The Paws and Effect Holiday Gift Guide

Posted on | November 29, 2009 | 5 Comments

It’s that time of the year again, and we have scoured the internet to provide you with a sampling of lovely gifts for cats and their people!

Siouxsie: Personally, I think all cats should have an endless supply of cheezburgers, turkeys, fishes, chickens, steaks, and ice creams!

Thomas: We all know that cats love human food, but that’s not what this column is all about, Siouxsie.

Dahlia: And as much as we love people food, it’s really not healthy to feed us people food. Although an occasional treat can’t hurt …

Siouxsie: Okay, okay! But we’re going to start with gifts for cats first, because I say so!

A kitten plays in a Hidden Hollow cat tree

Thomas: If you really want to spoil your cat, we recommend a deluxe cat tree from A Hidden Hollow. These trees are handmade in the USA out of real wood and high-quality materials.

Dahlia: If your budget isn’t that big but you want to provide your baby with an awesome handmade high-quality scratching post, we recommend that you order one from Top Cat Products.

Siouxsie: Mama got us a sisal-covered post from Top Cat Products, and we love it! We use it every single day. We can get a great stretch and hone our daggers in the process.

Thomas: Cardboard scratchers are great, too. You can get horizontal or inclined cardboard scratchers at your local pet store, but if you want to go deluxe, you can find some fantastic designs like this Christmas-tree scratcher at Cat Claws. This company also sells certified organic catnip, another lovely kitty treat.

Dahlia: If you’re looking for a special bed for your special cat, check out Cat in the Bed. Handmade cat beds can be custom-designed in a variety of sizes, with your choice of fabric.  This shop also sells cat quilts and “sofa savers,” cat-friendly throws to put on your furniture.

Siouxsie: Of course, toys and treats are always a hit! If you want an awesome toy for your cat, get a Plague Rat. Handmade in the UK, these are crafted of durable linen with high-quality toy stuffing and a good dose of catnip within. You can purchase one for 3 GBP (about $5 USD) and a pack of four for 10 GBP (about $17 USD), plus shipping.  Because they are made by hand and they ship from the UK, it may take a while for them to get to you, so keep that in mind when you order.

Thomas: But we’re not all about gifts for cats. There are some lovely, whimsical, and just plain fun goodies you can get for the cat lovers in your life, too.

Dahlia: Our kitty friend Loki has a human that makes teeny tiny little jewelry cats that come in a variety of characters, holiday themes, manekis (good-luck cats), and even animals that aren’t cats! She calls them Animinis, and they can be custom-made to look just like your favorite cat. Visit her Etsy shop to find out more.

Merlin the Magician by Carrie Hawks

Siouxsie: Artist Carrie Hawks makes paintings, fine art prints, figurines, jewelry, and clothing in fantastic and whimsical designs. Visit her website, Tigerpixie Studios, to see more of her work.

Thomas: There are lots of wonderful books available for cat lovers of all ages. For a great look at life from a cat’s perspective, check out Dear Sparkle: Advice from One Cat to Another, written by our friend Sparkle the Designer Cat.

Dahlia: For the younger reader, we recommend Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats, the poetry book that inspired the musical Cats. The word play and lyrical content can get any kid engaged in reading and poetry. Mama says this may just be the only non-depressing thing T.S. Eliot ever wrote!

Siouxsie: For older kids or adult readers who like fantasy, The Wild Road and The Golden Cat by Gabriel King would be a fantastic gift. The Wild Road is the first in the series, so if you’re going to buy one or the other, buy The Wild Road.

Thomas: We’ve got lots of other great cat books, not to mention music and cat care goodies, listed at The Paws and Effect Boutique at Amazon.com.

Dahlia: Of course, we couldn’t put together a holiday gift guide without some shameless self-promotion for our Zazzle shop, where you can buy a variety of merchandise designed by our very own Mama. Our Purr More, Hiss Less products have been selling well this holiday season. If you have pagan friends, they might also enjoy our Triple Moon Cat or Witch Cats designs. As an extra added bonus, if we don’t have exactly what you want, you can custom-make your own product using our designs.

Siouxsie: Happy shopping, everybody. If you have other recommendations for cat products, leave us a comment and we’ll check it out!

Comments