Cat Advent calendars are finally a thing! Trader Joe's sells out theirs very quickly each year. Pet stores are carrying advent calendars for cats too, many of which also sell out early. So, why not make your own? It's easy and fun.
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Is Buying an Advent Calendar a Good Idea?
Yes, you might find one to buy. The problem with buying an advent calendar, even if you can find one, is that your cat may not enjoy the treats or toys. According to a Trader Joe's Facebook group, many cats do not like the treats in their calendars. We tried the Trader Joe's advent calendar a few years back and it was sad and disappointing. I do love the gorgeous box, but they use the same treat for the whole month and only one of my cats really liked the treat. It's a salmon and seaweed (why seaweed??) treat, in all of the slots, every year. I find that disappointing and lazy. I have higher expectations of Trader Joes.
So, why not create your own? With multiple cats, I find it's more affordable to make my own advent calendar, and I can put items in that I already know my cats will enjoy.
Putting an Advent Calendar Together is Easy
Lunch Bags are a great substitute for a box
Cats are not as impressed with the fancy advent calendar box as we are. So, do you need a box? Or anything to put the treats or toys in? You really don't. However, if you want to do that, I recommend using paper lunch bags. You can write the date on each bag with marker and the bag can be recycled. Maybe you have something else around the house to use such as socks or sandwich bags. Or just use one box with lots of different goodies and pull one out each day.
Ideas for Daily Gifts
Toy Ideas - Variety is key for a daily gift. I include brand new cat toy favorites, plus some new ones that they haven't seen before. Peacock feathers, mice, wool pom poms, dragonflies (only Josh likes these, but he carries them around all the time), and silver vine sticks are favorites that can be purchased in bulk. For extra special days, use the Yeoww! banana. With multiple cats, this is an affordable way to give your cats an advent calendar they are sure to love.
Olfactory Enrichment - You can give this to your cat by itself such as putting a little on a towel or scratching post or you can rub some on a toy. I like MeowyJanes silver vine (their favorite), catnip reef, Valerian root to marinate some toys in. If your cat really enjoys scents, I'd recommend the 13 herb pack from MeowyJanes. It's fantastic!
Treats - You don't have to include food every day, particularly if you are concerned about weight. These are favorite treats that my 5 cats enjoy: Churu treats, Fancy Feast packets, Frisky's Party Mix, Catnip Treats, Cat Sushi Bonito Flakes and
Vital Essentials duck liver treats. For an extra special day, try Trader Joe's sardines, unsalted in spring water. My cats LOVE these sardines. They are high in protein and omega 3's so it's a healthy treat for a special occasion. Buying them at Trader Joes is very affordable at roughly $1.49 each.
Affordable Fun - Although I love to buy things for my cats, sometimes they like packaging material or other things I put together better. For ideas, check out my Top 5 Free DIY Cat Enrichment Ideas or Make Your Own Wand Toy Attachments which are perfect for Advent Calendars.
Make a DIY Food Puzzle
Left with a bunch of paper lunch bags? Make a food puzzle by opening the bag, and placing treats or kibble inside. Once your cat easily gets the treats out, try twisting the bag closed, and creating a small hole in the bag for your cat to have more of a challenge to get the food out. If your cat easily masters that, twist, but do not create a hole this time, let your cat tear the bag apart to get the food.
I hope this gives you ideas on how to make your own cat advent calendar with goodies that your cat really loves. Happy Holidays!
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About the author: Jennifer Van de Kieft, CAFTP, FFCP, PNCC is located in Brooklyn, NY. She is certified in feline behavior and pet nutrition. She owns Cat Advocate, a feline behavior consulting company. She provides cat guardians with the strategies, tools and knowledge needed to address their cat's behavior issues. Jennifer provides virtual consultations throughout the United States.
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