Best Cat Clothing and Accessories for Holiday Dress-Up

BaxterBoo carries several brands that sell festive holiday collar attachments, including Worthy Dog, FuzzYard, and Huxley & Kent. While many of the offerings from these brands can work for your pet, there are at least five that fit the bill of being simple and festive.

Cats are loving and cuddly pets, but they have their moods. A cat lets its owner know when it wants attention or affection; anyone who owns a cat knows this to be true.

Some cat owners love the idea of dressing their pets up in festive holiday costumes and accessories. While there is nothing inherently wrong with dressing up your favorite kitty, you must be careful about how you go about it.

Cats can become stressed or anxious rather easily, so it is important to take things slowly, allowing your pet to get used to accessories and clothing slowly. Some cats won’t be as open to dressing up as others, so consider your cat’s demeanor before attempting fun costumes.

How To Get Your Cat Interested in Accessories and Apparel

If you search online, you can find plenty of pictures and videos of cats dressed in lavish costumes. What you don’t see in those pictures and videos is the amount of effort that went into training the cats to accept the costumes. You also don’t see that a cat is likely only in the costume for minutes, just long enough to snap the shot or take the video.

How do you get your cat to wear a costume long enough to make one of those cute videos? You must have patience and be willing to invest time. Like most animals, cats can learn tricks and behaviors with repetition and routine practice. While it may not seem like it, wearing a costume is a trick.

To teach your cat to wear a costume and be OK with it takes practice and time. You want to start by getting them used to the costume. Put it out near their cat bed. Put some treats on it. You can also sprinkle a little catnip on it. Your first goal is to introduce the costume without stress or fear. The treats help your cat make positive associations with the costume.

Once your cat gets used to the costume in its space, you can try putting it on. Don’t put the costume on for long. Initially, give it a shot for 30 seconds or a minute. Allow your cat to develop its resilience incrementally from there.

Finally, you want to get the sizing right for your cat. You don’t want to buy a costume that is too loose or too tight. When shopping, it is best to look for simple costumes or accessories with adjustable sizing.

Best Easy-To-Wear Accessories for the Holidays

If your cat is not used to wearing costumes, you want to start with simple items, preferably accessories rather than full-scale costumes. It is much easier for your cat to get used to a collar attachment than a full-body piece or harness-style costume.

1. Worthy Dog Holiday Bow Tie

The Worthy Dog Holiday Dog and Cat Bow Tie Collar Attachment is a festive bow tie design with a pattern of repeating peppermints. Made from a durable fabric, the bow tie has a simple touch fastener, making it easy to attach to your cat’s collar.

Because the accessory only attaches to the collar, your cat may not object to wearing it as much as a full costume. Still, give your pet time to get used to the bow tie before the holiday gatherings or photos.

2. Worthy Dog Holiday Flower Accessory

Similar to the bow tie, the Worthy Dog Holiday Dog and Cat Flower Collar Attachment has an easy collar fastener. The design is a flower pinwheel, reminiscent of a poinsettia flower. The pattern is of a repeated tree outline. Each tree has either a black and green, black and red, or black and white plaid design.

The collar flower and bow tie are each affordable pet accessories, starting at under $10. Also, each item has several patterns or colors to choose from.

3. Worthy Dog Bandana

The Worthy Dog Holiday Dog and Cat Bandana is a perfect accessory for your festive cat. The bandana comes in two sizes, but the small is likely perfect for your cat. Created with a durable and washable cotton fabric, the bandana is a simple design; there are no fasteners to worry about. You tie the bandana on to fit your pet.

The pattern is of Christmas lights on a light green background. That said, you can choose from a few different options, including black or red plaids.

A bandana might be easier to get your cat used to because it doesn’t add any bulk to its collar. The bandana is less cumbersome and possibly more comfortable for your feline companion.

4. FuzzYard Bow Tie Collar Attachment

The FuzzYard Holiday Bow Tie Collar Attachment for Dog and Cat is a fun holiday accessory that speaks to the season and your favorite furry friend's food thievery. The green bow tie has a repeated pattern of a Santa face, a candy cane, and a pizza Christmas tree.

5. Huxley & Kent Pet Ruff

Allow your cat to be the life of the party with the Huxley & Kent Holiday Pet Ruff. The elastic, fabric-covered band ensures this festive costume piece sits securely and comfortably around your cat’s neck. It is a beautiful Hanukkah blue with evenly spaced silver bells. Because of the bells, you may need to take extra time getting your cat used to the accessory.

Dressing your cat up for the holiday is fun. Still, always know your pet’s demeanor, and don’t stress them out.