Sister told me to buy a Christmas present for her cat?! Wwyd?

[Bear18]

Two years ago my sister bought a cat. Her husband works shifts and she said it would be lovely to get a cat to keep her company, I thought nice idea.... the first year she had the cat I said sis what would you like for Christmas, got any ideas?! Sister says oh don’t worry about me just buy for my cat, I thought she was joking, but no she was serious. I asked again for any ideas as I do find her hard to buy for, it’s better to ask. Anyway she gave me some ideas then later on she said ‘your buying for my cat right?’ i say eh? You want me to buy for your cat and she said well yeah she’s my baby blah blah.

So I thought, bite the bullet just get her cat something, it will make her happy, so I did.

Now this year I have been asked to buy for her cat again.....

Every time I catch up there’s always a story about the cat. When my dd plays with the cat she always get told off by my sister, dd don’t do that, don’t sing too loud, don’t move too quick it will startle the cat. I have caught my sister shouting at my dd over the cat!!!! - tbh it’s doing my head in. My dd is good with pets and is very gentle with the cat, she doesn’t need to be constantly told off.

I can tell she is a bit obsessed with the cat. I don’t have pets so I don’t get it. But would you ask someone to buy for your pet??

I have a list of what the cat likes and doesn’t like.... I have spent half hr on amazon .... then logged out and thought I have too much sh&t to do...... plus I feel petty because of the way she snaps at dd.

Do I give in and buy the cat something??? Wwyd ???

Feck - I’m sure amazon will stock feather on a stick for cats?! Right I need to not give it any headspace and buy the first one I see in the morning

She sounds like me. My family now buy for the dogs and sometimes the cats too without promoting (they do also buy for me too) I’m also a little precious about my animals and who touches them and how they’re treated. Maybe it’s OTT to an outsider but to me they’re very important for my mental health and enrich my life enormously so I actually understand where your sister is coming from. I know she seems insane to you but it’s really important to her. You could speak to her about the way she talks to your daughter or you could just ask your daughter not to play with the cat anymore. If you don’t own pets at home it could be that your daughter isn’t as good with them as you think or your sister might be flapping becasue she loves the cat (again, me) As for the present—just get it. It’s what your sister wants and will make her happy (it’s not really for the cat after all. It’s for her enjoyment).

Did you receive a thank you note from the cat for last year's present?
If not, I think you have your answer right there.

Thanks for the extra ideas - somehow making it easier to make a purchase. I know I’m going to have to give in everyone’s response are interesting..... It certainly helps x

I suspect there is more to this than it being simply a cat getting a gift, if she doesn't have children it may be a consolation.
I take it she remembers your DD at Christmas, if so I would just get the cat something

Get a small pkg of cat treats. Today, I got a Christmas card in the mail from my cats. My aunt "helped" them buy and mail it! They also sent cards to their "dog cousins".

Junk mail - sister does come across precious. I am always there when my dd is, and she is hardly touching the cat and she gets her head bitten off - I think it’s that ..... I feel pissedoff and maybe I should talk to her about it.

Cosmic Cat - in a tub about 3.99 ish. It is basically cat crack. My three broke into a kitchen cupboard - came home to what looked an explosion of mixed dried herbs and three cats off their tits.

We usually sprinkle some in empty cardboard boxes on Christmas morning, cats go mental. Kids love it when the cats go crazy.

Cosmic Cat

I don't buy for our dogs but then I don't tell them it's Christmas. I do, however, send my DCs birthday cards from the dogs. Curiously the dogs have the same handwriting and sense of humour as I do.

I don't even buy for my own dog so I certainly wouldn't buy for someone else's cat.

IF you feel you should then I agree that a pound shop toy would be fine, I wouldn't be searching amazon or spending £££

Tiny packet of dreamiest,cheap and the cat will be happy.

Its not strange to buy pets presents but it’s strange to expect a family member to buy for your pet. After all it’s her beloved pet not yours .

I once bought my dad a toy spider on a fishing line type thing for the cat as a joke. Well, it was the best present I’d ever got him. It kept him and the cat entertained for hours!

Isn’t she just saying that for a present she would rather you get something for her beloved cat than for herself?

Seventh - don’t think my sister would be happy for the cat to receive a small packet of dreamies - the cat is fussy it has to be a toy 🙄 she coached me through present ideas....

Feather on a stick.... will try and find the cheapest one 😉

And maybe DD isn’t playing with cat as nicely as you perceive? Some cats really would rather be left alone than engage with a bouncy toddler

(sorry - not sure why I have assumed DD is a toddler)

Ariadne - she has asked other family members to buy for her cat. She knows family will send her a present but now they are expected to buy for the cat. It was made clear :/

Ariadne my dd barley touches the cat. My dd is pretty shy and is very gentle with the cat. So dd can’t sing near the cat, has to walk slowly, don’t reach out to the cat in case he thinks it’s going to get a treat when it isn’t - it’s ridiculous .....

^^ I’m always there when dd is, I watch her just in case dd is not respecting the cats’ space. Overall dd is pretty good.

I would buy the cheapest,tackiest toy I could find if your sister is demanding toys.A feather on a stick is what I would get your sister so she can play with the cat .

Cats give presents in my family, but they only ever receive them from their owners.

I have also been known to sign the cat’s name in Birthday/Christmas cards, and to include it on my answerphone message, but the latter only to make it sound like there was a man living in the house.

Your sister sounds a little overinvested. (Unlike me, of course).

Does your dd spend a lot of money and time picking out gifts for your dd? And send you gifts too? If so, I would probably buy a gift for the cat, buying a car a gift is probably easier than a child anyway! You will still be putting in less effort.

Also, it sounds like she wanted you to get something for the cat instead of her anyway, so that is even less hassle!

I buy for my friends dogs/cats and they buy for my cat, cat also gets her name on cards. My friends who cat sit if I'm away also get a separate card and a present from the cat (and a gift at the time of cat sitting).

I also get her an advent calendar and presents.

@KC225 is this it? www.ebay.co.uk/itm/263459958347 Already got her Christmas but her birthday is in March.

I wouldn’t specifically ask anyone to get a gift for my dog but if/when they do it makes me so happy.
This year, if everyone got a present for my pup instead of me I’d be genuinely thrilled.
He’s my first dog and I adore him (although I am firm with him and don’t tolerate any bad behaviour).

I am gifting him a new (old) towel as his current one is just a rag, it’s so chewed and torn. However, to prepare it I am sleeping with it in my bed for a week before I wrap it, so it smells of me when I give it to him!

I never understood before I had him. I was one of those who would shrug and suggest ‘buy another’ when their pet died. Now the mere thought of him dying brings tears to my eyes!

I’m ‘meh’ about cats but I can see where your sister is coming from. Think of it as being a gift to her, of making her so happy.