I’m sure you’ve seen photos of cute little kitties in hats, or tutus, or even hand-knitted mushroom costumes. We think these pictures are so cute that we post them on every social media site we’re connected with. We laugh, smile, and share photos and videos with our friends and family, too. We even call our coworkers over to our cubicles to sneak a peek at the latest beret-wearing cat pictures and videos. Although, unless our boss is an animal lover, we hope he doesn’t show up at our desks to see what all of the laughing is about. For all we know, our bosses are likely in their offices laughing at the same beret-wearing kitty pictures and videos.
Now, maybe I’m exaggerating a little. This may only occur at the Catster offices. But I don’t know for sure.
I know that some people enjoy dressing their cats in all kinds of wonderful gear. You see them styling around with custom outfits with tops, hats, and even boots on their paws. I even saw one family dress everyone, including the cat, in Halloween costumes. They were bright and very colorful. It looked like something from a blending of It’s The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown and Halloween (the movie). It was a happy story for some and very upsetting for others. The mom was so proud of what she’d created, while the cat tried every maneuver possible to shed the pumpkin head. Feeling totally defeated, the cat decided to hide behind the sofa.
For our cats, they’ve always been “naked.” Now, of course, the caveat here is our cats started off completely feral. At this point, most of them would be considered semi-feral. Half of them will allow me to pet them and the other half will only sit within a few feet of me. However, there is no way they’d allow me to put a collar or any other wearable item on them.
Now, I know I will get raked over the proverbial coals for what I’m about to say, but I just don’t get it! I’m just not convinced of the need to dress up our cats and make them wear hats, clothing and boots. I’m definitely not convinced that our cats like putting on the tutus, tiaras, and necklaces that some people make their cats wear.
I could understand dressing your cat in a sweater if it was cold outside and your cat spent a lot of time outdoors. But, even with that, cats usually have a thick layer of fur to keep them warm. They are also smart enough to come inside when it is too cold or to find a warm place to get away from the wind and elements. I know that my own feral and semi-feral cats rarely leave their heated beds or my garage when the weather is cold and snowy. Often, they will choose to snuggle in one bed together in order to keep extra warm and toasty.
Maybe it’s just me, since I’ve never had a cat that would let me dress her up in special outfits. Maybe it would be cool to have a cat that would sit on the couch with me watching a ball game while wearing a matching Cincinnati Reds’ jersey and baseball hat. I could see us chugging some cold milk, waving our banners and screaming at the umps when they miss a call.
Maybe I’m just an old fuddy-duddy who doesn’t see the humor or sweetness in seeing a cat dressed like a famous movie star. Maybe I should just take a line from my favorite Bill Murray movie, Stripes, and “lighten up Francis!” Maybe, maybe, maybe … but, I still don’t get it.
My apologies in advance go out to Luna the Fashion Kitty.
Do your cats like wearing clothes? Do you dress your cats in special kitty outfits? Share your stories and pictures in the comments!
Check out these other Catster articles about cats in clothes:
- 10 Things We Know About Wasabi-chan, the Kitten in the Mushroom Costume
- Don’t Make Me Say It Again: Dressing Up Your Furchild Is NOT Abuse!
- Heather Mattoon Talks to Us About Cats in Clothes
- I Dress Up My Cat All the Time and He Loves It
- Meet Cleo the Cat, Houston’s Total Glamorpuss
Featured Image Credit: RJ22, Shutterstock
