20+ DIY Cat Christmas Gifts You Can Actually Make
Look, store-bought gifts are fine and all, but there’s something about a handmade gift that hits different.
Plus, when you make something yourself, you can customize it to match your friend’s weird cat or their even weirder taste in home decor.
I’ve rounded up the best DIY Christmas gift ideas for the cat lovers in your life—from ridiculously easy projects you can knock out during a Netflix binge to more involved ones that’ll actually impress people.
For the Cats Themselves
Catnip Pouches (The Gateway Drug)
This is literally the easiest thing on this list.
Take a piece of felt, cut it into a small rectangle, stuff it with catnip, and stitch it closed. That’s it. You’re done. Your cat will lose their mind over a 5-minute craft project.
You can make like 20 of these in one sitting and keep them on hand for when you need a quick gift or when your cat is being particularly demanding.
The Crinkle Water Bottle Sock Toy
Cats are weird—they ignore the $30 toy you bought and go nuts for a random sock.
Take an old sock, stuff a plastic water bottle inside (the crinkly sound drives them crazy), tie it off at the top, and add some catnip for bonus points.
Kids can help make these, and there’s a solid chance your cat will actually play with it instead of the cardboard box it came in.
Wine Cork Cat Toy
Got leftover wine corks? String them together with some twine or string.
Make it as long or short as you want—your cat doesn’t care about your artistic vision, they just want something to bat around at 3 AM.
DIY Christmas Tree for Cats
This is the ultimate gift if you’re feeling ambitious.
You’ll need cat-safe sticks, vines, and ornaments from your local pet store. Use an electric drill to make holes for the sticks (safety first—your cat has enough chaos in their life).
This will keep a cat entertained for hours, which means the cat owner gets hours of peace. That’s the real gift.
Salt Dough Paw Print Ornaments
Picture this: the tiniest, cutest little paw print pressed into homemade clay.
Mix up some salt dough (flour, salt, water), flatten it out, and press your cat’s paw into it. Bake it, seal it with craft sealer, and you’ve got a keepsake that’ll make any cat owner cry.
You can add food coloring to the dough if you’re feeling fancy. This is also a great project to do with kids since it’s not too messy.
By the way, if you're into DIY Hacks stuff, you’ll wanna check this one out: 10 DIY Cardboard Christmas House Ideas for Cats
For the Cat Lovers
Homemade Cat Treats in a Jar
The secret ingredient is tuna, and cats go absolutely feral for it.
Here’s a simple recipe that takes about 30 minutes total:
Basic Tuna Cat Treats Recipe:
- 1 can of tuna in water (about 5 oz), drained
- 1 egg
- 1-2 cups whole wheat flour (cats can’t digest regular flour properly)
Mix it all together until it forms a dough, roll it out to about 1/4 inch thick, cut into small shapes, and bake at 350°F for 15-20 minutes until golden brown.
Pro tip: Put some oil on your hands before mixing to keep the dough from sticking everywhere.
Package them in a cute mason jar with a ribbon, and suddenly you look like you know what you’re doing.
Important note: These need to be refrigerated and will last about 1-2 weeks in an airtight container. They can also be frozen for up to 2-3 months.
Cat-Shaped Sleep Mask
For the friend who takes “cat naps” seriously.
This is a small project that lets you use up fabric scraps. If you don’t have a Cricut machine, use a rotary cutter and ruler to cut out the pieces.
It’s functional, adorable, and way better than those generic eye masks from the drugstore.
Custom Cat Appliqué Pillow
This one takes some serious time and effort, but it’s worth it.
Take a picture of their cat, choose fabrics that match the cat’s coloring, and create a custom appliqué pillowcase. You’ll need a sewing machine that can handle multiple fabric layers.
If your friend has multiple cats, plan accordingly—this is not a last-minute project.
Cat Paw Print Clay Keepsake
Make a permanent keepsake using homemade salt dough (same recipe as the ornaments).
Mix flour, salt, and water, convince the cat to step on it (good luck with that), bake it once it’s got the paw print, and seal it with craft sealer so it doesn’t go moldy.
This is personalized, completely safe for cats, and a guaranteed tear-jerker.
DIY Cat Gift Basket
Put together a “cat spa day” basket for ultimate friend points.
Include homemade treats, a soft blanket, a catnip toy, maybe some cat wipes or waterless shampoo, and if you really want to go all out, add a calming diffuser.
Think of it as assembling the feline version of a self-care package.
Cat-Themed Ring Dish
Rings and earrings are easy to lose, so a cat-themed bowl solves a real problem.
Use air-dry clay (no oven needed), form it into a bowl shape using an existing bowl as a guide, and add little ears to make it cat-shaped.
This is perfect for getting kids involved, and it actually looks cute on a nightstand.
Cat Coasters (Regular or… Cat Butt)
You can make regular cat-shaped fabric coasters for the classy friend, or you can make cat butt coasters for the friend with a sense of humor.
Both involve basic sewing and fabric—the cat butt ones just require you to commit to the bit.
Cat-Shaped Purse or Bag
This is for the friend who’s ALL IN on cat stuff.
Made with leather (real or fake), it’s durable and unique. Customize it with their favorite colors or add a different style strap to make it adjustable.
It’s practical, stylish, and screams “I love cats” without being obnoxious about it.
DIY Cat Calendar or Photo Book
Take photos your friend has shared (or raid their social media), and make a custom calendar where each month features their cat.
Or go the photo book route and include memories, cute quotes, and photos from when the cat was a kitten. Online sites make this super easy, and it’s the kind of gift people actually keep.
Cat-Shaped Tea Bags
For the friend who loves both cats and tea.
Customize the cat face template, thread color, and paper tags to fit their personality. Make a batch for them or help yourself to some quality tea time with your own cat.
Oh, and speaking of DIY Hacks, here’s another one you might like: Make Your Cat’s Christmas: Easy DIY Catnip Toys They’ll Go Nuts For
Quick and Easy Wins
T-Shirt Pet Bed
Got an old hoodie taking up closet space?
Stuff it, sew it into a circular bed shape, and give your cat (or your friend’s cat) a cozy new spot that smells like you. The slight smell of the owner makes it their favorite place to sleep.
Cardboard Scratcher
If you’ve got a bunch of cardboard lying around, cut it into strips and stack them tightly together.
Secure with glue, cover the outside with something decorative, and you’ve got a horizontal scratching pad that saves furniture.
Felt Mouse Toy
Cats love mouse toys, and you can hand-sew a simple felt mouse in like 20 minutes.
Fill it with catnip for extra enthusiasm. No sewing machine needed.
Cat Hideaway Tent
All you need is an old T-shirt, wire clothes hangers, cardboard, tape, and safety pins.
Bend the hangers into a frame, stretch the shirt over it, secure everything, and boom—your cat has a new hiding spot that actually matches your decor (if you pick the right shirt).
Also, just throwing this in—this DIY Hacks post is a fun read too: 10 Creative Cat-Friendly Christmas Tree Ideas for Festive Fun!
The Bottom Line
The best DIY gifts are the ones you’ll actually finish.
Don’t pick the most complicated project on this list unless you genuinely enjoy crafting. A simple catnip pouch wrapped nicely beats a half-finished custom pillow any day.
And honestly? Most cat lovers will appreciate anything that shows you thought about their cat. Because let’s be real—their cat is basically their child, their roommate, and their therapist all rolled into one furry package.
So grab some felt, raid your pantry for tuna, and get crafting. Your cat-obsessed friends (and their cats) will thank you.
