How to Measure a Cat for Clothes

Take three numbers with a soft tape measure: the neck where a collar sits, the chest at its widest point just behind the front legs, and the back from the base of the neck to the base of the tail. If the garment has legs, add a fourth number — the leg length from the chest down to the paw.

Which measurement decides the size?

The chest. Almost every fit problem on a cat comes back to this number rather than the fabric. A pullover has to slide over the head and then sit still, and a garment that is loose at the chest rotates as the cat walks, bunches under one armpit, and is worked off within the hour. Measure at the widest point, just behind the front legs, and treat that number as the size rather than the back length.

On a Sphynx this matters more than the breed's outline suggests. Sphynx cats carry a deep chest on a relatively short back, so a size that fits the chest correctly can still look long on the cat — which is normal, and better than sizing down to make the length look right.

How do I measure a cat for clothes?

• Neck — where a collar would sit, snug but not tight.
• Chest — the widest point, just behind the front legs.
• Back — from the base of the neck to the base of the tail.
• Leg length — only for four-leg pieces: from the chest down to the paw.

Measure the cat standing, not curled into a sleeping ball, and write the numbers down. You will want them for the next order, and for the sibling pieces in the same size.

How do I measure a cat that will not sit still?

Work in short bursts, take each number two or three times, and use the largest of them. A fabric tape is easier than a rigid one, and measuring along a table edge or a wall keeps the line straight. If your cat is sociable, a second pair of hands holding a treat at nose height usually buys the ten seconds you need.

If the cat is squirming, stop. A number taken from a twisting cat is worse than no number at all, because it sends you to the wrong size with confidence. Finish the job tomorrow rather than teaching your cat that the tape measure is something to avoid.

What if my cat measures between two sizes?

It depends on the fabric rather than on the cat:

• In fleece, size up. Fleece does not stretch, and a fleece a fraction tight will restrict the shoulder.
• In a thin ribbed knit, take the smaller size. Ribbing holds its tension and stretches to fit.
• After surgery, size up rather than down. Swelling around an operation site can add slightly to the chest measurement for a day or two.
• For a tailored piece, check the chest before the day itself. A dress shirt cut closer to the body can pull at the shoulder in a size that fits comfortably in a tee.

How do I check the fit once it is on?

Put it on a calm, standing cat and watch it walk across the room before you decide anything.

• Slide two fingers under each leg opening. If they will not go, the elastic is too tight for a cat wearing this for hours.
• Watch the stride. A stiff, shortened step means the armhole sits in the wrong place for this cat's build.
• Run a finger around the inside of the neck and armholes for loose yarn or long floats a claw could catch.
• Take the garment off for unsupervised hours.

If the piece stays put while your cat walks and jumps, it fits. If it slides, the chest is the number to change — not the fastening.

Why fit matters more on a hairless cat

A garment only insulates where it touches. A layer that gaps at the chest leaves exposed the one area where a hairless cat loses heat fastest, and a layer that is too tight stops the cat walking normally, which is the moment most cats decide they hate clothes.

Cats run warmer than people: a cat's normal body temperature is around 100.4–102.5°F, which is why they seek out warm spots and why hairless breeds feel the cold sooner than coated ones (PetMD). A Sphynx wears a thin, downy coat rather than fur, and gets chilly in cold, drafty rooms (PetMD breed profile). Cold tolerance also depends on age, health and body condition, so the size that suits a fit two-year-old may not suit a thin senior in winter (International Cat Care).

The risk that gets forgotten is heat, not cold. A Sphynx in a fleece layer in a heated living room has no way to cool down except by panting or lying stretched out. If your cat is restless or trying to wriggle out of a warm layer indoors, the layer is the problem and it should come off.

What should I do with the numbers?

Keep them. These are the same measurements every garment shape on this site is built around: sweaters sized on the chest, and winter clothes where the chest and the leg numbers both matter.

Two pieces to start with, if you want a reference point: the Classic Knit sweater for indoor days, and the Hooded Fleece Pajama jumpsuit when the legs need covering.

If you are still deciding whether your cat needs clothing at all, start with do sphynx cats need clothes, then come back with the tape measure. For how the different fabrics behave once they are on, what actually fits is the companion piece.

For more on general cat health and cold-weather care, the Cornell Feline Health Center is a good next stop.