One morning after our son's school drop off, my husband walked in with a bothered look. "What's wrong?" I asked. "I just sat though an hour-long interrogation," he responded.
In pursuit of adopting a cat, he had been sternly interviewed and subjected to a thorough character assessment and custody evaluation. Luckily, we knew he had passed when we were invited back as a family, but were surprised to discover that Carl, our chosen cat, had a close sister. Without hesitation, we returned home with the pair. And now that the holidays are upon us, here's what we're considering for our new family members (and ourselves).
To make sure we've got everyone on your list covered, we're posting a new gift guide every weekday from now until Christmas. See all of the Gift Guides to date in our archive. And dog lovers, stay tuned for tomorrow's post.
Above: Carl at play on top of our living room mantel. (Scroll down to see Silvia, Carl's sister.) Photography shot with the Canon EOS Rebel SL1 digital SLR camera. Small in size, enormous in performance.
Above: Stackable Cat Dishes—for use by people and felines—handmade by designer Leah Goren in her signature black cat shape. The plates are available via Leah's Etsy shop, but tend to sell out the day they appear. Contact Leah via her Etsy shop, Leah Reen Goren, and she'll let you know when the next batch is coming.
Above: For tossing, chasing, and chewing, the Sisal Twist Cat Toy is made from sisal, wool, and yarn by Etsy seller and handmade cat toys specialist Tux and Tabby in Brighton, England. It comes in four colors; $6.62 each.
Above: The Cat Bed is handmade from felted wool gray with white detailing. The design is made to order in four sizes, from cats that are 9 to 20 pounds, and available from Agnes Felt via Etsy; $63 - $90.
Above: Whether there's a cat on your bed or not, accessorize with the Cat Nap Pillowcase Set, patterned with a charcoal drawing that's screen-printed with water-based ink. The pillowcases are US-made, available in standard, queen, and king sizes, and come in four different colors: white, cream, mocha, and green tea; $32 for a pair from Xenotees.
Above: The Hepper Hi-Lo Scratching Post features a curved blond plywood frame layered with recycled corrugated cardboard. It can be set in a high or low position—cat's choice—and is $79 from Hepper
Above: A design created in response to two favorite feline activities, climbing and lounging, the Cat Trapeze is a tiered hanging contraption with a hammock at its base. It comes in two sizes: the Two-Pillow Trapeze in white is $89.99, and the Three-Pillow Trapeze in natural is $99.99. Note that insert cushions are sold separately (starting at $19.99 for two), or the maker suggests stuffing the cases with something you have on hand, such as old towels.
Above: Designer Leah Goren (whose cat dishes we featured above) prints the Picasso Cat Scarf using her own hand-carved block stamps. It comes in silk charmeuse, shown here, and silk chiffon, $96.
Above: Our cat Silvia doesn't consider any surface off limits.
Here at Remodelista, more than a few of us are cat obsessed. See Julie's Cats, Etc. Pinterest board and check out her contribution to Catster: Would you Pick Your Home's Color Palette Based on Your Cat? Also don't miss our post Elevated Pet Style via Brooklyn.