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You are here: Home / Kitty Wisdom / 10 Tips on How to Get Your Cat to Wear a Halloween Costume

10 Tips on How to Get Your Cat to Wear a Halloween Costume

October 6, 2016 By: Summer Samba34 Comments

somali cat in witch hat

All new! You can see these tips on how to get your cat to wear a costume on video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v9VKST1-Hv0

As you know, I love dress up! And I seem to be one of the few. Most cats dread holidays like Halloween, when the humans eagerly put costumes on themselves… and their pets. Some of you humans would never subject your kitty to a costume if she didn’t want to wear it. Others just want their cats to bear with them for a five-minute photo shoot. My post today is for the latter group, but you have to promise me that if your cat really, really hates it, that you will drop the idea completely. Okay?

So here you go: my tips on how to get your cat to wear a Halloween costume.

  1. Make sure the costume is safe. Even if your cat is only going to have it on for a few minutes, he could strangle himself, or pull out and swallow strings, or otherwise injure himself trying to get out of the costume. If your cat is a chewer or string swallower, get a costume that doesn’t have strings or chewable pieces on it. A costume that slips on with elastic or fastens with Velcro is usually a safe choice and won’t hurt a cat who is trying to wriggle out of it.
  2. Make sure the costume fits. I am a small cat, under 7 lbs. Outfits that fit me are usually snug on 10-lb. Binga and would never in a million years fit a 20-lb. boy cat! Measure your cat before you go shopping. Also… use your eyes because sometimes the size says one thing, but just looking at it, you know it would be either too big or too small for your cat. If it’s too small, it will be really uncomfortable for your cat, and if it’s too big, she’ll just walk right out of it. Measure your cat around her neck, her chest just behind the legs, and the length between her shoulders and base of her tail. Keep these measurements with you when you shop. Cats can wear dog outfits, but keep in mind that they may fit differently on your cat.
     
    For the record, I generally wear an X-small dog’s size. If it runs large, I wear a XX-Small. Larger cats will probably be a Small, and if you have a male Maine Coon, you might even need a Medium!
  3. somali cat in simple Halloween clown collar

  4. Simpler is better. My favorite outfits are nice dresses that slip on, so my ideal Halloween costume would be some variation on that, like maybe a fairy princess or a ballet dancer! If you think your cat will be difficult to coax into a costume, maybe you can just use a cape that fastens around his neck, like a Superman cape. Or maybe you can just put just a nice tie or a fun clown collar around his neck. You don’t have to be fancy, and your cat will probably be happier.
  5. Think hard before getting something to put on your cat’s head. Most cats really, really hate having something on their head, especially if it smushes down their ears or covers their eyes or face in any way. Even I don’t like most hats, and I need lots of bribing to wear some of them. The hats I’ve worn most successfully aren’t really hats at all — they are headwear of some sort that tie under my chin that leave my ears free, even though you can’t see them. My pirate hat, for example.
  6. somali cat in pirate costume

  7. I probably shouldn’t even need to mention this, but no masks. Ever.
  8. Now comes the good part: bribery! Before you put the costume on your cat, let her become familiar with it. Allow her to sniff it and check it out. Give her a treat while you’re doing that, or make it part of her playtime. Put it on the floor and let her look at it — with more treats and fun. Casually drape the costume over her, unfastened… and give her your best treats for allowing you to do that. This should be done over the course of a few days’ time.
  9. Before you do your photos, prepare. Figure out where you are going to take photos, and make sure the background is clear from distractions. You don’t want to put your cat through all this trouble and then find out the dirty laundry is behind him! Maybe even take some test photos to see how the lighting looks. When you are going to do the actual photo shoot, make sure you have everything handy: the camera, extra batteries for the camera, the costume, any props, and the treats. Everything should be ready before you go fetch the star of the photo shoot, your cat.
  10. A note on the treats: if you are rewarding your cat with food treats (as opposed to play), make it something they really like, but not something they go crazy over. If your cat gets too excited over a treat, it will be hard to get him to sit still. My favorite treats are freeze-dried poultry of any sort. I like fresh, sliced turkey even better, but I go nuts when I smell it. It’s really difficult for me to Stay when I smell it, even though I am trained to do that. So imagine trying to get your untrained cat to sit still for something extra delicious! Pro tip: do have some of your cat’s super-favorite treat ready for after the photo shoot, as a reward for a job well done.
  11. How to Get Your Cat to Wear a Halloween Costume

  12. Also make sure you praise your cat lots. Most of us cats don’t thrive on praise the way dogs do… but we aren’t immune to it! We like to know we are doing well.
  13. Be patient throughout every step. Remember, you are the one who is asking your cat to do this crazy, unnatural thing, and your cat is only obliging you. So keep your temper in check and don’t show your frustration. Be kind and polite. And if you can tell your cat really hates being forced to wear the outfit or it is stressing her out, take it off and forget about it. We cats think no amount of treats are worth being upset and miserable — and your photos will look sad instead of fun. So know when to quit.

I hope you have liked my tips — and I hope no kitties get mad at me for giving them!

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10 Tips on How to Get Your Cat to Wear a Halloween Costume
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Comments

  1. Lolcat Seedlings says

    October 21, 2021 at 1:07 am

    Thank you SO much for all of these helpful tips!

    Reply
  2. LESLEY CASTLE says

    October 4, 2020 at 2:03 am

    Great tips! <3

    Reply
  3. Basil says

    October 9, 2016 at 2:38 am

    Summer what a great post, but if P.A. has a notion that she’s going to dress us up this Halloween we have other ideas! MOL

    Purrs

    Basil & Co xox

    Reply
  4. The Swiss Cats says

    October 7, 2016 at 12:57 pm

    Those are great tips : now we have to hide this post from Claire, she may have some fancy ideas ! Purrs

    Reply
  5. Mark's Mews says

    October 6, 2016 at 9:57 pm

    Great suggestions. Given that holiday custumes are coming up, we might need that help.

    Reply
  6. meowmeowmans says

    October 6, 2016 at 7:59 pm

    Awesome tips, Summer! Zoe and Gracie are more the Photoshop costume kind of kitties. 🙂

    Reply
  7. Caren Gittleman says

    October 6, 2016 at 7:07 pm

    you look so cute Summer!! Cody isn’t much of a fan of costumes, so we put them on him sparingly…even with your great tips!

    Reply
  8. Cathy Keisha says

    October 6, 2016 at 6:53 pm

    Great tips. TW should have tuned out after the measuring part cos that would never happen. You look great in costumes especially the super hero one. I’m gonna be a cat for Halloween and I still expect treats.

    Reply
  9. William's Kith & Kin says

    October 6, 2016 at 6:51 pm

    We did like your tips, Summer, but we’re still not going to let our mom see them!

    Reply
  10. Marianne says

    October 6, 2016 at 5:18 pm

    You are always a superhero and a really good sport, Summer! I, a mere human, don’t like wearing hats either.

    Reply
  11. Annie says

    October 6, 2016 at 4:44 pm

    What cute costumes and what great advice! It is amazing how well you pose, Summer!

    Reply
  12. Melissa, Mudpie & Angel Truffles says

    October 6, 2016 at 3:50 pm

    Great tips! Angel Truffles would always take the stop, drop and roll approach to wearing costumes. Last year Mudpie hadn’t been here long enough for me to attempt putting a costume on her…but I just might give it a shot this year!

    Reply
  13. Ellen Pilch says

    October 6, 2016 at 3:31 pm

    Great tips, you make an adorable Wonder Woman.

    Reply
  14. Spike William says

    October 6, 2016 at 11:54 am

    You look so lovely in all of your costumes, Summer! Great advice for other cats and the wearing of costumes too. I think that I might be trying on a Halloween costume but my Lady will be nice if I don’t like it.

    Purrrrrrrrrrs, Spike William

    Reply
  15. dma says

    October 6, 2016 at 11:42 am

    I’m ok with the boyz being nekkid all the time and I think they are OK with that as well.

    Reply
  16. Grace says

    October 6, 2016 at 11:42 am

    BB is so mellow I could probably dress him up easily –

    Reply
  17. Jen says

    October 6, 2016 at 11:35 am

    These are great tips! My cat will only, begrudgingly, wear the collar costumes.

    Reply
  18. Pipo/Minko/MrJackFreckles says

    October 6, 2016 at 11:08 am

    Thanks for those usefur tips,Summer. We need to teach the petcretary about some of them esp the one where just don’t do it comes into play,MOL! We don’t mind collars or ties or necklaces too much…but…

    Reply
  19. Tamago says

    October 6, 2016 at 9:30 am

    Great tips, Summer! I think food treats and making it part of playtime are very importnat. That makes the whole experience more fun for both kitties and humans 🙂

    Reply
  20. emma and buster says

    October 6, 2016 at 9:18 am

    Our mom admire you so much for your penchant to wearing costumes, among other things, because we abhor anything that is put on us. You look so pretty.

    Reply
  21. Kitties Blue says

    October 6, 2016 at 8:49 am

    Mom has only “made us” wear costumes a couple of times, and it is usually just Mau for Cat Scouts. We are happy that our costumes are usually virtual. You wear costumes beautifully, and so we appreciate your tips. XOCK, Lily Olivia, Mauricio, Misty May, Giulietta, Fiona, Astrid, Lisbeth and Calista Jo

    Reply
  22. Craig s. c. okajima says

    October 6, 2016 at 7:54 am

    I love the “Want to be a ballerina” picture!

    You look super cute in that!

    Haha, you’re so pretty, you’d even look pretty “dressed up like Kenny on South Park!”

    Reply
  23. Random Felines says

    October 6, 2016 at 7:48 am

    that is great advice….mom said she may try to find at least a cute halloween collar…we don’t fight those too much

    Reply
  24. Lola and Lexy says

    October 6, 2016 at 7:22 am

    These are definitely expert tips, Summer. Mommy has finally given up (or so she says) on costumes after last Christmas. She bought cute little hats for us to pose in, and let’s just say they were returned to the store. With lots of fur on them! MOL

    Reply
  25. The Island Cats says

    October 6, 2016 at 5:19 am

    Those are good tips, Summer, but we still don’t want to wear any costumes no matter how many treats we get.

    Reply
  26. Katie Isabella says

    October 6, 2016 at 5:14 am

    Great advice and I loved the illustrations that went with it, you gorgeous girl!

    Reply
  27. Charles Huss says

    October 6, 2016 at 4:07 am

    Those are good tips but I can’t imagine being successful putting an outfit on any cat in this house.

    Reply
  28. Madi says

    October 6, 2016 at 3:56 am

    Summer you look very Qute in your Halloween costumes!!
    Hugs madi your bfff

    Reply
  29. The kitties of purring pines says

    October 6, 2016 at 3:37 am

    We like the pirate hat on you too. We still won’t let our mommy put a costume on us no matter how many treats!!!!

    Reply
  30. Brian Frum says

    October 6, 2016 at 3:29 am

    Those really were good tips pretty Summer but maybe I should just start with the treat part!

    Reply
  31. Toby and Leia says

    October 6, 2016 at 3:22 am

    We hope you get to be a ballerina soon. That’s only right. These tips are great but Mom thinks maybe she won’t try ….

    Reply
  32. mommakatandherbearcat says

    October 6, 2016 at 2:36 am

    You can’t get away from the witch hat, can you Summer? No matter HOW hard you try … it just keeps coming back 🙂
    ps – you make a great pirate 🙂

    Reply
  33. Flynn says

    October 6, 2016 at 1:38 am

    Those are very good tips, Summer, but my mum needn’t even begin to think about trying it with me. She once got me to pose with a lei around my neck and that is my absolute limit.

    Reply
  34. Mickey's Musings says

    October 6, 2016 at 1:08 am

    Such good advice Summer.
    We agree that starting slowly and being patient are important.
    Purrs Georgia and Julie,
    Treasure and JJ

    Reply

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