Buying Christmas presents for your cat is a fun way to keep your cat busy and entertained over the holiday period. It’s not just an excuse to spoil your pet but also a good opportunity to stock up on new toys, replace the tired and worn scratching post and try out some special foodie treats.
Cats need a lot of stimulation to keep them occupied. You might have a day out visiting friends and relatives over the Christmas holidays, so choose toys, products and gadgets that will give them exercise and engage their natural instincts while they are on their own in the home.
Get into the spirit with a range of gifts with a Christmas theme, such as cat teaser toys in the shape of Santa Claus, reindeers or snowmen. Use them for jumping and chasing games and, if you pick one with a long pole, this will encourage your cat to leap around, giving it lots of exercise.
If the scratching post has seen better days, splash out on a top-of-the-range model which has sisal columns, platforms and also a comfortable bed at the base. Your cat is more likely use a scratching post to sharpen and flex its claws if it has more levels and areas to entertain it.
There are also cat scratcher loungers on the market, some are excellent ecoproducts as they are made from recycled corrugated cardboard. This will become a favourite spot in the home for your pet as it combines two of its favourite pastimes – playing and snoozing. And, of course, every scratching post will help save your furniture.
Keeping the festive theme going, what about Christmas cat beds which are designed and shaped like Santa hats? It’s a great place for your pet to hide and snuggle into and also provides a great crashpad in the cold winter months.
If your pet likes burrowing in the bed, then a cat tunnel will provide plenty of entertainment. The tunnel design allows your cat to indulge in a spot of hide and seek. Choose one with a squeaky, feather toy at the other end of the tunnel to encourage them to wriggle to the other side.
There are also plenty of interactive games on the market and one of the most popular is the cat puzzle. You can hide treats or dry food through the hole in the top of each block and your cat needs to find them by sliding the blocks through one of the openings. You can stock the cat puzzle with Felix Goody Bag meaty and fishy treats. This is a good way for your cat to earn its food and keep it mentally and physically stimulated.
Register for Gourmet’s “Very Important Cat Club” and you’ll receive great offers including free goodies, the chance to win tickets to the BBC Good Food Show and voucher discounts for Gourmet products.
Simply sign up on the Gourmet website and you’ll get £1 off your next Gourmet multipack purchase when you register. And you’ll be kept up to date with exclusive recipe offers and the latest news to keep the feline in your life fit and healthy.
