Cats do not have to be shown how to have a good time, for they are unfailingly ingenious in that respect.
~James Mason
When Vinny, a chocolate European Burmese, moved in with me, I had no idea that he loved wearing clothes. It all started when Vinny was training to become a registered therapy cat with Love on a Leash. I thought the nursing-home residents we visited might enjoy seeing him wearing some cute things. So, a bandanna here and a bowtie there led to Halloween and Christmas outfits — and Vinny was all for it. He even wore his Halloween pumpkin costume, including the stem hat, for our entire one-hour visit! I think he enjoyed the extra attention and reactions from the residents.
I know not everyone approves of clothing on pets. Let me say immediately that I do not in any way force this on him. Also, he only wears apparel under close supervision.
Vinny enjoys dressing up at home, too. He purrs when modeling, and he seems to know when to pose for the camera. He’s even been known to photo bomb when I try to take pictures of my other cats! Vinny loves being the center of attention.
One Halloween, I entered Vinny in our local Petco’s costume contest. I found an Egyptian crown and necklace for cats, and a friend made him a kilt and neckpiece. Vinny liked his Egyptian Pharaoh costume. The only problem was that he kept tripping over the kilt! At Petco, he was directly up against the dogs in the costume contest… and he won first place. I was so proud! The next year he placed third, as a peacock. The year after that he was back in first place again, as Zorro.
Vinny now seems to have developed his own opinions on what is “cool.” Petco recently had a big clearance sale on apparel. Vinny was thrilled when I brought home seven new outfits and he happily modeled them. However, the Star Wars Yoda hoodie was not really his style (or maybe green is not his color!). He definitely liked Darth Vader, studded skulls, and faux leather better. Despite the purring, my little boy apparently likes looking “bad.” I don’t tell him, but I find most of his things in the dog section. Vinny is a big boy, 11–12 pounds, and usually wears a dog’s size medium.
Recently, Vinny decided to help me with my fashion sense, too. I had a beanie-style winter hat. Vinny apparently decided that the pom-poms looked dorky, so he chewed one off. Immediately, I cut off the other pom-pom. It’s definitely been fun and interesting living with a male feline fashionista!
~Leanne Froebel
