In recent years, the practice of owners giving their pets clothes has turned from a cute novelty into something that is a common thread among some pet owners. No longer is The Cat in the Hat something comical; it’s reality. Need proof? On any social media, one is almost guaranteed to see pets wearing Halloween costumes, dressed for a day at the beach, sporting NFL gear, or just lounging in casual wear. But, why do pet owners enjoy putting clothes on their pets?
In the past, things such as collars, saddles, and horseshoes all served functional purposes for the animals. In the case of collars, it’s only natural that they became more unique as time went on, so they can fulfill the purpose of differentiating their animals from others–sometimes with a color, or other times with a name written on them. The need to protect animals is what initially drove the creation of these things, but in recent years, it has become more so about personality.
There are myriad factors that contribute to the fascination of giving pets something stylish and adorable to wear: one of the main ones being how people perceive their pets. As time has gone on, pets have become a part of the family. Often referred to as “fur babies,” owners see their pets as just another member of the family, rather than just a domesticated animal.
Sophomore student Matthew Wixson can understand this phenomenon to a degree. “I have never had them wear anything,” he says about dogs Cosmo and Maverick. “But, we’ve always treated them like just another member of the family.” Due to this rise of embracing pets as family, they are gifted with clothing and accessories for every seasonal celebration or special personal occasion.
Social media feeds this fascination: the more one watches, the stronger the algorithm becomes to provide additional videos or photos. Before one knows it, down the rabbit hole one goes, even joining a community dedicated to fur baby fashion.
While those who dress their pets in clothes daily may experience parental satisfaction in having done so, one wonders how the pets themselves feel about it all. From the look on the dog’s face whose owner created a football helmet out of a watermelon for him, not all consider it good sporting fun.
