Pete the Cat Costume
Step into the grooviest blue cat's shoes with this easy look!
Pete the Cat is the beloved, optimistic blue feline from the popular children's book series by James Dean. A favorite choice for teachers, librarians, and kids alike, this costume is instantly recognizable by its vibrant primary colors and positive vibes. The signature look features Pete's blue fur, his bright yellow shirt with four mismatched groovy buttons, and his classic red high-top sneakers.
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Time
- ~30 min
- Budget
- $25–60
Try it on
See yourself as Pete the Cat
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What you need for a Pete the Cat costume
Short on time? Buy it ready-made
Spirit Halloween sells the complete Pete the Cat costume — one box instead of 6 pieces.
Yellow button-down shirt
A bright yellow collared shirt, preferably long-sleeved, to represent Pete's favorite shirt.
DIY: Use a plain yellow t-shirt and draw a collar with a black fabric marker.
Four large colorful buttons
Four oversized, mismatched plastic or felt buttons in blue, green, red, and light blue to attach to the shirt front.
DIY: Cut circles out of colorful felt or cardboard and fabric-glue them to the shirt.
Blue pants and long-sleeve shirt
A matching set of royal blue leggings, sweatpants, or a long-sleeve tee to serve as Pete's blue cat fur.
DIY: Use any solid royal blue clothing you already own.
Blue cat ears and tail
A royal blue headband with pointed cat ears and a matching long, flexible blue tail.
DIY: Cut ear shapes out of blue felt, glue them to a headband, and stuff a blue knee-high sock with fiberfill for the tail.
Red high-top sneakers
Bright strawberry-red canvas high-top sneakers with white laces and white soles.
DIY: Cover an old pair of shoes in red felt or paint white canvas shoes with red fabric paint.
Yellow felt for eyes
Bright yellow felt cut into large half-oval shapes with black pupils to attach to a blue hat or headband.
DIY: Draw Pete's iconic sleepy yellow eyes on cardstock and pin them to a blue beanie.
Rather not assemble it? See ready-made Pete the Cat costumes at Spirit Halloween ↗
How to put it together
- 1
Put on the royal blue long-sleeve shirt and matching royal blue pants to establish Pete's blue fur base.
- 2
Layer the bright yellow button-down shirt over the blue long-sleeve shirt, leaving it unbuttoned slightly at the top to show the blue underneath.
- 3
Attach the four large, colorful craft buttons down the front center of the yellow shirt using fabric glue or safety pins.
- 4
Secure the blue cat tail to the back of your pants using a safety pin or by looping it through a belt.
- 5
Lace up your bright red high-top sneakers with clean white laces.
- 6
Place the blue cat ears headband on your head, or wear a blue beanie adorned with Pete's signature yellow felt eyes.
Makeup & hair
Keep it simple by painting a small black triangle on the tip of the nose and drawing three thin black whisker lines on each cheek using a black eyeliner pencil.
Pete the Cat for couples, groups, kids & more
- couples
- Pair Pete the Cat with his friend Callie, or go as Pete alongside a partner dressed as a giant strawberry or a pile of blueberries.
- group
- Gather friends to dress as Pete's animal buddies like Grumpy Toad, Callie, and Gus the Platypus, or have everyone wear different colored shirts with giant buttons.
- kids
- An incredibly popular choice for school dress-up days; use a cozy blue hoodie as the base and glue felt ears directly to the hood.
- Plus size
- Opt for a loose-fitting yellow cardigan or oversized button-down shirt worn over comfortable royal blue loungewear.
- pet
- Dress your cat or small dog in a simple yellow pet tee decorated with felt buttons and a tiny pair of red booties.
More ways people search for this costume
The most-searched variations of “Pete the Cat costume”, and how this look adapts to each.
Costume pete the cat
- Dress your cat or small dog in a simple yellow pet tee decorated with felt buttons and a tiny pair of red booties.
Pete the cat costume diy
- Skip the store: Use a plain yellow t-shirt and draw a collar with a black fabric marker. Cut circles out of colorful felt or cardboard and fabric-glue them to the shirt. Use any solid royal blue clothing you already own.
Tips
- For school events, choose comfortable sneakers you can walk in all day instead of stiff costume boot covers.
- If crafting with kids, use peel-and-stick felt sheets to make the giant buttons and eyes completely mess-free.
- Keep a spare safety pin handy to secure the tail so it doesn't drag or get caught on chairs.
- Carry a copy of 'Pete the Cat and His Four Groovy Buttons' as a fun, interactive prop that explains the costume.
Pete the Cat costume FAQ
- What color are Pete the Cat's shoes?
- Pete's shoes are famously strawberry-red canvas high-tops with white soles and white laces, though in some books he also wears white, blue, or brown shoes.
- How do you make a DIY Pete the Cat hat?
- Take a royal blue baseball cap or beanie, cut large half-oval eyes out of yellow felt with black pupils, and glue them to the front along with two pointed blue felt ears.
- What does Pete the Cat wear on his shirt?
- Pete wears a bright yellow collared shirt with four large, colorful, mismatched round buttons down the front.
Did you know? Pete the Cat was inspired by a real-life black kitten adopted by artist James Dean in 1999, which he decided to paint as blue because blue felt more 'groovy' and artistic.