There are still a few weeks to go until Christmas, but now is a good time to choose this year's gifts for your cat without rushing. Not sure what to get your cat? You don't need to spend much. They'll be delighted with something that suits their personality: something to hunt, a cosy spot to sleep or a lookout by the window. Here are 10 ideas, two of them homemade and ready in a quarter of an hour, plus a list of things best kept away from the tree.
How to choose gifts for cats
Before you buy anything, watch your cat for a few days. Almost every cat fits one of these four profiles:
- The hunter: chases slippers, shoelaces and flies. Choose cat toys that move.
- The heat-seeker: in winter, never strays far from the radiator or the blanket. A cosy bed will go down well.
- The lookout: spends hours at the window. Give them a comfy spot to watch the street from.
- The senior: sleeps more and jumps less. Low beds and gentle games are a better bet.
8 Christmas gifts for cats
- Feather wand. It's the simplest toy and the best, because you play together. A few minutes of “hunting” in the afternoon helps your cat burn off the energy that builds up indoors. When you've finished, put the wand away in a drawer: it's best not to let them chew the string unsupervised.
- Crinkle tunnel. Cats love hiding and pouncing from an ambush. It folds flat, so it won't take up space once the festive season is over.
- Scratching post. If your cat sharpens their claws on the sofa, a good scratching post is a gift for you too. Choose a sturdy post that's taller than your cat at full stretch, or a cardboard scratcher for the floor, and put it next to their favourite spot. More tips in how to stop a cat scratching furniture.
- Radiator bed. A hammock that hangs from the radiator is the favourite spot of many chilly cats. Check that it fits your radiator and is securely attached before your cat settles in for a nap.
- Window perch or hammock. The birds on the other side of the glass are their favourite TV. Perches rest on the windowsill and hammocks stick to the glass with suction cups; check how many kilos they can hold.
- Catnip or valerian toys. Lots of cats go wild for them, but not all of them react. If yours ignores them, go for a plain toy mouse or ball.
- Treat toy. A treat-dispensing ball or a snuffle mat they have to get the treats out of with a paw or their nose. Because it takes a bit of effort, they get bored less, especially when they're home alone.
- Slow feeder. A gift for every day, not just for Christmas. The Velia Select slow feeder (available very soon) has a built-in bowl and four raised zones where you spread wet food, purées or treats. Your cat licks and forages for the food bit by bit, which helps them eat more slowly and turns mealtime into a game. It's made of silicone, grips smooth surfaces with suction cups and is dishwasher safe.
Homemade gifts for cats: two free ideas
- Cardboard house. Take a box from a parcel, cut two holes your cat can get through easily and line the bottom with an old jumper or fleece. Remove any tape and staples first.
- Surprise roll. Put a few pieces of dry food inside an empty toilet roll, fold both ends shut and give it to your cat to pull apart. Once it's torn, throw it away.
What not to leave under the tree if you have a cat
- Ribbons, string and tinsel. Cats love playing with them, but a swallowed piece can be dangerous. Wrap presents without bows or tidy the ribbons away as soon as you've opened them.
- Christmas plants. Lilies are very dangerous for cats, and poinsettia and mistletoe can also make them unwell. You'll find the full list in plants toxic to cats.
- Food from Christmas Eve dinner. Fish with bones, dishes with onion or garlic, nougat and chocolate are not for them. If you want them to have their own special dinner too, give them their usual treats.
- Small parts they could pull off and swallow: sewn-on eyes, pompoms or bells.
If your cat is more interested in the tree than the presents, take a look at our guide to a cat-proof Christmas tree.
The best gift: time together
In the end, what a cat values most is those ten minutes of play with you every day. And if, after all that rolling around on the blanket, your Christmas jumper ends up covered in hair, the self-cleaning pet hair remover lifts it off clothes, the sofa or blankets with no sticky tape or refills.