She has four thousand photographs of an animal that walks out of the room when she enters it. 🐾 She knows exactly which chair is his, which is to say every chair. Cat mums tend to get worse gifts than dog mums, and it is not because they are harder to buy for. Here is what to get her, and when to order it.
What should you get a cat mum for Mother's Day?
Something made from a photo of her own cat. A personalised embroidered sweatshirt, cushion or bag featuring her cat's portrait beats generic cat themed gifts, because it is specific to the animal she loves rather than a cartoon tabby. If she has several cats, include all of them. Made to order pieces need about three weeks, so order in mid February for the UK date, or mid April for the US one.
Key takeaways
- Her cat, not a generic cat. That is the entire difference
- Cat mums skew towards home and wearable pieces rather than outdoor gear
- If she has more than one cat, leaving one out will be noticed
- Getting a usable cat photo is the hard part, so start early
- Allow about three weeks for anything personalised
- UK Mothering Sunday and US Mother's Day are two months apart
Why cat mums get worse gifts
Dog culture is loud. There are dog cafes, dog birthdays, dog friendly pubs, and a whole industry that treats the bond as obvious. Cat people get novelty socks.
The bond is not smaller, it is just quieter. Cats choose you rather than depending on you, which is why cat mums talk about being picked. A gift that treats that relationship seriously, rather than as a joke about crazy cat ladies, lands much harder than the equivalent dog gift does, precisely because she is not expecting it.
Seven Mother's Day gifts for cat mums
1. Embroidered pet portrait sweatshirt
Best for: almost any cat mum, and the safest choice if you are unsure
Her cat, drawn from a photo and embroidered onto heavyweight organic cotton. Embroidery is why it lasts: the thread is stitched into the fabric so it does not crack or peel, and the texture reads as fur in a way a flat print never manages.
2. Velvet pet portrait cushion
Best for: the cat mum who would rather not wear her cat
Our strongest recommendation for cat households, and the one that gets underrated. It lives in the room she spends most of her time in, which is also the room the cat has claimed. Velvet with a pom pom trim keeps it feeling like an interiors piece rather than a novelty. Expect the cat to sit on it immediately.
3. Embroidered hoodie
Best for: working from home, cold houses, weekends
The same portrait on something heavier. Cat mums spend more time at home with the cat than dog mums spend anywhere, so loungewear does more work in this house than walking gear does.
4. Embroidered tote bag
Best for: a smaller budget, colleagues, Secret Santa territory
Personal without being too personal, which makes it the right call when you are not close enough to buy someone clothing. It also pairs neatly with a sweatshirt if you want to build a set.
5. Personalised crossbody bag
Best for: everyday use, and vet trips she would rather not think about
Light, small, goes on the hook by the door. Of everything we make, this is the piece people most often tell us they did not expect to use as much as they do.
6. Memorial portrait
Best for: a cat mum whose cat is no longer here
Mother's Day is quietly hard for someone who has lost a cat, especially the first one after. A memorial piece with his or her portrait, and optionally a name or a date, gives her somewhere to put it. Older or lower quality photos are absolutely fine to work from, since our artists are used to working with whatever exists. 💛
7. Gift card
Best for: last minute, or when you cannot get a decent photo
Given that photographing a cat is the hardest part of this whole exercise, handing that job to her is often the smartest move. It arrives by email, and what she ends up with is still entirely about her own cat. ✨
If she is outdoorsy as well as a cat person, our fleeces and jackets and the mini rolltop backpack take the same portrait. They are built for dog walks, so only go there if she genuinely spends her weekends outside.
If she has more than one cat
Cat households rarely stop at one, and this is where gifts go wrong. Putting one cat on a sweatshirt in a three cat house is a decision, and she will read it as one.
Can you put several cats on one item?
Yes. Multi-pet designs are available across most of our range, and cats sit together well on a chest panel because they are similar in scale. Send a clear individual photo of each cat rather than one group shot, since our artists need to see each face properly, and tell us in the order notes how many to include.
Getting a photo of a cat, the hard part
Dogs look at you when you say their name. Cats consider it, then leave. If you are ordering anything personalised, the photo is the thing that decides how good the finished portrait is, so it is worth ten minutes of effort.
- Daylight, never flash. Flash causes green eyeshine and flattens the face
- Get down to their eye level. Shooting from standing height distorts the head
- Fill the frame with the head and shoulders, from about 60cm away
- Use burst mode and take twenty or more frames while something crinkly holds their attention
- Black cats need twice the light you think, with the light in front of them rather than behind
Our full guide to taking the perfect photo of your cat covers all of this properly, including exposure on dark coats and how to make a cat look at the camera.
Dates and ordering deadlines
| Year | UK, Mothering Sunday | US, Mother's Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2027 | Sunday 7 March | Sunday 9 May |
| 2028 | Sunday 26 March | Sunday 14 May |
Allow about three weeks. You will see a proof within roughly three days and can request unlimited edits, then the piece is embroidered and shipped from our Cambridge studio. Order by mid February for UK Mothering Sunday, or mid April for Mother's Day in the US. Later than that, send a gift card.
What to avoid
- Generic cat merchandise. A cartoon tabby is not her tabby, and she will notice within a second
- Crazy cat lady jokes. The gift that says the relationship is a punchline is the gift that goes in a drawer
- Toys and treats for the cat. Lovely, but that is a gift for the cat, and the cat will ignore it
- Anything requiring the cat's cooperation. Photoshoots, costumes, matching outfits. It will not happen
- Leaving it until the week before. The one genuinely unfixable mistake with made to order pieces
Give her the cat who chose her, in thread
Drawn from a photo and embroidered in our Cambridge studio. You approve a proof first, with unlimited edits, and nothing is stitched until it looks exactly like him.
Shop cat mum giftsFrequently asked questions
What is a good Mother's Day gift for a cat mom?
A personalised piece made from a photo of her own cat. An embroidered sweatshirt, cushion or bag featuring her cat's portrait feels far more thoughtful than generic cat themed gifts, because it is about the animal she actually loves rather than a cartoon cat.
When is Mother's Day 2027?
In the UK, Mothering Sunday falls on Sunday 7 March 2027. In the US and most other countries, Mother's Day falls on Sunday 9 May 2027. The UK date moves each year because it is tied to Easter, while the US date is always the second Sunday in May.
Can you put more than one cat on the same item?
Yes, multi-pet designs are available across most of the range. Send a clear individual photo of each cat rather than one group shot, and tell us in the order notes how many you would like included.
How do I photograph a cat for a portrait?
Use soft daylight with the flash off, get down to the cat's eye level, fill the frame with the head and shoulders from about 60cm away, and use burst mode while something crinkly holds their attention. Black cats need roughly twice as much light as you think.
How far in advance should I order?
About three weeks. You receive a proof within roughly three days, edits are unlimited, then the piece is embroidered and shipped. Order by mid February for UK Mothering Sunday, or mid April for Mother's Day in the US.
What can I get a cat mum who already has everything?
Something that cannot be bought twice. A portrait of her own cat is unique by definition, which sidesteps the problem entirely. If she owns every wearable already, a cushion moves the same idea into a different part of her home.
What if her cat has passed away?
A memorial portrait is one of the most meaningful gifts you can give, and most people find it comforting rather than upsetting. Older or lower quality photos are fine to work from, and you can add a name or a date alongside the portrait.
What if I do not know her size?
All our pieces are unisex regular fit, so they run true to size. A cushion, a tote or a bag removes sizing from the equation entirely, and so does a gift card.
Do you ship outside the UK?
Yes, we ship worldwide from our Cambridge studio. Orders going outside the UK may attract customs or import charges on arrival, which are set by the destination country and paid by the recipient, so allow extra time.
He chose her. This is just making it official. 🐾
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