Cozy Kittens
Wide-eyed, useful, and endlessly adaptable, Holt-Howard’s Cozy Kittens prowled through the kitchen, dining room, desk, sewing basket, and bar in one of the company’s broadest character-driven collections. Part 1 focuses on the core U.S. household line.
Meet the Cozy Kittens
Introduced in 1958 and produced into the early 1960s, Holt-Howard’s feline household line was originally promoted as the “Cozy Kitchen Kitties.” The name was apt but ultimately too narrow: although many pieces were designed for kitchen and table use, the cats also sharpened the look of desks, sewing rooms, walls, smoking accessories, storage pieces, and other corners of the mid-century home.
The collection is tied together by a remarkably consistent visual vocabulary. White ceramic cats with large green eyes appear in an array of poses and forms, often accented with pink, blue, or green scarves, while Holt-Howard’s recurring green-and-black plaid turns up on hats, pillows, borders, racks, and serving pieces. Some examples carry inked Holt-Howard marks, while others were identified only by foil labels that could easily disappear with use or age.
The range eventually became extensive enough to include several distinct families within the larger Cozy Kittens umbrella. Part 1 covers the core U.S. household collection. Part 2 continues with rarer and unusual pieces, the later Pixieware-style group, “Meow” beverage and serving pieces, and the British Cozy Kittens produced in England for Holt-Howard and distributed by John E. Buck & Co.
Cozy Kittens in Period Advertising
Period retailer advertising helps show how Cozy Kittens were actually presented to shoppers when the line was new. The Foster House catalog advertisements reproduced here date from 1958 and 1959 and preserve original retail prices, catalog numbers, dimensions, and contemporary sales language.
Important: these are Helen Gallagher Foster House retailer advertisements, not Holt-Howard factory advertising. Product names, descriptive wording, and the way dimensions are stated therefore reflect Foster House’s own merchandising copy and should not automatically be treated as Holt-Howard’s official nomenclature.
Core Household Collection
Siamese Cat Salt & Pepper Shakers
Among the most familiar pieces in the Cozy Kittens line, this slender salt-and-pepper pair stands approximately 4½ inches high. This form is sometimes identified as the Asian-Eyed Salt & Peppers, distinguishing it from the wider, large-eyed version that follows on this page. The female wears a pink polka-dot scarf, while the male is typically identified by a blue or green scarf.
The shakers were designed with one of the line’s most memorable gimmicks: a small sound mechanism in the base that produced a “meow” when the piece was turned upside down. Surviving mechanisms frequently no longer operate. Each shaker also has a refill opening at the back of the head, originally closed with a cork stopper.
The second edition of the standard collector guide identifies this slimmer form as the version manufactured in Japan by the Pearl company and describes the set as backstamped 1958. The Archive pair shown here adds an interesting production detail: one surviving base mark clearly reads © 1959 HOLT HOWARD, indicating that at least some examples of this form continued to carry later-dated marks.
Large-Eyed Salt & Pepper Shakers
At first glance these shakers can be mistaken for a variation of the slimmer Siamese pair, but Holt-Howard produced them as a distinct version. The large-eyed shakers were made at a second Japanese factory after demand for the original Pearl-made set outgrew that supplier’s capacity. The alternate factory used its own source for the “meow” mechanism, which required a somewhat broader body.
The two versions are therefore nearly the same height—about 4½ inches—but the large-eyed pair is noticeably wider through the head and body. Like the slimmer set, these shakers were fitted with sound mechanisms in their bases that produced a “meow” when the pieces were turned upside down.
Examples are documented with 1958 backstamps, with some later pieces dated through 1962. The pair shown here carries 1958 Holt-Howard marks and retains its original base mechanisms.
Peeking Cats in Baskets Salt & Pepper Shakers
One of the line’s more playful salt-and-pepper treatments places a pair of small Cozy Kittens inside individual wicker baskets so that only their heads appear above the rims. The shakers stand approximately 3 inches high.
The baskets are not merely later display accessories: the pair was sold that way. When Dworkin asked why Holt-Howard put the cats in baskets, the company’s wonderfully unscientific explanation was essentially that there was “no particular reason”—they were simply cute.
Outside the baskets, the ceramic shakers are fully formed little figures rather than simple cat heads. The illustrated pair shows complementary blue and pink striping, while the small wicker holders carry Holt-Howard Japan foil labels on their bases.
Winky-Blinky “Meow” Salt & Pepper Shakers
Holt-Howard pushed the novelty factor even further with this mechanically animated pair. The Winky-Blinky shakers wink, blink, and “meow” when lifted, combining moving eyes with the company’s familiar sound gimmick.
The pair stands approximately 4½ inches high. Their tails curl outward into handles, giving the shakers a mug-like silhouette while also making them easier to lift and pour. Pink and blue dotted bows distinguish the two pieces.
The examples shown here also demonstrate that the form remained in production beyond the collection’s 1958 debut: one photographed base carries a clear © 1961 HOLT HOWARD mark. As with other mechanical Cozy Kittens, surviving examples may retain only part—or none—of the original moving and sound-producing apparatus.
Napkin Holder with Salt & Pepper Shakers
This table set pairs two squat Cozy Kittens shakers with a polished metal napkin rack, turning the line’s familiar cats into a compact serving accessory. The complete rack measures approximately 7½ inches by 3 inches, and the center holder can accommodate up to 20 napkins.
The two shakers sit in circular supports at opposite ends of the rack. Their styling differs deliberately: one carries pink accents, while the other uses green and incorporates Holt-Howard’s familiar plaid motif across the top of the head.
The photographed pair is marked © 1958 HOLT HOWARD, confirming the set as part of the early Cozy Kittens production period. Both shakers also retain cork refill plugs and Japan foil labels.
Cozy Kitty Stacking Seasons
The Stacking Seasons set turns four small cat-head seasoners into a compact ceramic totem. The complete arrangement stands approximately 5 inches high, consisting of two salt shakers and two pepper shakers stacked neatly on a round wooden rack.
Each kitten is distinguished by a differently colored collar or bow, while the faces vary subtly in expression and eye direction. A small wooden peg rises through the stack to help keep the four pieces aligned when displayed.
The design is both playful and practical: four separate seasoners occupy little more table space than a single shaker while still forming one of the line’s most instantly recognizable vertical displays.
Spice Set — Four Spices with Metal Rack
This wall-mounted set combines four figural spice containers with a long black wrought-iron rack. The complete five-piece arrangement measures approximately 10 inches when displayed, with the largest cat above three smaller kittens suspended below.
The descending smaller kittens are Nutmeg, Paprika, and Cinnamon. The photographed complete set adds a useful visual detail: the larger cat is lettered Garlic Salt, making the four ceramic pieces a coordinated group of named seasonings rather than a generic “mama cat” accompanied by three spices.
Each ceramic piece has an integral loop for hanging from the rack and a refill opening closed by a cork plug. Surviving examples may retain Holt-Howard Japan foil labels; the photographed green-accented smaller kitten is additionally marked © 1959 HOLT HOWARD, JAPAN.
Cottage Cheese Crock
One of the most distinctive Cozy Kittens serving pieces, the Cottage Cheese Crock pairs a simple cylindrical container with a removable lid topped by two kittens leaning together for a kiss. The body is lettered “Cottage Cheese”, while the lid edge is decorated with Holt-Howard’s familiar green-and-black plaid.
The assembled piece measures approximately 4½ inches by 4½ inches and the crock holds 8 ounces. Period Foster House advertising describes the crock body itself as about 2½ inches high, which is consistent with measuring the container without the tall figural lid.
The piece is documented as 1958 production. Its kissing-kitten lid became memorable enough that the same basic figural idea later reappeared on a British Cozy Kittens butter crock, though that later piece used a different base.
Butter Dish
Holt-Howard turned an ordinary covered butter dish into a little domestic scene. Two young kittens peek from beneath what looks like a draped tablecloth, their faces appearing along the front edge of the cover while the cloth motif continues around the piece.
The joke continues on the back, where the kittens’ tails emerge and curl together. The underplate is bordered with the line’s green-and-black plaid, tying the piece visually to the wider Cozy Kittens family.
The butter dish measures approximately 7 inches long and is sized for a quarter-pound stick of butter. The photographed Archive example is clearly marked © 1958 HOLT HOWARD.
Stacking Sugar & Creamer
This ingenious three-piece set stacks into a single plump Cozy Kitten. The creamer forms the bottom, while the covered sugar bowl sits above it, and the green-and-black plaid cap serves as the sugar bowl’s lid.
The assembled set stands approximately 4¼ inches high. Apart, the pieces function as an ordinary creamer and covered sugar bowl; stacked together, the two vessels become one complete cat figure.
The photographed Archive set retains a Holt-Howard Japan foil label and carries a clear © 1959 HOLT HOWARD mark on the creamer, matching the documented date for this form.
Sugar Shaker
This cheerful kitchen helper performs two jobs in one. Sugar can be shaken through the perforations in the top of the kitten’s head, or poured from the small pink sack held at her side. A tight-fitting cork plug closes the sack’s pouring spout when it is not in use.
The piece stands approximately 6¼ inches high. The design is especially characteristic of Holt-Howard’s willingness to build function directly into the figure: the cat is not merely decoration wrapped around a container, but the working shaker itself.
The photographed example carries a clear © 1958 HOLT HOWARD mark on the base.
Powdered Cleanser Shaker
The standard collector guide calls this piece the Soap Shaker, while surviving examples are lettered “Powdered Cleanser” across the kitten’s apron. The figure was designed to hold approximately 12 ounces of detergent or cleanser and stands about 6¾ inches high.
Seven holes in the top of the head dispense the contents, while a large cork plug in the base provides access for refilling. The striped apron and painted broom make the kitten’s intended housekeeping role unusually explicit even by Cozy Kittens standards.
The photographed example is marked © 1959 HOLT HOWARD.
Spoon Rest
Holt-Howard promoted this clever little kitchen accessory as a “Stove Topper Delight.” It served two purposes: the broad lower end functions as a spoon rest, while the raised end can hold a recipe card upright for easy reference while cooking.
The piece measures approximately 6 inches long. Its charm comes from the way the decoration turns that practical form into a miniature scene: painted fish swim in the shallow bowl at the bottom, while two kittens perch at the upper end. One of them looks directly down the handle toward the “pool” of fish below, giving the whole piece a wonderfully sly little narrative.
The reverse is plain except for the Holt-Howard mark. The photographed example is clearly stamped © 1958 HOLT HOWARD.
Pop-Up Cookie Jar
One of the most theatrical pieces in the entire Cozy Kittens line, the Pop-Up Cookie Jar turns the simple act of lifting the lid into a little mechanical performance. As the lid is removed, a kitten rises from inside the jar holding a sign that reads “JUST TAKE 1.”
The jar stands approximately 6¼ inches high. The cylindrical body is decorated with oversized multicolored “cookies” lettering, while the lid is finished in soft pink with a contrasting black knob. Hidden inside is the spring mechanism that raises the kitten when the jar is opened.
The photographed example is marked © 1960 HOLT-HOWARD, placing it among the later pieces in the original Cozy Kittens run.
Ashtray with Match Holder
This smoking accessory places a Cozy Kitten at the center of a shallow plaid ashtray approximately 4½ inches across. The cat raises one paw toward its cheek to support a polished brass matchbook holder, turning the entire piece into a coordinated tabletop set.
The form dates to 1958. The broad green-and-black plaid tray ties it firmly to the rest of the Cozy Kittens line, while the added metal hardware gives the piece a distinctly mid-century cocktail-table character.
Surviving examples occasionally retain unusually complete period details, including the original paper label and packaging shown here.
Match Dandy
The Match Dandy is Cozy Kittens at its most debonair. This grown-up cat is effectively “dressed to the nines,” smoking a pipe while wearing the familiar plaid cap and coordinated sport jacket and carrying a cane.
The figure was designed as a complete match accessory. Unused matches are stored in the opening at the top of the head, while a large opening in the back accommodates spent matches. A roughened section of the coat is labeled “scratch here” and serves as the striking surface.
The photographed example is marked © 1959 HOLT HOWARD. Particularly desirable survivors may still retain the cane, pipe, and original cardboard box, all of which are shown here.
Caddy
This versatile Cozy Kitten was designed as a compact desk or household organizer. The piece stands approximately 6½ inches high. An open pocket in the top of the head holds pens and pencils, while the long spring attached to the back holds letters and notes.
Holt-Howard also promoted the Caddy as a multipurpose accessory rather than a strictly desk-bound piece: the head opening could accommodate cut flowers, and the figure could even be pressed into service at the table for napkins or other small items.
The photographed example carries a clear © 1958 HOLT HOWARD mark.
Memo Minder
The wall-hung Memo Minder turns a Cozy Kitten into a small household message center. The piece stands approximately 6 inches high and was originally sold with a memo pad and pencil.
The central recessed area holds the paper pad, while the kitten’s molded paw and side pocket provide a place for the writing instrument. The piece was also originally sold with an enclosed 1960 calendar, allowing it to serve as either a memo holder or a small wall calendar.
The example photographed for the Archive shows the practical mounting holes on the reverse and the original molded compartments even though the paper pad and pencil are no longer present.
Wall Caddy
This unusually flexible wall accessory combines a ceramic kitten with a removable circular metal hanger. The kitten itself measures approximately 7 inches long from the curve of the tail to the tip of the ear, while the complete piece with its metal ring extends to about 11 inches.
The ring can hold keys, wristwatches, or other small items, while the kitten’s raised arm and tail provide additional hanging points. An opening at the top of the head allows the ceramic figure to double as a tiny planter or flower holder.
The Wall Caddy was originally sold as a two-piece set consisting of the ceramic kitten and the circular metal key-ring hanger shown here. The photographed example is marked © 1958 HOLT HOWARD, JAPAN.
String Holders
Holt-Howard produced at least two closely related Cozy Kittens string holders, both designed to hang on the wall and dispense string or twine from the cat’s mouth. An opening in the plaid scarf accommodated the included scissors, making each piece a compact household sewing or kitchen accessory.
The forward-looking version has centered eyes and measures approximately 4½ inches wide by 4½ inches high. This form dates to 1958, as confirmed by the photographed example. An original box identifies the product as a Cozy Kitten twine holder and shows that scissors were supplied with it.
The sideways-looking version is slightly larger, measuring approximately 5 inches wide by 4¾ inches high. It is distinguished by eyelashes and eyes looking to the cat’s right. This version is a particularly unusual find and dates to 1959; the photographed example confirms a 1959 Holt-Howard mark.
Kitty Catch Clip
The Kitty Catch is one of the line’s smallest but most practical accessories. Holt-Howard referred to the metal hardware as a “Sure Action Clip,” while the ceramic front turns the mechanism into another Cozy Kitten character.
The complete piece measures approximately 4¾ inches. The chrome-plated clip was intended for a wide range of household uses, including holding towels, paper bags, lunch containers, bibs, or notes.
The simple front inscription, “Kitty Catch,” makes the purpose clear while still preserving the playful character of the larger Cozy Kittens line.
Merry Measure
The Merry Measure is one of the Cozy Kittens line’s cleverest sewing-room accessories. The piece measures approximately 3 inches by 3½ inches, and the kitten’s red felt tongue pulls out to become a 36-inch tape measure.
The green-and-black plaid cushion beneath the kitten is more than decoration: its lid is removable, revealing a small compartment intended for pins, needles, clips, and other sewing notions. The design therefore combines a tape measure and storage box in a single compact ceramic piece.
The photographed example is marked © 1958 HOLT HOWARD, matching the documented date for the form.
Bud Vases — “Tabby and Tom Charmers”
Holt-Howard marketed this pair of slender Cozy Kittens bud vases as the “Tabby and Tom Charmers.” Each stands approximately 6¾ inches high and has an opening at the top of the head to accommodate cut flowers.
The two figures are distinguished by their accessories: the female wears a pink scarf, while the male wears the familiar Holt-Howard green-and-black plaid cap with a coordinating green scarf. Their tall, narrow bodies make them visually different from most of the line’s more compact kitchen pieces, but the facial styling unmistakably ties them to the broader Cozy Kittens family.
The standard collector guide describes the pair as 1958 production. The photographed surviving set shown here includes an example marked © 1959 HOLT HOWARD, indicating that the form remained in production into the following year.