Holiday Gift Guide for Cats – 2017
What to give the feline in your life who already has everything.
With the winter holiday season in full swing, you might be looking for unique but useful gift ideas for the cats and cat lovers in your life. Fortunately, cats are not nearly as difficult to figure out as people since they tend to live by the premise “Eat, Sleep, Play.” Keep them busy when they’re awake, satisfy their instinctual needs (such as hunting and playing), and give them plenty of quiet time to get their 17 hours of sleep in each day, and you’ll have healthy, happy cats who adore you. Here are my favorite gifts that can satisfy cats’ instinctual needs.
Eat
Loving Pet Cat Bowls: These cat-specific bowls will help keep your felines feeding area neat and tidy and are stylish enough to complement your home’s design. The bowls are available in several styles—Bella, Le Bol (image right) and Robusto—and are designed to be durable and affordable.
Beco Pet Cat Bowl: The Beco Bowl for cats features a low rim that keeps your cat’s sensitive whiskers from brushing up against the sides, making dinner time that much enjoyable. Made from bamboo resin, the inexpensive bowls are durable and eco-friendly, and come in five colors: pink, green, blue, tan and natural.
Sleep
Pet Tree Houses: These tree houses are designed to make your cat feel like she is in the great outdoors. Made from real dragonwood and embellished with silk foliage, they simulate the experience of being in a real tree—without the problems of getting back out of it . While expensive, the trees are incredibly durable and look so natural that visitors likely won’t notice your cat napping in the uppermost branches.
K&H Self-Warming Cat Beds: These self-warming beds and mats are washable, durable and feature an internal thermal layer that helps your cat maintain their own body heat. They come in several colors and a variety of styles, including Kitty Sack, Lounge Sleeper, Nuzzle Next, Kitty Bed Hooded, Bolster Bed and Pet Pad.
Play
Neko Flies Wand Toys: These wand toys can get practically any cat moving, no matter what he or she enjoys chasing after. The specially designed rod (image below) takes interactive play to a whole new level, while the range of easily interchangeable, enticing lures that mimic live prey will help keep your cat perpetually entertained.
Bavarian Cat Toys: If your cat doesn’t respond to catnip, you might consider trying valerian root, which some cats enjoy. These soft toys are filled with valerian and spelt, and come in a variety of shapes, including Baldi-Mouse, Cat Face Willy, Fred Fox and Welli-Fish.
And for the Cat Lover…
Soap for People Who Love Cats: This gift box from AZ Soapworks is a fantastic option for any cat lover in your life. The kit includes a (cat-approved) bar of handmade soap (for the human), Kitty Balm (a fun take on “tiger balm”) to treat the occasional cat-induced injury, and Kokum Lotion (a unique blend of premium ingredients such as kokum butter and aloe vera to help heal chapped hands. Prices begin as low as $5 on up to $25 for the cat-lovers kit.
Cat-inspired Accessories: Triple T Studios offers a range of unique cat-themed items, including beautiful cat-inspired jewelry. Whether you’re looking cat-inspired, scarves, hair ties, socks or beautiful handbags, you’re sure to find something for your favorite ailurophile. Prices range from $4 on up to $100.
Great Reads for People who Love Cats
Total Cat Mojo: Help your cats harness their mojo with Jackson Galaxy in his newest release. Total Cat Mojo is your guide to better understanding your cat.
Shop Cats of New York:
This coffee-table style book is a beautiful look at cats who dwell in New York’s most coziest spots: bookstores, bars, bike shops and bodegas. They have not only taken up residence, they have attained a type of celebrity status around the Big Apple. You’ll love the fun stories and beautiful photos.
Cute Cats 2018 Cat Coloring Book Calendar Notebook: Finally, for the cat lover who has everything, why not pick up the 2018 Cute Cats Coloring Book Calendar? This fun notebook and calendar lets you plan, doodle and color your days away. It’s the perfect gift for a person who loves cats.
About the Author: Stacy Mantle is a fulltime freelance writer, bestselling author and founder of PetsWeekly.com. She resides in the deserts of the Southwest with a few dogs, several cats and a very understanding husband.
Every dog and cat, whether naughty or nice, deserves a fun and festive holiday toy and West Paw Design has new ones for dogs and one for cats. The white-and-white striped Holiday Bear comes in two sizes (9 in. and 6 in.), contains a squeaker for extra fun. The soft and cuddly Holiday Stocking and Holiday Mitten are ideal for play or nap time; both are 6 inches in size. The bright-red Holiday Star is a soft, plush squeaker toy, 4 inches in size. In addition to the three new toys, the holiday line for dogs includes reindeer, gingerbread men, candy canes, Christmas trees and merry bones. For cats, West Paw Design offers the new Catnip Star. Hand-filled with USDA-certified organic catnip, your cat will love batting around and snuggling with the soft, Christmas-green toy. If you really want to spoil your cat, consider getting her a Holiday Field Mouse and/or a Holiday Big Sky Mouse as well. 
Zuke’s PureNZ Jerky Dog Treats are handcrafted in small batches from New Zealand sourced ingredients. Every pouch contains 80 to 90 percent real meat protein, such as grass-feed beef, green-lipped mussels, salmon and whitefish, along with high-quality fruits and vegetables. The limited-ingredient dog treats are available in four forms: 4-calorie Bites in Beef with Rabbit, Beef with Lamb and Beef with Venison recipes; soft, Cords in Beef & Turkey, Beef & Chicken and Beef & Duck recipes; thin-sliced Cuts in Beef with Salmon, Beef with Whitefish and Beef with Green Lipped Mussel recipes; and Steaks in Beef with Carrot, Beef with Potato and Beef with Sweet Potato recipes. Each form and recipe comes in 5-oz. resealable bags. 
Pamper your finicky felines this holiday season with Soft ‘n Tasty Baked Bites cat treats from Caru Pet Food. The first ingredient in these small-sized baked bits is USDA-inspected meat—chicken, chicken liver, salmon. Other beneficial ingredients include chickpeas, chicken broth and fish oil. The grain- and soy-free tidbits are formulated without any artificial colors, flavors or preservatives. Made in the USA by a family-owned company, the treats come in two recipes: Chicken and Salmon. 
Does your dog like to chew on toys? If yes, then KONG Dotz dog toys just might end up on your holiday shopping list. The interactive toys come in three shapes—circle, square and triangle—and feature layered textures (the dots) that will entice and delight the most eager of canine chewers. The toys’ playful, unpredictable bounce keeps dogs guessing as to where they’ll land next, while the nubby dots help keep dogs’ teeth and gums clean and healthy. To see the toys in action, click 
Keep your cats entertained—and away from the holiday decorations—with Coastal Pet Products’ Turbo Random Roller Cat Toy. Measuring 22-in. round, the interactive toy is designed to offer your cat (or cats) hours of mental stimulation and physical fun. The unpredictable movement of the battery-powered ball appeals to cats’ hunting instincts, while the dual-sided cover makes enticing crinkle noises during play—and keeps the ball from rolling away. Battery included. Click 
Petcurean Gather™ Organic pet food for dogs and cats is formulated using sustainably produced, certified organic ingredients that are caringly blended and balanced to provide your dog or cat with natural premium-quality nutrition. With nothing added that’s not needed, the pet foods feature single-source proteins, organic peas, lentils and other essential ingredients, such as omega 3 and 6 oils, to provide healthy, tasty meals for your dog or cat. There is one recipe for cats: Free Acres Organic Free-Run Chicken, which comes in 4- or8-lb bags. And three recipes for dogs, including Wild Ocean Line-Caught Cod and Free Acres Organic Free-Run Chicken, which are available in 6- or 16-lb. bags. 
Your feline companions deserve to look and feel their best while remaining safe indoors and out. Angel Pet Supplies’ Studded Cat Collars not only look great, their elastic breakaway and bell safety features ensure your cats stay safe wherever they are. The genuine leather cat collars are lightweight and comfortable, and come in two sizes—10 in. and 12 in.—and six stylish colors: black, white, pink, red, purple and turquoise blue. They are available from variety of independent pet retailers—brick-and-mortar and online. 
Could your dog do with a little extra protection from the weather this winter? Kruuse’s Buster brand offers a range of stylish jackets and coats for dogs that will help keep your best friend warm and dry in all types of weather. The Outdoor Winter Jacket provides warmth in extreme winter conditions; the Raincoat protects dogs in wet and windy weather; the Active Dog Jacket provides fashionable warmth; and the City Dog Jacket provides functional style on chilly days. All of the jackets and coats are easy to put on and take off; come in a range of colors; and are available in nine sizes, from XXS to XXL, for a comfortable and secure fit. 
OurPets® Pounce House™ is designed to stimulate cats’ hunter instinct and engage them in fun and healthful play. A motorized (and quiet) feather wand spins randomly to entice cats inside, while the large multiple openings provide them with easy access to bat at and pounce on their prey. After an exhausting workout, the ample-sized house (18x18x15 inches) is a great place for a catnap until it is time to spring back into action. The house is easy to set up and fold for storage; the wand’s motor is removable and powered by two AAA batteries (not included). 
Rosie’s™ Soft Dog Treats are made with thoughtfully sourced ingredients, including 100 percent vegetarian-fed chicken, sustainably sourced salmon, chia and flax seeds. The grain- and soy-free treats come in four dog-palate-tempting flavors in 6-oz. resealable bags: Peanut Butter with Banana, Salmon and Ginger, Pumpkin with Cinnamon, and Chicken and Rosemary. As an added bonus, when you buy a bag of Rosie’s treats, you will also be helping homeless dogs find their forever homes. Through its Rescue Ally Project, Rosie’s will donate 10 percent of its proceeds to four rescues twice a year and place their images and stories on the treats’ packaging. 
“The Dog Tales Collection” by Patricia A. Brill, PhD, is an award-winning set of illustrated books that help parents start a conversation with their children about caring for pets. Three of the books—“Do Bad Dogs Get Cancer?” “The Road to Recovery is Paved with Dog Treats!” and “Don’t Say Good Bye Just Say See You!”—help children understand what occurs when a pet or loved one has cancer, under goes surgery and/or stays overnight at a hospital or dies. The fourth book, “Porsche Bella’s Forever Home” shows children the benefits of rescuing, fostering and/or adopting animals. 
Cats have a long cherished presence in literature; from ancient India’s “Mahabharata” and “Ramayana” (circa 5th/4th century BCE) to great classics from the 20th and 21st centuries. Bookshelves around the world contain stories and poems about cats in a range of genres, including mystery (e.g., “The Cat Who….” series by Lillian Jackson Braun), science fiction (e.g., Robert Heinlein’s “The Cat Who Walls Through Walls”), fantasy (e.g., “Tailchaser’s Song” by Tad Williams), poetry (e.g., T.S. Eliot’s “Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats,” which was the basis for the musical Cats), satire (e.g., Mikhail Bulgahov’s “The Master and Margarita”), horror (e.g., Pet Cemetary by Stephen King and H.P. Lovecraft’s The Cats of Ulthar) and children (e.g., Dr. Seuss’ “The Cat in the Hat” and the French fairytale “Puss in Boots”).
Among the ones I remember best is a short story by Edgar Allen Poe called “The Black Cat.” You shouldn’t be surprised that it’s not a happy tale (pun intended). The story’s narrator has a black cat named Pluto. When the alcoholic narrator begins abusing the poor cat, the cat vows vengeance—and gets it when the narrator accidently kills his wife and walls her behind bricks to hide his deed. The narrator is caught when police hear sounds behind the wall and discover his wife’s body along with the cat, whom the narrator accidentally entombed as well.
One of my all-time favorite fictional cats is the mysterious and frequently disappearing Cheshire Cat in “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.” The vexing feline reminds Alice that the entire world is crazy—including her. He evades execution when he disappears while on the Queen of Hearts chopping block (prompting a brisk debate between the Queen of Hearts and her executioner about whether something without a body can indeed be beheaded.) And don’t forget that Alice had a cat, Dinah, in the “real” world, too.
The Harry Potter series: Cats are common as “familiars” and pets for aspiring wizards. Crookshanks, who first appears in the third book is Hermione’s favored flat-faced cat who befriends Sirius Black; and Mrs. Norris is a red-eyed, standoffish tortie of Hogwarts’ caretaker, Argus Filch. Together, the tattle-tale cat and her caretaker patrol the halls of Hogwarts seeking out students who skip class or sneak out at night.
Cats can also be found in plenty of nonfiction books, too. In “Homer’s Odyssey,” a blind, little black cat finds his home with Gwen Cooper, who discovers her home is best used as loving retreat for blind cats. And in “Making the Rounds with Oscar: The Extraordinary Gift of an Ordinary Cat,” Dr. David Dosa tells the story of a nursing home’s a cat who seemingly knows when patients are nearing the end and how Oscar helped him learn to listen.
The international sensation, “A Street Cat Named Bob” is the story of arguably the most famous busker cat in England who is credited for helping his owner overcome a heroin addiction and move up from the ranks of street musician to bestselling author. The duo has several other books out now and a movie scheduled for release in November 2016.
The last book on my list is the New York Times bestseller “Dewey: The Small-Town Library Cat That Changed the World,” which tells the true story about the power of love between species. It’s an inspiring, heroic tale that begins in tragedy when Dewey, a tiny, helpless kitten, was stuffed into the returned book slot at the Spencer Public Library in Spencer, Iowa. Only a few weeks old, he was taken in by library director Vicki Myron, a single mother with her own tragedies. For the next 19 years, this kitten who suffered through frostbite, abandonment and starvation, made his home in the library, offering comfort and inspiration to all who needed it most.
