You can recognise your own cat among a hundred others: by the white paw, the sideways look or the spot claimed on the sofa every evening. Those little quirks make a gift personal. A mug with their face can therefore mean more than a big parcel full of generic cat designs.
First decide who the gift should delight: the person, the cat or both. A portrait needs a good photo and some idea of the recipient’s taste. For toys, the cat’s preferences matter. These seven ideas help you choose something that still has a place in everyday life after the wrapping comes off.
Which idea fits your situation?
You have a good photo and know the home: A portrait is a personal choice. Think about where it might hang and which colours are already there.
You want a small everyday gift: A photo mug or slogan mug works if the person regularly drinks coffee or tea. If the mug cupboard is full, another idea may be more welcome.
You want to give the cat something: Quietly ask what they like playing with and what they already have. A suitable activity game is more useful than another toy that ends up in a cupboard.
You know little about the photo, taste or cat’s preferences: Leave the choice open with a gift voucher. Or offer reliably agreed help if you can look after the cat.
1. A portrait of their own cat for the wall
A portrait captures the cat as their person knows them. There is no need for a perfect pose: an alert expression and typical coat markings often say more than an elaborate staged photo.
Our cat portrait on canvas lets you combine a photo with a style such as watercolour, sketch or oil painting. Look at the home to guide your choice: an understated design fits more easily into a quiet room, while strong colours are more likely to suit someone who enjoys colour elsewhere too.
A simple test helps with size: cut a piece of paper to the chosen dimensions and hold it against the intended spot. This makes it easier to judge whether the picture works there or takes up too much space. To keep the gift a surprise, ask someone in the household to help measure.
2. A photo mug for morning coffee
For someone who drinks coffee or tea every day, a cat photo mug is a gift with a place in daily life. A good picture and the cat’s name are enough; there is no need for a long dedication.
Check the finish and its care instructions. According to the product description, the white 325 ml ceramic mug is dishwasher-safe. The magic mug, whose design appears with a hot drink, should not go in the dishwasher. For someone who machine-washes everything, I would therefore choose the standard mug.
3. A slogan mug when you have no photo
You know the cat’s name but cannot get a usable picture? A slogan mug for cat lovers could fit. “Minka’s official staff” needs little explanation in a cat household.
Choose a phrase that suits the recipient’s humour. The cat’s name can be added to designs with that option. Check the spelling before ordering; with nicknames in particular, a quick question in the family chat is worthwhile.
4. A tree decoration to enjoy every year
At Christmas, a wooden ornament with the cat’s portrait and name makes a small, personal addition to the tree. Shapes include hearts, stars and bells.
The ornament can also hang on the outside of a wrapped present. Afterwards, keep it out of reach of curious paws in a cat household: the ribbon is for hanging, not playing.
5. A puzzle board for a cat that enjoys fishing for food
If the cat enjoys retrieving food from hiding places and has no similar game already, consider a puzzle board. The TRIXIE Cat Activity Fun Board (advertisement / affiliate link) offers five different areas on a 30 × 40 cm board. According to the manufacturer, it is made from plastic, has rubber feet and comes with training instructions; it is intended for cats aged three months and over.
View the TRIXIE Fun Board on Amazon (advertisement / affiliate link)
Who it suits: a cat owner who wants to try food-based activities and has floor space for them. There is no guarantee beforehand that their cat will take to the game.
Begin with one easily accessible area and a few pieces of food. Stay nearby and let the cat explore at their own pace. Add other areas once they manage the first. If the cat turns away, take a break; the game should not become a test of patience. Use part of the usual daily food allowance rather than planning extra snacks, and follow the included instructions.
6. A weekend of cat sitting
Sometimes free time helps more than another object. If you can provide reliable care and the cat knows you, give a weekend of cat sitting.
Make the voucher specific: which dates are possible? How often will you visit? Will you handle feeding, the litter tray and agreed activities? Discuss food, key handover, emergency contacts and special needs beforehand. A short checklist of the usual routine helps both sides. An agreed photo or message after each visit reassures the person away that everything is done.
7. A voucher when you want to leave the choice open
You know someone loves their cat, but not which style or product they would like? A PrintMyPet gift voucher lets them choose for themselves.
Amounts range from 25 to 200 euros. The code is delivered by email. Add a personal line, such as: “For your favourite photo of Luna: choose something that reminds you of her every day.” That gives even a voucher a personal reason.
For photo gifts: sharpness matters more than a perfect pose
The eyes should be sharp and the entire head visible. Daylight by a window helps, including with dark fur. Shoot at eye level where possible and avoid strong backlighting. Before choosing the photo, enlarge it on screen: can you still see the eyes, whiskers and coat markings? A lovely distant picture may lack enough detail for a large portrait.
Ask someone in the household for the original photo. A screenshot from a messenger app can contain considerably less detail. Find more tips in our guide Photographing cats without stress.
Take care with bouquets: no true lilies or daylilies
True lilies and daylilies can cause severe kidney damage in cats. Pollen and vase water are dangerous too. Do not bring these flowers into a cat household. If a cat may have come into contact with them, contact a veterinary practice or animal hospital immediately rather than waiting for symptoms. This is explained by Virginia Tech’s veterinary teaching hospital.
The gift check before ordering
Does it suit the person? Consider their home style, habits and existing belongings. A gift does not need to be large to be used often.
Are the photo and name right? Check image sharpness and spelling. Leave out long extra messages if they would crowd the design.
Does it suit the cat? For activity toys, check space requirements and preferences. Discuss food and treats with the cat’s person first.
Will it arrive in time? Allow for production and shipping. The current information in the relevant shop is what matters. If time is short, a digital voucher is often the simpler choice.
If you already have a photo, find more possibilities in our selection for cat lovers.
And if the recipient is only just considering whether to get a cat and which one would suit them, our book “Welche Katze passt WIRKLICH zu dir?” (book in German) takes an honest look at temperament, space and everyday life. Find all our titles on the books page.
Further reading
- Photographing cats without stress: getting the right photo for a portrait
- A second cat: making introductions work: if the gift announces another cat
- Giving a pet portrait: occasions and styles: which style suits which occasion
Transparency: this article includes recommendations from our shop. Products linked through Amazon use affiliate links. Buying through them supports us at no extra cost to you.
Source for the puzzle board: TRIXIE, Produktangaben „Fun Board“, accessed on 20.10.2026.
20% of our profit goes to animal welfare. Find out how we choose projects and document our support on our animal welfare page.
For children who love cats, we have free printable cat colouring pages, and our collection of all colouring pages also includes dogs, horses and dinosaurs.
