Gifts for Cats (and the People Who Love Them)

The best gifts for cats feed the instincts veterinary guidelines describe: a sturdy scratching post, a high perch or hiding spot, toys that move like prey, and a puzzle feeder. The ASPCA advises skipping ribbon, yarn and anything long and stringy.

Edible gifts count too. The World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) keeps all extras under 10% of a cat's daily calories. Below is what to look for in each kind of gift, and why.

What makes good gifts for cats?

The feline environmental needs guidelines from the American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP) and the International Society of Feline Medicine are a useful shopping list. They set out five "pillars" of a healthy home for a cat.

• a safe place to retreat to, often raised
• several separate spots for food, water, litter, scratching, play and rest
• chances to play and to hunt
• positive, consistent and predictable time with people
• respect for how much a cat relies on smell

The third pillar is where most gifts fit. Here is a fact that explains a lot: the guidelines note that a cat hunting for itself may eat 10 to 20 small prey a day, and that up to half of its hunts may fail.

That is a lot of stalking, chasing and pouncing. The guidelines add that predatory behavior occurs even in well-fed cats, so a full bowl does not switch the urge off. A good toy gives it somewhere to go.

Which cat toys are safest?

The AAFP guidelines suggest moving a wand toy with fur or feathers like flying prey, swooping through the air, or like ground prey darting away in a straight line. Then let your cat catch it, so the game ends with a capture.

Their other toy advice reads like a buying checklist:

• toys a cat can bat with a paw or carry in its mouth, and toys that can hold food
• large, soft toys that can be raked and bitten
• no small parts that could be swallowed, and no bells, or remove them before unsupervised play
• put away any toy with string after play
• rotate toys, which the guidelines say helps prevent habituation and boredom

For kittens, the guidelines advise size-appropriate toys and puzzle feeders, and note that kittens generally need more intense, longer play. Older cats still need to play, though the type and intensity may need adjusting.

The ASPCA's holiday suggestion is a stuffed catnip toy or a ball that is too big to swallow. If catnip is new to your household, our guide to is catnip safe for kittens covers the basics.

Is a scratching post or cat tree worth it?

Usually, yes. The AAFP's Claw Friendly toolkit describes scratching as a normal feline behavior, used to mark territory by scent and sight as well as to keep claws in shape.

The toolkit draws on a 2016 owner survey in the Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery. In it, the ideal post was a simple upright structure with two or three levels, at least 3 feet tall, and taller than the cat at full stretch.

• The toolkit says vertical posts must be sturdy and reach above the cat's stretched-out height.
• Texture matters. Cats 9 and under preferred sisal rope, then carpet, then cardboard. Cats over 9 preferred carpet first.
• Offer both vertical and horizontal scratchers if you can.
• Placement matters as much as the post: near a window, and near sleeping spots, because many cats scratch and stretch after a nap.

For perches, the environmental guidelines advise shelves wide and long enough for a cat to stretch out fully. A slight hammock-style dip in the middle helps a cat feel hidden.

A cheaper safe place works too. The guidelines describe a cardboard box placed on its side, with a perch on top, as a spot where a cat feels safe and secure. Our guide to does my cat need a cat tree goes further.

What should stay out of the gift pile?

The ASPCA advises against ribbons, yarn and other long, stringy playthings, which it says can get stuck in the intestines. A separate ASPCA article explains why: string and yarn can catch and pull the intestines together like a drawstring.

It also notes that tinsel is especially attractive to cats, because it sparkles and is easy to carry, and suggests decorating with something else. Our guide on how to cat-proof a Christmas tree covers the tree itself.

WSAVA's handout lists foods that should not go anywhere near a cat's stocking:

• onions, leeks, shallots, garlic and chives
• grapes, raisins, currants and sultanas
• chocolate
• xylitol, a sweetener
• alcohol and raw yeast dough
• coffee, tea and energy drinks
• milk and dairy products, because many cats are lactose intolerant

The ASPCA also reminds you that pets can smell food inside wrapped presents, so keep wrapped food and candy off the floor.

WSAVA adds that bones, cooked or raw, can be very dangerous for cats, and that any edible extra should be a size and shape that lowers the risk of choking.

Call your vet promptly if:

• you think your cat has swallowed string, ribbon, thread or tinsel
• your cat got into any of the foods on the list above

The ASPCA's advice is to contact your vet or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at 888-426-4435 straight away if your cat may have been exposed to anything potentially dangerous.

What about gifts for the people who love them?

The fourth pillar in the AAFP guidelines is positive, predictable time with people. The guidelines note that many cats prefer frequent, low-intensity contact. Short daily play with a wand toy is a gift for both of you.

A good carrier is another. The guidelines describe a carrier left out where a cat can reach it as a portable safe place that smells familiar, which can ease the stress of travel and vet visits.

They suggest avoiding carriers that offer no cover, such as open wire cages, or draping a blanket over part of one. Our cat carrier training guide explains how to get a cat used to it.

Can I give my cat food as a gift?

You can, within limits. WSAVA's handout on extras for cats says they should make up less than 10% of daily calories and should never replace a meal.

WSAVA's table, based on an average healthy adult cat at an ideal weight, gives these daily maximums (pounds converted by us):

Cat's weight	Most calories a day from extras
2.5 kg (about 5.5 lb)	18 kcal
4 kg (about 8.8 lb)	22 kcal
5 kg (about 11 lb)	25 kcal
7 kg (about 15.4 lb)	28 kcal

WSAVA counts snacks, chews and supplements in that 10%. It suggests asking the manufacturer for calorie information if the label does not state it, and asking your vet what amount suits your own cat.

A puzzle feeder is one food-related gift that adds no calories at all. The AAFP guidelines suggest puzzle feeders, hiding food in several spots and tossing kibble to chase, so a cat works for part of its usual meal.

For an edible gift, one option is the Choolip Trial Box, labeled for cats and dogs. It holds a Variety Pouch of seven lickable Squeeze Vita Sticks, two Total Balance Jumbo sticks and two Berry Good Milk, a milk with the lactose broken down.

The product page lists the Squeeze Vita Sticks for pets from 12 months old, so they are not for kittens. Each extra counts toward the 10% above.

Questions new cat parents ask

What do cats like as gifts?

The AAFP guidelines point to things that let a cat hunt, scratch, climb and hide: wand toys, sturdy scratching posts, perches and puzzle feeders.

Are catnip toys a safe gift?

The ASPCA suggests a stuffed catnip toy or a ball too big to swallow as a safer choice than ribbons or yarn.

How many extras can a cat have over the holidays?

WSAVA's limit is under 10% of daily calories, which is about 22 kcal a day for a 4 kg cat. The limit does not change for the holidays.

Can a kitten have the same toys as an adult cat?

The AAFP guidelines advise size-appropriate toys for kittens and say toys with string should be put away after play, whatever the cat's age.

Sources

• Ellis SLH, Rodan I, et al. AAFP and ISFM Feline Environmental Needs Guidelines. Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery, 2013
• American Association of Feline Practitioners: Claw Friendly Educational Toolkit
• WSAVA: Feeding treats to your cat
• ASPCA: Keep Your Pets Safe This Holiday Season With These Tips
• ASPCA: Holiday Safety Tips
• ASPCA: These Popular Hobbies Could Pose a Threat to Pets
• ASPCA: Keeping Your Foster Cats Out of Trouble

This article is for general information and is not veterinary advice. Talk to your vet about your own cat — they know the animal in front of them.