Hi, I’m Christopher! Read my introduction to learn more about me and my silly Russian Blue cat Olga.

Dressing up cats and dogs is a common practice, and if you’re the lucky owner of a successful cat or dog influencer, it’s quite lucrative. Sometimes it’s more entertaining to look at photos and videos of animals than those involving humans, and I admit that a bulldog dressed up like a 1950s biker is amusing.

However, the animals do not have the free choice whether they want Wearing clothes. Some don’t seem to mind, but most, even those in online advertisements for pet products, look sad and irritable. I don’t think it’s cruel to dress up pets for photos or special occasions, as long as they only wear the clothes for a few minutes.

Pet fashion

Some photos are hilarious, but I don’t like seeing painted horses, turtles, or pets that look miserable. I don’t dress up my cat because I think Olga is attractive enough without clothes, and I don’t want my arms ripped to pieces. Since it took her a while to even let me pick her up, I doubt she’d want a ushanka or a beret on her head.

While I understand the entertainment value of fully clothed cats, I’ve never understood why some people are so fascinated by them. The pet clothing industry is booming, and many pet owners think it’s important for their cats to look fashionable, and that’s exactly what the industry tries to encourage.

Costume problems

Winter jackets and other winter clothing are necessary when walking pets in freezing temperatures and are usually tailored to the animal’s anatomy. Commercial pet costumes, on the other hand, especially for Halloween, are designed for entertainment rather than comfort. Cats look like cartoons in them or like injured, unhappy creatures with ill-fitting clothing.

It may seem OK to tease our cats for a few hours on Halloween, but cats can be scary even without a costume, and they’ve been associated with the holiday since time immemorial. They don’t need a Dracula robe or a Michael Myers mask to look or act like psychopaths. They’re naturally crazy and are more expressive when they’re not burdened by inferior fabrics.

Olga’s natural style

I love watching Olga when she’s full of energy and clowning around, and clothes would only slow her down. In holiday photos, she’s completely natural and doesn’t wear a Santa hat or an ugly sweater. She follows my fashion trends; I’ve been called a fraud for not wearing festive clothes.

Some cat owners want their cats to look like them, and silly clothes help them achieve that, but I never wanted Olga to look like me. I would have to shave her head, spray paint her fur, and give her a fake beard. These inhumane measures would result in a funny-looking cat, but she would not be happy or as pretty as before.

The only appropriate attire for Olga is a blood-stained butcher’s apron, since she’s so good at slicing and dicing. But I wouldn’t force her to wear one, even for fun.