January 14 is National Dress Up Your Pet Day!

January 14 is National Dress Up Your Pet Day!

Okay, so most cats won't tolerate quite as much dressing-up as the one pictured above, many will let you put something on them. And you'd be surprised how many will! 

Some cats enjoy wearing clothes; the cat above doesn't look distressed at all over her pretty party dress. Some cats even need to wear clothes: there are lines of clothing designed to add warmth for hairless and short-coated cats such as the Sphynx, Peterbald, and Rex breeds of cats.

The keys to getting your cat to wear clothing are choosing the proper design of clothing, and properly introducing the cat to the item.

Choosing Clothing For Cats

Much of the pet clothing you'll find in pet supply stores is made for dogs. And there's a reason for this: most manufacturers see more profitability in producing clothing for dogs, so that's where they concentrate their efforts. It's not easy to find clothing specifically designed for cats.

Some, but not all, dog clothing will work on cats. Dogs are more barrel-chested than cats and have shorter torsos. Their shoulders also tend to be larger than a cat's shoulders. And catwear needs to fit more tightly, so the cat can't escape from it unless choking. So adjustability is key in adapting dogwear to catwear. Large hook-and-loop (like Velcro®) closures are helpful, as they can be adjusted to fit tightly around the torso and chest. These are the areas where most pet clothing fastens.

Cats won't always take to wearing anything that makes their body too heavy. So steer clear of pet clothing with lots of embellishments. Plain and simple works best for cats. Of course you want to put cute little dresses with tutus on your girl kitties; who wouldn't? For us old maid cat ladies, our cats are our children, and we would likely have been insufferable "helicopter" mothers to human children. But if you want your cats to be happy, stick to the plainer designs for them.

Obviously, the back-end needs to be open so as not to interfere with kitty's potty-going. All four of the cat's legs should be able to move freely. And the clothing should fit tightly enough not to get caught on things, so your cat won't get it entangled and choke on it.  The neck shouldn't come up too high, either.

Most pet clothing manufacturers provide a sizing chart for measuring your animal. Carefully measure your cat using their guidelines and keep a record of those measurements. Pay close attention to any diagrams with the size chart, as different makers may have you measure your cat in different places. There are no standardized sizes in pet clothing.

Introducing Your Cat to Wearing Clothing

Now that you've chosen the right article of clothing for your cat, it's time to introduce kitty to it!

Some people have tried to put clothing on their cats, only to find that the cat flops over and plays dead in it. But instead of persevering, they'll take that clothing off their cats and never try again! There is a proper way to introduce your cat to clothing.

Cats like to do things at their own pace, and they're always suspicious of anything new or different in their environment. But, remember, they're also curious! When you first get a piece of clothing for your cat, show it to kitty and let him smell and inspect it thoroughly. Kitty may even want to play with it a little. You want the cat to be familiar with the clothing and not sense it as something foreign.

Next, choose a time when you're having a nice cuddle session with your cat. This is when your cat will be most relaxed and accepting. If the clothing has a hook-and-loop closure, open it before beginning this session and leave it open; sometimes that noise that it makes when you pull it apart can startle a cat.

Gently lay the piece of clothing on your cat during the cuddle session and continue talking and petting while you're doing so. The cat probably won't even notice it. On first introduction, perhaps that's all you do with the clothing.

On the next session, try fastening the clothing around your cat, always continuing to talk and pet as you do so. Make a little fuss over how pretty the cat looks in his new clothes. I know this sounds silly, but animals have a sense of pride in how they look, especially cats. They love being told they look pretty, or handsome, or beautiful. Make sure the cat associates the clothing with this fussing over how beautiful they look. 

Let the cat become accustomed to the feel of the clothing against his body. Sometimes this means they'll flop over in it and play dead. Other cats may try to find a way to get out of it. If your cat is treat-motivated, it couldn't hurt to provide a little treat every time you put the clothing on him.

With each session, let the cat wear the clothing a little longer. Get out your camera and take pictures of your cat in his outfit. Keep telling kitty how beautiful he looks in it, and keep giving those treats when it's on him. Wearing the clothing should always be a positive experience for your cat.

Even with this methodology, not all cats will adapt to clothing -- about half will, and half won't. You won't know which camp your kitty falls into until you try it! But some who initially don't care for it will at least grow to tolerate it, if you've gone through the proper procedure to introduce kitty to wearing clothing.

Express Your Preferences in Cat Clothing

Have you ever tried to find clothing for your cat and become frustrated that all you're seeing is clothing designed for dogs? Would you like to see clothing designed specifically for your cats, with a cat's needs and body shape in mind?

If so, we want to hear from you! Tell us in the comments below what types of clothing you'd like to see for your cats. Before its demise, Old Maid Cat Lady was planning on designing our own line of couture catwear -- "cature" if you will. One more dream unrealized!

Catwear isn't for every cat, and it isn't for every cat guardian. But some of you want clothing for your cats and are having trouble finding it. We want to help you by offering something that you'll really like and use for your cats.

Twelve Days of Christmas Gift Ideas, Day 4: Kitty Fashions and Note Cards

Twelve Days of Christmas Gift Ideas, Day 4:

NOTE: These ideas originally linked to products sold on the Old Maid Cat Lady retail site. Those links have been removed, as the store no longer exists, but I've left the ideas for you.

Kitty Fashions and Note Cards!

We wouldn't be old maid cat ladies if we didn't like to dress up our kitties! There are always a ton of fashions out there for dogs. Some will work on cats, but cats are really shaped differently. They have longer bodies, thinner legs, and are less barrel-chested than dogs. And most cats will not tolerate the same amount of clothing dogs will. So we're at a bit of a disadvantage.

Some cats actually need to wear clothing when it gets cold. The Sphinx and Peterbald breeds don't have coats to keep them warm, so they need a sweater or some flannel jammies on chilly days and nights...like The Cat's Pajamas from Meow Wear ($14.95) shown above. Even on sunny days, they can sunburn, so it's a good idea to put either some sunscreen (yes, we sold that for cats, too) or some type of clothing on them to protect their skin from UV rays. Older cats may also benefit from a warm sweater on a chilly day.

It's tough to find companies making garments specifically for cats. Many are cottage industries, and if they have their own Etsy store, they can't handle the additional volume of selling through retailers like Old Maid Cat Lady. But I was able to find some items that worked and looked cute, as well. Here, then, were several ideas for those who either wanted or needed to dress up their cats. You may be amazed at some of the options! (Prices shown for all items did not include shipping, and are for the year this post was originally published.)

Day 4 Gifts for Cats: Sweaters and Kitty Fashions

Festive party collars always help set a holiday mood! These tended to sell out early as bricks-and-mortar retail stores would buy up our supplier's inventory. We offered them in Christmas Stars, Jingle Bells, Christmas Trees, and Christmas Snowflakes, as well as many other styles and colors. They were elasticized for safety. And at only $5.95 each, you could have afforded several for all of kitty's holiday parties! But you had to act quickly because the closer to Christmas it got, the scarcer these would become.

Collars may look pretty, but they won't keep a kitty warm. For those hairless breeds, Meow Wear made this spectacular sweater they called The Cat's Meow! It would keep out drafts while also looking quite fashionable, all for $19.95:

The Mousin' Around cat sweater ($19.95) was also very popular with Old Maid Cat Lady's customers this year. And, as you can see, even cats with coats can enjoy the extra warmth:

Kitty going outdoors? Perhaps a lovely jacket like this Meow Wear Quilted Vest ($19.95) would be the perfect wardrobe choice:

Sadly, Meow Wear went out of business even before Old Maid Cat Lady did, selling off their remaining inventory to another retailer.

Some cats will walk on a harness and leash, so a good harness that fits comfortably would make a wonderful gift for one of these kitties. Harnesses are also good for tethering a cat into a carrier, stroller, or car seat. We carried many harnesses, including the Choke-Free Collars ($14.95) from Leather Brothers. They came in eight metallic colors and five non-metallic colors, as well as croco-texture ($17.95) or faux ostrich ($19.95) texture, and they even had matching leashes available! All were soft, high quality leather with a paw print ornament on each side. They were easy to get on and off your cat. Here's one in blue metallic on a kitten:

This denim harness vest by Doggles was made for dogs, but fit cats just fine! My Golden Boys each have one, and are shown below wearing them in October at the No More Homeless Pets national conference. Gilly's even smiling and Captain's so comfy he's snoozing in his! The detailing on these harness vests was very nice, including a D-ring on the back to which you could attach the leash or tether:

The same company that made these also made a very popular Black Biker Harness Vest and Dress, for those tough kitties. All of the harness vests and dresses sold for $11.95 each.

If your cat will be going out in rainy weather, a raincoat may be a welcome wardrobe addition. This Base Jumper Raincoat from Puppia was another item that was made for dogs, but would work okay on cats. A hole on the back allowed you to attach a leash to the cat's harness underneath. They sold for $35.95 and had a coated nylon outside and polyester mesh inside for comfort. They were available in two sizes and six colors, plus camo:

If you didn't think your cat would like the hood, we also offered several of the Avant-Garde harnesses by 26 Bars and a Band ($21.95). They were made from a water-resistant polyester fabric and had a D-ring on back for attaching a leash. Although made for dogs, they had adjustable sides and front, so you could get them to fit your kitty quite nicely. Shown here is the London Calling design, and it was also available in a pink argyle Prep print, houndstooth print Sherlock, brown with Leopard print belt, a Couture Princess pink-and-black print, a cool Death Star print, sophisticated black-and-white Fifth Avenue print, feminine Floral Fling print, a Freebird print for those rockin' kitties, and Green Day print for the eco-minded.

Going boating with your cat? You'll want to keep kitty safe with a life vest from Paws Aboard! Another item that's made for dogs, their sizing chart has them running a little small on cats, so you may want to add an inch or so to your cat's measurements to get the right size. They're available in regular ($24.99) or neoprene ($29.99), shown below. Each has a handle on the back so if kitty falls in the water you can fish him out with a hand or a boat hook. And you'll see from this photo that they're supposed to fit snugly and a little high on the shoulders:

Want to see where your cat goes when he's outdoors, or what he does while you're at work? Simply attach the EYENIMAL pet video cam ($79) to his collar and record up to 2.5 hours of kitty's day! It only weighed 1.2 ounces, so your cat will barely even know it's there!

You could have found many more options in Old Maid Cat Lady's Catwear section, including traditional cat safety collars, jeweled cat collars, and even collar charms like the one shown below. There were two pages filled with great items to put on your cats this Christmas!

Day 4 Gifts for People: Cat Note Cards

There's just nothing like a good old-fashioned handwritten note. One very successful lady I know in the business world suggests sending one each week to one of your old business contacts to touch base and see if they're working on anything at which you could help. It's good to have some blank notes on hand for sending thank-you notes, words of sympathy, or just a how-ya-doin' to a friend. And what better way for a cat lady to send those notes than on a cat-themed note card? So here are some that make great gifts for all the fellow cat ladies (and gents) on your gift list. Some are even pretty enough to frame!

Artist Karen Olsen combined colorful abstract cat designs with sayings in several blank note card designs. Shown above is the Extraordinary Cats design. Also available were the Dancing Cats, Purrfect Cat, and Sit and Be Admired designs. All of her cards were available in packs of 5, 10, or 25, priced from $9.95 to $39.95.

If your taste in art ran more toward the traditional, we offered a lovely assortment of Artful Cat note cards featuring classic paintings of cats by artists including Renoir, Heyer, Marc, and Valadon. Four each of five images make up the box of 20 cards and envelopes that sold for $14.95:

If you were seeking a gift for an aficionado of a particular breed of cat, one of these Cat Crest stationery packs ($10.95) may have been just the thing! They came in a set of 10, and were available for Abyssinian, American Shorthair, Birman, Maine Coon, Persian, Scottish Fold, and Siamese. All cards within each pack were the same. Each featured artwork of the cat with the breed name and a statement about the breed's nature.

Paper Russell's Grrreen Boxed Notecards came in sets of 6 printed on premium recycled paper, tied with a silk ribbon, and packaged inside a gray box. They were available in a Russian Blue (shown here) or Brown Farm Cat for $8.95.

Kate Larsen's quirky cat art was featured on the Box of Cats GreenNotes note cards that feature 8 each of two different images in the box of 16 blank-inside cards for $11.95. They're boxed in corrugated cardboard and tied with a twine tie and gift card, so your wrapping's easy:

You could find these and many more cat cards in Old Maid Cat Lady's Stationery & Paper Goods section, when the site was still in business. More gift ideas to come tomorrow!

Do You Dress Up Your Cats?

C'mon; you're among friends here and can admit it! Why should dogs get to wear all the cute little outfits, while cats run around buck naked?

When I first lived with cats, over 20 years ago (thanks to better antihistamines that allowed me to finally have cats of my own), I wanted little outfits for them, or at least fancy collars. The local pet stores had nothing of the kind. My frustration at what was available led me to start a company of my own on the side of my "real" job, Haute Cature Designs. I designed fancy cat collars and flea collar covers, made with cats' preferences in mind. 

They were softer than other collars on the market and sold in sizes so they didn't need those heavy buckles on them. Cats found them more comfortable and tolerable than regular collars. Had the e-commerce been around back in those days, I might have made a million. As it was, I shut Haute Cature Designs down after a year or so. There simply wasn't time to call on individual pet stores and convince them to carry my collars on consignment.

Now that I'm running OldMaidCatLady.com, I'm still always looking for great catwear. That's why I was so pleased to find the Meow Wear line of catwear! It includes not only cute sweaters like you see here, but shirts, jackets & vests, pajamas, a bathrobe, and even formalwear! It's exactly the type of catwear I had in mind all those years ago, had I known more about pet clothing design. Meow Wear is specially designed for cats, which means it's got the leg holes in the right places and is proportioned to fit a cat's body. Some dogwear just doesn't fit cats properly.

And dressing up a cat isn't all about fashion, although that's what makes it fun! Some of the hairless and short-coated breeds like Sphynx and Rex cats actually need to wear clothing in colder months to keep them warm. So there is a purpose for Meow Wear and other cat clothing.

We'll hopefully be bringing you much more catwear in the future, as I find it and get it added to the site. But for now, rejoice that the entire Meow Wear line can be found in our Catwear section. Shop and enjoy!