As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Full details on our Affiliate Disclosure page.
Best game gifts for cat lovers (2026) — if someone in your life has a cat calendar, a cat mug and strong opinions about which cat is the best cat, a cat-themed game is the gift that will actually get used. The good news is that some of the best-selling games of the last decade happen to be about cats. These six range from a quick card game in the $10 band to a cozy award-winning puzzle box, with notes on who each suits and who should pass.
Our top gift for cat lovers: Exploding Kittens
The best-known cat game there is: a fast, strategic card game with absurd cat art by The Oatmeal. It plays two to five, teaches in a minute and works for kids, teens and adults.
Price band: $10–$20 (about $20) · Check today’s price on Amazon
Cat lover gift ideas at a glance
From stocking-sized to a centerpiece box.
- Best overall: Exploding Kittens — strategy, luck and laser-pointer defuses (about $20)
- Best cozy board game: Calico — sew a quilt, attract cats (about $40)
- Best for kids: Rat-a-Tat Cat — a memory game about keeping your score low (about $11)
- Best under $10: Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza — a slap-and-shout card game (about $10)
How we picked games for cat people
A cat on the box is not enough. Each pick here is a good game first, with a real cat theme second: cats in the artwork, cats in the scoring, or cats as the whole joke. We covered every budget and every kind of cat person, from the friend who wants a cozy solo puzzle to the family that wants something loud after dinner.
1. Exploding Kittens — best overall gift for cat lovers
Players: 2 to 5, ages 7+ · Price band: $10–$20 (about $20) · Pick for: Best overall gift for cat lovers · See Exploding Kittens on Amazon
Players take turns drawing from a deck that hides several Exploding Kittens. Draw one without a Defuse card (laser pointers, catnip sandwiches) and you are out. Skip, Attack, Shuffle and See the Future cards help you dodge the danger or push it onto someone else. The last player left wins.
The 56 cards are packed with ridiculous cat drawings, which is half the appeal for cat people. Full rules: how to play Exploding Kittens.
Skip it if: the person already has it. Give the Imploding Kittens expansion instead.
2. Calico — best cozy board game for cat lovers
Players: 1 to 4 · Price band: $30+ (about $40) · Pick for: Best cozy board game for cat lovers · See Calico on Amazon
In Calico, you sew a quilt from fabric patch tiles. Matching colors earns buttons, and arranging the right patterns attracts cats, each with its own pattern preference, to curl up on your quilt. It won the 2021 American Tabletop Award for best strategy game.
Games take 30 to 45 minutes, there is a family mode for new players, and it can be played solo. It is the thoughtful gift for a cat person who likes puzzles more than party games.
Skip it if: the person wants a loud, quick party game. Calico is calm and strategic.
3. Rat-a-Tat Cat — best cat game for kids
Players: 2 to 6 · Price band: $10–$20 (about $11) · Pick for: Best cat game for kids · See Rat-a-Tat Cat on Amazon
Each player has four face-down cards and gets to peek at the two outer ones. Draw, swap and use power cards to end up with the lowest total. Cats are low cards, rats are high. Rounds take 10 to 15 minutes.
It quietly teaches memory and basic addition, and adults enjoy it more than they expect. A good gift for a cat-loving child or a family with young kids.
Skip it if: the players are all adults looking for something edgier.
4. Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza — best cat-themed gift under $10
Players: 2 to 8, ages 8+ · Price band: Under $10 (about $10) · Pick for: Best cat-themed gift under $10 · See Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza on Amazon
Flip cards and say the next word in the chant: taco, cat, goat, cheese, pizza. When the word matches the card, slap the pile. The slowest hand takes the cards. Special cards make you act something out before slapping.
The cat is right there in the name, and it makes a great add-on to a bigger gift. Rules: how to play Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza.
Skip it if: the recipient does not like fast reflex games or noisy tables.
5. Imploding Kittens expansion — best add-on for an Exploding Kittens fan
Players: Up to 6 with the base game, ages 7+ · Price band: $10–$20 (about $15) · Pick for: Best add-on for an Exploding Kittens fan · See Imploding Kittens expansion on Amazon
This first expansion adds 20 cards, including the Imploding Kitten, which goes back into the deck face up once drawn so everyone can see it coming, and a wearable Cone of Shame turn marker.
It needs the original game to play. Details: how to play Imploding Kittens.
Skip it if: the person does not already own Exploding Kittens. It is not a standalone game.
6. Exploding Kittens NSFW Edition — best for grown-up cat lovers
Players: 2 to 5, ages 17+ · Price band: $10–$20 (about $13) · Pick for: Best for grown-up cat lovers · See Exploding Kittens NSFW Edition on Amazon
The same draw-and-dodge rules with 56 deliberately crude cards. It is a funny gag gift for an adult cat lover with a dark sense of humor.
How it differs from the original: Exploding Kittens NSFW rules.
Skip it if: it is for a family gift exchange. Stick with the original.
Cat lover gifts by price band
| Game | Price band | Players | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza | Under $10 | 2–8 | Stocking stuffer |
| Rat-a-Tat Cat | $10–$20 | 2–6 | Kids |
| Exploding Kittens NSFW | $10–$20 | 2–5 | Adults |
| Imploding Kittens | $10–$20 | Up to 6 | Existing fans |
| Exploding Kittens | $10–$20 | 2–5 | Almost everyone |
| Calico | $30+ | 1–4 | Puzzle lovers |
Pairing a cat game with a small extra
- Exploding Kittens plus a cat toy: lean into the laser-pointer defuse card.
- Calico plus a throw blanket: a cozy night in, quilt theme included.
- Taco Cat plus snacks: an easy add-on for a coworker who loves cats.
- Shopping for a woman with a big sense of humor? See our funny gifts for her.
Cat lover game gift questions
What is the best game for a cat lover?
Exploding Kittens. It is the most famous cat game and works for kids and adults.
What is a good cat game for a quiet night?
Calico, a cozy quilt-building puzzle that also plays solo.
What is a cheap cat-themed gift?
Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza, which costs about $10 and plays in minutes.
