BigNoseDeer Kawaii Cat Tea Cup with Infuser

This is the honest trade-off with this mug. The ceramic is lighter and more delicate than your typical heavy-duty coffee mug. While some owners use it daily without issues, a notable number of reviewers (9+) report cracking or breaking, particularly with repeated hot water use. Hairline cracks on the bottom or the base separating are the most common complaints. It's best treated as a gentle-use, decorative piece rather than a rugged daily driver. For occasional tea sessions or cold beverages, most people find it holds up fine.

The mug holds 13 ounces (about 380ml), which is a comfortable single-serving size for tea or coffee. It's not a giant oversized mug, but it's not tiny either — think of it as a standard-plus cup that holds enough for a satisfying tea session without going cold before you finish it. Reviewers generally find the size just right for both hot and cold beverages.

Yes, and this is one of the features reviewers specifically call out as a genuine benefit. The lid fits snugly and noticeably extends how long your tea stays warm. It also serves double duty — there's a hook on the underside where you can rest the fish infuser after steeping so it doesn't drip everywhere. One thing to note: the lid material feels more like a smooth composite than the wood some buyers expect from photos, but functionally it works well.

You get five pieces in the box: the ceramic cat mug itself, a cat-ear lid, a fish-shaped silicone tea infuser, a matching spoon, and a cork coaster. It arrives with ribbon packaging that makes it gift-ready straight out of the box. A small note: a couple of reviewers mentioned occasionally receiving sets missing the coaster or spoon, though this seems uncommon. The bubble wrap packaging is generous, so everything typically arrives intact.

Absolutely. While it's marketed as a tea mug and comes with a tea infuser, the 13oz capacity makes it a perfectly good coffee cup too. Just keep the same temperature advice in mind — avoid pouring boiling-hot coffee directly in. If you brew your coffee in a separate maker and pour it in, the slight cooling during transfer is usually enough. The lid will keep your coffee warm, and the spoon works just as well for stirring in cream and sugar.

There's no confirmed dishwasher safety for this mug, so hand washing is the safer route. The narrow opening can make hand-washing a little tricky according to one reviewer, but a bottle brush handles it easily. Given that the ceramic is on the delicate side, hand washing with warm (not scalding) water is your best bet for keeping it in good shape long-term. The silicone fish infuser is easy to clean by hand as well.

This is worth knowing before you buy: the cat design and pattern are printed on one side of the mug only. When a right-handed person holds it, the cute design faces outward. But if you're left-handed and naturally grip the handle with your left hand, the design faces toward you instead of outward. It's still perfectly usable — you just won't be showing off the cute cat face to the room. Something to consider if you're buying it as a gift for a lefty.

Microwave safety isn't confirmed for this mug, so it's best to avoid it. Given that some reviewers have experienced cracking with thermal stress from hot water alone, microwaving could potentially make that worse. The safer approach is to heat your water separately in a kettle or microwave-safe container, let it cool briefly, and then pour it into the mug.

Yes! This is actually one of those unexpected perks that reviewers discovered. The hole in the lid — designed for the spoon handle — works perfectly for a straw too. So if you're making iced tea or a cold drink in the mug, you can pop a straw through the lid and sip away while keeping the lid on. It's a small thing, but it makes the mug surprisingly versatile for both hot and cold beverages.

Some reviewers have successfully used it on a coffee or mug warmer without problems, which is a nice way to keep your tea at temperature without repeatedly reheating. That said, given the durability concerns with thermal stress, keep the warmer on a low or medium setting rather than high. The gradual, even heat from a warmer is much gentler on the ceramic than pouring boiling water directly in.

One reviewer did report the spoon rusting over time, so it's worth taking care of it. After each use, dry the spoon thoroughly rather than leaving it wet in the mug or on a damp surface. If you notice any discoloration, you can clean it with a baking soda paste. The spoon itself is well-designed — it's the perfect length so your fingers stay clear of hot liquid when stirring — so a little maintenance is worth keeping it in good shape.

The kawaii cat design has genuinely broad appeal. Reviewers report it being a hit with kids as young as 4 years old (supervised, of course — it is ceramic), teenagers who love cute preppy aesthetics, and adults who appreciate kawaii or cat-themed items. It's particularly popular as a gift for women and girls of all ages. Just keep in mind it's a real ceramic mug, not a kids' cup, so younger children should use it with supervision.

This BigNoseDeer mug is actually a great starter setup for loose leaf tea beginners. Here's the simple process: fill the fish-shaped silicone infuser with loose tea leaves, drop it into the mug, pour hot water (not boiling — let it cool a minute first for this mug's sake), place the lid on top to keep heat in, and steep for 3-5 minutes. The lid has a clever hook where you can hang the infuser when you're done steeping. The included spoon is the perfect length so you won't burn your fingers stirring. Everything you need is right in the box.

A couple of reviewers noticed a mild ceramic smell when first unboxing the mug, but it goes away completely after the first wash. Just give it a good hand wash with warm soapy water before your first use — standard practice for any new ceramic mug — and you won't notice any odor after that.

When shopping for a specialty mug like this BigNoseDeer cat cup, consider what you'll actually use it for. Key things to check: material durability (this one's ceramic but on the delicate side), whether it comes with accessories (this set includes a lid, infuser, spoon, and coaster), capacity (13oz is a solid single-serving size), and heat handling (reviewers note the outside doesn't get too hot to hold, which is a plus). If you're a lefty, also check design placement — this mug's cat pattern is on one side only.

Using this BigNoseDeer cat mug is straightforward, but there are a few tips to get the most out of it. First wash it before first use — a couple of reviewers mention a mild ceramic smell that goes away after the first wash. For tea, use the included fish infuser with loose leaves and steep with the lid on. The lid hole fits the spoon or even a straw if you're drinking iced tea. Pro tip from reviewers: avoid pouring boiling water directly into it. Let your water cool for a minute or two first to protect the ceramic.

For drinkware materials, ceramic (like this BigNoseDeer mug) and glass are generally considered the healthiest options since they don't leach chemicals into your beverages. This particular mug is made of ceramic, which is a safe, non-reactive material for both hot and cold drinks. Just be aware that ceramic quality varies — some reviewers note this mug's ceramic feels a bit lightweight, so it's best suited for moderate temperatures rather than boiling water.

Ceramic and borosilicate glass are top choices for healthy drinkware since they're non-toxic and don't leach into beverages. This BigNoseDeer mug is ceramic, which is a perfectly safe material for drinking. One thing to keep in mind: if any ceramic mug develops cracks (which some reviewers have experienced with this one under very hot water), it's best to retire it, as bacteria can harbor in hairline fractures. For longevity, use water that's been allowed to cool slightly rather than straight-from-the-kettle boiling water.