Cat Accessories for the Fashionable Cat Owner
The fifty All-time Gifts for True cat Lovers, According to Feline Behaviorists, Advocates, and Enthusiasts
Temperamental loners indifferent to human affection, cats have long played second dabble in public stance to man's all-time friend, the elementary-minded canis familiaris. But cats take won the net, as some famous felines (Suki, the Nighttime Lord) have more than followers on Instagram and command higher advent fees than the average B-list celebrity.
While it might be 2d nature to tag your true cat-loving friends in a cat meme every at present and then, it tin can be baffling to purchase an actual souvenir for a cat parent now that there are more than cat-themed items available than ever before. With help from experts — including animal-behavior specialists, advocates, and pet-shop owners — we've sifted through the vast world of cat products to find the very best gifts for cat lovers, including some favorites we've found in our ain years as true cat moms.
"Every true cat needs a scratching post," advised Tazz Latifi, owner of pet-supply shop and grooming parlor Petropolis in lower Manhattan. Mikel Delgado, a cat-behavior expert with Rover, explained that scratching is a way for cats to "marking their territory, and information technology keeps their claws in good shape." Because cats honey stretching out, Latifi said a post should be at least 24 inches high to brand it an attractive alternative to cat owners' article of furniture.
At 32 inches loftier, the SmartCat Ultimate Scratching Post is a top choice among experts. Nora Wood, adoption-result coordinator for Anjellicle Cats, a New York-based all-volunteer cat rescue and nonprofit with foster homes throughout the 5 boroughs, said it's the ideal gift because "cats can't knock it over — very important! — and the cat can stretch out her back while scratching." Anjellicle cat-beliefs specialist Astrid Hanenkamp calls it "the all-time out there," and Delgado mentioned it by name too.
Since information technology takes up more space than a vertical scratching postal service, Forest said this "wonderful" scratcher lounge is a bully souvenir "if your friend has a good-sized apartment." Conrad Russo, blogger and possessor of Pet Gear Lab, besides said the PetFusion scratcher is a "favorite" amongst cat lovers, and proud cat lady Kristin Perrotta agreed. "It'south cool-looking and you can flip information technology over when your cat annihilates 1 side," she said.
There are plenty of splurge-worthy cat copse out there, but if you feel a little silly spending triple digits on article of furniture made for a cat, this affordable version is both feline and human approved. With natural woods grain and plush white carpeting, it looks dainty in whatever home, and it has plenty of space for kitty to perch on. Strategist senior writer Karen Iorio Adelson's cat splits her fourth dimension betwixt the cubbyhole in the middle and the top level.
Photo: Courtesy of the retailer
Animal advocate and educator Hannah Shaw, a.g.a. the Kitten Lady, stresses the importance of "providing [cats] with an enriching habitation environment. Cats need access to vertical spaces and climbing structures in club to experience mentally stimulated." A kickoff-time true cat owner, or one moving into a new place, may appreciate a perch, lounger, or tree that will make their domicile more welcoming to cats. Shaw buys a lot of her cat piece of furniture from Hauspanther, like this wall-mounted perch that doubles as a scratching post and has room for toy storage.
If a friend is welcoming a new cat to the family, Leilani Shimoda, the possessor of Instagram darling Bunni (and the late Shrampton), recommended "a cozy bed or cat cave to help ease their feet by giving them their own private space that feels safe and warm." She recommends this shark bed for a fun and affordable gift.
Even your nigh blueprint-conscious friend won't be ashamed to brandish this handsome tent from Tuft + Paw (curator of the world's nigh unique and aesthetically pleasing true cat accessories) in their living room. It'due south more expensive than almost of the cat beds out there, but I had a take a chance to exam information technology out recently and I was impressed by the high-quality construction, sturdy woods base, and thick canvas cover.
If you've ever seen a cat sprawled out in a patch of sunlight or enjoying some outdoor fourth dimension on a hot summer twenty-four hour period, you know that felines seek the heat. Delgado told us "a true cat'south comfort zone starts at around 82 degrees" and they'd capeesh the added warmth of a heated bed. Angie Krause, a holistic veterinarian and consultant for I and Honey and Y'all pet food, agreed that "cats love to be warm," and suggested this style of bed. While the make advertises its electrical cord is "MET listed for prophylactic", it'southward e'er best to use a heated bed under supervision to avoid whatever accidents.
A perfect gift for a multiple-cat household, a cat tree with tiered perches and resting spots offers each kitty a trivial personal space. "Cats are territorial so giving them a space that feels like their own is important," says Delgado. "Being up high can help cats feel condom, and if you have more than one true cat, it helps them share the territory." If a traditional cat tree doesn't mesh with your recipient's décor, Russo recommends this "more than quirky" way. It has faux-suede covers and a modern curvy design, merely still caters to cats' needs. A more skittish cat might feel safest on the highest level, from which she tin can observe the room beneath while staying out of reach, and a true cat looking for some peace and tranquility for napping will love the enclosed hideaway on the lesser.
This compact true cat tree (it takes upwardly less than two feet of footing space) has a perch for cats to go some height, a hideaway spot for some alone time, and a scratching mail service to distract them from the article of furniture. With its wood frame, it'll also alloy in nicely with your living-room furniture. Information technology's popular among Amazon reviewers, with one satisfied shopper calling it "sleek and modernistic."
In addition to helping sedentary cats with weight loss and maintenance, Shaw said that "keeping cats physiologically enriched will make them less inclined toward subversive behaviors." One of the all-time means to get cats up on their toes — and in the air — are wand toys and teasers, which would make keen gifts for owners dealing with misbehaving cats. Along with staving off boredom, Delgado said "playing with your cat provides them with do and can be a great way to bond." These toys from cat behaviorist andMy Cat From Hell host Jackson Galaxy's collection were superlative picks among experts. The air-prey version, for cats that enjoy leaping into the air, is Shaw's personal favorite.
Latifi also raved near the ground-prey wand for cats that prefer to hunt on the basis.
For a modest gift nether $10, you tin can't go incorrect with a Da Bird wand toy that got rave reviews from experts and true cat owners alike. Hanenkamp said, "Information technology offers hours of interactive playtime for a cat and its owner." Heather Henley, a certified feline-training and behavior specialist at Best Friends Beast Society is a "big fan" of the simple feather toy, and it likewise earned shout-outs from Latifi, Delgado, and Perrotta, who said "all cats go mental for it."
"I've always given Cat Catcher teaser wands as gifts because I never met a true cat who didn't like them," said Yuki Atsumi, an Anjellicle seminar leader. From the maker of the beloved Da Bird teaser, the Cat Catcher will likewise give cats the thrill of the chase, but for a mouse instead of a bird. Atsumi adds, "Wand toys should ever be put abroad after playing because cats might chew the string or wire and ingest it."
Shaw told united states these rattle mouse toys "make enticing sounds that spark cats' marvel — and kick their hunting instincts into high gear." She says they're perfect for kittens since they're minor enough for little ones to toss and carry effectually in their mouths, but we retrieve older cats would dearest them likewise. At only $10 for 36 mice, it'due south easy to accept some extras effectually for when your cat inevitably loses a few under the couch or behind the fridge.
For years we've wondered why every cat we've ever owned was obsessed with this banana toy, choosing it over toys that squeak, move, or were only way more expensive. So we felt validated when Wood called it the "best catnip toy" because it's the "perfect shape" for cats to sniff, snuggle, and boot, and it'due south meliorate than "lots of crap catnip out there." Nosotros've had cats with very different interests and personalities, and all of them take gnawed on the banana until it's covered in cat drool.
Latifi chosen Colorado Kitty Pot "1 of my favorite companies" for their "amazing catnip toys," and because "they give a lot of their money away to animal shelters and rescue." She said even cats that aren't normally interested in catnip get crazy for information technology. The cute "munchie" shapes (there are too taco and cookie versions) are adorably Instagrammable when paired with a loopy-looking cat indulging in some 'nip.
According to Stray True cat Social Club founder Scott Bleicher, Polydactyl Cats "creates unique cat toys with equal parts irony, pop civilisation references, and a nuance of fast-food fun." Their organic catnip toys come in shapes like popcorn and sushi, guaranteed to appeal to owners and cats alike. Shimoda, who also loves the make, said, "I love to brand themed gifts [similar] the hot-sauce toys with sombrero combo." And, yes, the included sombrero is for the true cat.
Some other way to tap into a cat'southward natural hunting instinct is a puzzle feeder that hides treats or dry food pieces and then that cats have to actively poke around to find them. Henley loves that the SlimCat makes cats "motion with information technology, then they aren't sitting still and eating." Since it'southward unproblematic to utilize, information technology's a skillful entry-level feeder toy for cats who are new to the concept. Latifi, also a SlimCat fan, advises filling it with freeze-dried raw nutrient, which is healthier and easier on cats' digestion than conventional food. (Fundamental Pet Foods' Primal Freeze-Dried Nuggets Formula for Cats are a healthy option that will fit in a feeder toy.)
Created by a veterinarian, these mouse-shaped toys tin be filled with food or treats and subconscious around your house for cats to "hunt." Ernie Ward, a veterinarian and founder of the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention, says the toy will "engage your cat's inner predator."
True cat owners working from habitation know the challenge of keeping their pet from pouncing on their keyboard and disrupting Zoom calls. This treat maze, which is basically just a paper-thin box divided into three sections with random holes, is the just matter that has distracted Adelson's (very food-motivated) true cat. Pair information technology with some treats and you've got a souvenir that will save your cat-loving pal from hours of annoyance.
If you lot aren't sure if the cat lover in your life has used feeding toys earlier, this option may be your best bet. Latifi likes that it has "a really big food hole," which is easier for cats new to feeding toys to effigy out earlier moving on to more than complicated toys.
On the other hand, if you lot know you're shopping for a puzzle-feeder pro, this tree-style toy is more difficult, equally kitties accept to move their treats down each level by sticking their paws in the side holes before the food lands in the bottom dish. "[It] helps mimic a cat's hunting beliefs," said Krause. "It helps save stress and prevent boredom."
"Cats are notoriously poor h2o drinkers," according to Krause. Feline aridity can lead to fatal kidney issues subsequently in life. (It's one of the reasons vets prefer cats eat moisture-rich canned nutrient.) To encourage a friend's pet to up its water intake, Krause recommends this flowing drinking fountain that'southward more than appealing to cats than a bowl. "Many cats like fresh, running water and will beverage more than when water stays fresh," she said.
When gifting to a cat possessor with an older cat (Cats are considered seniors in one case they turn eleven), Atsumi recommends "a cushioned, heated cat bed for achy joints." While all cats capeesh a warm napping spot, it's especially important for seniors. Krause explained that "every bit they age, cats tend to seek heat and accept more trouble staying warm in the winter." Henley suggested a mat, like this 1, with an insulated layer that keeps cats warm using their own body heat (instead of electricity) and then y'all don't have to worry about leaving your cat with information technology unattended.
According to Henley, "Senior cats tin can have problems with arthritis just like people. It's nice to have pet stairs for them to use when jumping becomes painful." A ready of pet stairs is a adept souvenir for a friend with an older cat that's having trouble getting on the couch or bed. With natural forest siding, these stairs will fit right in in a true cat lover'southward living room, and at that place's an surface area for storage under each step.
This unicorn tunnel looks pretty silly, only Strategist author Rio Viera-Newton says her cat, Martini (along with her parents' and sister's cats), goes basics for information technology. "She sprints through all the piddling tunnels, weaving in and out of them similar a maniac," she writes. "And and so when she's finally out of free energy, she slinks up into a trivial brawl in i of the unicorn artillery, all cozy." The four-pes-long tunnel has lots of room for cats to play in, but it also folds down to a meaty ring that's easy to store even in pocket-sized spaces.
Even though it's technically for dogs, the smallest version of this cozy, shaggy bed (that several Strategist team members own and love) is perfectly sized for cats — to which lots of Amazon reviewers can attest. As certified professional person animal behaviorist Jessica Gore told Strategist writer Liza Corsillo, "It'southward slap-up for warm snuggling and cuddling and provides simply enough support and security for smaller trunk types." And one Amazon shopper reports, "I bought the bed for my Chihuahua, and she loves it a lot merely and then my cat took over and she loves it, besides. And so I bought another bed for the cat."
Unlike dogs, who get excited for a ride in the car or a walk around the cake, cat owners know that getting an unenthusiastic kitty into a carrier tin be a scrap similar, well, herding cats. Kerrie McKeon, resident cat proficient at the fauna welfare and adoption organisation Bideawee, said "The key to easier travel, whether it's simply a trip to the vet, or a car trip over the holidays, is a carrier your cat doesn't hate and fearfulness." To solve the problem, she recommends the Sleepypod, calling information technology a "game changer, every bit your cat tin can use it equally a bed when at home, thereby reducing negative associations." Just fold down the sides and information technology becomes a plush, semi-enclosed bed.
Or you tin can take a cue from confessed cat lady Taylor Swift, who uses this fashionable backpack to conduct her cats around. Over at Vulture, senior Snapchat editor Devon Sherer tested ane out herself with her true cat, the Captain, and discovered it's "as life-irresolute as it looks." Equally Sherer reports, "I will fifty-fifty go out the bag out when we aren't using it, since the cats relish getting into it and glaring at me through the bubble window."
Chewy resident pet expert Samantha Schwab recommended this soothing toy with a affect-activated purring mechanism for cats that are stressed out while traveling. It's also only cozy to cuddle upward with at abode or in any other situation that could make your cat anxious, like having company over for the kickoff time post-COVID-nineteen.
This matching collar and friendship bracelet set lets a cat owner show off their BFF (best feline friend) condition. As Caitlin Ultimo, a sometime resident pet expert and content managing director at Chewy, said, "any pet parent volition jump at the opportunity to rep their pet, and this is just an understated style to do just that." For the stylish true cat, in that location'southward also this suede and leather choice that comes in a "caviar" can.
Recently, writer Duncan Goodwin, who happens to be married to Strategist senior editor Tony Rotunno, shared a guide to the intendance and keeping of their hairless sphynx cat, Pebbles. The principal takeaway: Hairless cats need a skillful corporeality of budget. Simply they tin also pull off cat clothing, like this tie-dye tee that Goodwin says "fits her snugly without existence restrictive" and keeps her warm in the colder months.
According to Ultimo, "Cats are very clean pets, and they are expert at taking care of their own grooming needs. That existence said, their bent for self-care can sometimes effect in a buildup of hair assurance." To relieve your cat-owning friends from the gross experience of cleaning up regurgitated pilus balls, a FURminator brush helps become rid of excess hair. Brushing can too be a soothing bonding fourth dimension between cat and owner. Strategist correspondent Elizabeth Gumport actually wrote an ode to the FURminator here.
All cat owners struggle with the Sisyphean task of keeping cat hair from roofing every surface in their homes. To tackle the fur madness, Shimoda loves "this astonishing 2-sided grooming tool that brushes the cats and removes pilus from your furniture."
Unproblematic and unobtrusive equally a Glade plug-in, this little gift could be a godsend for true cat owners dealing with frequently hissing cats. While oft thought of as a sign of assailment, "it's actually a defense mechanism" says Ultimo. "If your cat is hissing, they may feel threatened or on high alarm." This diffuser emits an odorless vapor that mimics a cat's natural soothing pheromones, sending signals to her brain that relieve stress. It tin can also help with destructive scratching and litter-box issues.
Photograph: Courtesy of the retailer
For anyone interested in kitten care (or only adorable pictures of tiny kittens), Bleicher recommends Shaw'due south volume, in which she outlines how to intendance for newborn cats and shares her personal rescue stories. Bleicher calls her "the foremost expert on neonatal kitten care," and added, "her sold-out speaking engagements beyond the country are [a] attestation to her compassion for these smallest of hirsuite fighters."
Photographer Walter Chandoha devoted most of his decades-long career to capturing images of cats, in all of their grandeur (and silliness). This volume, a collection of more than 60 years of his work, fabricated our list of the most giftable coffee table books of 2019, and would definitely earn a prized identify in whatever true cat lover'due south home.
Some cats enjoy going on leashed walks outdoors, merely a harness and leash might be a risky gift if you don't know your friend'southward true cat's temperament. If you think they'll find the idea intriguing, though, Shaw recommends giving a true cat owner a copy of Gamble Cats for "inspiration and instructions." With useful tips and beautiful photography of cats exploring mountains, deserts, forests, and more than, it may pique an possessor's interest in bringing their kitty outdoors.
For cat ladies and gents who already have it all, or ones yous aren't certain what to buy for, Shaw loves this volume of "epic, beautiful, and downright hysterical photos of cats enjoying the greenish stuff" from cat lensman Andrew Marttila. Even the most reserved cats get silly under the influence, and this endearing collection captures them in all their blissed-out stoner celebrity.
Another pick from Tuft + Paw's high-end option, this is probably the simply cat tree that has always been featured in Dezeen. It'll set you back nearly $1,000, but if y'all have the money to spare (and a cat-loving friend who'd appreciate it), information technology'southward a rare gimmicky-looking piece of cat furniture that looks like it can actually stand up to regular use by multiple cats, thanks to its heavy-duty rope and carpet designed for scratching.
Give indoor cats a gustation of life in the wild with this very lifelike tree that one Amazon reviewer says looks like a "alive plant." Others say their cats beloved to hide in the leaves and branches, which are attached with bendable wires that you tin adjust to help the tree keep its shape.
Care for your loved one to the luxury of never having to scoop through a waste matter-filled litter box again with this self-cleaning litter "robot" that Bleicher owns multiples of. (He does live with up to ten cats at a fourth dimension, though — both his own and fosters.) "They're by far the most well built and reliable automatic litter boxes on the market, and they completely eliminate scooping from your daily routine," he told us.
If the Litter Robot is a lilliputian (or a lot) out of your toll range, Viera-Newton is caput over heels for the Modkat Meridian Entry Litter Box, which her mom gifted her for Christmas. The litter box blueprint requires cats to jump into a contained space to do their business concern, thus preventing whatsoever litter tracking or pee leakage. It also features a reusable liner for quick cleanup.
Not all cats like to be in an enclosed space when they visit the litter box. If your cat is ane of them, this box from Tuft + Paw is a streamlined selection with born slots to hold the included scooper and floor brush. The company went through several prototypes to get the box just right for both cats and their owners. Adelson received a model to exam out and was impressed with how functional and sturdy the box felt.
This gift is non exactly luxe, simply information technology is incredibly applied. If your cat is prone to cough up hairballs and other unmentionables on your carpets and rugs, Brooklyn-based pharmacist Sera McNutt — cat parent to Santana and Konni — is obsessed with her Bissell carpet and upholstery cleaner. "Information technology'due south a godsend," she says. "I beloved it because it's pretty small and therefore piece of cake to shop, has cleaning solution built into the mechanism, and has worked on every stain I've tried it on."
Yeah, it's technically worn past cats, but information technology'south pretty obvious this adorable panthera leo costume is meant much more for their owners' enjoyment. And at under $ten, it'south not a huge investment if your true cat merely tolerates wearing information technology long plenty to become a shot for Instagram. It'south i of the best-rated cat Halloween costumes on Amazon, and one reviewer calls it "bully entertainment."
Although cats are obsessive virtually keeping themselves clean, sometimes it's hard to mask litter-box smells in a tiny apartment. Adelson learned nigh these candles from her vet after asking how he got his office to aroma so pleasant and so non similar a vet's office. They're designed past veterinarians and made upward of a blend of natural enzymes that actually destroy airborne animal odors at a molecular level, instead of only masking the smells. She likes this citrusy scent, but you can choose from dozens of other options, including vanilla and sandalwood.
Photo: retailer
If your love of cats also intersects with your anti-racist sentiments, Food & Vino senior writer Margaret Eby — true cat parent to Delta and Grover — recommends grabbing one of these heart-catching shirts. All-time of all, for every shirt sold, 15 percent is donated to The Bail Projection and its fight to stop mass incarceration.
Photo: retailer
If you lot already know your cat'southward a queen (and care for her like one) it'd be plumbing fixtures to become a portrait of her in full regalia. Showing this off in your living room would definitely cement the crazy cat lady look — but in a skillful fashion, nosotros'd similar to think.
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