Christmas

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Cat-Themed Gifts for Cats and Their Fans

When I was putting together the lists of gift ideas and stocking stuffer suggestions, I kept coming across delightful cat-themed options. Of course, cat stuff is kind of niche, and I know not everyone likes cats. (It’s okay; I still love you.) So just for fun, I collected a bunch of cat-specific gift ideas for our furry feline friends and the people who love them.

All images below from the accompanying sites linked to in the descriptions.
Some of the gift ideas below use affiliate links, which means I get a few cents if you click on a link and buy that product.

Cat feather wand: My cat and I play with this pretty much every day. (Today, he chose to play with a hair tie instead.) It is such an enduring favorite that we have three wands and a huge variety of feather clips and other “prey” to attach to the string.

Cat tree: I swore I would NEVER have a cat tree in my home; they are hideous and huge and I hate them. And it took all of two days for me to change my mind and welcome a cat tree into my home. It has been SUCH a good purchase. The cat uses it as a resting place, an observation station, a scratching post, a playground. Even though he is nearly three times the size he was when we first got this cat tree, it still “fits” him and he loves it. He spends HOURS there every day.

Cat carrier hoodie: A relative got one of these sweatshirts for my daughter and it has been a delight for cat and humans alike.

Cats and pansies art print: I love this and want to hang it in my office.

Cat Christmas tree: I do not need this, I do not need this, I do not need this. (I want this very badly.)

A Literary Cat for Every Day of the Year by Tara Richardson: Yes. This book sounds perfect.

Carpeted cat ramp: A lot of cat scratchers and ramps are made of cardboard or sisal. Both of those things are nice scratching surfaces, but my cat also LOVES the feel of carpet against his claws. This ramp is a nice alternative to the actual carpet.

Cat plates: I want these so badly I can hardly stand it.

Keepsake puzzle box: This is such a charming little box!

Cat spirals: If you want the biggest bang for your buck, these spirals are it. My cat goes crazy for these and will spend hours chasing them around our house. They do tend to disappear, though; usually under the oven, but also into inexplicable places I have yet to find.

Cat with martini art print: To me, there is something so impossibly elegant and chic about this painting.

Magnetic bookmarks: Cats peering out at you from a book? Yes.

Churu bites: These are my cat’s favorite treats. FYI: since they are little hollow shells filled with goo, they are the perfect vehicle for a hidden pill.

Cat socks: These look so soft.

Mug and sock set: Oh! I also love this little grouping of cozy catware! This would make such a good gift for the cat sitter!

Window bird feeder: My cat would never leave the window if we got him this bird feeder.

Da Vinci’s Cat by Catherine Gilbert Murdock: My daughter and I read this book a few years ago, and it was a really fun read featuring a time traveling cat.

Cat tunnel: Santa is planning to bring this to my cat for Christmas. Shhh – don’t tell him.

Cat spoon rest: These are darling.

Catnip bubbles: I think my cat would be fascinated by bubbles, but I haven’t tried these yet.

Cat T-shirt: Endless options abound, but I love the expressions on this foursome.

Nambe cat photo frame: I love Nambe products – they are so sleek and elegant – and I like the idea of having a cat-shaped frame that isn’t too overtly cat-y.

Cat bookends: I already have these in my office, and I love them because they are very subtle. However, I would love a pair that are more noticeably cats. These are contenders, too.

Interactive cat toy with moving feather: One of the challenges of having a cat is keeping him entertained. An entertained cat is a cat that stays out of trouble. Mostly. This toy is so good at keeping him occupied without my intervention. He mainly ignores the little butterfly wand on the top of the toy, and he only occasionally swats at the track balls, but he LOVES the little feather guy that appears and disappears at random.

Amazing Cat Stories by Karen Roberts: This title sounds perfect for the cat fan.

Cats notecards: I keep promising myself I will send more mail. These cards would help a ton with motivation.

Exploding Kittens game: This is a durable hit around our house.

Cat slippers: There are so many fun options for cat slippers. What a time to be alive!

Carpeted cat scratcher: My cat LOVES this scratcher. His favorite thing is to run full speed toward the scratcher, dive under it, and bat at the little hanging feather toy on the other side. This maneuver is equal parts startling and hilarious.

Cat castle puzzle: I’m not a fan of jigsaw puzzles, but my husband is and I know he would love this puzzle.

Scratching post: We have MULTIPLE scratchers in our house, in an effort to keep the kitty from ruining our carpet and furniture. He’s a big cat, so we wanted a nice sturdy scratching post and this one is great. He’s eleven pounds and leaps at the vertical post and it has never tipped over.

Cat hair clips: I love that these are subtle and come in lots of color options.

Wall hooks: Can you imagine how fun it would be to build a décor theme around these hooks?

Cat planter: These are adorable.

Cat handbag: I’m normally pretty simple and utilitarian when it comes to my handbags, but this cat crossbody is charming.

Find the Cat puzzle book: My daughter came across this in a bookstore recently and spent a very long time flipping through the pages.

Little Kitty, Big City game for Nintendo Switch: My daughter requested this game for Christmas.

Cat grass kit: We bought this for our cat and he LOVES it. He alternates between chewing on the grass, dropping spirals into it, and hiding behind it to pretend he’s a tiger. The cat grass grows amazingly quickly.

We’ll Prescribe You a Cat by Syou Ishida: I have seen this book all over the place lately, and it sounds so charming.

Cat vase: I want this.

Petcube 360-degree camera: My friend got a pet camera for her dogs and it has provided endless entertainment and comfort. I would love to know what my cat gets up to when I’m not around.

Bathroom sign: This cracks me up.

Cat trivia book: If you have a kid who loves cats and facts, this would be a fun stocking stuffer.

Cat earrings: These are the kinds of earrings that make me want to have pierced ears! They are so cute. As are these.

I Am a Cat by Galia Bernstein: This is one of my – and my daughter’s – favorite picture books of all time. The illustrations are fabulous and the story is sweet.

Cat post-it dispenser: Yes please.

Cat butt makeup kit: My kid would get such a kick out of this. There are plenty of other cute and stylish options if you aren’t into the rear view of the cat.

Hooded sherpa blanket: We got this for my daughter for Christmas. It is so soft.

Weighted eye mask: I just love this, that’s all.

How to Draw Squishy Cats & Kittens by Vera Kay: My kid would have so much fun with this book!

Microwavable cat heating pad: This cracks me up. Of course a cat would be perfect for soothing cramps or sore muscles.

Cat origami kit: What a fun little craft kit.

Nathan Pyle art print: I love Nathan Pyle cartoons and he has several fantastic cat-specific art prints.

Cat coloring book: The perfect soothing activity while your cat purrs next to you. These cat-inspired colored pencils would be the perfect accompaniment.

LEGO cat: Build your own cat!

Cat mug: I have several cat mugs but that doesn’t prevent me from wanting one more.

Millions of Cats by Wanda Gag: This book – which I read as a child and then read to my own child – is weird and unsettling and wonderful.

Cat towel: I’m always in the market for a cute towel. I like this one too.

Cat apron: Even though I’ve worn an apron maybe twice ever, I think this is SO cute and want to have it immediately.

Cats & Art: 50 Masterpieces & Their Cat Breeds by Susie Hodge: Such a gorgeous coffee table book.

Cat wine charms: Super charming (pun intended).

Cat note pad: I have some cat themed notepads and they make jotting down grocery lists and phone messages much more fun.

The Cat Who Went to Heaven by Elizabeth Coatsworth: I loved this book when I was a kid and have a copy to read with my daughter.

Window hammock: Next to his cat tree, this is the place where my cat spends most of his time. He loves keeping an eye on the neighborhood from his window vantage point. And my neighbors tell me constantly how fun it is to spot him from the street when they are out walking.

Interactive ball with tail: My cat is half terrified, half intrigued by this weird automated ball, but whatever feelings it inspired, it keeps him occupied for long stretches. It does make a very annoying cheeping noise that I could do without.

Inspired by Cats: Writers and Their Mews(es) by Bob Eckstein and Nava Atlas: Um, this is very me-coded.

Freeze dried turkey treats: Fish products don’t sit well with my cat, and yet so many cat foods and treats contain fish! Even if they say they are chicken flavored! So I was pleased to find these turkey treats for him. He LOVES them.

Hidden picture cat search: Fun!

Scratch pad: Oh my goodness, this nail file is hilarious.

The Healing Power of Cats by Carina Nunstedt and Ulrica Norberg: A reminder for everyone that cats are magic.

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Friday Randomosity: Holiday Detritus Edition

It’s Friday, my house is a mess, there are wrapping paper scraps literally everywhere (LEO), I have overcommitted to Fun Things that currently feel less like fun and more like stress, so let’s get into some bullets.

* In addition to overcommitting to Fun Things, Past Me also apparently set up eight thousand appointments for the weeks leading up to Christmas. Last week was the dentist which led to yesterday’s repeat visit so I could get a filling. After several teeth extractions as a child, and a lifelong issue with getting properly numb from anesthetic, I get severe anxiety about going to the dentist. Yesterday was no exception. I hadn’t had a filling in decades, and all I could think about was getting those huge, painful shots in my mouth. Now that I am a grownup, I understand that it’s okay to TELL THE DENTIST a) that I am anxious, b) I have trouble getting numb, and c) WHEN I AM IN PAIN. Either dental practices have dramatically improved since I was a kid, or my childhood dentist was not very good (or some combination of the two), but my filling experience was as good as could be. The shots hurt, but they weren’t as unbearable as I remember, and it took the dentist maybe ten minutes to remove the cavity. The rest of my time in the chair was with the Filling Specialist. The worst part about the experience (outside of the anticipatory anxiety) was the music. They turned on some instrumental Christmas music which turned out to be an epic rendition of “Jingle Bells” that lasted the entire forty-five minutes I was in the chair. That is too much “Jingle Bells.” Way, way too much.

* Most of my holiday gift-buying is complete; my husband and I have a date this weekend to go shopping in an actual physical mall to find the final couple of items on our list. So now I am turning my attention to the monetary gifts we give out every year: sports coaches, tutors, special teachers, mail person, trash collection, hair stylist, housecleaner. But I am – as usual – dithering about amounts. The mail person and trash collectors are easy, because I just give them gift cards in the $10-$20 range. Others feel less simple. Usually, like for the hair stylist or the housecleaner, I give what amounts to double their normal fee. But this year, my daughter started seeing my hair stylist, too, so I suppose I should combine our typical appointment costs and give that? Also, for the first time ever, my hair stylist has had the same assistant working with her for the last three or four times I’ve gotten my hair cut and colored. Do I give the assistant a separate gift, or does my hair stylist give her a portion of whatever she gets? And, if the latter, do I need to bump up the gift a bit to account for whatever she distributes to others? The other thing that’s stumping me is people whose normal fees are weird numbers. Like if your normal fee is $35, then I would give you a $35 gift. But $35 seems like a weird amount for a gift, doesn’t it? Should I just round up to $50? But that’s a BIG roundup. If your normal fee is $90, somehow $100 seems like a much nicer gift than simply doing an extra $90. I am overthinking this, right? But what would you do?

* By the way, if you have a Trader Joe’s near you, mine has an assortment of cute holiday cards for ninety-nine cents apiece (a STEAL for any card, let alone a cute one). I bought a big handful of these cards to accompany the money gifts.

* Should I get bangs? This feels like a non-sequitur, but I was just thinking about my hair stylist and how last time I visited her, we briefly discussed Forehead Minimization Tactics, and she said she thinks I would look good with bangs. I haven’t had bangs since elementary school. I don’t think I could DEAL with bangs, honestly. But also, more and more lately, I have been staring at the immense freckled and beginning to crepe expanse of my forehead with despair.

* Speaking of despair, I have a Fancy Event coming up in January and I need Fancy Clothes to match. I’ve been looking at dresses for months now, refusing to try anything on, hoping that I would somehow magically shrink to fit one of the many many beautiful dresses I already own and have kept lo these many years. And now the time has come when I have to face reality and buy a new dress. Nordstrom has a bunch of dresses I’ve had in my digital shopping cart for awhile. I really like this one; it’s fancy, the fit-and-flare style typically looks okay on me, it’s not too short. I don’t love the straps, though; I feel as though my bare shoulder days are behind me. Also, it’s more than I’d like to spend on a dress I may wear ONCE. But then again, maybe if I buy a higher quality dress, it will fit me better? This one is pretty, and has sleeves. I like the color, the price is decent. It also looks itchy, and maybe too short. I love the look of this one – I swoon for a navy dress – and it also has sleeves. And it’s VERY on sale. But is the neckline too restrictive? Does it read too youthful for a middle-aged mom? I like the look of this one, and it looks elegant and very comfortable. The pattern is not exactly my typical style, and I’m worried it’s slightly too casual for an event with cocktail attire. Which one would you suggest I try? I’m toying with buying all of them, trying them on, and returning three. I’ve done that before, but it always makes me nervous.

* This is kind of a dumb, low-stakes question, but what is the protocol for food procurement when you’re meeting someone? I met a friend at a bakery the other day. I wasn’t sure when she would arrive, and she had declined my offer to get her something, so I ordered my little pastry and drink and was standing in line to pay when she got there. But then it felt awkward, like I hadn’t waited for her? Standing in the bakery without buying anything would have felt awkward, too, though. I can also imagine grabbing a table, waiting for her, then going to place our orders together, and feeling awkward about THAT. (There is something unbearable to me about paying for something for myself and NOT for the other person.) Clearly I will just feel awkward about anything and everything.

* Here’s another dumb thing I am feeling awkward about. As I mentioned, my husband and I are going to The Mall this weekend. I rarely go to malls, but I realized we will be in the proximity of several stores that have something I want very badly: a cake stand with a dome. The thing is, I put this on my Christmas wish list that my husband sends around to all his family members, so there is a chance I might be getting one for Christmas. I don’t think anyone (except perhaps one person) who takes part in this gift-list-sharing process really feels like the items are Must Buys, they are more like suggestions. Plus, we haven’t received any gifts addressed to me at all. So it’s a small chance, but it’s still a chance. But… should I take advantage of being in The Mall and just buy myself a cake stand??? This one is kind of exactly what I’d envisioned, and it’s on sale. Or this one is so simple and elegant. I like this one, too, with the marble base. I should just wait until after Christmas, right? I should just wait.

* Leo is loving Christmas. Or hating it, it’s kind of difficult to distinguish between the two. I made the mistake of bragging to Elisabeth recently that I make my own bows out of wrapping paper. I do do that; it’s fun and the results are cute, but they take FOREVER to make. And, of course, Leo thinks they are for his personal entertainment. Or he takes them as a threat to the safety of his home and targets them for immediate destruction. Hard to say. Pride goeth before the fall and all that, I guess.

All right, that’s all I’ve got this morning. I have a Fun Thing today, plus cleaning, plus at some point I still need to address and mail our holiday cards.

What’s on your mind today?

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Recipe Report, Holiday Status, and, Sigh, Dinners This Week

Oh yes, it is Monday already THE EIGHTH OF DECEMBER, why does time behave the way it does? (I read an article recently about time that made my head spin but kind of addressed this very thing, in case you are interested.)

Let’s see. I wanted to update you on the cheesecake I made for Thanksgiving. I used the America’s Test Kitchen recipe and followed it to the letter, except I used gingersnaps for the crust instead of graham crackers. First of all, my oven WOULD NOT HOLD A TEMPERATURE. So I may have used the broil function to bring it up to the appropriate level… and then the top of the cheesecake got a little broily. Then, the recipe said to remove the cheesecake when the center registered 160 degrees F, and it NEVER DID. I finally removed it after A Very Long Time, and, predictably, the cheesecake was very dry. My parents were gracious about it, and ate every bite, but it was not my finest hour.

I did also make a back-up apple cake, and THAT was a bust because the alcohol flavor did not cook out and it tasted unpleasantly of rum. Sigh.

The pumpkin caramel sauce was, however, delicious, and really helped with the dry crumbly cheesecake.

I also made a delicata squash recipe, in an effort to recreate my delightful in-restaurant first experience with delicata squash. It was a bit fussy, the recipe (and I omitted the parsley because blech), with lots of steps and chopping and whipping… but the end result was quite yum. I think the whole thing could have used a bit more acid – even with the pomegranate seeds I added. I will definitely make this kind of squash again, though.

How are you feeling, holiday-wise? Did you know that Hanukkah starts THIS WEEK? We don’t really do a whole lot for Hanukkah, besides opening a present on the first night, eating Trader Joe’s latkes, and lighting the menorah. I picked up some gelt and a giant chocolate coin from Trader Joe’s, though, and I remembered to buy candles for the menorah when I was at Michael’s. The list price was something like $16.99, which seemed EGREGIOUS for candles, and then they were 50% off, which helped, but still felt pricy. But I don’t think we have a present for the kiddo yet? Is that possible??? Maybe I will requisition one of her Christmas gift books and use that. Goodness knows she will get PLENTY of gifts this season, even though I keep fretting that we haven’t gotten her anything FUN.

Speaking of gifts: a) I LOVED Swistle’s take on Christmas for the non-religious among us. Whenever my kid has gotten too carried away by the gift aspect of the holiday, I’ve said something like, “Gifts are not the reason for Christmas.” But then it seems like the correct follow-up is some stuff about Jesus, when really, we don’t DO a whole lot with Jesus in our family. I grew up Christian, but I’ve always been pretty agnostic, and then I married a half-Jewish guy who believes in science over religion, so I’ve always felt a little at sea with the whole “what does Christmas MEAN” thing. With Carla, I’ve usually defaulted to things like “it’s about being together with people you love” and “it’s about thinking of others instead of yourself.” But I’ve never really been able to explain why the season feels important and special despite our mostly-secular take on it. Swistle said it so well, in the words I would have wanted to use had I Swistle’s wisdom and eloquence.

Well, that list item got a little out of hand so let’s regroup. We were speaking of gifts, and we are at b): I think I am pretty well done with the gift buying portion of holiday prep. There’s one thing left to get my dad, but beyond that I think everyone is accounted for. Does my husband have enough stocking stuffers? Hmm. I need to think about that. The next BIG task is to wrap everything and mail all the things to our out of town loved ones. And, of course, some of those things have yet to arrive, which is a little panic-inducing.

In other holiday status news, our tree is up and Leo seems interested but not to the point of leaping on it. We have been taking a staggered approach to putting ornaments on the tree, and so far he has been more interested in the part where we hang ornaments on the tree than the part where the ornaments are already hanging on the branches.

“Just admiring the tree from this vantage point, not contemplating how best to climb it.”

I ordered our holiday cards last week and am anxiously awaiting their arrival. I probably need stamps and should go take care of that. My husband and I have not yet gone through the Christmas list to update addresses; we need to tackle that next.

We are also at that point in the holiday season where boxes seem to be arriving on our doorstep continuously and I feel gross and over-consumer-y and like I’m single handedly destroying the environment.

Leo, on the other hand, LOVES IT.

“When are you going to OPEN these boxes so I can BE IN THEM?”

Okay, let’s talk dinners, which I have delayed for 700+ words already.

Dinners for the Week of December 8-14

Are you incensed that we have to think about DINNER when we are in the midst of HOLIDAY CHAOS? How are you feeling about holiday prep?

I feel a little weary of it all, to be honest, and would love something else to think slash post about. If you have any ideas or questions for me, my Ask Me Anything form is ready and waiting.