If the last time you sang, “What’s new, pussycat?” to your beloved feline friend he or she rewarded you with an ironic eyebrow arch (okay, even more ironic than usual), he’s probably due for a treat or two. Given that Christmas is upon us, why not get him or her a kitty stocking and fill it with treats?
It doesn’t have to be expensive. (Though, if you are a cat fanatic like a lot of people I know—or a dog one, for that matter—you might just go all out for your furry friend. There are pets out there more spoiled than kids that I know!) Here are some ideas to make your cat compadre’s spirits bright this Christmas.
Yarn. What a cheap and easy gift! Don’t you wish you could satisfy everyone on your list this easily? Get one skein, get several—does it matter? If your cat likes to bat stuff around, he’ll be thrilled to get this as a gift.
Kitty treats. If you don’t give them, why not try out a couple of different flavors and see what your cat prefers? They’re not expensive; many varieties are only a buck or two, so you don’t have to break the bank buying those silly gourmet pet treats that are over twenty.
Bouncy balls. These are our cats’ favorites! We get them for 99 cents at the pet store—or for a quarter in the toy machine, if we’re near one—and they just love chasing after them as well as batting them around. The only problem is trying to separate them from our daughter’s collection.
A laser light. A good flashlight will work if it’s dark, but every cat I’ve had has delighted in a laser light. Run it all around the carpet, up a wall (if you don’t mind it clawed!), across the furniture and beyond, and not only will you have a funny and active cat, you’ll also have given him a nice workout. (As I’m constantly reminding my husband, be sure to give him a break every now and then—he doesn’t need to run for half an hour straight!)
Anything with catnip. Some cats go crazy over the stuff. One of our cats does while the other could care less. It comes in basically anything these days, from stuffed mouse toys to even cat beds. You can even grow it or get organic replacement catnip to replace old catnip in the toys you have already.
A dangle toy. It’s the same concept as the yarn, but many cats just love them. Get one with a bell, a long dangling piece of soft cord, or my cat’s favorite, feathers!