Cat advent calendars
A cat advent calendar works the same way as one made for people, except each of the daily windows holds a small cat treat, a tiny toy, or occasionally a sachet of wet food rather than chocolate. It is a small, low-effort way to make December feel a bit more festive for a cat, one door at a time.
What's usually behind each door
Most cat advent calendars are built around small treats — individual biscuits, freeze-dried pieces, or single-serve sachets — with the odd small toy mixed in on some days for variety. The exact mix varies between calendars, so it is worth checking what is included before buying if your cat has a strong preference either way.
A few calendars are treat-only, which suits a cat who is more food-motivated than play-motivated, while others weight things more towards toys and enrichment, which can suit an older or less food-driven cat better.
Portion size is generally small and consistent from door to door, which is part of the appeal — it takes the guesswork out of how much extra your cat is having on any given day in December, unlike an ad hoc handful from an open bag of treats.
What to check before buying
Check the treats included against anything your cat cannot have, whether that is a specific ingredient, a food sensitivity, or simply a texture they have never got on with, since a full month of treats they will not eat is a wasted calendar.
If your cat is on a controlled diet or you are watching their weight, treat an advent calendar as an addition to be accounted for rather than an extra on top of their normal routine unchanged, and skip a door here and there if needed rather than feeling obliged to open every one.
Making it last beyond one December
A calendar with a mix of small toys as well as treats often has more lasting value than a treat-only one, since a favourite toy from door twelve can still be in rotation long after the last door has been opened.
For a multi-cat household, one calendar between two cats can cause a bit of door-opening competition, so either buy one per cat or plan to distribute each day's contents yourself rather than leaving cats to find the calendar on their own.
The gifts themselves
Everything below is in stock with us, priced with delivery worked out, and packed and posted by hand in the UK.
Catit Groovy Fish Blue
A motion-activated, USB-C rechargeable cat toy with a refillable catnip pocket
£12.99
Paw-Shaped Flying Disc Launcher Cat Toy
A fun paw-shaped launcher that fires soft flying discs across the room for cats and kittens to chase. Rechargeable and easy to load, it turns hunting instincts into active indoor play.
£10.99
Catit Nibbly Jerky Chicken & Fish Treats
Soft chicken and fish jerky treats for cats, two named meats high on the list, grain free
£1.89
Catit Creamy Tuna Treats 4 Pk
Lickable 26% tuna purée tubes for cats, 4 x 10g, up to 3 a day in place of main meal
£1.89
Catit Creamy Chicken Treats 4 Pk
Lickable chicken cat treats, 4 tubes, for treating or as a food topper
£1.89
Dreamies Meaty Sticks Adult Cat Treats with Tasty Chicken
Soft meaty stick treats for adult cats with chicken, individually wrapped, not for kittens
£1.59
Dreamies Meaty Sticks Adult Cat Treats with Scrumptious Salmon
Soft meaty stick treats for adult cats with salmon, individually wrapped, not for kittens
£1.59
Dreamies Creamy Adult Cat & Kitten Treats with Scrumptious Salmon
Creamy lickable salmon treats for cats and kittens, in a 40g pack with taurine
£1.59
Catit Treat Ball
A rolling cat treat ball that dispenses rewards or closes for ordinary ball play
£7.49
Foldable Outdoor Mesh Cat Tunnel
Collapsible mesh cat tunnel with attached dome shelters for hours of chasing, hiding and pouncing fun. The breathable mesh suits indoor or outdoor play and folds flat for easy storage.
£24.99
Dreamies Shakeups Seafood Celebrations Cat Treats
Complementary Dreamies Shakeups tuna, salmon and shrimp treats, 55G
£2.05
Dreamies Shakeups Rockin Roost Cat Treats
Complementary Dreamies Shakeups chicken, duck and catnip treats, 55G
£2.05
Common questions
- Are advent calendar treats safe for cats every day for a month?
- Most are designed as small daily treats intended to be given once a day through December, in amounts that are fine as an addition for most cats. If your cat is on a restricted diet, it is worth checking with your vet before starting one.
- What if my cat doesn't like the treats inside?
- It happens, since cats can be particular about texture and flavour. Save any unopened treats for later or swap them into a puzzle feeder, and consider a calendar with a wider mix of toys and treats next time.
- Are cat advent calendars suitable for kittens?
- Check the age guidance on the specific calendar, since some treats are formulated for adult cats rather than kittens. If in doubt, offer a very small amount the first time and see how your kitten gets on.
- Can I open all the doors at once instead of one a day?
- It works better spread out, both for the sake of your cat's daily calorie intake and because the drip-feed of a new door each day is a large part of what makes an advent calendar enjoyable in the first place, for you as much as your cat.
Related
Written by Matt Garnett, who runs Giddy Pets and is a lifelong pet owner — not a vet. This is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace an examination by the vet who knows your animal. How we write these guides.