn your boa back to huggable pet. With 4 styles in Series 3, collect a puppy, unicorn, kitty and sloth! Bring home the pets with a secret twist with Twisty Petz Cuddlez!
Jungle Expedition Acrocanthosaur Playset
They may be extinct, but dinosaurs are still loved by boys and girls alike! A great dinosaur playset is a great gift choice for kids who love animals!
This ultimate dinosaur toy playset for kids has everything for little adventurers with big imaginations! This deluxe toy includes a large electronic Acrocanthosaurus toy dinosaur with glowing lights and growling sounds, a fully-equipped 3-level tower with bridge, moat, scary spider web, and cage with teeth that open and close for the big dinosaur enemies!
This toy playset also includes 2 small baby dinosaurs, a dinosaur egg, and much more! Of course, there's also an adventurer action figure with a cage to catch the prehistoric payload and a toy helicopter to make a quick getaway in the NICK of time!
Lava Mountain T.Rex Adventure Playset
Expand your dinosaur fun with this Lava Mountain T.Rex Adventure Playset!
This deluxe toy includes a large electronic Tyrannosaurus Rex toy dinosaur with glowing lights and growling sounds, a fully-equipped 3-level VOLCANO with realistic lava flow, a boulder waiting to crush the T-Rex Toy's hunters, a jail cell for captured foes, ladder, rope, 2 small baby dinosaurs, a dinosaur egg, and much more!
Terra by Battatt also includes an adventurer action figure with a net to snag the big payload and a toy Jeep to make a quick getaway with the prehistoric predator! Everything is included in this awesome 14-piece educational and Super fun dinosaur set!
T-Rex Transport Playset
Beep beep! Terra by Battat T-Rex transport is coming through with the dangerous delivery of a ferocious toy dinosaur!
This playset will have kids burning rubber around the house with Jurassic-sized smiles. There's a rugged toy semi-trailer with 6 wheels, working cab lights, and realistic truck sounds. Included on the back of this cool toy truck is a cage to carry your toy T-Rex, or any other miniature animal toys or action figures who dare to come along for the ride. And the best part is the cage shakes and rattles while it's rolling along the imaginary highway!
Your dino-loving child will love driving around the house with this beast in tow!
Dino Spikes 3D Hoodie
Do you have a dino lover on your Christmas list? Doodle Pants hoodies have fun, unique, and whimsical designs for both casual everyday wear and imaginative play! Now kids can dress up any time of day! Love turning heads in the grocery store or at school? This is a major eye-grabber that’ll have other adults and children fawning! Tons of fun for both the wearer and friends.
Melissa & Doug Pets Wooden Chunky Puzzle
This great wooden chunky puzzle is perfect for young animal lovers! Happy pets play in the yard on this extra-thick wooden puzzle that includes eight easy-grasp, chunky pet pieces.
Each pet animal can stand upright for pretend play and has a full-color, matching picture underneath. Encourages eye-hand, fine motor and creative expression skills.
Melissa & Doug Children's Book - Poke-a-Dot: The Wheels on the Bus Wild Safari
We have this book and my kids have LOVED it!
The dots in the book go pop, pop, pop! Poke the irresistible click-to-count buttons to hear satisfying “clicks” and “pops” as you count all the animals you see on safari!
This sturdy 20-page interactive board book invites kids to sing along to “the wheels on the bus” song while popping and counting all the wild animals along the way! Poke-a-dot books help encourage language development, counting, and fine motor skills. Patented pop-a-tronic technology lets kids discover different popping sounds by poking the dots from the front or the back, with pages raised or flat!
Pet Parade Mad Libs
My kids all love Mad Libs beginning at about age 4. These hilarious make-your-own stories are also educational since they help kids learn to identify parts of speech. I use them often for homeschooling and my kids always beg to do more. This book is perfect for the animal lover on your shopping list and would make a great stocking stuffer!
Donna
Sunday 31st of December 2023
The Leopard Camo Wireless Speaker and Butterfly Bash Sleepover Bag would be awesome gifts for my oldest granddaughter. All of my grandchildren would be excited to try the Face Paintoos!
Ashley Parks
Wednesday 27th of December 2023
I love the Sloth warmie! My niece LOVES all things Sloth! I will have to remember that one if she is still into them on her birthday! My oldest daughter actually bought her brother a octopus warmie and her sister a narwhal warmie for Christmas. They loved them!
Shirley O
Thursday 31st of August 2023
A beautiful selection of gifts for animal lovers. I really like the Watchitude Slap Watches. So cute!
Peggy Nunn
Thursday 31st of August 2023
I like the Care Bears Grumpy Bear Kid's Pouf. It is so cute..
Leela
Sunday 7th of May 2023
The Mix And Match Magnetic Animals look like a lot of fun.