The Best Father’s Day Gifts for Cat Dads

This toys from Modernbeast might seem like a gift for cats, but it’s actually a gift for dads, too. Not only are these three little fishies stuffed with 100 percent organic catnip and crinkle paper to entertain your beloved kitty, but unlike most cat toys, they’re legitimately attractive. If the cat dad in your life likes earthy colors and masculine prints, these are toys he’ll actually be happy to find lying all over the house.

There are so many cat beds out there, but few are as lovely or as architectural as this one from Meyou Paris. It looks like a piece of minimalist art. The spherical basket is made out of coated yarn and is surrounded by a black metal cube. For kitty’s comfort, the inside holds an ochre cotton-blend canvas cushion, but the outside is just this cool, sculptural…thing. Perfect for design-conscious cat dads and the cats they live to spoil.

Full disclosure, these Katie Kimmel vases are made-to-order and take about eight to 10 weeks for delivery, so you won’t be able to get one in time for Father’s Day, but at least you can let your cat dad know that a one-of-a-kind custom-designed and handmade vase featuring the likeness of his perfect fur angel is on the way. Would it be nice to have it earlier? Sure. But this way you’re giving him a super cool gift that he can look forward to while supporting an independent artist at the same time.

This book. It’s just so gorgeous. Half cat book and half interior-design book, it is the perfect gift for any and all cat-loving aesthetes. Photographer and filmmaker Paul Barbera spent years photographing cats at the various homes and artists’ studios he visited on assignments for clients like Elle Decor, Vogue Living, and The New York Times. It wasn’t until the pandemic hit and he found himself stuck at his mom’s house in Australia that he decided to turn his love of cats and design into a book. Where They Purr is a look at some of Australia’s most fabulous homes (many of which have never been photographed for publication before) and the cats who rule them. It is adorable and inspiring all at once. Really, just so so good.

Look at him! He’s so cute with his little hat. He’s a cat and a cowboy and just plain perfect all over. The puzzle is 500 pieces and measures 25 x 18 inches when fully assembled — and the pieces are random-cut, so each one is different, which makes putting it together a lot more fun. It also comes with a poster of Scotty (that’s the cowboy kitty’s name) so you can still look at his gorgeous visage even after the puzzle is disassembled and put away.

These pins are so small, so simple, so understated, that even people who wouldn’t normally consider themselves enamel pin people, will absolutely love wearing them.

I know, another puzzle, but puzzles are great and everyone knows it, so why limit yourself (or this gift guide) to just one? This 300-piece puzzle features 299 cat-shaped pieces (and one dog) which combine to create the kitty cuddle puddle of your cat dad’s wildest dreams. As adorable as this puzzle is, it’s also diabolically difficult. With most puzzles, you can start from the outside and work your way in or group pieces by color and work from there, but those strategies won’t help you here. There are no “edge” pieces (at least, none that are easily discernible from the other pieces) and each cat is surrounded by a thin white border. It’s impossible! Well, not impossible, but a fun challenge for puzzlers used to working with a specific methodology. Of course, if it proves too challenging, you can always check the guide included in the box — but trust me, it’s more fun (and more satisfying) if you just figure it out yourself.

Let’s be honest: the Venn diagram of cat dads and game enthusiasts has a pretty significant overlap, which is why this particular game is such an excellent gift. Each player is a cat and all the cats live in a house. As a cat, you want to lavish your human with affection while causing mischief elsewhere in the house, and the first cat to score nine mischief points wins. The rules can feel a little vague and open-ended when you first start playing, but once you get the hang of it, the game is fast-paced, cutthroat, and a lot of fun.

Plants add so much to a home, but not all plants are cat (or dog) friendly. These three are, though. This trio of potted plants from Bloomscape are great for spaces that don’t get a lot of direct sunlight and if the cat decides to gnaw one to death, your cat dad will still have two more to help beautify his home. Win-win!

This lovely little book features photographs and stories from 45 famous authors — from Stephen King and Neil Gaiman to Mark Twain and Ursula K. Le Guin — that capture the special bond between authors and their feline companions. It’s the perfect gift for lovers of words and kitty cats alike.

So expensive, I know. But hear me out. A lot of cats really don’t like covered litter boxes, because they don’t like not being able to see if someone or something is sneaking up on them. At the same time, though, litter boxes tend to be pretty ugly and cats can make a real mess when they start kicking their litter around and burying their business. This cover is spacious, semi-transparent, and keeps all that rogue litter confined to one space. Yes, it’s expensive, but for the right cat family, it’s also kind of perfect.

Who said cat food/water bowls have to be ugly? Upgrade that kitty’s dinnerware with this adorable, sturdy, and elegantly designed little table from Pets So Good. The ceramic bowl liner is included and the whole thing is a definite upgrade from whatever situation your cat dad is currently employing.