How to Throw a ‘Pawsitively Purrfect’ Birthday Party for Your Kitty

You can’t quite believe it, but your beloved kitty is going to have another birthday soon. You still remember the day you brought your adorable little fluff ball home from the shelter. But now it’s a few years later, and your once-tiny kitten is now a full-grown cat who is your pride and joy. Why not throw a cat-themed birthday party for him or her? The following tips will help you to plan a memorable event for your furry feline friend:

Plan the Guest List

Unlike dogs, who are typically happy to play with anything that moves, cats are a bit more finicky about who they choose to share time with. It’s probably not a great idea to invite a bunch of cats to your kitty’s birthday party, as it could turn into a territorial brouhaha. Instead, invite your cat-loving friends and family who have spent time with your kitty and love him or her (almost) as much as you do.

Think About a Theme

Birthday parties are especially fun when they have a theme, and a kitty birthday party is no exception. You could ask your guests to dress up in their favorite catty costume—anything from the Cat in the Hat to the Cowardly Lion and more—or you could provide plain party hats and a bunch of cat stickers and foam pieces and ask your guests to create their own festive hat.

Plan Your Decorations

Consider your cat’s personality and interests. If she has an affinity for tuna, then perhaps a nautical theme would be best, complete with a Pin the Tail on the Tuna game and albacore tuna melts for the guests. If he loves to chase his little foam basketballs and footballs around the house, then a sports theme might be in order. To make things as easy as possible, consider ordering a Birthday in a Box package from FTD; it includes party hats, balloons and more. Just be sure to keep all flowers away from your inquisitive kitty.

Think About the Food

Your precious puss might adore sardines, lamb baby food and other cat-friendly treats, but this doesn’t mean you want to offer these things to your guests. Instead, think about human-friendly foods you can serve that still have a feline theme to them. For example, put out bowls of goldfish crackers and cupcakes adorned with plastic Hello Kitty rings. For the guest of honor, consider making a small “cake” out of moist cat food and topping it off with some turkey baby food “frosting.” A word of caution: Even though this is a special celebration, do not give the guest of honor any chocolate or a slice of the regular cake you’re serving to your guests. Chocolate is toxic to kitties, according to PetMD.

Plan for Presents

Your guests will probably want to bring along some type of gift. Since chances are good that your adorable kitty already has all the catnip and squeaky toys a boy or girl could ever want, you might want to ask your guests to bring along items that homeless cats can use. For example, bags of cat food, warm towels and blankets, toys and even cash donations will all be greatly appreciated by your local animal shelter, and once the party is over you can drive the items over and donate them in your cat’s honor.