Twelve Days of Christmas Gift Ideas, Day 3: Warm Beds & Cat Shirts!

Twelve Days of Christmas Gift Ideas, Day 3: 

NOTE: This post originally had links to products sold on the Old Maid Cat Lady retail site. Those links have been removed, since the site no longer exists. But I have left the ideas here for you.

Warm Beds and Cat Shirts!

Now that Thanksgiving weekend is drawing to a close, Advent is beginning, and we're into December, it's time to seriously focus on Christmas. Hanukkah continues for a few more nights, as well, but if you're celebrating it, you've probably already bought your gifts for each night. So let's take a look at some gift ideas that are in that wintry holiday mood!

Today, we'll focus on warm beds for cats and cat shirts for people. The former because, well, it's cold outside! And the latter because there are just so many designs and a lot of them take a few weeks because they're made to order.

Day 3 for Cats: Warm Beds

Cats love warm places. This is because their normal body temperature is a few degrees higher than a human's. So if a room feels comfortable enough for us, it's likely a little chilly for our feline companions. When we turn down the thermostat in winter to save a little on heating costs, those kitties can really be chilly, despite their fur coats!

Heated beds are especially good for older cats who may be feeling achy from arthritis. Just like our joints start to get a little more painful as we age, so do our cats'. This is especially true for those poor kitties who have been declawed; as they shift their weight onto the back of their feet to avoid the pain of walking on amputated toes, it causes problems in their shoulder alignment as they get older. So a heated bed can provide welcome relief on these chilly mornings.

Hairless breeds like the Sphinx and the Peterbald can get cold in winter. You may already put a sweater on yours, but a heated bed is another option for keeping them toasty.

Heated beds are also a great way to keep a litter of kittens warm. While spring is traditionally thought of as "kitten season" there are still kittens being born in cold weather. Keeping them warm helps keep them healthy.

K&H's Kitty Sleephouse, shown below, is a great-looking option for a bed that's both heated and covered. It comes in both unheated ($50) and heated ($74) versions. The snazzy leopard print on the top and inside will look great in your home, too!

If you have any outdoor cats, be they ferals or barn cats, a nice warm spot could be very welcome to them. These heated beds use only 20 watts of electricity, too. One customer ordered a couple of the Lectro-Soft Heated Cat Beds ($56 for the small size, or $78 for the medium) for his outdoor cats, then ordered two more the day after he received them for some additional shelters he'd built for them. Here's a photo he sent of four outdoor kitties in the shelters in which he'd already placed the first two:

When he took this photo, it was only 12 degrees outside, but his cats were all cozy and warm in their sturdy shelters. He's obviously a great caretaker because they all look very healthy!

If your cats like getting inside a cat sack, there's a Thermo-Kitty heated version that also has a crinkly sound cats love, like a paper bag! It comes in a relaxing Sage color, uses 4 watts of electricity, has a soft fleece inside with an orthopedic foam base, and sells for $59.95. Your kitty will love snuggling in it!

Try a splash of color with the Thermo-Kitty Fashion Splash! It comes in Red, Mocha, or Blue (but the blue won't be back in stock until after Christmas). At $36.95, it's also a great value in an electrically heated bed:

For a heated bed that provides an open or sheltered option, the Thermo-Kitty Hut ($61) lets your cat choose whether to snuggle under the hood or not. It comes in both Mocha and Sage. Both have a comfy fleece lining and are 18 inches across:

Turn any bed into a heated bed with K&H's Microwaveable Bed Warmer ($39)! It provides kitty with up to 12 hours of warmth, and the bed doesn't need to be near an electrical outlet:

But cats don't need electricity to be warm in a bed! With that high body temperature, they can snuggle into a self-warming bed on a chilly night and be plenty toasty if they like the cooler weather. Available in Mocha or Gray, the Kitty Kup is plush and snuggly. The small size is $24 and the large $31:

The Lazy Lounger ($25.95) comes in fashionable Zebra or Leopard prints, and has bolsters on three sides to block cold drafts and help your kitty feel more secure:

For the ultimate in luxury in a self-warming bed, try the Tiger Dreamz Beddy Ball ($74.95)! It comes in three color options (shown here in Ocelot), each of which is the softest faux fur you've ever felt. Your cat won't be able to resist it and will be snoring quickly!

Day 3 for People: Cat Shirts

Our gift suggestion for people today is a fabulous cat shirt! Old Maid Cat Lady has many, many designs to suit all tastes. Here are a few favorites:

You've likely seen these big-face cat shirts from The Mountain, and we have an excellent selection of them. Shown here is the Brown Tabby. There are over two dozen designs available, featuring both house cats and big cats. Available in short-sleeved style in adult sizes Small - 5XL, they start at $18.95 and go up in price starting at the 2XL size. A couple of striking new designs for this season include the Sphynx and Saber-toothed Tiger. Most definitely attention getters! These shirts are all hand-dyed to order, so they take a little longer than some other shirts to arrive once you order.

If you have a devotion to a particular breed, you may find these Cat Breed Shirts of interest. They're available for Abyssinian, Brown Tabby, Himalayan, Maine Coon, Persian, or Siamese, and feature a little of the breed's history in addition to a handsome portrait of a representative kitty. You can get them in a T-shirt ($12.95) or sweatshirt ($19.95), in children's sizes S-L or adult sizes S-XL, and they come on an Ash Gray, White, Blue, Black or Red shirt. Here's the Siamese design:

For some artful holiday design shirts, Karen Olsen's art is available on short-sleeved tees ($17.95), sweatshirts ($25.95), long-sleeved tees ($19.95), and tank tops ($17.95) in white or natural colors, in adult sizes S-XXL. There are six available designs, including the Bow-Wowy, Meowy Christmas one shown here (for those mixed households):

If you've got a cat-loving ballerina on your shopping list, she'll love this shirt with a kitten and a ballet slipper! It's available on a white or ash gray T-shirt ($12.95) or sweatshirt ($19.95), in children's sizes S-L or adult sizes S-XL. We have this and several other cute cat shirts of similar design:

You could find many other beautiful cat shirts in our Shirts section and we were adding more all the time.

12 Days of Gift Ideas: Day 10

For Cats: A New "Outfit"!

Kids may gripe about getting clothing for Christmas, but if it's the right kind of clothing, a cat would be happy about it! As long as there's something in it for the cat's enjoyment, he'll be all in.

Cats who stay indoors all the time may welcome the opportunity to walk with you on a harness and leash. The Come With Me Kitty Harness and Bungee, shown above, comes with the lead attached so you're ready to train your cat to walk on it. Yes, cats will walk on a leash and harness! It's only because people don't think they can and never even try that more of them don't. Once kitty gets used to wearing the harness and realizes it's a ticket to the outdoors, you'll be amazed how much he likes it. Pick one up for $10.95 in lilac (shown), red, black, or royal blue.

Because a cat's collar has to have a safety release to prevent choking in case it becomes caught on anything, you don't find a lot of them in leather. But OmniPet's Signature Leather Collars do come in safety versions for cats! These actually have an elastic insert that allows them to expand and release the cat if it gets caught. Each comes with a gold-plated buckle and a little golden bell, so the little birdies get a warning kitty's coming. You can get one in any of three sizes, eight regular and eight metallic colors, so one is sure to match your kitty's finicky fashion sense. And at only $14.95 (remember, it's leather!), you'll want to get several for different occasions.

A lot of folks are putting the wider harnesses on their cats these days. They're more comfortable than the strap-like varieties, and there's more of them to show, so they're like little pieces of clothing for your cats. Puppia makes them in several great prints, too, like this classic plaid harness. At only $19.95, it's both functional and stylish! Several other patterns in this style harness are also available.

Got a really tough kitty? This black biker harness may be just the outfit for him! It also comes in a dress version for tough girl kitties. Its embroidered barbed wire and skull-and-crossbones charm will make your cat look like the baddest in the 'hood. Velcro® closure underneath makes it adjustable, and it comes in two sizes to fit cats 5-10 pounds or 10-25 pounds. With a ring on the back so you can attach a leash for walks, it's also functional, and is only $12.95!

If your cat will tolerate even more clothing, and you're a big Anglophile, you may like this Avant Garde harness emblazoned with the Union Jack! It's actually less restrictive than it looks because it's made from a soft, lightweight polyester fabric that's also slightly rain-resistant. Available in two sizes: for this harness, you take measurements of your cat's neck and girth to see which size is appropriate. Adjusts with Velcro® on the sides and bottom, so it will fit your cat snugly. And you'll note there's also a D-ring on the back for you to attach a leash, so kitty can proudly wear it when you take him for a walk. The Avant Garde harness is available for $21.95 in "London Calling" and several other designs.

Every cat needs a party collar, or several! And we have them in all types of colors and selections for every special occasion. From your team's colors to five Christmas designs, various other holidays, or wildlife designs, if your cat needs to look festive, only $5.95 will get you one...and that saves you plenty for the emergency room fees you'll need for those scratches all over your arms if your cat doesn't like wearing it!

Ladies love to get sparkly things during the holidays. If you have a lady cat, she'd probably love one of these metallic Kitty Bling collars! They come with a breakaway feature for safety, in pink or blue, with the fish-shaped blingy charm. And since they sell for only $13.95 each, you can also afford several of the $1.95 slide-on rhinestone letter charms to add her initials!

These are just a few suggestions, so visit the site to see all of our fine Catwear!

12 Days of Gift Ideas: Day 6

For Cats: A New Scratching Post!

Cats have a basic need to scratch. It's not that they're being bad. Scratching causes their claws to shed old growth so the newer claw can grow in. It exercises the front legs, and allows them to mark their territory with the scent glands in their paws. Expecting a cat not to scratch is to take away one of the basic characteristics that makes him a cat. But you don't want your furniture, carpets, and draperies getting scratched, now, do you? Positioning several scratchers around the house and teaching kitty that they're the appropriate scratching places is the perfect remedy for cats who want to scratch your stuff.

Alas, scratching posts get worn out. When they do, the surface doesn't provide that needed resistance that really satisfies. Make your kitty smile with a new one! Here are just a few of the scratchers we have on OldMaidCatLady.com:

Cosmic catnip is the favorite of many a kitty, and they'll also love this angled Cosmic Alpine scratcher! Not only does it have a corrugated surface and lots of Cosmic catnip for it, but there's a little hidey-hole underneath with a toy inside. It'll drive your kitties wild, and it's on sale for only $11.95. Refills also available.

Any cat would love this Super Catnip 20" scratching post; it has both corrugated and rope-wrapped scratching surfaces, a dangly toy, and a corrugated base for horizontal scratching. And you'll love its eco-friendliness and reasonable sale price of just $17.95.

Lots of cats prefer to scratch horizontally rather than vertically, and for them this Cat Love Seat is just the thing! It has a corrugated surface cats love, comes with premium catnip to make it even more irresistible, is made from 30% recycled materials, is 100% recyclable, and is available in 23 patterns. Your own kitty can have one for just $24.95.

The Espejo is a dandy basic scratcher with a sisal-covered post and a carpeted perching platform above. It stands 27 inches tall, and the upper platform measures 14-1/2" on each side, perfect for a kitten or a smaller cat. It's on sale for $33.90.

This Kitty Cactus carpet-covered scratcher comes with an upper tray for kitty to curl up in, as well as a tempting, dangly toy he can bat around! Sale priced at $59.95, it stands 28 inches tall, and the carpet colors will vary between neutrals.

Doesn't look like a scratcher, does it? But this little Rattle & Roll mouse has a sisal scratching surface on its back and a rattle in its tail. Just attach it to a doorknob or put it on the floor, and your cats will go crazy for it! On sale for just $18.95.

And speaking of mice, here are some that will give your smaller cats and kittens hours of fun! The 16-1/2" tall Mouse-Go-Round has dangling mousies on a vertical scratching post with a platform above for air attacks. Don't let the color in the photo fool you...most come in a tan carpet color, and since they're made to order, you can specify another color if you'd prefer it. Even better...the $45.95 price includes shipping! You can also get it with a condo underneath and additional toys for $65.95. Too small for your cats? The next one's a bit taller...

At 24" tall, this carpeted scratching post with platform and hanging toy will let kittens stand all the way up, and even grown cats can get a nice stretch with it. The $39.95 price also includes shipping. Prefer natural materials to carpet, you say? Okay...

There's just something about seagrass that has a natural, aromatic appeal for cats. Let it attract yours with this 18" seagrass scratching post with feather toy. On sale for $26.95! Got a bigger cat?

This is about as basic as a scratching post gets! It's covered in natural sisal and stands 26" tall. Sale priced at $32.95. No room for a scratching post, you say? Not to worry...

Hanging 15-inch corrugated scratchers come in 11 basic fun designs, plus several holiday themes. Made in the USA from recycled material, and is 100% recyclable. Comes with a bag of certified organic catnip. Spread on a little of that, hang it on a doorknob, and watch kitty go to town.

Now, here's the grandaddy of them all...a Christmas tree you won't mind if your cat climbs! It's available in two heights, 13-3/4" (priced at $35.95) or 20-1/4" (priced at $59.95). Made in the USA from 100% recyclable corrugated, it also comes with organic catnip. With both horizontal and vertical scratching surfaces, it's sure to please any kitty who's been nice all year...or even some of the naughty ones!

Click here to see our entire selection of cat scratching posts. All prices shown are as of December, 2011, and likely to change in the future.

12 Days of Gift Ideas: Day 4

For Cats: A New Bed

Cats have a reputation for sleeping most of the day away. Those of us who live with them know that they don't sleep anywhere near as much as "uncatted" people think they do, but those kitties do love to nap! Give yours sweet dreams this season with a soft and warm new bed. Here are a few for you to consider:

Shown above, the Thermo-Kitty Fashion Splash is not only a burst of color for the drabness of winter, but it's heated! On cold days, your cat will leave it only to go to the potty and grab a quick snack...trust me on this. In addition to the bright red shown, it comes in blue or mocha, and is available for $39.95 + shipping.

A cat condo gives your cats someplace to hide, as well as to sleep...and there are plenty of scratching and play spaces, as well. We have kitty condos covered in carpet or faux fur (shown above), in 1-, 2-, and some in 3-story versions. You'll even find some fancy geometric designs or tropical palm trees on some of them. There's even a "Tubby Tabby" version that's built bigger and more sturdily to hold larger cats! The condos range in price from $37.95 to $117.95. Some prices have shipping charges built into them, while others are + shipping. Check the descriptions with each to be sure.

Now, here's a nifty idea! If your cats are like mine, they love to get in your closet and be surrounded by your scent. With the Closet Sleeper from Kittywalk, you can give them a cozy hideaway that'll help keep the cat hair off your pants legs, skirts and shoes! It comes in a neutral tan color and is on sale for $69.95, or you can get a Royale version of it that's on sale for $79.95. 

Show your college team spirit with a collegiate licensed bed for kitty! Shown here is the pillow bed, and our supplier has them available for Alabama, Appalachian State, Arizona, Arizona State, Arkansas, Auburn, Boise State, Boston College, Berkeley (California), Clemson, Connecticut, Duke, East Carolina, Florida, Florida State, Georgetown, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Iowa State, Kansas, Kansas State, Kentucky, Louisville, LSU, Maryland, Miami (Florida), Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota, Mississippi, Mississippi State, Missouri, Nebraska, North Carolina, North Carolina State, Northwestern, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Oregon, Oregon State, Penn State, Pitt, Purdue, Rutgers, South Carolina, Stanford, Syracuse, Tennessee, Texas A&M, Texas, Texas Tech, Vanderbilt, Virginia, Virginia Tech, Wake Forest, Washington, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. Each school also has a collegiate licensed roll-up cat bed available that is great for travel. We're still getting all the schools added to their items on our site!

A lot of cats like to sleep on their scratcher, and the corrugated scratchers we have from Imperial Cat are purr-fect for that! They come in all sorts of shapes, sizes, and colors to suit every cat's fancy...and every cat parent's interior design scheme! The one shown here is the "Cozy Curl" style, and it comes in 23 different patterns. One's sure to be right for you! And if not, there are bunches of other shapes, sizes, colors, and patterns available. Because they're made from cardboard, they're eco-friendly, too.

It can get downright chilly on the floor in winter, and if you have tile or concrete floors, even a cozy bed isn't enough to stop the cold coming through. But getting elevated off that floor, even by a few inches, can make all the difference. This Flipo fuzzy cat bed comes in four colors, and if you don't like those there's also a nylon version available in four colors. Both versions have a foldable aluminum frame that can be adjusted to different heights. $50.95 - $56.95.

Some cats just aren't happy if they aren't sleeping on your furniture. If you're tired of cleaning cat hair off it, here's your answer! This attractive quilted furniture cover comes in sizes to fit a chair, loveseat, or sofa. The polyester microsuede fabric attracts cat hair like a magnet, keeping your furniture clean...and when it's dirty, you just throw it in the washer! Comes in tan or mocha colors, $43.95 - $88.95.

If you're caring for any outdoor cats, you know they need a refuge from the elements. The DezRez KatKabin outdoor cat house gives them a nice little place of safety. Rear holes provide ventilation, while a door in front keeps out the cold wind. It's elevated off the ground, too. Even the folks at Cat Fancy magazine selected it as one of their 2009 Editors' Choice products! Available in 6 colors, it sells for $117.95.

On those cold winter nights, nothing's better than an electric heated bed! The Kitty Cave, shown here, comes in both heated ($65.95) and unheated ($39.95) versions. And since a lot of cats like to have something protective around their backs, the little half-hood on it gives them a sense of security. The unheated version has a fun fish print that's perfect for summer. The snuggly cushions on both versions can be removed for washing.

If your cat likes to snooze in a sunny windowsill, this will make her experience even better! The deluxe window perch mounts in any window and comes with a fleece cover that's easily removed for laundering. We have a few other window perches, as well, and some are even heated. You can get this one for $37.95.

Cats with arthritis will enjoy this all-season Nature's Foundation bed. The two-chamber construction means it's both supportive and soft. Fragrant cedar is in the lower chamber to repel fleas while providing insulation and support. The upper chamber has soft orthopaedic foam to soothe kitty's aching joints. The cover can be removed for washing, and has a warm fleece top for winter that can be reversed to a cooler nylon top for summer! Available in two colors, it retails for $45.95 and won a 2007 Consumer's Digest Best Buy Award.

Cats with a wild side may enjoy this Safari Print bed that reminds them of their wild cousins. The metal-frame bed will hold cats up to 30 pounds, and requires some assembly. Bolsters on three sides keep drafts off kitty's back and give him a secure feeling while sleeping. It can be yours for $85.95.

Cats who like to sleep up high are in luck with the Salamanca cat tree! They have options from the open upper platform to a cozy little hideaway in the middle. And when they're not sleeping, they can play with the dangling toys or scratch on the sisal-covered posts. The 54-1/4" tall tree is on sale for $147.95, and requires some assembly. But your cat is worth it, right? If you don't like this design, we have numerous other cat trees from which you can choose.

Go all earth-friendly with this seagrass and burlap bed ($55.95) that's perfect for cats who like to curl up when sleeping! Made from renewable natural seagrass and jute burlap, it provides an aroma that is naturally appealing to cats. The pillow is removable for washing, and the neutral color palette blends in anywhere. There's also an oblong version ($53.95) available.

To really spoil those outdoor kitties, try this outdoor kitty house. It has a nylon cover with vinyl backing to make it waterproof. The roof overhang keeps snow and sleet from falling inside, while dual exits keep cats from being trapped inside by predators. Velcro® assembly is quick and easy. Comes in a heated ($97.95) or unheated ($52.95) version, but you know the cats would prefer the heated one...in fact, it's been so popular that it's backordered at our supplier until early January!

With all these and more to choose from, your kitty's sure to have sweet dreams all winter long!

Shop all of OldMaidCatLady.com's sleep products for cats in our Nap Time category.