Dressing Up Cats in Costume: Cute or Cringe?

cats dressed up in Halloween costumes

Kate Wilson BS Applied Animal Behavior ,CCBC-KA, CPDT-KA

As Halloween approaches, the thrill of dressing up can be contagious—especially for us humans! But what about our cats? For many pets, including cats, the idea of donning costumes can be more of a trick than a treat. While some cats might tolerate a festive outfit, others may find it uncomfortable or stressful. So, should you dress up your cat this Halloween? If so, how can you ensure it’s a safe and enjoyable experience for your feline friend? In this post, we’ll explore the ins and outs of cat costumes, including the benefits of acclimating your cat to wearing items like harnesses and life vests. We’ll also discuss how to read your cat’s body language, ensuring that the dressing-up experience is positive and stress-free. Let’s dive into making this Halloween a fun celebration for both you and your cat!

Cats in Costume: Is It Safe?

We've all seen pictures or videos with cats who are visibly uncomfortable in an outfit and thought "are cat costumes ethical?" So, is it safe for cats to wear clothes? Dressing up cats can be safe if done thoughtfully. Some Halloween pet costumes can restrict movement or cause discomfort. Pet costume safety requires careful choice in costume design and paying attention to your cat’s comfort level. Always choose costumes that are specifically made for cats or pets, as these are usually lightweight, free from small, swallowable parts, and designed to leave the tail, ears, and paws unrestricted.

cat dressed up in turtle costume

Checklist for Pet Costume Safety:

  • Lightweight materials
  • No loose strings or small parts
  • Leaves tail, ears, and paws free
  • No tight or uncomfortable straps

Benefits of training a cat to love wearing items you introduce?

cat wearing a lifevest

Costumes themselves offer little to your cat, however the process of training a cat to wear something such as a harness, lifevest, GPS tracker, vet cone, or warm clothes for hairless cats is very important. Many of these steps can also be adjusted to help cats with asthma use breathing treatments where they push their nose into a mask to inhale medication. If you are running into any problems getting your cat to love these types of medical or safety items, connect to a feline behavior specialist ( https://iaabc.org/en/certs/members) for help, and they can help guide you through the process.  

young kitten and older cat wearing harness

When Should you Start Training a Cat? 

Research is showing that if we start early with kittens training them to loving handling, gentle socialization, harness training, training for preparation for vet trips, exploring new places etc, the better they feel about these things later in life. However, if you have adopted your cat later in life there is still much you can do to help them feel comfortable with things like harnesses ect.  Don't get stuck needing your cat to wear a costume, always adjust your plan to make them feel safe and comfortable with you. 

Tips for Dressing a Cat in Costume Safely

The key to a successful costume is ensuring it’s stress-free for your cat and prioritizing close observation, patience, and respect for their individual personality. Here are three main tips for dressing up your cat safely:

cat being trained wearing costume

1. Closely Monitor your Cat

Cats are agile, and costumes can sometimes restrict their natural movement, making it easy for them to get tangled or feel confined. If your cat is wearing a costume, make sure to monitor them closely to prevent any accidents or discomfort. Never leave a costumed cat unsupervised, as they may try to remove the costume, become wrapped up, or even get caught on nearby objects. 

cat dressed as winnie the pooh with honey jar

2. Look for Signs of Discomfort

Cats have unique ways of showing discomfort, especially when they’re wearing something unfamiliar. Watch for any signs of stress, like excessive grooming, freezing in place, or continuous attempts to remove the costume—these are clear signals to remove it and try a less restrictive option.

3. Respect Your Cat’s Choice to Say “No”

Not all cats will tolerate costumes, and some may resist entirely. If your cat tries to walk away, hides, or shows signs of discomfort, respect their boundaries. Forcing a cat into a costume can cause stress, which can affect their overall behavior and trust.

cats playing on donkey kong themed furniture

How to Train Your Cat to Enjoy Costumes

trainer using treats with cat and introducing to costume

1. Introduce your cat to the Costume

Lay the costume down, allowing your cat to sniff and explore it. Reward them with treats for showing interest.

trainer placing costume on cat while feeding treats

2. Slowly move your cat into the costume

Once they’re comfortable with the costume, hold it up and let them pass under. Continually feed them treats for encouragement. Take the costume back off before treats are gone and repeat a little further away so the cat will approach you. You want your cat chasing down that costume and diving under it for treats. 

trainer strapping cat costume on cat

3. Attach Costume Straps

When you complete the step of getting your cat to dive into the costume gently lift straps and then feed treats. Secure the straps gently while feeding and make sure your cat is still comfortable moving. You can gently remove the costume and repeat this step to make sure your cat still loves running into the costume. At this stage, you want to make sure your cat is not backing away or crouching with the costume on. If they are, go back several steps or consider letting your cat do Halloween in its naturally stunning birthday suit. 

trainer feeding treats to a cat dress in costume

4. Encourage Movement

You want the outfit or costume to mean good things. Associate the costume with positivity by always playing and giving treats if they are in the costume. If your cat shows signs of stress— like trying to wriggle out of the costume, crouching, leaning away from the clothing or flattening their ears — it’s important to stop and respect your cat's choice.

Great Alternatives to Full Pet Costumes

Consider a Less Restrictive Cat Costume

Some cats don't mind just festive collars or themed bandanas. These are less restrictive and may be more comfortable for your cat. Supervise your cat with non breakaway collars and bandannas. 

Cat wearing Donkey Kong Tie

Donkey Kong Cat

Cat Dressed as Bowser

Bowser Bronson

Cat dressed as dog

Dangerous Dog/Cat

cat wearing tie

Sophisticated Bronson

cat dressed as a turtle

Turtle Cat

cat standing for treats

Skip the Costume: Fun and Festive Ways to Celebrate with Your Cat

Train a Halloween behavior like perching on a pumpkin, or standing on two legs to trick or treat.

Make your Cat Some Cool Halloween Themed Treats

Little bat shaped treats or scary spider cookies are a great treat! Amazon is a great source for finding Halloween-themed cookie cutters like bats and pumpkins

Cat treats in halloween shapes

Ingredients: 

  • 1 salmon fillet
  • 1 large egg
  • 2 tbsp pumpkin
  • 1 1/4 cup flour 
  • 2 tbsp water

Instructions

  • Mix ingredients
  • Roll out dough
  • Cut into Halloween themed shapes.
  • Bake at 200 degrees for 15 minutes or until golden brown. Cool before serving.

Digitally Alter Your Cat

Cat digitally altered to look like dragon

Calico Dragon

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Cat digitally altered to look like mouse

@iambronsoncat as mouse

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Zombie Cat

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Miniature Lion

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Spooky kitten

Spooky kitten

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@examplehandle

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Final Take Away: Let Your Cat Decide

If you plan to try a Halloween costume for your cat, start training early and be ready to adjust the plan if your cat isn’t loving it. Respect what they consider fun and safe by letting your cat choose or not choose to costume up for Halloween. This will allow you to maintain a trusting relationship with your cat outside of spooky season. Remember – an unhappy costumed cat will never be as cute as a happy uncostumed cat!

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behavioral expert and her cat
Kate Wilson BS, CBCC, CPDT

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