Well well well welcome back to another blog post by Warwick talking about my favourite T-shirts on the site. I literally wear all LKC all the time so I love putting these lists together which detail my wardrobe and my bedroom floor where I unfortunately choose to pick up and wear worn T-shirts out of sheer laziness.
These days the cat collection reaches beyond tees, so this is also a guide to choosing a cat lover gift: an illustration they would wear, a warmer jumper, or a portrait of the actual creature that runs their house.
Choose the gift before choosing the size
- A drawing they'll enjoy: start with the cat tees below and match the artwork to their taste.
- A warmer layer: Tori Li's Lucky Cat Jumper puts the drawing on a regular-fit fleece crew neck.
- Their own cat: a Badly Drawn Pet portrait starts with one photo and needs extra illustration time.
Match the cat gift to the person
“They like cats” is a useful start, but it doesn't quite finish the shopping. Think about the artwork they enjoy, how much wording they like on clothing and whether they want another tee or something different.
| What they enjoy | A good starting point | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Japanese-inspired illustration and little details | Bonsai Cat Tree or Sushi Cats | Pepe Rodriguez's illustrated cat scenes |
| A smaller graphic | Rad Cat | obinsun's skateboarding cat, with a small front print |
| A joke they would actually say out loud | Fuck Off Cat | My drawing of a cat with very clear boundaries |
| A warmer layer with cat artwork | Lucky Cat Jumper | Tori Li's waving cat on a crew-neck fleece jumper |
| Their own particular cat | Badly Drawn Pet Tee or Tote | A hand-drawn portrait based on their photo |
For a cat mum or cat dad, the most personal choice may be their actual cat. For someone who treats their tee as a small piece of art, choose the illustration first. If it's a colleague or Secret Santa recipient, make sure the joke is one they'd enjoy wearing as well as reading.
1. Bonsai Cat Tree Tee
Pepe Rodriguez, also known as PPMID, loves cats, Japanese-inspired imagery and clever design concepts. All of those overlap in the Bonsai Cat Tree Tee. A good starting point for someone who enjoys a drawing with more going on than a single cat face.
2. Lucky Cat Jumper
The Lucky Cat Jumper is Tori Li's small waving cat with botanical details. Tori is a Sydney tattoo artist whose LKC designs draw on her Chinese heritage and love of cats. This is the warmer option: a regular-fit adult crew-neck jumper in 290 GSM cotton/polyester anti-pill fleece. Check the jumper measurements before picking a size.
3. Cat Got Your Soul Tee
Oh what's the matter, buddy? Cat got your soul? Bummer. Enjoy a life of damnation in the eternal depths of feline hell where humans must bow down to the demands of the cat overlords and do their bidding. Oh, sorry, I got carried away there. It's a nice tee, though. Cat Got Your Soul is illustrated by obinsun.
4. Emoji Cats Tee
Claire Harrison's Emoji Cats Tee puts two cats in a fence scene with heart-eyes and devil emoji. A gift for someone who understands that a cat can be several very different personalities in the same afternoon. Choose the colour and fit on the product page.
5. Rad Cat Tee
Every now and then you see a T-shirt that makes you go “oh dang, this really is a vibe”, and I think this is one of those times. A cat on a skateboard, wearing sunnies. I can only hope to be that rad. The Rad Cat Tee is illustrated by obinsun.
6. Fuck Off Cat Tee
I don't think I could put a list together without the OG Fuck Off Cat Tee. This came from an old collection of drawings I posted on Instagram of what I thought different animals would say if they could talk. Everyone immediately clung to this one, and it's been a fixture ever since. A gift for the person who will enjoy the joke. Probably worth checking that bit first.
7. Poor Decisions Tee
Poor Decisions was an in-house design by Claire Harrison about the endearing side of cats, who can clumsily get themselves stuck in predicaments just as well as any humans can. Relatable creatures like that.
8. Sushi Cats Tee
I just think this one is so cute. The little cats are all in and around sushi. How did they even get in there? Sushi Cats is illustrated by Pepe Rodriguez. The last time I had sushi I took it home and realised they'd forgotten the soy sauce, but it was okay because I had some in the fridge.
A gift featuring their own cat
The Badly Drawn Pet Tee starts with one clear photo of one pet. Our in-house illustrators turn it into a deliberately wonky portrait, then we print it in Sydney. It is drawn by a person, and we don't send an artwork preview before printing. Choose it for someone who likes the surprise of that style.
Custom artwork needs extra time before dispatch. Check the current custom production and delivery estimates, especially for a birthday or Christmas. Browse the custom pet portrait range for other formats if a tee isn't what you want.
A custom cat tote if clothing size is a mystery
The Badly Drawn Pet Tote gives you the portrait without a tee-size decision. This is a different bag from the Cute-Tea shoulder tote: it measures 42 × 42 cm, uses 320 GSM cotton canvas and has reinforced shoulder straps and one large main compartment.
The same custom-order decisions still matter. Choose one clear photo of one cat, with the face and markings easy to see. Pick this deliberately wonky illustration style because you know the person will enjoy it. We don't send an artwork preview, and the custom drawing stage needs extra time before dispatch.
A photo featuring several pets or a tiny, dark image makes a different brief from the one-pet portrait we offer. Use one good photo per item and check the instructions on the selected product page. If you want a portrait of more than one cat, order separate items for them.
Check the cut and the gift date
For a tee, measure one they already wear flat across the body and from shoulder to hem, then compare the fit guide. Use the shape they like wearing as the starting point.
- Regular: a longer body and a straighter shape through the hips.
- Maple: shorter sleeves and a shorter body, shaped differently through the bust and hips.
- Crop Top: deliberately short, so choose it for someone who already likes a cropped tee.
- Long Sleeve: more sleeve coverage, with its own size chart.
- Oversized: a wider, boxier cut on the designs that offer it. Check the product options; a larger Regular tee won't have exactly the same proportions.
Check the price, colour and available size of the actual combination you choose. For Lucky Cat, compare a jumper with the regular jumper size chart rather than using a tee measurement. If you're buying a surprise with no reliable size information, the custom tote is another way to give them their cat.
We print to order in Sydney, so production time comes before delivery time. Check the shipping information before buying for a particular date, and read the returns conditions if you're choosing a gift size.
Questions about cat lover gifts
What can I buy a cat lover who already has lots of cat things?
Choose an illustration that matches their taste, or make their own cat the subject. A Badly Drawn Pet portrait changes the gift from another general cat design to their particular pet. If clothing isn't useful for them, consider the custom tote.
Which cat gift can I choose without knowing their clothing size?
The Badly Drawn Pet Tote comes in one tote format, with colour options, rather than clothing sizes. It measures 42 × 42 cm. You will need a clear photo of one pet and enough time for the custom illustration and printing.
Can you put two cats on the same custom gift?
The Badly Drawn Pet Tee and Tote are strictly one pet per item. For two cats, order separate items and upload one photo for each. Read the selected product's instructions before placing the order.
Is the Lucky Cat gift a hoodie or a jumper?
The Lucky Cat Jumper featured here is a regular-fit adult crew-neck fleece jumper. It has ribbed cuffs and a 290 GSM cotton/polyester fleece fabric. Choose it for someone who prefers a crew neck, and check its own measurements.
Can a cat gift be returned if I get the size wrong?
Check our returns policy, which allows eligible items in their original condition to be returned within 100 days. Items must be unwashed and unworn apart from trying on; exceptions are explained in the policy and on relevant product pages. Read those conditions for custom gifts too.
How early should I order a custom cat portrait gift?
Our current custom-production guidance is closer to two weeks before dispatch, followed by delivery time. An order is sent together when all its items are ready. Read the current production and shipping estimates and ask us before ordering if a birthday or Christmas deadline is close.
Buying for someone whose personality extends beyond cats? Compare our capybara gift guide or the tea lover gift guide. The artwork should feel like them; it doesn't have to feel like every other cat gift they've been given.
Look, I'll level with you: I'm a dog person. I've always had dogs and the first cat I got to know scratched the shit out of me. But I've changed. I've bonded with friends' cats, visited cat cafes and now write blog posts about them in the hope that my soul will not be stolen. Browse the cat clothing collection for the rest.
– Warwick
