Gift Ideas for Cat Lovers

When there’s a gift-giving occasion coming up, and you suddenly need to come up with gift ideas for cat lovers in your life, do you sometimes draw a blank? This article is here to help…

Many websites run articles that contain ideas for gifts you can give to cat lovers. Unfortunately, these articles are often elaborate ads that promote the products described in the “article.”

Rather than link out to merchants willing to pay us to highlight their products, CatInfo.net has decided to focus on ideas for gifts likely to appeal to cat lovers and explain how to source them locally. Click here…

Clothing

Clothing with a cat theme is relatively easy to source, especially if the recipient is likely to enjoy cat-related humor. You’re highly likely to find such clothing in chain and department stores, and may well encounter a gem that is perfect for someone in your life.

But when you need something truly unique, it’s best to visit local markets or browse sites such as Not on the High Street and Etsy. These sites aim to provide you with access to a large number of artisans rather than the usual corporate offerings.

Your local area likely has a market or two, and the easiest way to find them is to type “find a market in my area” into Google. This almost always displays a map in the search results that contains a number of different markets around you. But if Google can’t work out where you’re living, search instead for “find a market in my-suburb” and replace ‘my-suburb’ with your suburb, town, or city.

Cat-themed jewelry

Crockery

If it’s mugs you want, Amazon, Etsy, and Not on the High Street offer more choices than anyone will ever need. Your local cat shelter or charity shop may also have an array of mugs to choose from.

But more unique cat-related crockery items can also be found in antique shops. Cats have been a popular theme for centuries, and you may well find a fine china set of plates, bowls, cups, and saucers with hand-painted cat scenes on them.

Creating completely bespoke crockery using sites such as ByStudioRaw is now possible. They allow you to specify not just the design and color, but the shape of the crockery itself. ByStudooRaw is in the Netherlands, but you may find a similar service in your own country. Google “bespoke crockery my-country” and replace ‘my-country’ with your city, state, region, or country.

Ornaments

I collect cat-related ornaments and am always on the lookout for such items. This is abundantly clear to anyone who takes a few seconds to observe the desk in my office.

Finding cat-themed ornaments is harder than you may think. Yes, they’re out there, but they’re not overly common. Thus, I am highly likely to appreciate a gift of this nature. If you have a friend with similar tastes, I’ve previously purchased cat-related ornaments from a garden center, a museum gift shop, CostCo, an antique shop, and a charity store.

I once even purchased a pewter silver cat ornament from a Silversmith while visiting The London Silver Vaults. This is an intriguing collection of different purveyors of items made from silver, with a myriad of shops contained within an underground vault! This proves you never know where you might find an item of interest for the cat lover in your life.

Art, Posters, Signs, and Calendars

Cat-related signs and calendars are easy to find. For example, a kiosk at your local mall may sell humorous posters, signs, and calendars. Items like this are also found at Target, Walmart, and K-mart. And there’s no shortage to be found on Amazon, Ebay, Not on the High Street, and Etsy.

Of course, not everybody appreciates feline humor. If the recipient you have in mind is of a more serious nature, consider cat-related art. Depending on your budget, this might be a print or an original work of art. If you’re sufficiently well-heeled, you may even consider commissioning a work from a local artist. Use Google to find out whether local artists use a market to exhibit their work. These are often far less expensive than galleries.

Those of us with less salubrious heels have a new option that many still don’t even know exists. It’s now possible to have AI generate art for you based on a description you provide.

For example, Dall.E produces original works of art on command, and the results can be stunning. If you have access to a service that can print onto canvas, you can give original art to a friend without breaking the bank.

If you’ve never used a service like Dall.E before, you’ll likely have to practice using it before you get a satisfactory result. The following example images were produced by Dall.E when I asked it to produce “a painting in the style of Monet of a cat playing a board game with a beautiful blonde-haired woman wearing a stunning blue dress.”

Furnishings for cat lovers

Fleeces, throw rugs, pillowcases, cushions, sheets, and blankets are all available with cat prints on them. A visit to your local home store will likely provide several options.

If you’re shopping for somebody special or someone with very specific tastes, search for a custom printer or embroiderer in your area. For example, you might give the output from Dall.E to a fabric printer and ask them to produce pillowcases that each contain a unique cat motif of your own devising.

You needn’t limit furnishings to obvious things such as pillowcases or cushions. Let your imagination run wild, and consult local directories, search engines, supermarket bulletin boards, libraries, and community centers for local artisans who may be able to help you devise something truly special.

Stationery

Does one of your kids, nephews, nieces, or the child of a friend have a special fondness for cats? Then consider buying items of stationary they can use at home and/or school that carry feline designs.

It’s possible to find anything from pencils, pens, pencil cases, erasers, rulers, writing sets, and all manner of stationery items that already contain a cat motif. A cat charity may carry such items, and the gift shop of a feline-related museum definitely will.

Bags, Brollies, and Oddities

Stores that sell bags and/or umbrellas often offer themed products. If your friends or relatives are nuts about cats, keep your eyes peeled for cat-themed bags and brollies.

Another rich source for such items is street markets and kiosks, especially those found on the side of the road in tourist areas in large cities like London and Paris.

A local and/or tourist-orientated gift shop is often a rich source of reasonably priced themed items. The odds this type of shop carries feline-themed gifts for cat lovers are very high indeed.

Gift ideas for cat lovers that like to read

Cat lovers often enjoy reading feline-themed books. Topics can include anything from cartoons, humor, philosophy, and cat psychology. There are even cat cookbooks that contain recipes for homemade cat food.

Your local bookstore is your best bet, but don’t overlook second-hand bookstores that often contain genuine treasures from years gone by that will have special value to a certain type of cat-lover.

Cat Candles, Music, and Destressers

Many felines are nervy creatures, and every cat owner is likely to experience a stressed kitty at some point. Keep an eye out for signs of stress in the cats owned by your friends and relatives. And an ear open for the cat’s owners wanting to talk about their cats being stressed.

Your local vet’s shop or gift store likely stocks products designed to help cats destress. This can be anything from a Felloway diffuser to scented candles designed for cats. You can even purchase specialist music designed to appeal to and relax our feline friends.

The Cat-cafe Experience

Consider treating your friend to morning or afternoon tea if there’s a cat cafe in your area. These will typically offer standard cafe fair alongside the chance to pet and enjoy the company of friendly cats that are used to the presence of humans.

Cat Toys

Interactive cat toys are gifts that both the cat and its owner can enjoy. Your local pet store will have plenty to choose from, as will all the usual online stores.

Take a quick survey of the recipient’s existing toys, and see whether a laser pointer, Da Bird, catnip-containing soft toys, and other popular items are in a poor state of repair or missing altogether.

If the recipient’s cat is confined indoors with no cat grass, consider buying some as a gift. Be sure to include instructions as to its care.

Trees, Posts, and Towers

Cats need scratching posts, places to hide, and things to climb. Many cat owners are oblivious to the needs of their cats. For example, at a minimum, there should be at least one scratching post on every floor of a house. And one for each cat in the house.

Cat trees and scratching posts are often poorly made and lack the stability required to allow a cat to use them with confidence. And if the cats are confined indoors, these items are even more important to the cat’s emotional well-being.

If you happen to spot a poorly constructed cat tree or scratching post, or notice their absence, consider buying one as a gift. As these tend to be large items, it pays to check with the recipient first to ensure this type of gift will be well received.

If you’re handy when it comes to DIY, or are well-heeled and can employ someone who is, consider making a gift of furniture that serves a dual purpose, such as bookshelves with ways for a cat to climb and perch on top and survey the room.

A Donation to a Charity in Another Person’s Name

Do you have a friend or relative who donates to a cat charity? If so, consider making a donation in their name.

But before you do, discuss the idea with the person you have in mind. That way, they have a chance to let you know they’d rather receive a gift, or have your gift donated to a different charity from their regular one.

Wrapping up gift ideas for cat lovers

A cat-orientated gift has to function as a present in the mind of the person receiving it. There’s no point giving cat-themed jewelry to someone who doesn’t typically wear items of personal adornment. And a gift to a friend that actually benefits his cat won’t necessarily be appreciated.

It’s essential that you do your research, sound out the recipient, pay attention, and carefully consider the psychology of the person involved. That will ensure you’re regarded as both an innovative and appreciated giver of unique gifts.