I’m going to share a shameful secret: I have very little self control when it comes to purchasing anything with a cat on it. I know, shocking to hear that about the guy who runs a cat behavior blog and helps people solve cat behavior problems professionally. Still, I’d like to think my penchant for hitting “add to cart” also makes me a bit of an expert in picking out gifts for cat lovers.
While I have a few guides on picking out great products for cats or things that will improve your cat’s lives (all 9 of them), today’s focus is on the humans. I might sneak in a few things that will benefit cats, too, but sometimes you need the perfect gift for a cat lover’s birthday or as a way to memorialize a cat that has passed away. Whatever the reason, they’ll be feline the love with any of these fun cat gifts.
I may also be inspired by the fact that my own birthday is coming up soon so if anyone is looking to get their favorite cat behaviorist a present…
Customized Cat Gifts
I don’t know your friend, but I can tell you that they like talking about their cat. All cat parents like talking about their cats. We’re constantly looking for reasons to talk about our cats. Give your loved one an opportunity to talk about their cat more by plopping their cat onto a gift which really are the ultimate gifts for cat lovers. Depending on your friend’s style, there are options for everyone.
My personal favorite are cat face stickers because your friend can decide where to put their cat. They come in three sizes per sheet so they can be used in any number of settings. I was gifted a set of them a few years back and would take some of the smaller ones and include them in thank you cards that were related to Zoloft’s cancer treatment, following his surgeries, and to thank his veterinary team for the care they gave him before he passed. They also ended up in the scrapbook I made for him.
Warm Gifts For Cat Lovers
I’m based out of Minneapolis so for half the year my main focus is staying warm. For a snugglier gift option for a loved one living in the land of winter, a custom cat pillow is one one of the best gifts for cat lovers whose cats don’t want to snuggle. You can pick a size and picture to surprise them with a second version of their cat.
Beyond just pillows, you can also get a whole variety of clothing items and cozy blankets with their cat’s face on them. You name it, there’s probably a way to get a version of it with their cat on it.
Get A Snuggly Replica Of Their Cat
If you want to get the the ultimate customized cat gift, why not get them a stuffed replica of their cat? Cuddle Clones are individually made stuffed animals that are designed to look as close to their specific cat as anyone can possibly make. While this may seem odd, as someone who lost his cat last year, having something special that you can physically hold can help when you’re missing your cat. I first heard about them when reading a book on pet loss grief and they really can bring comfort to folks. Even if their cat is still kickin’, it’s something they can bring with when traveling.
Cuddle Clones also has other customizable options including slippers (!!!!) with a plush replica of their cat on it. Just saying that I’d love a pair of slippers for both Poutine and Prozac…
Sympathy And Cat Memorial Gifts
When I lost my cat Zoloft, it felt like my whole world was thrown off. Thankfully, I had a lot of great people in my life who supported me after losing my cat. I received some lovely memorial gifts and, while they won’t replace my best friend, they did make the sting of grief a bit easier. Here are a few ideas of things that will help your loved one remember their precious cat.
Before Their Cat Passes
If you’re looking for something to get someone while their cat is still around, a paw print kit is a great idea as it preserves a special and unique part of their cat. I have a guide on making a cat paw print that includes instructions for both ink and clay paw prints.
There are also kits that allow you to create a memento of your cat with their fur by felting it. The felted fur is used to prop up a small fabric rose and can be put on display as a special reminder of your cat. This requires some of the cat’s fur so is likely a better gift for someone whose cat is still around so they can collect some of their fur.
Memorial Gifts
There are a lot of memorial gifts for cats out there and ultimately, the correct gift for your friend depends on their personality and beliefs. In general, a good gift is one that focuses on the bond between the cat and human and doesn’t necessarily mention seeing the cat again in case your friend doesn’t believe that will happen.
I have a picture frame that says, “Forever would not have been long enough” that I bought for myself with a photo of Zoloft who passed last August. That phrase is one that I really can relate to and is something that your loved one can pick out a favorite photo of their cat to put in it. Photo frames are generally a good gift as your friend can put a favorite photo in them, but there are other nice options.
A few suggested memorial gifts that will appeal to most cat lovers grieving their cat:
- A wooden cat shaped photo frame (I have one with a photo of Zoloft next to my bed)
- A suncatcher with a cat inside a rainbow moon
- If it is around the holidays, a personalized holiday ornament with their cat’s name
- A memorial sign with the option of a few phrases
- A solar powered cat lantern
- A hidden photo bracelet with their cat’s picture
The Best Gift You Can Give
Even if you can’t give your loved one a memorial gift or can’t find one that is just right, you can still support them. The best gift you can give a friend who lost a cat is to support them through their grief. Don’t just be there for them today or tomorrow. Check in with them over the next few months as they may find the loss more challenging than they outwardly let on. They’ll appreciate your support more than anything.
Gifts For Nerdy Cat Lovers
As a nerd, nothing brings me greater joy than finding something that combines cats with one of my other hobbies. I’m a huge Nintendo fan so when Nintendo released Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury, I about lost it as soon as I found out you can turn into a freakin’ cat. If your friend doesn’t have a Switch or already has Bowser’s Fury, you can get them a snuggly kitty Mario plush.
If your loved one isn’t a Nintendo nerd, there are gifts for whatever flavor of nerd they happen to be. For the DnD fan, you can get their cats a set of catnip filled D20 cat toys. If they prefer a galaxy far, far away, Meow Wars shirts are a must. For your scientist friends, chemistry cat socks, a cation pillow, or even a cat butts in space coloring book are sure to be a hit.
Basically, regardless of your friend’s interests, there is probably something cat themed that involves those interests. One of the great things about cats is how universal they are. Cats are everywhere and they can wiggle their way into any situation you can think of.
Even if one of my suggestions doesn’t fit your friend’s interests, if you head to Etsy and type in “their interest” and “cats” in the search, you’ll likely find a niche gift. Some interests, like knitting and cats, will yield many results (such as this book on how to knit your own cat), but you can find gifts geared toward gay cats if that’s your friend’s jam. You never know what you’ll find.
Practical Gifts
I suppose I wouldn’t be true to myself if I didn’t include at least one practical cat related gift. This one will help make keeping a litter box clean easy and your friend will thank you for introducing them to my favorite litter box product: the Litter Genie.
The Litter Genie gets set up right next to the litter box and you scoop your cat’s waste into a bag contained inside the pail. The pail is sealed shut so no odor gets out. Once the bag is full, you use the attached safety blade (located inside the pail for extra security) to cut the bag and dispose of the waste. Easy!
Keep Work From Home Cat Free
If you have a friend or a lucky colleague whose kitties like to wander around their desk as they work, consider getting them a fun distraction for their cat. A decoy laptop can keep cats away from your keyboard. A cat laptop scratcher can act as both a decoy and give their cats a place to scratch. Plus, the mouse is a literal mouse toy that the cats will have fun swatting at.
If your friend is a bit more plain, they make clear acrylic keyboard guards that will keep their cats from becoming professional typists. It’s practical and may land your loved one a promotion when their productivity at work goes up because they can actually type.
The Gift Of A Trained Cat
Lastly, you can get your loved ones some sessions with me. Not only will they get complementary cat puns included at no extra charge, but they can learn how to train their cats to do all sorts of fun tricks. An introductory clicker training package is to help someone learn to train their cat for fun. It includes their first session plus a few follow ups. It can be done wherever they are located because they’re all virtual. Virtual sessions are more effective so they’ll be getting high quality cat training lessons and have their cat doing all sorts of tricks in no time.
