Manly Cat Paraphernalia?

December 2, 2016 1:11 PM

My partner is basically a "cat lady", except he's a dude. I'd love to get him a male version of some of the many cat-related gifts, attire, and paraphernalia that exist for women. Where do I go to genderfuck or disrupt the concept of the "cat lady"?

My partner is male, heterosexual, and of medium height and build. He could probably fit into a women's L or XL clothing item, though something pink or with swirly feminine graphics is probably out. He's not overly worked up about appearing masculine or conforming to gender norms, but he also probably isn't going to be interested in cat-themed costume jewelry or leggings or panties.

I would like this to be a gift explicitly for *him*, so cat related housewares aren't ideal. (We live together, and while I enjoy tea towels and mixing bowls and such, he doesn't as much.) We already have enough art, some of it is already cat-related art, and I'm not sure exactly how much we want "cat people" do be our design aesthetic. We have two cats, and while we love them and want to buy them toys, again, I definitely want this to be a gift for my partner, and not for our cats.

His taste and aesthetic in general: cool enough but not a hipster, has very specific tastes in both socks and smartphone cases (alas), carries a laptop bag/backpack sometimes, loves anime and comics and anything nerdy. He's also super into tabletop gaming, and, yes, we already have Exploding Kittens. That said, Exploding Kittens is right in his cat paraphernalia wheelhouse if it gives folks ideas.

posted by Sara C. to Shopping (22 answers total)

You have Exploding Kittens, but do you have Imploding Kittens? It's the expansion!
posted by needlegrrl at 1:16 PM on December 2, 2016

Are you looking for t-shirts? shirt.woot has you covered.
posted by martinX's bellbottoms at 1:16 PM on December 2, 2016

Best answer: My husband is very masculine but he absolutely calls himself a crazy cat lady. There are lots of gender-neutral cat things at LookHuman.com!

Cool Kids Love Cats mens shirt

Crazy Cat Gentleman shirt

Lots of cat mugs including my favorite I Do What I Want (gets a lot of laughs at work)

Or perhaps I Work Hard So My Cat Can Have a Better Life?

Pizza Cat stickers to adorn his laptop?
posted by joan_holloway at 1:35 PM on December 2, 2016 [2 favorites]

In the grey or blue, this amazing sweatshirt is pretty much the definition of the male cat lady aesthetic. Goes up to 2X.

Then there's the difficult-to-parse The Mountain Men's the Patriotic Kitten T-Shirt. It's right in that post-irony uncanny valley.
posted by chesty_a_arthur at 1:39 PM on December 2, 2016 [2 favorites]

Cat Vs. Human has my favorite cat shirt, Broken Blinds
posted by advicepig at 1:49 PM on December 2, 2016 [4 favorites]

There are tons of gender-neutral cat designs at Threadless, which you can get on typical t-shirts and sweatshirts, but recently they've also branched out to home goods like fleece throws, pillows and shower curtains.
posted by msbubbaclees at 2:24 PM on December 2, 2016

If he doesn't yet know about it, it may be time to introduce your partner to the thoroughly enjoyable, intensely cat-centric, and very gay comic Wuvable Oaf. Really well-drawn and very charming. There are cats on nearly every page.
posted by Dr. Wu at 2:26 PM on December 2, 2016 [1 favorite]

Breaking Cat News is an adorable webcomic that will be coming to newspapers in the next year.
posted by alygator at 2:54 PM on December 2, 2016 [2 favorites]

Response by poster: I'm loving the webcomic suggestions, but this is definitely for a Holiday Gift for my partner. It should be something you can buy, and if a tie-in product, it should stand entirely alone. We love our Pusheen merch, for example, but "here's a t-shirt for a webcomic you don't read", not so much.
posted by Sara C. at 2:58 PM on December 2, 2016

He probably needs a copy of the book Guy Can be Cat Ladies, Too.
posted by florencetnoa at 3:13 PM on December 2, 2016

The Breaking Cat News link is to a print collection, if that helps?
posted by Shmuel510 at 4:33 PM on December 2, 2016

Sherwin Tija's You're a Cat is a pretty sweet choose-your-own-adventure book. Tija has other books in the series.

I love this t-shirt by artist James Morrison.
posted by TheGoodBlood at 4:43 PM on December 2, 2016

I live with some cat lovers too. Some more ideas:

T Shirt

Pillow Cover or Pillow Case Bed

Men's dress socks, casual socks

Catman shirt

Cat Poetry
posted by maxg94 at 5:08 PM on December 2, 2016

Ok, outside the box. I know you said housewares aren't ideal but this might be the exception. This is the best mug in the world. It is capacious; heavy (and keeps coffee warmer than a classic ceramic mug, thanks to its heft); and adorned with a giant hand-painted cat. Designed by Win Ng, an amazing designer and all around cool cat whose San Francisco-based department store Taylor Ng popularized the wok in the US. You need to get the vintage one, there are newer editions and knock-offs that don't compare. The vintage ones have a stamp on the bottom. I like this shaggy cat "le chat" one and this classic cat loaf. There are also other mugs with other animals on them doing other things.
posted by sockermom at 5:59 PM on December 2, 2016

I love Jo Cox's prints here and here.

If he follows Tom Cox on twitter or @MYSADCAT or @MYSWEARYCAT or @MYSMUGCAT then he's seen them and also Tom Cox's books, which I don't know anything about.
posted by meemzi at 6:34 PM on December 2, 2016

very cool responses.

This site here has some steampunk influenced cat jewelry if your guy is into that:

Steampunk Artifacts
posted by sharona at 6:53 PM on December 2, 2016 [1 favorite]

I have read Tom Cox's books and they are hilarious, both about being a guy and also about being a man with cat(s). I'll recommend those if your other half enjoys British humor.

I love the items featuring Watson the cat at the Medium Control. They are minimalist, artsy, and utilitarian. Your guy might like the bags, glasses, coasters, or T-shirts.
posted by vickyverky at 7:02 PM on December 2, 2016

I have to second the Breaking Cat News book. I've followed the comic for several years and the book is a collection, full of strips greatly beloved by Georgia's fans (like me). The comic is based on her own three cats and family. Currently the comicsis in re-runs at the GoComics.com website as Georgia and her family move from one coast to the other and she prepares to start pitching the strip to newspapers next year.
posted by lhauser at 8:01 PM on December 2, 2016

Real Men Love Cats t-shirt, with bonus that it supports a cat rescue!
posted by VioletU at 7:57 AM on December 3, 2016 [1 favorite]

My favorite Threadless shirt.
posted by matildaben at 12:27 PM on December 3, 2016

Kliban Cats shopping link

Love to eat them mousies
Mousies what I love to eat
Bite they little heads off
Nibble on they tiny feet.

Can't get much more manly then that.
posted by she's not there at 10:43 PM on December 3, 2016

I'm so into this hat. found it in the women's accessories section while looking for something else but it's it's a man's cat hat if I ever saw one. just as long as thinking cat thoughts has not given him enormous brains which require an enormous hat.

this hat

oh shit, this hat too.
posted by queenofbithynia at 6:57 AM on December 4, 2016