by: Donna Hamer

The choice of what gift to give your family and friends can often be a difficult one. One of the best gifts that you can give is a themed gift basket. A gift basket is that one present that comes in many shapes, themes and of course price ranges. A gift basket can also be a new arrival gift idea for that family pet.

The diversity of gift baskets is never-ending. You can give a cat gourmet food gift basket (make sure they are good quality products to ensure the feline doesn't reject the food!) or a bath and grooming necessities gift basket. In fact the list is endless.

Here is a simple basket that you can easily create yourself for that special "Cat Lover".

Pick a basket style. I like to use either a bucket (can be used to store grooming products in) or a cat basket. There are a lot of choices on the market so choose between one with two side handles or without handles. A cat likes to feel snug in their environment so a closed in fabric padded style basket will also be well received. Make certain the basket is large enough to hold the gifts you have selected and of course if it is intended for the cat to sleep in it, large enough to accommodate that special Feline.

Choose a color that complements the cat lover's home decor. If in doubt, choose a neutral color by selecting a natural wicker basket.

Next select a variety of items that have a cat theme. When selecting the gifts for the cat lover choose items with cat themes such as cat calendars, coffee mugs, computer mouse pads, T-shirts, note cards, stationery, cat magazines, include fiction and nonfiction books and picture frames.

Select some grooming brushes and cat toys for their cat.

If you are on a budget try a small basket and include:

A photo frame, a disposable camera to take some memorable moments between the recipient and their special feline, a photo album, along with a voucher for photo finishing.

When you are finished choosing the gifts and have selected the basket, wrap the completed Gift Basket with cellophane paper and a nice ribbon to give it a finishing touch. Use shredded paper inside the basket to hold the goodies in place. Tie a humorous gift tag with a message for that added touch.