Ex Libris Bookplate Cat Tote Bag

This cat book lover tote bag is printed like the bookplate you would find inside the cover of a very old, very serious book, except the library belongs to your cat. Ex Libris means “from the library of,” and the library in question has one rule, printed at the bottom: Purr Responsibly.

The design: an antique bookplate

A tall bookplate in aged cream sits centered on the tote, edged with a double burgundy rule and filled with fine cross-hatched linework, like an old engraving. In the central oval, your cat lounges on a pile of leather-bound books with one paw dangling over the edge, toned in warm sepia so it matches the engraved style. Stacked books stand in the lower corners, a reading lamp glows at upper left, a quill rests at upper right and a small hourglass sits at the bottom center. The palette is pure dark academia: burgundy ink, aged cream, sepia brown, a touch of antique gold and deep ink.

“Ex Libris” runs across the top in high-contrast engraved serif capitals. You personalize the library name below the oval, set in elegant small caps; our example reads Ex Libris / The Library of Atlas / Purr Responsibly. Keep the motto or type a short one of your own, such as “Return Books Before Naptime,” in “Text on your gift”. It is a personalized bookish cat tote with genuine old-library charm.

Product details

• Size: about 15″ x 16″ with 20″ self-fabric handles
• Material: 100% cotton canvas, heavy 12 oz/yd², natural color
• Print: your design printed centered on the front
• Construction: flat corners, reinforced stitching on the handles
• Care: spot clean; line dry; do not bleach; do not iron directly over the print
• Cats and photos: one cat in the oval; upload one clear photo, or up to six so our designers can pick the best

How your tote is made

Upload a photo of your cat and you will see a free AI preview of the bookplate. The preview is an illustration only, so you can check the idea and the library name. Our designers then prepare the final artwork from your original photo, tone your cat to match the engraving and check it by hand before printing.

Each tote is made to order. Production takes 3–5 business days, and the typical total from order to delivery is 8–12 business days. Free standard shipping on every US order. If it arrives damaged or misprinted, we remake it or refund you; see returns and refunds.

Photo tips for a lounging scholar

The pose is a lounge, so a photo of your cat lying down with its head up works best, ideally with a front paw stretched out. A slightly sleepy, half-lidded look suits the mood perfectly; your cat should appear to have just finished a long chapter. Shoot in soft daylight so the fur keeps its detail once it is toned sepia, and keep the whole body, tail included, in the frame. See our photo guidelines for more.

Who it suits

It suits readers who carry three books when one would do, librarians, English teachers, book club regulars and anyone whose cat sits on the exact page they are reading. The heavy canvas is ready for library hauls and secondhand-bookshop finds. A cat book lover tote bag also makes a thoughtful graduation or retirement gift for someone who has spent a career among books.

Complete the reading-room look with the Cat Book Club Shirt. Find more ideas in our guide to gifts for cat and book lovers, or browse custom cat accessories.

FAQ

Product details & care

Material

100% cotton canvas, heavy 12 oz/yd², natural color

Size

About 15" x 16" with 20" self-fabric handles

Print

Your design printed centered on the front

Construction

Flat corners, reinforced stitching on the handles

Care

Spot clean; line dry. Do not bleach; do not iron directly over the print