Cat Clothes Size Chart: What Size Does My Cat Need?

Three numbers decide the size of cat clothes: the chest at its widest point just behind the front legs, the back from the base of the neck to the base of the tail, and the neck where a collar would sit. The chest picks the size; the other two confirm it.

What size does my cat need?

Start with the chest. Almost every fit problem comes back to this number rather than to the fabric. A garment that is loose at the chest rotates as the cat walks, bunches under one armpit, and is worked off within the hour; one that is tight at the chest restricts the shoulder and changes the way the cat walks.

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. That is normal, and better than sizing down to make the length look right.

The size chart this shop actually ships

Rather than publish a chart of centimetres we have not measured ourselves, here is the sizing the listings on this site actually use.

Most pieces are sold in letters — XS, S, M, L, XL and XXL. That is the range on the four-leg fleece hoodie, the brushed fleece turtleneck, the cotton recovery suit and the gentleman dress shirt. The heritage fleece turtleneck coat runs wider, with S plus, M plus, L plus, XL, 2XL and 3XL.

Two listings size by weight band instead of by letter:

• Classic knit sweater: XS 0.6-1.5 kg, S 1.5-2.5 kg, M 2.5-4 kg, L 3.5-5 kg, XL 5-7 kg.
• Breton-stripe vest tee: XS 0.6-1.2 kg, S 1.2-2.5 kg, M 2-4 kg, L 3.5-5 kg, XL 5-7.5 kg.

Those bands overlap on purpose. A 4 kg cat sits in both M and L, which is why the chest measurement still decides. Weight alone cannot tell you whether your cat is long-backed or short-backed, or where the chest is deepest.

A handful of listings currently show no size block at all. If you land on one of those, the method below still applies: measure, then check the chest number against the size you are considering.

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 your cat standing rather than curled into a sleeping ball, and write the numbers down — you will want them for the next order too.

The full walkthrough, including how to hold a wriggling cat still long enough to get a reading, is in how to measure a cat for clothes. If you have not yet decided whether your cat needs a garment at all, do sphynx cats need clothes answers that question first.

What if my cat is 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.
• In cotton, size up rather than down — cotton has less give than a knit.
• After surgery, size up. Swelling around an operation site can add slightly to the chest measurement for a day or two, and a recovery suit tight against a fresh incision is the more serious problem.

A tailored piece deserves its own check. The dress shirt is cut closer to the body than the tee, so a size that fits comfortably in the shirt's own range can still pull at the shoulder if it was chosen from the T-shirt.

Do four-leg pieces need a different size?

They add a fourth number. Measure the front and back legs separately, because a surprising number of cats need one size up on the back. If the legs are too short they pull the body of the garment out of position; if the armholes sit in the wrong place for your cat's build, the cat walks with a stiff, shortened step, which is the moment most cats decide they hate clothes.

Why does the same letter size fit differently across collections?

Because the cuts differ. A pullover with no sleeves is the shape a sphynx tolerates best, since nothing crosses the shoulder joint — that is the sweaters and the winter layers. A four-leg jumpsuit or pajama adds coverage along the belly and the inside of the thighs, so the chest and leg numbers both have to be right. The difference between those two shapes is the reason one size can feel generous in a knit and close in a cotton.

Does fit matter beyond the size chart?

It does, and not only for looks. PetMD's guide to sweaters for cats makes the point in both directions: too loose and the cat simply gets out of the garment, too snug and the cat spends its time trying to. Outside, the parts at risk from cold are the ear tips, the tail and the paws, as VCA's guidance on frostbite in cats sets out — which is where a hood or a turtleneck earns its place rather than being decoration. ICatCare's advice on keeping a cat warm in winter is a useful companion for the room-temperature side of the same decision.

Frequently asked questions

Should I measure in centimetres or inches?

Either, as long as you are consistent. What matters is that a number taken at home is compared against the same kind of number. The listings here that quote numbers quote them in kilograms, not centimetres.

Can I choose a size from my cat's weight alone?

Only where the listing itself sizes by weight. Two of the pieces above do; the rest are sold in letters, and letters are matched by the chest measurement.

My cat is a Devon Rex, not a Sphynx. Does this chart apply?

Mostly. A Devon Rex or Cornish Rex with a fuller coat can measure slightly fuller through the chest than a sphynx of the same length, so measure your own cat rather than assuming a size from the breed.