Valentine's Day Gifts for Your Pet Cat

According to the American Pet Product Manufacturers Association, more than nine million pet owners are likely to give their pets Valentine's Day gifts. Are you one of them? Perhaps you would like to commemorate Valentine's Day with your cat with one of these gifts.

The Cat Connection (www.thecatconnection.com) suggests Enchantacat Catnip-Filled Plush Strawberries. Only $2.49 each and stuffed with extra-potent catnip, these strawberries are sure to drive your cat wild with delight. You'll laugh your way through Valentine's Day watching your cat go crazy. Cat Connection also has catnip-stuffed hearts and cherries -- and a whole selection of other items for Valentine's Day gifts.

If you're enjoying champagne and caviar (or other special foods) for Valentine's Day, why not treat your cat to some Kitty Kaviar? Kitty Kaviar is an all-natural fish treat -- no additives or preservatives. Your cat will love the fishy taste and smell of these treats. You can find Kitty Kaviar at HealthyPets.com, starting at 3.59 for one-half ounce.

The Perky Paws Cafe (PerkyPawsCafe.com) has a heart-shaped Cat Gift Basket. Treat your feline friend to Cat Knots (a toy), a Cool Cats Pillow, Kitty Hoots Organic Catnip, a Cat Grab Bag, and a Heart Catnip Toy, all packed in a heart-shaped plastic basket. This Valentine's Day gift basket is $23.95.

Perky Paws also has a cute heart-shaped, pink ceramic dish for $6.99. Be sure to take a picture of your cat eating from his or her Valentine's Day gift.

February is not only Valentine season, it's also election season for many. Give your cat a political gift for Valentine's Day. Fat Cat, Inc. (fatcatinc.com) has Political Animal^TM cat toys. Give your cat George W., Capitol Hillary, and Arnold (all stuffed with catnip) to play with or maul...depending on your cat's political preference. Political Animals^TM can be bought...for $17.95 for the set of three.

If you and/or your kids are crafty, you might try your hand at making a cat toy for your gift. DLTK-Kids (dltk-kids.com) has free instructions for making a mouse toy. You can sew or hot glue it together.

My cat has very simple wants. One is food. We feed her dry food, so for holidays, a can of Fancy Feast makes her day. Fancy Feast will cost you somewhere around 59 to 79 cents per can, depending on where you live and where you shop. It's a simple and inexpensive Valentine's day gift for your cat.

Finally, give your cat the gift of a safe Valentine's Day. The American Humane Association reminds us that some aspects of Valentine's Day can be dangerous for pets. Remember that cats should never eat chocolates -- keep them out of reach. Some flowers can be harmful as well (there's a list of toxic plants on the ASPCA website). Also, keep gift wrap, packaging, and ribbons away from cats. Cats love to play with crinkly, ribbony things -- but playing with these items can result in choking, and swallowing them can cause severe intestinal damage in your cat.

SOURCES

APPMA, "Pets Now At the Heart of Valentine's Day", http://www.appma.org/press_releasedetail.asp?v=ALL&id=2

DLTK-Kids, "Mouse Toy (for Cats)", http://www.dltk-kids.com/animals/mmousetoy.htm

American Humane Association, "Don't Forget Your Four-Legged or Winged Valentines", http://www.americanhumane.org/site/PageServer?pagename=pa_care_issues_valentines

ASPCA, "Toxic Plants", http://www.aspca.org/site/PageServer?pagename=pro_apcc_toxicplants