DIY Cat Costume
A cat costume is as nimble as the feline itself: an all-black outfit, a pair of ears, and the whiskers you draw on your face.
The ears are the one thing worth buying. A faux-fur pair sits better and lasts longer than folded felt, and a set runs about eight dollars. The nose and whiskers are just eyeliner you probably already own.
What you need
An all-black outfit and cat ears.
- Effort: Easy
- Cost: ~$8
- Time: 10 min
The one thing to buy
Amazon Our pick
OLYPHAN Cat Ears and Tail Costume · $7.99
Faux-fur ears and a clip-on tail in one bag for about eight dollars — the cheapest full set with a real track record, 785 ratings and counting.
The ears sit on a covered band and the tail clips on. Want paw gloves and a collar too? The four-piece below adds them for a few dollars more.
See it at Amazon →Also checked
How to put it together
- Start with all black. A black top and black bottoms, or a single black dress — whatever all-black you already own. A cat doesn't need a particular outfit, just one solid color head to toe.
- Add the ears and tail. A faux-fur ears headband is what turns black clothes into a cat. The set here includes a plush tail too, which fills out the back.
- Draw the nose. Color the tip of your nose solid black with eyeliner or face paint, then draw a short line straight down to your top lip. That one mark does most of the work.
- Add whiskers and liner. Three thin lines on each cheek for whiskers, a few small dots above them, and a flick of black liner out from each eye. Keep the lines light and even — smudged whiskers drift toward raccoon.
- Warm the cheeks. A little pink or rosy blush on the apples of the cheeks softens the face so the black doesn't look harsh. Optional, but it pulls the whole look together.
Make it your own
- For a kid
- Same formula, sized down. The ears-and-tail kit fits ages three and up, and you can skip the eyeliner for a couple of face-paint whiskers and a dot on the nose.
- For a group
- Cats travel in a pack easily. Everyone in black with ears, then vary the makeup — a soft pink kitten nose on one, a sharp black-cat liner on another — so it looks chosen, not accidental.
- To level it up
- A black tutu, a bell collar, or paw-print gloves push it past closet-cat. A dramatic winged liner turns the same base into a sleek, grown-up cat.
Best if you own black clothes and want a costume that's mostly a few lines drawn on your face.
More animal costume ideas
Prices checked July 18, 2026. Stores set their own prices and may change them — the “See it at” links go to the live listing.