Celebrating "Cat"-mas: Holiday Gift Recommendations for Cats

It's hard to believe the holiday season is upon us. Many folks celebrate Christmas, Hanukah or Kwanzaa, but at our house (in addition to more traditional celebrations) my husband Marty and I always pay strict attention to that very special occasion: Catmas! Trust me, if we are neglectful and forget to set aside time or holiday gifts for Dr. Hush Puppy and Sir Hubble Pinkerton (our two beloved Oriental Shorthair cats) they will make our lives miserable.

Catmas starts while our cats are watching in bewilderment as we gleefully open gifts, strewing the floor with tissue paper, wrappings and empty boxes. Needless to say, these are tempting items for two highly intelligent and curious kitties, so we monitor them carefully. Naturally, we don’t want them to feel left out, so this is the time of the year that we shower them with lots of toys and other feline-related items that we hope will delight them.

Last year most of the gifts the boys received were right on the money! The automatic laser light toy (battery powered), which Dr. Hush Puppy played with for several hours, was a huge hit. They also both went bonkers over the package of Now Grainless Cat Treats, and it was very hard to tear them away from the box of Cosmic Catnip they love so dearly. It did take them a few days to figure out that the MultiVet SlimCat Interactive Toy and Food Dispenser, available at Amazon.com, filled with their favorite grainless dry food. Once they got the hang of it, though, it sure satisfied their predatory hunting instincts.

But there are a few toys and gifts which Dr. Hush Puppy and Sir Hubble Pinkerton consider dangerous for kitties, and being the thoughtful felines they are, they requested I mention a few of them.

While adorable, those realistic-appearing mice can be lethal. Their tails, ears and plastic eyes come off easily, making them easy to ingest and create havoc in their digestive system.  Hubble is concerned about toys made of wool which can be very tempting for a cat whose mission is to consume them. Hush Puppy issues warnings for those toys with strings or ribbons attached, which is also a huge no-no.

Instead, in addition to the gifts they received last year, they recommend cardboard or sisal covered scratching posts which are safe and enjoyable for even the most discerning feline. But don’t be disappointed if your kitties would rather instead play with the boxes in which the toys are contained!

Do you celebrate Catmas at your house? Tell us in a comment.