Do cats like wearing clothes? Most don't, and most don't need to: a healthy cat with a normal coat already has the best sweater it will ever own. The exceptions are real, though. Hairless breeds like the Sphynx, thin or senior cats in a chilly home and cats shaved on a vet's advice can be more comfortable with a layer on. Here's how to tell which kind of cat you have, and how to do it kindly if a sweater makes sense.
Do cats like wearing clothes?
Most cats don't. A registered veterinary nurse quoted by Cats Protection, a UK cat welfare charity says that for most cats, having clothing or accessories put on them "will be a stressful and uncomfortable experience." Clothes can restrict how a cat moves and grooms, and grooming is one of the ways cats cool themselves down.
Vets make a similar point. In PetMD's article on whether cats need sweaters, a vet who runs a cat clinic explains that cats have their own coats, and a sweater could interfere with their normal ability to regulate body temperature.
Some cats tolerate a sweater well, especially ones who feel the cold. If your cat just seems bored indoors, though, try play before an outfit, starting with our guide to toys for bored indoor cats.
Is it cruel to put clothes on a cat?
Not automatically, but it tips into unkind when a cat is unhappy and the outfit stays on anyway. A sweater on a cold Sphynx who curls up and naps in it is reasonable care. Keeping a costume on a stiff, flat-eared cat for one more photo isn't.
Cats Protection advises against dressing cats up for fun. Its exceptions are a medical vest your vet recommends and, after asking your vet, a sweater for a hairless breed in cold weather. For festive photos, it suggests a themed toy in the shot or adding the outfit with a photo app.
When does a sweater help a cat?
A sweater helps when a cat struggles to stay warm on its own, which usually means one of these cats:
- Hairless breeds such as the Sphynx, especially in a cool house.
- Thin or senior cats. PetMD's guide to cold weather notes that some cats will tolerate a sweater in chilly weather, "especially older or thin cats who feel cold even at room temperatures comfortable to humans."
- Cats with a large shaved patch. The PetMD vet sends some older cats home in sweaters after a grooming shave, and the article notes sweaters may be recommended for cats shaved for surgery. Follow your own vet's lead, and don't cover an incision without their OK.
Do Sphynx cats need sweaters?
Many are more comfortable in one when the house is cool, but sources differ, and so do Sphynx cats. In PetMD's guide to keeping hairless cats warm, the founder of a purebred cat rescue sums it up: "if the temperature is uncomfortable for you, it's worse for Sphynx cats." PetMD's sweater article is more cautious: it says hairless breeds do chill more easily but probably don't need a sweater unless they're in a particularly cold outdoor environment.
Personality matters too. That same rescue founder has one elderly Sphynx who "turns into a lion" if you try to dress him, and another who doesn't mind. For the lions, PetMD suggests a covered bed, blankets in favorite spots and a warmer, draft-free room. If yours does wear clothes, wash them often: Sphynx cats get dirty quickly, and grubby clothes can irritate their skin.
Signs your cat is stressed in clothes
Take the item off at the first sign of stress, even if you see just one. These are the signs Cats Protection and PetMD's experts describe:
- Ears flat, pupils wide or whiskers pointing forward
- Freezing in place or going floppy
- A hunched, low body posture
- Trying to wriggle out, run away or hide
- Clawing at the clothing, biting, hissing or licking their lips
The floppy one catches people out. A cat who goes limp or stops moving can look relaxed, but Cats Protection explains that's what some cats do when they can't escape. The PetMD vet adds that a cat who keeps backing out of a sweater shouldn't be wearing it, and a cat behavior consultant in the same article warns a stressed cat might start having accidents around the house.
Plenty of cats are no-sweater cats, and that's a fine answer.
How to introduce a sweater to your cat
Go slowly and keep it short. PetMD's experts suggest a brief first try-on, adding time only while your cat stays relaxed.
- Let them sniff it first. Leave the sweater near their favorite nap spot for a day or two.
- Head first, then front legs. Slip it over the head, ease the front paws through, then pause and see how your cat takes it.
- Keep it brief. A minute or two, a treat, then off again before your cat asks. Add time over the next few days if they stay calm.
- Play while they wear it. PetMD's behavior expert suggests a wand toy, like a feather on a string, to help your cat move confidently in it.
- Never force it. If it takes wrestling, today isn't the day. Stop, and try again later or not at all.
- Stay in the room. PetMD says never leave a cat unsupervised in a sweater. Cats are escape artists, and a half-off or snagged sweater can get them into trouble.
How should a cat sweater fit?
Snug but not tight, sized by chest. Measure around the widest part of your cat's chest, just behind the front legs. The PetMD vet advises staying on the fitted side: too loose and your cat slips out, too snug and they'll want it off.
Here's the chart for our Cotton Candy Kitten Sweater, a pull-on fuzzy knit with a stretchy ribbed collar and no buttons or zippers.
| Size | Chest | Back length | Cat weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| XS | 12.6 in | 7.9 in | 1.1 to 4.4 lb |
| S | 14.6 in | 9.8 in | 4.4 to 6.6 lb |
| M | 16.5 in | 11.8 in | 6.6 to 11 lb |
| L | 18.5 in | 13.8 in | 11 to 15.4 lb |
Most adult cats wear M or L. Between sizes, choose the larger one; measurements can vary by about an inch. It's a thicker plush knit made for fall and winter, so save it for a cool room and take it off once your cat warms up.
Once it's on, your cat should walk, sit and lie down the way they always do. If not, take it off and recheck the size, or the whole idea.
Can cats wear hats?
Some cats will wear a light hat for a quick photo, and many won't. Treat a hat as a prop for a few minutes, never as an outfit, and only for a cat who stays relaxed. If your cat objects, take the hint: Cats Protection would rather you skipped dress-up altogether.
If your cat is a willing model, keep it short and safe:
- Camera first, hat second. Set up the shot before the hat goes on.
- Two fingers under the ties. Our Berry & Ribbit Crochet Hat Duo (a strawberry and a frog bucket hat, one size for cats about 6 to 15 lb) ties under the chin. Keep the ties loose enough to slip two fingers underneath.
- Measure the head for pull-ons. The Lil' Ribbit Crochet Frog Beanie has no ties: size S fits heads 9.8 to 11.8 in around, and M fits 11.8 to 13.8 in.
- A few minutes, supervised. Stay close, watch for the stress signs above and take the hat off right after the photo.
Hats are for the photo only. If your cat seems cold, a warm bed will do more good.
How cold is too cold for cats?
For a healthy adult cat, a normally heated home is usually fine. According to PetMD, most cats start to feel uncomfortable below about 45°F, and indoor temperatures below about 45 to 50°F can bother many cats, especially kittens, seniors, thin cats and hairless breeds. Cats with significant weight loss or arthritis may be uncomfortable from 50 to 60°F.
PetMD lists shivering, lethargy, eating less, curling into a tight ball and feeling cold to the touch as signs a cat is too cold. If those don't ease once your cat is somewhere warm, call your vet.
Cats are good at finding heat: PetMD mentions heat vents, warm laps and sunny windows. Help by setting up a few warm, draft-free nap spots, like a plush cat bed in a sunny corner or a blanket on their favorite chair. That's why a warm bed is often the better gift. Your cat can climb in when it's chilly and out when it isn't, no wrestling required.
Cat clothes FAQ
Can my cat wear a sweater overnight?
No. PetMD says never leave a cat unsupervised in a sweater, and that includes while you sleep. Offer a warm bed or blanket instead.
What fabric is best for a cat sweater?
Something soft that won't scratch. PetMD's guide for hairless cats suggests soft fabrics like fleece and cotton, washed often.
Should my cat wear a sweater after surgery?
Only if your vet says so. Cats Protection says a medical vest should only go on when your vet advises it, and your vet will tell you how long it should stay on.
Warm spots your cat can choose for itself
