DIY Halloween Costumes for Dogs and Cats

Spooky Season for Pets: Creative DIY Costumes & Natural Treat Guide

Halloween can be fun for everyone—including your pet! This year, why not let your cat or dog join in on dressing up by DIYing a costume? Whether you want to save money, personalize their outfit, or come up with a cute pet and pet parent look, homemade costumes offer even more possibilities than those in the store can’t match. No matter your motivation for making outfits yourself, we have easy pet Halloween costume ideas, so you’ll be all set to celebrate spooky season. Plus, we also included a treat guide at the end to reward your pet for their good behavior during and after all the October festivities.

Haunting Better Together: 3 DIY Costume Ideas for You and Your Pet

From coordinating looks for you and your cat to couples costumes with dog ideas, check out our suggestions for homemade outfits for you and your pet to try, if only because Halloween costumes for pets and owners are pawsome. 

1)  Wanted: You and Your Pet as a Sheriff and a Bandit!

If you’re already rocking some western wear in your wardrobe, dressing up as a sheriff and a bandit is an easy DIY duo costume idea! Boots, hats, bandanas, and denim are all you need to create a cohesive look for you and your pet. The best part? You likely won’t have to buy much (if anything) since you probably have most of these items already on hand!What you’ll need for your look: A cowboy hat, jeans, a denim or flannel shirt, cowboy boots, and a big belt if you have one. What you’ll need for your pet’s look: A bandana and a hand-drawn paper sheriff’s badge. Bonus if you can pick up a small cowboy hat at your local dollar store to complete the outfit.

2)  3, 2, 1…Liftoff as a Space Explorer and UFO Duo

Do you have a metallic outfit or even just a shiny silver jacket? Then, you’re halfway to pulling off the ultimate DIY space explorer costume. Top it off by crafting your pet an alien hat made from shiny wrapping paper or soft neon green felt, turning them into an adorable extraterrestrial companion. Sure, this option requires a little handcrafting, but the results will be out of this world.

What you’ll need for your look: Start by putting on any shiny clothing you own, preferably silver. Then, add cargo pants or black bottoms if you’ve got them. To finish the look, add snowboarding goggles or futuristic-looking sunglasses, like Pitvipers.

What you’ll need for your pet’s look: Stop by your local craft store and grab some soft silver felt or shiny wrapping paper. Then, form it into a party hat-shaped cone that can comfortably fit your pet’s head, leaving room for their ears. Next, pipe cleaners or straws should be added to the hat to create a set of antennas. Finally, add a chin strap made of ribbon or string to keep your creation in place. If they don’t enjoy wearing your DIY on their head, try attaching the hat to their harness, along with some glow sticks. Remember to always supervise your pet while they’re in costume to ensure their safety and comfort at all times, so you’re both having a fun time.

3)  Fang-tastic for Two: Transform into a Vampire and Bat

Put on a dark cape or black outfit, and your vampire costume is almost done! As for your pet, just DIY some bat wings for them to wear, and you’ll be all set to take on your next Halloween event. With just a simple craft on your part, this pet and human couples option can come together on the fly (pun intended).

What you’ll need for your look: First, wear all-black as your base. Try layering different textures like knits, leathers, and mesh to create a more interesting monochromatic look. Next, add a cape, fangs, and fake blood if you can to really level up your outfit.

What you’ll need for your pet’s look: Begin by cutting the bat wings from black fabric or felt. If you want a more sturdy wing, consider cardboard or foam instead. Then, attach the wings directly to your pet’s harness or leash with safety pins or clips.

3 Cat DIY Costume Ideas for Halloween

Whether you’re dressing a playful or an older cat, we’ve got ideas for DIY cat Halloween costumes that are simple for you to make and comfortable for them to wear.

1) Feline Flower

What you’ll need for your cat’s look: A flower is easy and adorable to DIY! Start by grabbing some felt or colored paper and cutting out petal shapes. Next, the petals to a simple collar or harness, and you’re done. This costume is lightweight and comfortable for your cat, allowing them to move freely. Plus, it calls for color, which will surely make your feline stand out without calling for them to do much.

2) Meow-gical Witch

What you’ll need for your cat’s look: A costume fitting for a witch’s best friend! Create the cone for your cat witch’s hat by cutting a semi-circle out of felt and hot glue the sides together. Then, add an elastic or ribbon to your hat long enough to fit under your cat’s chin. Secure the string by either gluing or sewing the ends to the inside of the cone. Lastly, make the hat’s brim by cutting out a circle that measures a few inches larger than the base of your cone and hot glue the cone to the circle.

3) Purr-fect Angel

What you’ll need for your cat’s look: A costume that matches your cat’s saintly behavior—for the most part. Start by cutting the angel wings out of white felt, foam or cardboard, depending on how study you want them to be. Add even more to the outfit by gluing feathers to entire wings or just the edges. Then, much like our batwing suggestion, attach the angel wings directly to your pet’s harness or leash with safety pins or clips.

3 Dog DIY Costume Ideas for Halloween

From adorable dog costumes that will have everyone aww-ing to funny dog costumes that will have everyone laughing, we’ve compiled 3 DIY dog costume ideas that can work for any dog size. No matter if you’re looking for a Halloween costume for small dogs or Halloween costume for large dogs, get ready to get crafting.

1) Super Pup to the Rescue

What you’ll need for your dog’s look: An easy costume idea to the rescue! Create the basic shape of the cape by cutting a semi-circle out of felt. Then, cut out a smaller semi-circle from the straight side to make space for your dog’s neck. Next, make a closure for the cape by attaching a set of Velcro dots to the ends of the small semi-circle. If you don’t want to use Velcro, you can also try attaching a piece of ribbon that can be tied together to each side of the semi-circle. You can level up the look even more by making a logo out of felt and hot-gluing it onto the back of the cape. Or, you can put a shirt on your dog and add the logo on that instead. Additionally, you could have your pup sport sweatbands on their paws, as if they have super cuffs.

Once they’re all suited up, double-check your pup is comfortable. If you can sense they’re feeling anxious or uneasy with their costume, take it off. What matters most is that you’re both enjoying your time together; your shared well-being is worth more than taking pictures.

2) Ballerina Bow-Wow

What you’ll need for your dog’s look: A costume that’s on point, no matter the size of the dog you’re dressing. To make the tutu, pick up an elastic band (to fit around your dog’s waist), tulle, and ribbon from your local craft store. After that, cut a piece of elastic to the size of your dog’s waist and secure it to form a circle with hot glue or by sewing. Next, cut the strips of tulle to your desired length. Then, take a piece of tool and make a slip knot with it around the elastic circle, going around the entire thing end to end, repeating the process if you want more volume. For even more flair, add bows made out of ribbon around your dog’s leash and collar.

3) Bark Shark

What you’ll need for your dog’s look: A DIY costume that’s perfect for a puppy shark who’s chomping at the bit or any dog who loves the water. To make the fin, grab a piece of foam or cardboard, a piece of elastic to attach the fin to your dog, and Velcro strips. Once you have your supplies, cut out two identical fin shapes with a little square at the bottom. Then, hot glue your two fin pieces together to create one sturdy fin. Make sure not to glue the square at the button, since this will fold out to form a base for your fin. Next, cut a piece of elastic to the size of your dog’s waist. Finally, fold out the little squares at the bottom of the fin, so they form a flat, rectangular base for your fin. Then, either hot glue or tie each end of the elastic to one of the squares you just folded out, so they form a loop around your pet. To make it more convenient to put on and take off the fin, you can also cut the elastic one more time and use Velcro to create a closure.

Healthy Halloween: Wellness’ Natural* Treat Guide

Halloween can be a tricky time for pet owners with plenty of processed treats being passed out. But don’t worry—there’s a way to let your pets in on the fun without compromising their health. Our treat guide has got you covered with options you can walk with so your dog or cat sticks with eating good ingredients this spooky season.

Wellness^® WHIMZEES Dog and Wellness^® WHIMZEES Cat
Treat them well with delicious treats with dental benefits. Support their oral health with Wellness^® WHIMZEES^® Dog and WHIMZEES^® Cat. Give your pet a natural way to help clean teeth, freshen breath, and reduce plaque and tartar – all while they chew! Plus, WHIMZEES^® Dog has a Falls Shapes edition if you really want to embrace the spirit of the season.

Wellness^® Soft Puppy Bites and Crunchy Puppy Bites
No matter which texture your pup prefers, Wellness has Puppy Bite Treats they’ll love. Formulated for puppies under 1 year, but great for dogs of all ages, both Wellness^® Puppy Bites Soft Natural Dog Treats and Wellness^® Puppy Bites Crunchy Natural Dog Treats offer a wholesome, all natural, tasty, grain free benefits that will keep your growing dog going.

Wellness^® Bowl Boosters for Dogs
Make Wellness’ Bowl Boosters your go-to for keeping your dog full of good ingredients for longer, so they can have the energy they need for Halloween events. Each recipe is carefully crafted with ingredients like freeze-dried chicken, fruits, veggies, and wholesome grains, boosting the nutrition and taste of your dog’s meal. Try adding any of the following recipes to their feeding routine: Wellness^® Bowl Boosters Functional Topper for digestive health, Wellness^® Bowl Boosters Bare Beef, Wellness^® Bowl Boosters Simply Shreds VP, Wellness^® Bowl Boosters Hearty Toppers, and Wellness^® Bowl Boosters Tender Toppers.

By opting for healthy, wholesome treats, you’re not only rewarding your pet for their good behavior but also ensuring they feel great throughout October. Whether you’re handing out treats during trick-or-treating or just sharing a quiet moment at home, these healthy options will keep your pet satisfied and safe, this Halloween and beyond.

_{*with added vitamins, minerals and trace nutrients}