Gifts for cat lovers have a shape problem. Walk into any shop and everything is cat shaped. Mugs with ears. Socks with whiskers. A pillow that looks like a loaf of cat. Your friend already owns most of it, usually because three other people had the same idea last year. So this list looks past the ears and shops for the person, and for the life they share with a small, bossy roommate.
Below are six ideas, matched to six kinds of cat person, each with an honest catch. One of them is a memory game made from photos, which we make. The cat will try to sit on it.
The trouble with gifts for cat lovers
Cat novelty gifts are fun for a minute. Then they join the shelf of cat things the owner never asked for. The best gifts start from a different question. What does this person do all day with their cat?
They read with a cat on their lap. They drink coffee while a cat eyes the mug. They take hundreds of photos of a cat who refuses to look at the camera. They brush fur off a black coat every single morning.
Answer that question and you find a gift that fits their real life. It might even look nothing like a cat.
Match the gift to the cat person
1. The reader: a weighted lap blanket
A soft, heavy blanket for long evenings on the couch with a book and a purring cat.
Good for: homebodies and anyone with a cold apartment.
The catch: within a day the cat will decide the blanket belongs to the cat.
2. The coffee drinker: a mug with a lid
A good insulated mug with a lid that clicks shut. Cats love to knock full cups off tables. Now they can try.
Good for: anyone who has lost a full morning coffee to a curious paw.
The catch: the cat will now push the mug off the table anyway, just to make a point.
3. The photographer: a memory game made from cat photos
Their phone holds four thousand photos of the cat. Pick the best dozen. The kitten days, the box that was too small, the face it makes at the vacuum. Matchy Matchy Memory turns them into a matching card game, from $19.99.
Good for: cat people with roommates, kids or friends who come over for game night.
The catch: it's a game, so it shines when there's someone to play with. And the cat will lie down on the cards mid round.
4. The one in black clothes: a serious lint kit
A heavy duty lint roller, a fabric shaver and a reusable fur brush for the couch.
Good for: anyone with a white cat and a dark wardrobe, or the other way around.
The catch: it looks like a joke gift. They will use it every day and thank you quietly.
5. The plant lover: pet friendly houseplants
A small set of houseplants that are generally listed as safe around cats, in pots on a high shelf.
Good for: cat owners who gave up on plants after the last one got chewed.
The catch: check each plant against a pet safety list first. The cat will still dig in the soil.
6. The traveler: a few days of cat sitting
Offer to feed, water and entertain the cat while they take a trip. Write it on a card with your phone number.
Good for: cat people who have not been away in years.
The catch: the cat will ignore you completely, then sit on your laptop.
Why a cat deck works, even for aloof cats
Cats rarely perform on command. A memory game lets them show off anyway. Every flipped card is a greatest hit. The sleepy one. The one in the laundry basket. The one where the cat is clearly plotting something.
Friends who visit will play just to see the cat cards. Kids love hunting for the kitten pair. The cat cards will get named, ranked and argued over.
For a twist, Matchy Matchy Magic re-draws the photos in 3D Film, Watercolor or Anime, from $29.99. A cat drawn as an Anime hero looks exactly as dramatic as it thinks it is.
How to photograph a cat on its own terms
- Wait for the window. Cats love a sunny sill. The light there is the best in the house.
- Get down low. Shoot from the cat's eye level, from the floor if you have to.
- Use the toy trick. Dangle a feather right above the phone for one second of eye contact.
- Go for the face. A close crop of eyes and whiskers reads best on a card.
- Ask for the archive. The best kitten photos are on their phone. Ask a partner or roommate to send a few.
You upload from your phone and pick every photo yourself, so the blurry tail never makes it in. You see your first card before you pay.
A gentle idea for someone missing a cat
Some cat lovers are between cats, or saying goodbye to an old friend. A gift made from photos can be a kind way to keep that cat around. Ask a family member for a few favorite pictures, and keep the tone warm and simple. A handwritten note about your own favorite memory of the cat goes a long way.
Make one for the cat person
Pick the best cat photos you can find. Choose real or re-drawn. Choose 12, 24 or 48 cards. Check your first card before you pay. Shipping is $5, and free when you order 2 or more decks. US only, ships in 3 to 5 business days.
Start with Matchy Matchy Memory for the real cat, or Matchy Matchy Magic to see the cat re-drawn. Questions? Write to us at hello@matchygame.com.