Gifts for Cat Lovers: Thoughtful Ideas for People Owned by Cats

The best gifts for cat lovers celebrate their own cat: a mug or print with their cat's portrait and name, enrichment their cat will genuinely use, or something cozy for the owner. Cat people tend to be particular, so a personal, useful gift beats a novelty one every time.

Gifts with their own cat

• A personalized mug. Their cat's portrait and name on a mug they'll use daily. Choose realistic, watercolor, cartoon or royal (very fitting for most cats), or a Santa hat in December.
• A portrait poster for the wall, printed on matte archival paper and shipped rolled to fit a standard frame.
• An ornament with their cat's face for the tree, with the name and year along the rim. It's ideal for a new kitten's first Christmas.

Enrichment their cat will actually use

• A window perch. A front-row seat to the birds, and a favorite spot for most indoor cats.
• A wand toy. Interactive play is the best exercise for indoor cats. Put it away after play so the string isn't left out.
• A sturdy scratcher. Choose a tall, heavy post or a wide flat one. Many cats prefer one over the other, so ask what they use now.
• A puzzle feeder for cats who eat too fast or get bored.
• A cardboard box. Not a joke: it's often their favorite present of the day.

Cozy things for the owner

• A soft throw that won't show cat hair (match it to the cat's coat color).
• A lint roller set for home, car and bag.
• A cat-themed book. Pick a funny one or a good behavior guide.

Kind gestures

• A donation to a cat rescue in their cat's name.
• A cat-sitting voucher from you. Many cat owners skip trips because finding a sitter is hard.

Cat-safety notes for gift-givers

• Flowers: the ASPCA lists lilies as highly toxic to cats, including the pollen and the vase water. Leave them out of any bouquet for a cat household.
• String and ribbon: cats love them, but swallowing them can be dangerous. Wrap gifts without curling ribbon.
• Toys: avoid small parts that can come loose, and catnip toys stuffed with plastic beads.

Getting a good photo

For a personalized gift, a clear photo makes all the difference. Choose one with the cat's face in focus, in soft daylight, close up and on its own. Our guide to the best photo for a pet portrait has more tips, including dark and black cats.

Our cat mugs are drawn by AI from your photo, and you see a free preview in about 20 seconds before you pay. We print exactly the design you approve, in the US, and US shipping is free. If it arrives damaged or misprinted, email us a photo within 30 days and we'll reprint it free.