Cat lover gifts: what to get someone who already owns every cat mug
The best cat lover gifts are about their cat, not about cats in general. Give something their cat will use, or something with the cat's name on it. Help counts too: a sitter, a photo session, or a donation to a shelter in the cat's name. Any of these lands better than one more cat-print mug.
What do you get a cat lover who has everything?
Look at the cat, not the person. Someone who loves their cat often has the mugs, the socks and the tote bag already. What they lack is time with that cat, help with that cat, and things made for that one cat.
So before you shop, answer three questions:
- What is the cat’s name, and what does the cat look like?
- Where does the cat spend the day: the window, the desk, a lap, the bathroom door?
- Will the person laugh at this gift, or keep it?
Your answers point to one of the kinds of gift below.
Pick by the person
| If they… | Look at | Why it works |
|---|---|---|
| talk about their cat all the time | a gift with the cat’s name on it | it is about the one cat they talk about |
| travel or work long days | a few visits from a pet sitter | it solves a real problem, and they never had to ask |
| post photos of their cat every day | a photo book or calendar of their own photos | the photos already exist; this gets them off the phone |
| care about rescue cats | a donation to a local shelter in their cat’s name | it fits what they value, and there is nothing to store |
| have a cat who claims every new box | something the cat will use, like a window perch or a wand toy | they get to watch the cat enjoy it |
| like a joke | a card or a print about a moment every cat owner knows | it says “I know your life” without a speech |
Gifts for the cat, which the cat lover will love most
The cat gets the gift; the person gets to watch. A few ideas that hold up:
- A window perch. If their cat watches the street, a perch gives it a better seat. Check the person’s windows and sills before you buy one that mounts.
- A scratcher in a new shape. If they have a tall post, try a flat or slanted one, or the other way round. A second shape gives the cat a choice.
- A wand toy. It costs little, and it gets the person playing with the cat, which is the real gift.
Leave food, treats and anything health-related to the owner. Those are their call, and their vet’s.
Personalized cat gifts: put their cat in it
A personalized gift tells them you know which cat matters. Some options:
- A photo book or wall calendar made from pictures of their cat. Ask a partner or a friend to send you the good ones in secret.
- Something with the cat’s name on it, engraved or embroidered: a food mat, an ornament, a key ring.
- Custom art. This runs from a painting an artist makes from photos to illustrated prints where you pick the details.
We make one of the ideas on this page, so read this paragraph with that in mind. Our prints are personalized cat gifts: illustrated scenes of things cats already do, like supervising the bathroom or warming the keyboard. You pick the closest of nine coats to their cat. Then you add a line of your own, like the cat’s name and the year. The designs are made with AI in Plucky’s illustrated style, printed on matte canvas, and made to order. If the person wants their exact cat, painted from photos, an artist who works from photos is the better gift.
Fun gifts for cat lovers
A funny gift works best when the joke is about their own cat’s habits:
- A card or a print of a moment every cat person knows, like the cat on the keyboard.
- A comic collection from a cat artist they already follow.
- A big cardboard box with a toy inside. Half the joke is that the cat may choose the box.
Unique gifts for cat lovers
Some of the best gifts are time and help:
- Pet sitting for a weekend away, by you or by someone they trust.
- A photo session with a pet photographer, at home, where the cat is most at ease.
- A donation in the cat’s name to a shelter or rescue near them. Ask the shelter whether it can send a note that names the cat.
- A cat café visit, if they enjoy meeting other cats. Some people do; some only want their own.
Christmas presents for cat lovers
Christmas adds one rule: anything personalized or made to order takes time. Check the maker’s production and shipping times before you count on a date, and order early. Short on time? Give a donation in the cat’s name, or a promise of pet sitting, on the day itself.
One gift to leave out: a surprise pet
A cat is a long commitment, and the person should choose that cat themselves. If they are thinking about adopting, offer to go with them to the shelter instead.
Start with the cat. If you know its name, its coat and its favorite spot, you already know more than most gift lists do.
Behaviour and wellbeing only. Nothing here diagnoses or replaces a veterinarian — if your cat’s physical health worries you, call your vet.
New articles, as we publish them
The everyday moments and the behaviour questions — and first word on what we make, offers included. From Deni & Helen.
