Humans are strange creatures and it is hard to find gifts for them that they will appreciate. Things that we cats adore are often the very same things that they dislike — and vice versa. It’s an awful feeling to present someone with what you thought was a carefully chosen gift on Christmas morning only to have the recipient cringe with revulsion. So just in time to save you kitties from embarrassment, here is the following list of things that you should probably not give your humans this holiday season.
- A dead rat
I know, I know, any cat would treasure a well-prepared gift you went out and caught yourself, and rats and mice are a whole food, but humans just won’t eat them. In fact, when you present them with one, they are usually pretty rude and won’t even accept it — or if they do, they will immediately toss it out. So save your energy. - A live rat
I think live rats make really fun playthings, and I bet you do too — but your human won’t. In fact, there may be panic around the Christmas tree if you try to drop this present at her feet. So if you have one you are planning to give, either keep it for yourself or make it a present to a feline family member. - A big, juicy bug
See Numbers 1 and 2. Besides, good bugs are hard to come by this time of year. Don’t waste them on someone who won’t appreciate them. - Freshly baked Christmas cookies
Humans love cookies, so you’d think this type of gift would be a no-brainer. But admit it, you stole those cookies from the counter right after your human made them. Trust me, she will know. - A gently used cat toy
It’s bad form to gift somebody something that they previously gave you. Human memories are pretty good — she will probably know she originally bought it. - A box or an empty gift bag
First off, you’d need to find an awfully big box or bag for your human to fit herself into. But humans just don’t have the enthusiasm for boxes and bags that we cats do anyhow. They are more interested in getting something inside the box or bag, which just proves they don’t understand the true value of these items.
So what do you do if you’ve already gotten your human one of these gifts? Ditch it and give the gift of yourself! Your human will enjoy your head butts and the sound of your purr far more than any other present. Isn’t spending time with your loved ones the true meaning of the holiday?


Oh I don’t know Summer ,I don’t mind some of those gifts,xx Rachel Speedy’s Mum
Ungrateful hoomans!
Amen to that! Xmas is for kitties, anyway. Cuddles and purrz are better than ANYTHING store-bought!
Purrz!
Selina
A well thought out list Summer. Merry Christmas to you and your human.
Cuddles are the best! Even pretending to like them works.
Bodacious
Great advice Summer. Our humans love it when we cuddle, that’s enough for them.
Whatever you got your human , I hope they loved it.
It’s the thought that counts—not whether they liked it or not
Drat, I missed this post and got my peep another live mouse and bird. Well next year I get some cookies in June and stash them till christmas, and peep will have forgotten by then!
Awesome post Summer…you are so right on theese ones!
That’s one of the best do not lists I’ve ever read. When I was a kid my dog left a big wet dead rat on my brother’s pillow. That dog brought more dead animal presents into the house than any other creature I’ve ever seen.
Great kitty advice, Summer! You know the right things…now what *do* we need to give them when they get tired of headbonks when they are trying to drink their coffee or eat lunch…wait, something to do with the ‘I wish you would’….
Well, if the gift bag was really good, they could use it fer a late present fer another Bein. Assuming what they put inside is not a dead rat. Or even a live one.
Humans are simply IMPOSSIBLE to shop for…
we’ve given up!
Summer, you advice is taken. I agree, humans are finicky creatures. My humans do not observe this day, but she laughed heartily at your article.
This is some really great advice, Summer. We were going to get our humans a rat, but maybe we’ll just give them some snuggles and headbonks. 🙂 – Gracie and Zoe
Great advice Summer.