Do you have friends or family members who have recently adopted a new cat or kitten?
You’d like to give a gift for their new family member, but you don’t know what to choose!
I asked cat lovers and pet professionals from across the country for their suggestions.
Renée Lang Parker (Oregon) A really good litter scoop. I had one that was powder-coated aluminum and it was so easy to clean up and it never broke. It cost less than $15 and it will last nine lifetimes. Also, go to a home improvement store and buy a small mortar tub. Bigger than a litter box and the sides are sloped for easier cleaning. Less than $10 for that. I have been and will always be an indoor cat owner. They live longer, nature isn’t impacted, and with some time and imagination [on your part], they can be quite happy.
Abigail Witthauer (Alabama) A very large, uncovered box for litter and high-quality unscented clumping litter. I think most new cat owners don’t realize how important large, uncovered boxes are to cat happiness and health. I know I didn’t!!
Megan Cuilla (Washington) A FURminator de-shedding tool and a pack of lint rollers. The FURminator is an essential grooming item that works great. The lint rollers are for the human.
Photo by Megan Cuilla
Summer Storm Kingery DVM (North Carolina) Even a lot of experienced cat owners don’t have a great grasp on their cat’s behavior. These books help new and experienced owners start off on the right foot and build a strong bond with their cat.
▪ Think Like a Cat: How to Raise a Well-Adjusted Cat—Not a Sour Puss
by Pam Johnson-Bennett
▪ CatWise: America’s Favorite Cat Expert Answers Your Cat Behavior Questions
by Pam Johnson-Bennett
Inna Krasnovsky (New York) A Jackson Galaxy cat book.
Alicia Graybill (Nebraska) A Jackson Galaxy book and a really good litter scoop. The book because he offers insight not just on cat behavior but also on how to adjust their environment to make them comfortable.
Jeanne Brennan (California) I would give the gift of at least two cardboard scratchers. I think the importance [of scratchers] is overlooked, and [inappropriate scratching] is possibly the number-one reason cats get returned to my shelter (if not improper elimination, which can be for a number of reasons). One simple scratcher style—PrimePets Cat Scratcher Cardboard, Removable Cat Scratching Pad with Ball, 2-in-1 Corrugated Cat Scratch Lounge Sofa (Catnip Included). Another favorite cat scratcher—the Bergan TurboScratcher.
If there is already a resident cat in the household where the new cat is going, I’d give Feliway (Diffuser for Constant Calming & Comfort), a “Da Bird” toy, and the kitty crack known as Greenies treats Flavor Fusion. Then [I’d give the humans] a talk on how to use these things after the week to 10 days (or more) separation period [of the new cat from the resident cat].
Michel Berner (Wisconsin) Cats seem to come in two types, the tree dweller and the bush dweller. Know the cat’s preference, either for climbing poles/perches, or for smaller cave-type enclosures.
Also, a Doc & Phoebe’s Indoor Hunting Cat Feeder is a must have! You fill the plastic “mice” with cat kibble or treats, and hide them around the house for the cat to “hunt”!
Janet Velenovsky (Virginia) Egg-Cersizer Interactive Toy and Food Dispenser!
Lynn Bahr (Georgia) Trixie Cat Feeder Activity Center!
Ingrid Bock (New York) Either cat dancers or really high-quality catnip toys.
Jeanne Brennan (California) Da Bird is truly the greatest cat toy ever! It helped me to exercise my 23-pound boy that needed to lose weight, and it also works great for my cat that had to become a strictly indoor cat. She could snag hummingbirds right out of the air, and this thing actually sounds like a bird in the air sometimes!
Da Bird—Best Cat Toy Review
Christine Hale Vertucci (Illinois) Cat kicker toy, especially for rowdy adolescent cats that like to grab and kick with their back paws. [Kicker toys] are great, and an excellent way to redirect those back paws.
Lori Leah Monet DVM (Colorado) Patience and a sense of humor. Cats are not from this world. They are little aliens who defy all rules, natural and man-made.
Toys that you could use:
▪ Cat Dancer (greatest invention for pets since KONGs for dogs) or simply a wire with paper attached to each end.
▪ Laser pointer. Never had a cat ignore that!
▪ Finally, a cardboard box. Upgrade to a small hole on one side for the cat to reach through. Throw away whatever came in it . . . no matter what you paid!
However big or small your budget, there are many choices of great gifts for cats!
