DIY Cat Advent Calendar: 24 Ideas + Free MEWBY Printable

A DIY cat advent calendar can be 24 small activities, rather than 24 new toys or extra portions of food. Keep the numbered cards for yourself, choose one suitable activity a day, and let your cat decide whether to join in. The free MEWBY printable below includes all 24 activities in US Letter and A4 formats.

This guide is for an advent calendar for a pet cat, not a cat-themed calendar for people. It uses familiar toys, resting places and optional food from the usual daily allowance. You can start on December 1, use it over any 24 days, or repeat the activities your cat prefers.

By the MeowBay Editorial Team. Research and downloadable cards checked October 19, 2026. This is an original activity plan informed by veterinary and welfare guidance; it is not a hands-on product test or an individual veterinary prescription.

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Download the free MEWBY cat advent calendar

Each six-page PDF contains: one instruction page, 24 cut-out activity cards across four pages, and one observation planner. No account or email address is needed.

Download US Letter PDF Download A4 PDF

Print on the matching paper size at 100% / Actual Size. Cut on the light outlines and keep the cards in a drawer or box that your cat cannot access. Personal use only; please link to this article when sharing the download.

Choose the calendar format before buying supplies

The usual craft approach fills 24 envelopes with treats or toys. Our alternative puts an instruction in each space. You supply the item only when the activity starts. This reduces the need to buy fillers, keeps food in its proper packaging and avoids leaving tempting strings or bags within reach.

Three ways to organize the same 24 activities
Format	What you need	Best use	Trade-off
Card stack	Printed cards and one existing storage box	Small apartments and a quick setup	Less decorative; easiest to keep out of paws’ reach
Envelope file	24 envelopes in an adult-access drawer	A daily reveal without a hanging display	More paper and preparation; envelopes remain human-held
Reusable pocket calendar	A securely stored organizer, with cards only	A calendar you already own	Keep all pockets and attachments inaccessible to your cat

A calendar is not safer merely because it is handmade. Do not add ribbon, elastic loops, staples, tiny bells or loose decorations for a cat to pull off. You do not need a wall-hung string of parcels to make the countdown meaningful.

A simple build with a transparent cost worksheet

Choose your paper size. Use US Letter or A4, not a scaled screenshot of the cards.
Print and cut. Plain paper works for a card stack; suitable cardstock can last longer if your printer accepts it.
Read all cards first. Cross out activities unsuitable for your cat’s diet, mobility or chewing habits. Replace them with a familiar favorite.
Gather existing supplies. A box, a familiar toy, usual food and bedding cover many days. Purchase only genuine gaps.
Store the calendar securely. The adult opens one card and sets up a supervised activity. Put equipment away afterward.
Record the choice. Write “joined,” “watched,” “left,” or “skip next time.” Completion is not the goal.

The following is a sample budget, not a retail price check. It demonstrates how to keep the project small. Substitute your own print-shop or home-printing costs.

Illustrative budget in US dollars; actual prices and taxes vary
Item	Illustrative calculation	Example cost
Six printed pages	6 × $0.20 per page	$1.20
Existing storage box	Reused at home	$0.00
Envelopes	Optional; omitted from this example	$0.00
One replacement cat toy	Only if a suitable toy is missing; assumed $3.00	$3.00
Total	Paper/printing plus the optional toy	$4.20

Using only suitable items you already own brings this example back to the $1.20 printing assumption. Food used from the normal ration is not “free,” but it is not an extra daily feeding allocation either. If you want to budget that food, use our cat food cost calculator.

24 cat advent calendar ideas, with a clear daily plan

The activities below are our proposed sequence. They are not a requirement to increase play each day. Keep sessions brief, adapt movement to your cat and stop when they disengage. FelineVMA’s indoor-lifestyle guidance emphasizes resting places, play and foraging opportunities as part of a suitable environment.

The same 24 activities included in the printable
Day	Activity	Set it up	Adapt or stop when…
1 · HIDE	Box explorer	Offer an open, clean box with tape, staples and handles removed. Keep the exit clear.	Skip if your cat chews or eats cardboard.
2 · PLAY	Roll and chase	Roll a familiar cat toy away from your cat on a clear floor. Let them decide whether to follow.	Use a toy too large to swallow.
3 · REST	Window watch	Place a familiar bed by a securely closed window. Keep blind cords inaccessible.	Choose a stable, easy-to-reach resting spot.
4 · FOOD	Three-stop trail	Place three tiny portions of the usual daily ration in easy, visible spots.	Subtract them from the daily allowance.
5 · SCRATCH	Scratcher refresh	Clear the approach to an existing stable scratcher. Let your cat investigate without lifting their paws.	Replace a damaged or unstable scratcher.
6 · CONNECT	The consent pause	Offer a brief gentle stroke where your cat usually enjoys it, then pause. Continue only if invited.	Let your cat walk away.
7 · PLAY	Ground-level hunt	Move a securely attached wand toy along the floor in short bursts, then allow a catch.	Supervise; put the whole wand away afterward.
8 · HIDE	Familiar hideaway	Offer an open carrier or box with familiar bedding. Keep it still and leave the exit open.	Never close your cat in for this activity.
9 · FOOD	Easy food puzzle	Use a familiar, clean cat food puzzle at its easiest setting with a little of the normal ration.	No puzzle? Use an open shallow dish instead.
10 · PLAY	Rediscovered favorite	Bring back one stored, intact cat toy and put another away.	Inspect seams and detachable parts first.
11 · HIDE	Tunnel invitation	Offer a stable cat tunnel with both exits open and no loose cords. Let your cat enter voluntarily.	Skip if the tunnel collapses or your cat chews it.
12 · CONNECT	One gentle brush	If grooming is welcome, offer a few gentle strokes with the usual brush, then pause.	Stop at signs of discomfort; no mat pulling.
13 · CHOICE	Toy-choice test	Place two familiar cat toys apart on a clear floor. Record which one your cat approaches.	Both must be intact and suitable for your cat.
14 · PLAY	Paper-ball batting	Offer one large, loosely crumpled sheet of plain paper for supervised batting.	Remove it if chewed; skip for paper-eating cats.
15 · PLAY	Find the favorite	Put a familiar toy partly in view beside an open box. Let your cat discover it.	Keep the task easy; no trapping or blocking exits.
16 · FOOD	Slow-food moment	Spread a small amount of the usual wet food on a clean, suitable shallow feeding surface.	Use part of the ration; wash promptly afterward.
17 · CONNECT	Quiet company	Sit nearby and read or talk softly. Let your cat choose the distance.	No lifting, costumes or forced cuddles.
18 · REST	Low resting spot	Place a familiar blanket on a stable low surface away from drafts and busy foot traffic.	Keep an unheated alternative resting area.
19 · PLAY	Short chase, full catch	Offer a brief familiar game and allow your cat to catch the toy before ending.	Adapt the pace; stop if your cat disengages.
20 · CHOICE	Scent without perfume	Offer a familiar clean bedding item beside an existing resting place.	No essential oils, fragrance sprays or new scents.
21 · REST	Sun-patch break	Make an existing indoor sunny resting spot accessible, with shade available nearby.	Keep windows secure and let your cat leave.
22 · CHOICE	Repeat the winner	Repeat the activity your cat chose most often this month.	Familiar favorites count; novelty is optional.
23 · FOOD	Treat-label check	Check calories on the usual cat treat. Offer only the amount allowed in the daily plan.	Skip extra treats if the diet does not allow them.
24 · CHOICE	Your cat decides	Offer two familiar, safe options from earlier cards. Follow your cat’s choice.	End with a quiet moment; no pressure to perform.

Treats are optional: keep the food plan intact

You can run this calendar without adding treats. For food activities, set aside part of the usual daily ration before preparing the main meals. Do not count the same food twice.

WSAVA’s cat treat guidance says treats should provide no more than 10% of daily calories, with individual advice for medical conditions, sensitivities or prescription diets. That is a ceiling, not a target or a reason to add food every day.

Arithmetic example only: if your veterinary team has set a 200-calorie daily plan, 10% is 20 calories. If the usual permitted treat contains 2 calories per piece, 20 ÷ 2 = 10 pieces across the entire day, including rewards from other people. Those assumed values do not establish your cat’s calorie requirement or a suitable serving.

Keep edible items in their labeled packaging until use and follow storage directions. Skip human chocolate, homemade mixed-ingredient surprises and unfamiliar treats. If a diet is restricted, use a non-food activity rather than improvising a substitute.

Adapt the plan for senior cats, shy cats and multi-cat homes

For a cat with limited mobility: move the activity to a stable low surface and remove the chase. Watching a toy move gently can replace pursuing it. Ask your veterinarian about changes in mobility or pain; a calendar cannot diagnose the reason your cat stops playing.

For a shy cat: place an option nearby and sit farther away. Leave normal hiding places available. Record whether the cat approaches later; do not bring them out of hiding for a photograph.

For several cats: offer separate resources and record each cat’s preference. If one cat blocks another from a puzzle or box, separate the activity rather than treating competition as part of the game. Avoid adding a shared high-value item to a narrow passage.

For a cat that eats paper or cardboard: skip those cards entirely. Choose an intact familiar cat toy, resting-place change or quiet company. Supervision does not make a known ingestion habit harmless. Cats Protection’s play guidance recommends checking toys and putting away items a cat could shred, swallow or become tangled in.

Make the record useful after December

The observation sheet is the reusable part of this project. A cat choosing the same box four times has given you more useful information than a photograph of 24 untouched gifts. At the end, keep two favorites in the weekly routine and remove activities the cat repeatedly avoided.

Use plain observations: “approached in one minute,” “watched from the bed,” or “left when the toy moved.” Avoid turning a skipped activity into a diagnosis of boredom, anxiety or illness. A persistent change in appetite, activity or comfort belongs in a conversation with your veterinarian.

Frequently asked questions

Can I make a cat advent calendar without treats?

Yes. Use play, familiar resting places, hiding opportunities and voluntary interaction. The printable includes food days that can be replaced with a previously enjoyed non-food activity.

Should my cat open the envelopes?

No. This design is opened by an adult. Cards, envelopes and storage materials stay out of reach, and the chosen activity is prepared separately.

Do I need 24 different toys?

No. Rotate suitable items you already own. Repeating an activity your cat chooses is more useful than forcing novelty.

What if I miss a day?

Continue the next day or use the cards throughout the year. Do not double the food or play to catch up.

Is this suitable for kittens?

Only select age-appropriate activities and equipment, supervise closely and adapt the plan to the kitten’s feeding and veterinary advice. The cards are not a kitten-care program.

Sources and next steps

For the rest of the season, use the holiday cat care planner and the small-apartment Christmas tree safety guide. Read how MeowBay researches its guides. No individual veterinary review is claimed for this article.