Gifts for Cat Lovers (Who Already Own Several Cat Mugs)

Good gifts for cat lovers include a covered bed or useful bowl for the cat, and a cat-themed bag, carved figure or card deck for the person. Choose according to their actual household: a cat with a favourite sleeping spot is a different proposition from someone still waiting to adopt one. Below are ideas for both, sorted by the kind of cat lover you're buying for.

International Cat Day falls on 8 August, but you don't need a date on the calendar to justify a present. You do need to decide who gets to open it.

The one with three cats and no spare sofa cushion

For a household with several cats, choose something that earns its space. A bed gives one cat a place to retreat; a bowl is useful even if every seat in the house has already been claimed.

A covered bed for the cat who likes a hideaway

The Beige and Orange Tent Bed has a wide arched entrance and a padded inner cushion. It's approximately 58 x 58 x 48cm, so check that against the cat's usual sleeping position and the space available at home. The cover can be washed at 30°C after the cushioning is removed through the zipped compartments. That's a more useful detail than any promise that a cat will choose the bed over its delivery box.

Give the owner room to assemble it, shake out the cushion and let any packing creases relax. If you're buying without knowing the cat's size, ask first. A bed is a generous gift, but guessing the measurements isn't.

A bowl with a face beneath dinner

The Stainless Steel Cat Bowl in Stand works for food or water. Its 304 stainless steel bowl lifts out for refilling and cleaning, while pointed ears and whisker details frame a cat face that appears inside as the contents disappear. At approximately 18 x 12.5 x 9cm, it's a gift you can measure against their existing feeding spot rather than hoping it fits.

With more than one cat, check whether the owner has a particular feeding arrangement before adding a bowl. Practical presents are excellent until they create another thing to store in a cupboard.

The future cat owner

Someone who wants a cat but hasn't brought one home yet is easiest to buy for as a person, not as the caretaker of an imaginary pet. Skip the bed measurements and give them a cat they can put on a shelf or take to the shops.

A wooden cat holding a pose

The Handcarved Yoga Cats, Standing figure is carved from Suar wood by Indonesian artisans. Each one varies slightly, even in the same pose, so it feels more personal than another printed slogan. It suits someone whose home already has room for a small ornament but whose landlord, timetable or circumstances haven't quite made room for a real cat.

There's no litter tray to negotiate, either. For now, the shelf is enough.

A black cat they can carry around

The Black Cat Natural Cotton Tote Bag is made from lightweight 4oz cotton and folds flat to keep as a spare for shopping or errands. Its black cat design is playful rather than discreet, so check that the joke suits your recipient before giving it to them. If they're the person who sends you cat photos with ridiculous captions, you've probably got your answer.

For someone getting their first cat, the cat water fountain set pairs a 2.5 litre stainless steel fountain with four spare filters and a printable set-up guide. There's also a version with a raised steel food bowl.

The black cat devotee

For someone who would choose the black cat in every litter, go for a design with a bit more character than a generic paw print. One of these stays on display; the other is for a bath with the door firmly shut.

A black cat carved from stone

The Black Obsidian Lucky Cat is hand-carved, so each glossy figure varies slightly. It's a small choice for a desk or shelf, especially if they like both cat ornaments and crystals. Lucky cats are traditionally kept as symbols of good fortune; the carving makes a thoughtful gift without making any promises about what happens next.

A cat-eyed bath bomb

The Cats Eyes Bath Bomb has a cat's-eye design. Its fruity notes include grape, raspberry, peach and apple, with jasmine and vanilla underneath. It's an 80g present for the person who enjoys a long bath and doesn't require them to find space for another ornament. Halloween is in the product name, but cat eyes don't need an October invitation.

The one who calls their cat a familiar

A cat-themed deck suits someone who enjoys cards, symbolism and the occasional quiet evening at the table. It also gives them something to use when the cat has occupied the only clear space on the sofa.

Playing cards with a second use

The Fortune Cats Playing & Oracle Cards deck has 54 cards. Beckoning cats and torii gates appear across the pastel artwork. They can use it for an ordinary card game or draw a card for reflection. It comes in an illustrated box, which makes wrapping straightforward.

If they're curious about what makes an oracle deck different from tarot, our tarot versus oracle cards guide explains the distinction. No previous card-reading experience is needed to enjoy the artwork or play a game.

The lucky cat collector

For someone who already has a shelf of beckoning cats, choose one with a feature they can actually notice. The moving paw earns its place among the cables.

A waving cat for a bright spot

The Black Mini Solar Money Cat has gold and red detailing and sits inside a clear display box. Its raised paw moves when the solar panel catches natural or bright indoor light, with no batteries needed. Give it a place near a window or another bright spot; a dark bookcase won't show off the wave.

If you'd like to know more about the tradition before you give one, read our guide to lucky waving cats. The story behind the figure makes a better gift note than a claim that it will change anyone's finances.

Before you wrap a cat gift

A little homework matters more than finding the most cat-shaped object in the shop. Check the space, the recipient's taste and, if you're buying for the animal, what the cat already uses.

• Ask about the cat. A photo won't tell you how big it stretches when asleep or whether it ignores covered beds. If you're unsure, buy for the owner instead.
• Don't assume a bed fits every spot. A freestanding tent bed isn't a desk attachment or a window-mounted bed. Measure the floor space and choose a sensible place for it.
• Check the joke. A playful tote suits a different person from a quietly carved wooden figure. Both like cats; they don't necessarily like the same present.
• Keep cat households in mind. Keep bath products out of the cat's reach. Don't put essential oils or burning incense near cats, and leave lilies out of a gift bouquet: lilies are toxic to cats.
• Add a small note. Say why you chose this particular cat. It beats writing "thought of you" on a tag attached to the fourth cat mug they've received this year.

Finding the right one

Buy for the cat only when you know its habits and the space it lives in. Otherwise, a gift the person can use or display is the safer bet. If a covered sleeping spot is what they need, start with our Pet Beds & Tents collection and check the measurements before choosing.