Cats provide us with endless entertainment and love and ask for little in return. As a devoted cat parent, you’ve probably searched for the ideal gift for your favorite feline. From toys, supplies, beds, and fancy treats, the choices for cat gifts are staggering. Examining multiple products can take up a sizable portion of your downtime.
Whether you’re looking for a high-end gift or an inexpensive toy, we’ve found several products that can make your search less agonizing. Here is our list of best gift ideas for cats that includes detailed reviews and a buyer’s guide.
A Quick Glance At Our Favorites of 2023
Image Product Details
Best Overall
Hepper Pod Cat Bed
Cozy fleece lining
Attractive design
Durable material resists scratching
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Best Value
Pet Fit Feather Wand Cat Toy
Affordable
Three toys in one
Comfortable handle
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Premium Choice
Whisker Self-Cleaning Cat Litter
Reduces odors
Keeps litter area clean
Conserves litter
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Frisco Cat Tracks Butterfly Toy
Three levels of play
Butterfly toy on top
Suited for multiple kittens
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Frisco Laser & LED Light Cat Toy
Three light modes
Includes replacement batteries
Encourages physical activity
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The 10 Best Gift Ideas for Cats
Gift Type: Cat bed
Price Range: Pricey
Color: Dark gray
The Hepper Pod Bed is our winner for the overall best cat gift. The cat-approved bed is perfect for the cat in your life that enjoys snoozing in an enclosed space. The fuzzy fleece keeps your feline warm in the colder months and cool in the summer. The large access door is great for larger cats. Unlike many of its competitors, the Pod Bed does not stick out like a sore thumb in your living room. Its subtle design will not clash with your furnishings, and it’s small enough to fit in any space.
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The bed’s frame is reinforced and it’s rigid enough to take abuse from a kitty that likes to scratch. We liked this bed more than the other designs, but it is a bit more expensive than some of the less durable beds. However, the top-of-the-line cat beds cost as much as human furniture, so the Pod Bed falls into the low to medium range of cat bed prices.
Pros
Cozy fleece lining
Attractive design
Durable material resists scratching
Cons
Expensive
Gift Type: Wand toy
Price Range: Low
Color: Red/purple
When you’re looking for an inexpensive, simple gift for your cat, you can try the Pet Fit For Life 2 Feather Wand. It claimed the prize for our best cat gift for the money. Although the Feather Wand costs less than a movie ticket, it includes several features not usually included in the standard wand toy. It contains a red feather toy, a purple feather toy, and a bell. Most cats love feathers, but it doesn’t take long for the toy to become shredded. Luckily, your cat will have two feathers to destroy and a chiming bell.
Cozy fleece lining
Attractive design
Durable material resists scratching
- Cozy fleece lining
- Attractive design
- Durable material resists scratching
Expensive
- Expensive
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The wand is much longer than most competitors, and you can lounge back in your chair or couch while your cat frantically tries to grab the toy. It has a comfortable handle constructed of soft foam that prevents hand fatigue during long play sessions. The feather attaches to the pole with a metal fastener, and you have to be careful not to whack your cat in the face with the eyelet.
Pros
Affordable
Three toys in one
Comfortable handle
Durable wand
Cons
Metal eyelet can injure your cat
Gift Type: Automated litterbox
Price Range: Very high
Color: Gray, beige
Automatic litterboxes have been on the market for decades, but the Whisker Litter-Robot WiFi Self-Cleaning Cat Litter Box is an advanced device that may be the Rolls Royce of litterboxes. Our premium pick for best cat gifts is not suited for cat owners on a budget, but it effectively reduces tracking and keeps your litter area clean. The manufacturer claims that using its machine can reduce your litter usage by 50% since it does not need to be scooped. The waste collection drawer is made with a carbon filter to reduce lingering odors, and the drawer is covered with a lid after the waste is dumped.
Affordable
Three toys in one
Comfortable handle
Durable wand
- Affordable
- Three toys in one
- Comfortable handle
- Durable wand
Metal eyelet can injure your cat
- Metal eyelet can injure your cat
The unit is designed to be used by up to 4 felines, and it connects to an app that lets you to monitor the amount of waste in the drawer. Although it’s a premium litter box that does an admirable job, some cat owners may have problems fitting it in a tight space. It’s an immense machine, but if you have the space and access to an outlet, the Litter-Robot may be for you.
Pros
Reduces odors
Keeps litter area clean
Conserves litter
Can be used by up to 4 cats
Cons
Bulky design
Requires an electrical outlet
Gift Type: Track toy
Price Range: Low
Color: Light blue
Kittens spend even more of their time sleeping than adult cats, but when they’re awake, they’re moving at full blast. Without a toy to hold their attention, they may choose to release their unrelenting energy on your furniture. With the Frisco Cat Tracks Butterfly Cat Toy, you can keep your little animal busy for hours without lifting a hand. The three-tier toy comes with three rubber boys, a butterfly toy, and a backup butterfly. If you have several kittens, each kitty can bat the ball around a separate track, making it our best cat gift pick for kittens.
Reduces odors
Keeps litter area clean
Conserves litter
Can be used by up to 4 cats
- Reduces odors
- Keeps litter area clean
- Conserves litter
- Can be used by up to 4 cats
Bulky design
Requires an electrical outlet
- Bulky design
- Requires an electrical outlet
Although the Cat Tracks is excellent for multi-kitten homes, it’s not large enough to accommodate several adult cats. We liked the extra butterfly since some cats are fond of destroying their toys in a matter of days. However, some customers complained that the butterflies were not durable enough to last for very long.
Pros
Three levels of play
Butterfly toy on top
Suited for multiple kittens
Cons
Butterfly is not durable
Not made for multiple adult cats
Gift Type: Laser toy
Price Range: Very low
Color: Red
Playing with your cat is usually an amusing experience, but sometimes you’re feeling lazy and less willing to participate. With the Frisco 2-in-1 Laser & LED Light Cat Toy, you can lay back and watch your feline dance around the room. The light has a strobe, pulse, and steady light setting that lets you change up the game to keep your feline entertained. It includes three backup batteries in addition to the installed ones. Moving the red beam around the room gives your kitty quite a workout.
Three levels of play
Butterfly toy on top
Suited for multiple kittens
- Three levels of play
- Butterfly toy on top
- Suited for multiple kittens
Butterfly is not durable
Not made for multiple adult cats
- Butterfly is not durable
- Not made for multiple adult cats
For the price, few toys can amuse your cat as long as Frisco’s laser. However, the toy is not very durable, and some customers complained that the beam was not bright enough to attract their cats. It’s not heavy-duty, but at least it’s not expensive to replace.
Pros
Three light modes
Includes replacement batteries
Encourages physical activity
Cons
Not durable
Beam fades over time
Can be harmful if shined in eyes
Gift Type: Water bowl
Price Range: High
Color: Charcoal, blue, red, pink
If your cat makes a mess every time it takes a drink, you can use the Torus Filtered Dog and Cat Water Bowl to keep your floor clean and dry. The water bowl has a 2-liter reservoir that releases a small pool of water to minimize splashing. It uses a replaceable filter to keep the water safe and fresh. It’s made of BPA-free food-grade plastic, and it’s heavy enough to prevent your kitty from knocking it over or playing with it. You can lock the water in the reservoir by turning the knob when traveling with the bowl. If you’re stopped at a rest stop to give your cat food and water, the Torus can rest on a car seat without spilling a drop.
Three light modes
Includes replacement batteries
Encourages physical activity
- Three light modes
- Includes replacement batteries
- Encourages physical activity
Not durable
Beam fades over time
Can be harmful if shined in eyes
- Not durable
- Beam fades over time
- Can be harmful if shined in eyes
The Torus effectively prevents splashing, but it costs more than a standard water bowl. You have to buy six filters every 6 months, and some customers mentioned that the plastic knob you turn to release water and fill the reservoir wears out quickly.
Pros
Great for messy cats
Eliminates floor puddles
Ideal for traveling
Cons
Expensive
Reservoir knob is not durable
Gift Type: Catnip/Silver vine mix
Price Range: Low
Color: Green/brown
Catnip provides temporary euphoria for felines who sniff it and sedation to those that ingest it. However, some cats are unaffected by the plant and may ignore it entirely. With From The Field Ultimate Blend Catnip & Silver Vine Mix, you can motivate your cat to exercise and use it as a training tool to help your cat warm up to a bed or toy. The manufacturer claims that the herbal blend may affect cats that are usually resistant to catnip. A dried fruit called Silver Vine that’s related to the Kiwi fruit is mixed with catnip to create a more potent blend.
Great for messy cats
Eliminates floor puddles
Ideal for traveling
- Great for messy cats
- Eliminates floor puddles
- Ideal for traveling
Expensive
Reservoir knob is not durable
- Expensive
- Reservoir knob is not durable
The mixture is made to be safe for your cat, but like ordinary catnip, it can cause vomiting if your cat eats too much. Although a few customers mentioned that the blend did not affect their cats, most cat owners seemed satisfied with the silver vine mixture. The primary drawback of the product is the packaging. The flimsy plastic container can crack and break when shipped.
Pros
Affordable
Encourages physical activity
Cons
Flimsy packaging
May not affect all cats
Messy
Gift Type: Litter cabinet
Price Range: High
Color: White
The litter box area in your home is usually not the first place you show your new guests during a tour. Most litter boxes are not aesthetically pleasing or kind to your nose, but the Merry Products Cat Washroom Bench Decorative Litter Box Cover & Storage hides your kitty’s toilet and reduces the urine and feces odors. The white cabinet looks like an ordinary white bench or cabinet, but the interior has one section for storage and one to hold the litter box. The manufacturer claims the unit is large enough to hold automatic models and standard litter boxes.
Affordable
Encourages physical activity
- Affordable
- Encourages physical activity
Flimsy packaging
May not affect all cats
Messy
- Flimsy packaging
- May not affect all cats
- Messy
Although the Washroom can cut down on odors and mess, it’s not easy to clean if your cat misses the box. For elderly cats, the Washroom may be difficult to enter from the small hole, but healthy adult cats and kittens should not have any problems. One common complaint with the Washroom is the assembly process. For some cat lovers, the product took a long time to construct.
Pros
Hides unsightly litter boxes
Controls odors
Cons
Lengthy assembly process
Difficult for mature cats
Hard to clean
Gift Type: Auto feeder
Price Range: High
Color: White
When you have several pets in your home and experience problems with them stealing food, you can use the Surefeed Microchip Small Dog and Cat Feeder to keep invaders away from your feline’s bowl. The Surefeed responds to your cat’s microchip and raises a cover to reveal the food. If your pet is chipless, you can use the microchip collar included in the package. The feeder keeps the food from being exposed to insects and other wandering animals, and you can program it to accept 32 different microchips.
Hides unsightly litter boxes
Controls odors
- Hides unsightly litter boxes
- Controls odors
Lengthy assembly process
Difficult for mature cats
Hard to clean
- Lengthy assembly process
- Difficult for mature cats
- Hard to clean
The feeder keeps food fresher by closing the lid after each visit from your cat, but it’s not designed as a travel feeder that you can leave when you go out of town. Although you can put wet food in the feeder, we do not recommend leaving it in the feeder for several hours. It keeps dust and bugs away, but it cannot keep wet food from going bad. It’s a helpful device for multi-pet families, but it may take time for your cat to get used to the lid raising and lowering. Skittish cats may be scared off by the device.
Pros
Prevents food theft from other pets
Keeps insects from crawling in the food bowl.
Cons
Expensive
Food capacity is limited
May scare timid cats
Gift Type: DNA test
Price Range: High
Color: N/A
If you’re looking for a unusual gift for your feline or a friend’s pet, you can try the Wisdom Panel Complete DNA Test. After wiping the interior of the cat’s cheeks with a swab, you can mail it off for analysis. The test results will arrive in a few weeks and display the cat’s heritage, health risks, and traits. You may find out that the purebred cat you adopted actually has a mixed heritage. Since very few companies test animal DNA, the Wisdom Panel is expensive, but most customers were happy with the analysis. Convincing a cat to let you repeatedly rub its cheeks is a challenging feat, and you may need assistance to get the samples.
Prevents food theft from other pets
Keeps insects from crawling in the food bowl.
- Prevents food theft from other pets
- Keeps insects from crawling in the food bowl.
Expensive
Food capacity is limited
May scare timid cats
- Expensive
- Food capacity is limited
- May scare timid cats
Discovering your cat’s heritage is interesting, but the medical condition testing is the highlight of the product. You’ll be able to determine if your cat is susceptible to any serious conditions.
Pros
Determines breed and potential health conditions
Results come in a few weeks
Cons
Expensive
New product with few reviews
Swabbing a cat’s cheeks is difficult
Buyer’s Guide: Finding The Best Gift Ideas for Cats
With a multitude of products to examine, best cat gift shopping can be an arduous task. Like the cat food industry, the pet product industry seems to grow every month with new merchants entering the market. The products we reviewed represent a small portion of what’s available, but we believe they’re some of the top products to buy for felines. We included a mixture of toys, equipment, and accessories in a wide range of price ranges. If you’re not convinced the products are right for your cat, you can study these tips on navigating the vast online market for the best cat gift ideas.
Determines breed and potential health conditions
Results come in a few weeks
- Determines breed and potential health conditions
- Results come in a few weeks
Expensive
New product with few reviews
Swabbing a cat’s cheeks is difficult
- Expensive
- New product with few reviews
- Swabbing a cat’s cheeks is difficult
Cat Gift Price
When you’re going through gift ideas for best cat gifts, you can spend a couple of dollars or a few hundred. If you’re looking for an inexpensive gift, a wand toy, catnip toy, or laser are your cheapest options. Most inexpensive toys are not very durable and must be replaced when damaged. Cat beds and premium water bowls are excellent mid-range gifts, and if you’re prepared to spend a bundle, you can purchase an automatic litter box, deluxe cat tree, or a cat bed designed to resemble a space pod.
Manufacturer Reputation
Checking on a company’s reputation is a good way to ensure your feline receives a quality product. In addition to examining the product description on a merchant’s page, you can check the manufacturer’s website for customer comments and additional product details. Sometimes, a company removes all of the negative reviews from its site. This makes it challenging to form an opinion on a product, but you can type in the product’s name followed by “reviews” in a search engine to find off-site reviews.
Customer Service
When you read comments, look at what consumers say about the manufacturer’s customer service. Can you contact them with a phone number, or do you have to wait for an email response? Businesses that only supply an email address are harder to reach, and you may have to wait days or weeks for an answer. One warning sign to look out for is a customer comment that mentions the company offered to pay them to change their review and low rating. Customer bribes are not uncommon, but they violate the agreements between the merchant and the e-commerce site. Some customers have even been harassed repeatedly with emails when they refuse to change a bad review.
Safety Concerns
Product safety is always a concern when shopping for your cat, and nearly every manufacturer will add warnings about the proper use of their product. Read the safety warnings carefully to determine if your feline is at risk of injury from using the product. Inexpensive toys are one group of products that often have warnings about discarding the toys if they’re damaged. The remnants of a broken toy could be a choking hazard to your cat or cause digestive problems.
Age of the Cat
Spoiling your cat with a present shows your cat how much you care, but be sure to take the feline’s age into account when you’re shopping for gifts. Depending on their size, healthy adult cats can typically use any cat product safely, but kittens and senior cats are limited in what they can use. For instance, a floor-to-ceiling cat tree may be appropriate for a 3-year-old cat, but it would not be a good gift for a 15-year-old feline with arthritis.
Cat Behavior and Preferences
We all know how picky our furry friends are, and you have to take the cat’s personality into consideration when shopping for gifts. Will your lazy cat chase a laser beam around the room, or would it prefer to roll around on the floor with a catnip toy? Some cat owners have basements full of failed cat toys (and human toys), and it’s frustrating to waste money on a product that’s ignored.
Holiday Discounts
You can search for promotional deals and online coupons to save money on your cat gifts, and during the holidays, you can find even more deals on pet products. The holiday season is the best time to find discounts and take advantage of introductory offers. Check the product’s website for more information about first-time buyer discounts and reduced subscription rates.
Conclusion
Finding the perfect cat gift may not be as easy as it seems, but we hope our reviews and guide have helped make your search a little less time-consuming. Our pick for the overall best gift idea for cats is the Hepper Pod Bed. The cozy fleece lining can take abuse from destructive kitties and provide a secluded escape for napping. The Pet Fit for Life wand toy is our winner for the best cat toy for the money. Unlike most wands, the Pet Fit has an extra-long wand and includes three toys.
Featured Image Credit: Pixabay
