Mother's Day Gifts From The Cat: Sentimental Ideas For Cat Mums

Cat mums get bought a lot of mugs with whiskers on. The gifts that stay out on display are the ones that show her actual cat.

We design and print cards, pin badges, prints and party decorations in the UK. We don't paint pet portraits ourselves, so where we recommend a commissioned portrait it is a recommendation rather than our own product.

Here's what lands, sorted by how much effort and money you want to spend.

The one that always lands

• A commissioned portrait of her cat. It goes in the hall or above the fireplace and gets mentioned by every visitor.
• Send a photo taken at eye level in daylight - portrait artists work from the photo, not the cat.
• A soft watercolour reads sentimental; a Tudor-style or pop-art treatment reads funny. Pick for her, not the cat.
• Allow two to three weeks for a printed illustration and six to eight for hand-painted work.
• Left it late? Buy the digital file, print A4 locally and frame it.

Sentimental gifts from the cat

• A card signed with a real paw print, which will take several attempts and a pet-safe ink pad.
• A framed photo of the two of them asleep - the picture she never prints.
• Jewellery engraved with the cat's name, which is quieter than it sounds.
• A keepsake box for collar tags, whisker finds and vet cards.
• A photo book of the cat's first year, or of every cat she's had.

Funny gifts the cat would 'choose'

• A voucher book issued by the cat: one lie-in, one undisturbed bath, one evening with the laptop to herself.
• House rules 'written' by the cat, printed and framed for the kitchen.
• A tea towel or apron with the cat's own name and an unreasonable demand.
• A calendar where every month is the same cat sitting somewhere it shouldn't.
• A cat-shaped cake she has to share with nobody.

Gifts that cost nothing

• Twenty minutes of phone photography in good light, then print the best one.
• Sort her camera roll into one album of her and the cat.
• Do the litter tray for a fortnight and say nothing about it.
• A handwritten note in the cat's voice - daft, and it gets kept.
• Book the vet check she keeps putting off and pay for it.

Shop Mother's Day cards

How to write it so it lands

• Photograph the cat at eye level, in daylight, from about a metre away.
• Ask for the digital file as well as the print - it ends up on cards for years.
• Buy the frame before the print so the sizes match.

Where to shop next

• 1st anniversary paper gift ideas
• Retirement gifts for dog lovers
• Unusual gifts for dog lovers
• Wedding gift ideas for dog lovers
• Father's Day gifts from the dog
• Dog mum gifts she'll treasure
• Gifts for dog lovers
• Gifts for cat lovers
• Pet portraits UK: costs and how to choose
• Best photos to send for a pet portrait
• How to include your dog in your wedding
• Pet cards
• Wall art and prints
• Pin badges
• Planning the party? Birthday party ideas
• How to make a balloon arch
• Photo booth prop ideas
• Mother's Day gifts
• Pin badges
• All guides

Frequently asked questions

What are good Mother's Day gifts from the cat?

A commissioned portrait of her cat, a card signed with a real paw print, engraved jewellery with the cat's name, a photo book, or a framed picture of the two of them.

What do you write in a Mother's Day card from the cat?

Write it in the cat's voice and keep it specific - thanks for the 5am breakfasts, sorry about the curtains, the radiator is mine now. Then add a paw print.

When should I order a cat portrait for Mother's Day?

Order at least three weeks ahead for a printed illustration and eight for hand-painted work. UK Mother's Day falls in March, so February is the safe window.

Do you paint pet portraits yourselves?

No. We design and print cards, pin badges, prints and party decorations in the UK. A commissioned portrait mentioned here is an outside recommendation, not something we make.