Cat gifts
Presents for the cat people you know, and their cat
Updated
The gifts for cat owners that get used are the ones that live where the cat does: a sturdy scratching post, a window perch, a carrier that opens from the top. For the cat itself, a cat treat box can be sent to their US address, with any protein the cat refuses kept out.
Which household gifts do cat owners actually use?
A cat owner's house is already full of cat things, so the best gift replaces something worn or fills a gap. Think about the spots the cat claims, and buy for those.
- A tall, sturdy scratching post that does not wobble
- A window perch that holds on to the sill
- A carrier that opens from the top
- A good brush
- A washable throw for the cat's favorite chair
We have left brands out on purpose, since the right one depends on the cat and the room. What matters is fit: a perch for a window that really gets sun, a post tall enough for the cat to stretch against. If you have been to the house, you already know the spot. If you have not, ask where the cat sleeps and where it sits when the sun is out, and buy for those two places.
Washable is the word to look for on anything soft. A throw that can go in the machine is one they can leave on the chair without worrying about it.
Should the gift be for the cat or for the person?
Both work, and they are closer than they sound. A gift for the cat lands with the person, because they get to watch the cat with it. A gift for the person, like a good mug, lands too, but it competes with a house full of cat items.
If you are unsure, pick one thing for the house and one small thing for the cat. The pair reads as thoughtful, and neither has to carry the whole present.
What makes a good Christmas gift for a cat?
Something the cat can have for itself, with no wrapping paper to fight over. A cat treat box suits that, and because it is a monthly box, the gift carries on past the holiday.
The box is called Modified Monthly, and one of its two choices is Cat. Every treat comes from our own kitchen in Malvern, Pennsylvania, one ingredient apiece, freeze dried or air dried in small batches. Every month brings its own theme and lineup, favorites return now and then, and any photo you see is a sample. Contents vary, so a given treat is never promised.
As a Christmas present, it can go to their home rather than yours, as long as that home is in the US. Give that address when you order and choose Cat, and if you know the cat's own list of proteins it turns down, add it. If it changes, contact us and we update it. Everything in the box is meant for intermittent or supplemental feeding, alongside the cat's meals rather than in place of one.
Be clear with the person that it is a subscription, which renews as the terms next to the start button explain. Our cat box page covers the Cat choice in more depth, and the Modified Monthly page has the whole picture.
What if the home has a dog as well?
Then you can give both, and they are separate boxes. The Dog box is for the dog and the Cat box is for the cat, each chosen on its own. Our dog and cat subscription box page explains how the two sit together.
That also keeps the choice easy for you. If the dog is the one the family talks about, make the cat the surprise, so the cat is not an afterthought.
The rest of our guides live in the guides hub.
Questions
What do cat owners actually want as a gift?
Usually something that suits their actual cat and their actual room: a post, a perch, a carrier. If you cannot ask, pick a replacement for something already worn out, or a small extra for the cat.
Can I send a cat treat box to someone else's home?
Yes. Enter the recipient's US address when you order and pick Cat. The shipping address does not have to match yours, so the package goes straight to them. If you do not have the address, a quick text to someone in the household usually sorts it out.
Is the cat box a subscription?
Yes, the cat box is a subscription. Read the terms beside the start button before you order; they explain how the plan renews. We leave the numbers out of this guide so the details live in one place.
Can I leave a protein out of the cat's box?
Yes. List the proteins the cat passes on as part of the order, or contact us later, naming the cat, to change that list. We do not give feeding advice, so what the cat eats stays the owner's decision.
What if they have two cats?
Each cat gets a box of its own. Cats under one roof get the same lineup. A dog in the house would have its own Dog box, which you pick separately.
Are the cat treats a meal or a treat?
A treat. Everything we make is for intermittent or supplemental feeding, which means it is an extra and not a complete and balanced diet. The cat's regular food stays the owner's call, and the box is a snack on the side.