2021 Holiday Round-up: The Non-Crappiest Cat Gifts in the Entire World

Can you believe it? Another holiday season is roaring around the corner. It feels fast, right? Probably because 2020 doesn’t really count and for all intents and purposes didn’t actually happen. I feel like we should all petition the government to have a year docked from our ages. Because that’s how it works, right..? The government controls these things..?

If you’re anything like me, you put off holiday shopping until two days before Christmas day, and then panic-buy some crap on Amazon Prime and pray to the sweet baby Jesus that they’ll arrive in time (of course they won’t). Or you tell your family and friends that there were “shipping delays” and it’s definitely not your fault, because you bought their gift weeks–nay, MONTHS–in advance.

Well, guess what. This is a friendly reminder to get a jump on your holiday shopping, you crazy cat kids! I’ve bemoaned the dearth of non-crappy, non-corny cat stuff in the past, so I’ll spare you more of that bitching here. Instead, I’ve gone ahead and rounded up the latest and greatest and definitely the coolest cat-themed gifts you can possibly find anywhere on the internet. If you want to take a peek at my cat gift round-ups from holiday seasons past, they’re here and here (Just a note, though, that some of the links are broken, since lots of items from years past have sold out or were handmade in limited runs). Really, that just goes to show that the coolest cat gifts in the world are usually handcrafted, because big manufacturers don’t seem to have quite the same grasp on the sweet, quirky whimsy that makes cat parenthood so delightful.

So gird your loins and get ready to squeal with cuteness–some seriously cute cat gifts are headed straight for your face…

Hand-felted wool cat coasters 

I’m unhealthily obsessed with anything crafted in wool felt. I have wool felt house slippers and my cats sleep in wool felt cat beds. It’s only fair that my winter iced coffees (it’s a thing) get the same cozy treatment.

And since we’re on the topic…

Wool felted cat cave

I recommend these every year and will likely never stop. Whether you’re buying for a friend with cats or for an actual cat, you will be hailed as a goddamn hero. If they made these human-sized you’d never see me again.

Custom pet photo pillows 

Let’s face it, cats are narcissists. And we’re their biggest enablers. (Would you really have it any other way?) There’s nothing in the world a cat lover finds more adorable than their own cat, and they’ll fight you if you try to claim otherwise. So don’t fight it. Just go with it.

Chic, non-embarrassing cat sweatshirt

For all the cat lovers and Francophiles in your life. I mean, that venn diagram is basically just a circle.

Handmade blooming tree branch cat tree 

Look at this thing… JUST LOOK AT IT! What cat doesn’t need this? The end.

Hand-crocheted cat doll 

When I’m not being an utterly crazed cat nutter, I’m actually a pretty practical person. Which is why my second impulse after seeing this stuffed cat was, “what is the point of this thing?” (My first impulse was “squeeeee!”) But then I realized – if we weren’t so drawn to useless adorable things, we wouldn’t be cat lovers, would we?

Coffee cup catnip toys 

Catnip is to cats what coffee is to peoples. How hilarious and cute would it be to watch your little gremlins gnawing on and bunny-kicking these sweet stuffed toys while you gnaw on and bunny-kick your morning brew? Priceless fun.

Handmade cat link bracelet

Remember those friendship necklaces from our childhood? Where you wore half of a gold heart around your neck and your bestie wore the other half? This sweet and delicate little piece is kinda like that, except you wear both halves on your wrist because cats really can’t be trusted with jewelry.

Customized cat name ornament 

In the realm of cat-shaped and cat-themed Christmas ornaments, the word “corny” comes to mind… And I know corny. This thing is anything but. It’s wood, laser-cut with custom calligraphy and finished in a pretty metallic sheen of your choice. Meow-y Christmas indeed. (Told you I know corny)

Ceramic tea infuser mug

I’m not really the type of cat nutter who dabbles in cat mugs. (I’m more of a cat art and cat stationery kind of nutter). But this sweet little Japanese cat-inspired mug/infuser combo is just so friggin’ adorable, I almost want to wake up early to start a new morning tea ritual. Almost.

Cat art prints

There are approximately ten million and two cat art prints floating out there in the ether (I counted), but the ones by Exocomic’s Li Chen are my absolute favorite. They’re so sweetly evocative and dreamlike. Go nab you some!!

Milk carton cat house 

Because sometimes our cats just AREN’T CUTE ENOUGH. Right? And they need all the help they can get in that department. Well thank friggin’ heaven for these squidgy Japanese strawberry milk carton houses for them to rest their sweet little noggins in. Are you dying over these? I’m deceased.

And now, last but not least…

Neon cat light

I mean, come on. In the realm of super not-crappy and not-lame cat gifts, this has got to take the cake. There’s nothing chic-er than a sleek, industrial-style neon sign in a residential setting. The cool factor is just undeniable.

Got any other cool things you think should be in this round-up? Hit me with it! I got me some shopping to do.

Read on!

Speaking of the holidays, Make sure your home is cat-safe this time of year

Protect your holiday haul: How to keep your cats from destroying all your stuff

Browse, mouth agape, at my round-up of the Top 10 Most Unexpected Cat Things