How to Make a Cat Costume for a Toddler

You can make a cat costume for a toddler that costs mere pennies and takes hardly any time at all. The costume does not have to be head to foot unless you think your toddler can walk that way. Remember that toddlers need something light and easy to walk with while out trick-or-treating.

Things You'll Need

• Black cotton jumpsuit (or a black hooded sweatshirt)
• Material for ears and tails
• Cardboard for ears
• Eyeliner pencil
• Old material or cotton batting

Instructions

1. Visit a local thrift store. Look for a black toddler jumpsuit with a hood or a black hooded sweatshirt. Sometimes it is easier to use just a sweatshirt for toddlers. It is also easier for them to move around and walk. Bathroom breaks are easier as well.

2. Pick out some black or white material to cut into small triangles for the ears. Cut out four triangles. Cut two pieces of cardboard that are a bit smaller than the material. Sew the two sides of each ear. Place the cardboard inside and hand-stitch the bottom of the triangles to the hood on the sweatshirt or jumpsuit hood.

3. Cut material for the tail. This should be long, but not too long that the toddler will trip on it. Use the height of the child as a guide for the length of the tail. Cut one piece of material about 2 inches wide. Stitch the side closed and then turn the material inside out so the seam is on the inside.

4. Stuff the tail with old material or cotton batting. Make sure there is enough batting or material to make the tail stiff. Sew the opening of the tail to the very bottom of the sweatshirt or by the waist of the jumpsuit.

5. Use the eyeliner pencil to apply three whiskers on each side of the toddler's face. If you want to do something with the eyes, use a gray or black eye shadow and smear it around the eyes. Then put some black eye shadow on the tip of the nose.

Tips & Warnings

• The sweatshirt with a hood works well if the weather is a bit chilly.

• Never use magic marker to make the whiskers or the black nose tip.