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16 DIY Hats for Cats: Patterns & Plans You Can Make Today (With Pictures)

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By Nicole Cosgrove

black and white cat wearing irish hat

Dog clothes have been a thing for a long time, but cats aren’t always so willing to don a sweater. That doesn’t mean you have to miss out on all the fun! Hats for cats are a great way to make a costume, celebrate a holiday, or just elevate your cat’s look.

Some of these hats need special skills, like crocheting or knitting, but there are plenty of hats on this list that can be made by crafting beginners. No matter how your hat is made, it’s a good idea to supervise your cat while the hat is in use and remove it if your cat shows distress. After all, we want our cats to be just as happy as they are fabulous. Check out our list of DIY hats for cats!

You can find the following types of hats below:

The 16 Best DIY Cat Hat Plans

Paper Hats

1. Paper Top Hat for Cats- Youtube

Materials: Paper, glue, hair clip
Skill level: Beginner
Other tools needed: Scissors, ruler

This easy top hat tutorial is a perfect way to make your cat a little dressier. Made from colored paper and attached with a hair clip, this cat hat is super customizable. Your cat will look so dapper in his little top hat!


2. Fancy Marching Band Cat Hat- Modern Cat

Fancy Marching Band Cat Hat- Modern Cat
Image Credit: Modern Cat
Materials: Paper, glue,
Skill level: Beginner
Other tools needed: Scissors, ruler

This paper marching band hat is the brainchild of Adam Ellis, who wrote a whole book about putting hats on cats. With a simple, easy-to-make design and ideas for unique embellishment, this hat is sure to make your cat feel like a star.


3. Paper Birthday Party Hat- Youtube

Materials: Paper, glue, pom-pom, string
Skill level: Beginner
Other tools needed: Scissors, ruler

This simple paper party hat tutorial comes with a printable template to make getting the right shape easy! The result is a cone-shaped party hat with a pom-pom for a topper. You can make this hat with any kind of paper, making it easy to get lots of different options.hepper-cat-paw-divider

Fabric and Felt Hats

4. No-Sew Felt Wizard Hat- Youtube

Materials: Felt, glue, sequins
Skill level: Beginner
Other tools needed: Scissors, ruler

If you want a little extra magic in your life, consider making your cat a mystical wizard hat. This video tutorial shows how to make a simple cone-shaped hat out of felt. Star-shaped sequins add glimmer and sparkle. Your cat will look absolutely enchanting!


5. No-Sew Pom-pom Hat- Cut out and keep 

No-Sew Pom-pom Hat- Cut out and keep 
Image Credit: Cut out and keep
Materials: Fabric, yarn
Skill level: Intermediate
Other tools needed: Scissors, ruler

This fabric cat hat is so simple, but the end result is just adorable. A fluffy yarn pom-pom and a cute bow chin strap elevate the look to give your cat some extra snuggle factor.


6. Visored Cat Cap- Youtube

Materials: Fabric, thread, elastic, clear scrap plastic
Skill level: Intermediate
Other tools needed: Needle, scissors, sewing machine (optional)

If you’re up for a challenge, why not sew a pet cap? This tutorial shows you how to make a cute, visored cap from scraps of fabric. If you are already a pro at sewing, you probably have tons of scraps lying about your house. You might even be able to match your cat’s hat to your own favorite self-made outfit!


7. Royal Cat Crown- Youtube

Materials: Fabric, thread, sequins, batting or stuffing, fabric glue
Skill level: Intermediate
Other tools needed: Needle, scissors, sewing machine (optional)

Another sewing project, this regal cat crown is the perfect offering to a cat who thinks the world is his kingdom. The tutorial uses plush red velvet, felt, and white fur to make a fancy crown, but you can substitute in whatever fabric you like.


8. Egyptian Cat Headdress- Youtube

Materials: Felt, thread, fabric glue, sequins
Skill level: Intermediate
Other tools needed: Needle, scissors, sewing machine (optional)

The Egyptians used to worship cats, and cats have never forgotten it. If you have a little pharaoh, this Egyptian cat headdress might be just the thing. Constructed with felt fabric and a combination of glue and sewing, this is a great beginner sewing project that will have a big impact!

hepper-cat-paw-dividerKnitty Kitty Hats

9. Cute Knit Lion Mane Hat- Ravelry

Cute Knit Lion Mane Hat- Ravelry
Image Credit: Ravelry
Materials: Yarn
Skill level: Intermediate
Other tools needed: Knitting needles, scissors

This lion’s mane knitting pattern is an adorable way to keep your cat warm and wild. With a fabulous cascade of yarn, you can make it in a coordinating color to your cat’s fur to bring a little bit of jungle into your home.


10. Toasty Ears for Angry Cats Knit Pattern- Ravelry

Toasty Ears for Angry Cats Knit Pattern- Ravelry
Image Credit: Ravelry
Materials: Yarn
Skill level: Intermediate
Other tools needed: Knitting needles, scissors

The toasty ears cat hat pattern is a quick knit hat with bulky yarn. This design covers your cat’s ears completely, making it warm, toasty, and snuggly. With a simple striped design worked into it, this pattern makes a beautiful winter cat hat.


11. French Beret Cat Hat- Ravelry

French Beret Cat Hat- Ravelry
Image Credit: Ravelry
Materials: Yarn
Skill level: Intermediate
Other tools needed: Knitting needles, scissors

Ooh la la! This knit beret pattern is perfectly sized for your cat’s head. With an easy knit pattern that can be worked up in any color, this beret is sure to add a bit of European flavor to your cat’s life.

hepper-cat-paw-dividerCrochet Hats for Cats

12. Super Warm Cat Beanie- Shooting Star Crafts

Super Warm Cat Beanie- Shooting Star Crafts
Image Credit: Shooting Star Crafts
Materials: Yarn
Skill level: Beginner
Other tools needed: Crochet hook, scissors

For a cozy winter look, this warm crocheted beanie is perfect. With a soft pom-pom top, some wee little ear-holes, and a chunky ribbed brim, this hat will keep your cat safe from snow and wind—or at least look really hygge when you put it on them!


13. Giddyup Cowboy Hat- Ravelry

Giddyup Cowboy Hat- Ravelry
Image Credit: Ravelry
Materials: Yarn
Skill level: Beginner
Other tools needed: Crochet hook, scissors

Does your cat dream of life on the wild frontier? This cute crochet cowboy hat will bring that dream a little closer. This tiny hat will work up in only an hour or two, making it an easy afternoon project.


14. Crochet Kitty Bonnet- Ravelry

Crochet Kitty Bonnet- Ravelry
Image Credit: Ravelry
Materials: Yarn
Skill level: Beginner
Other tools needed: Crochet hook, scissors

A ruffly kitty bonnet is the perfect cold-weather accessory for cats that are a bit cutesy. Whether your cat looks fabulous in frills or just acts like a grandma already, this bonnet pattern is sure to bring a smile to your face.


15. Crochet Elf Hat Pattern- Okie girl blingn things

Crochet Elf Hat Pattern- Okie girl blingn things
Image Credit: Okie girl blingn things
Materials: Yarn
Skill level: Beginner
Other tools needed: Crochet hook, scissors

A crochet elf hat might be the most festive cat hat ever. The long pointy hat with stripes of red and white looks almost like a candy cane! This easy pattern is great for bringing some Christmas cheer, and with some color changes it could also make a cute Santa hat.

hepper-cat-paw-divider

Other Types of Cat Hats

16. Sparkle Pipe Cleaner Cat Crown- Youtube

Materials: Pipe cleaners
Skill level: Beginner
Other tools needed: None

This pipe cleaner crown is a perfect cat hat for all skill levels. The video tutorial shows how to twist the pipe cleaners into a simple but elegant crown shape. If you wanted to get fancy with it, you could even embellish the pipe cleaners with beads before twisting.

hepper-cat-paw-divider

Final Thoughts

We hope this list has inspired you to create a cat hat for your furry friend. All these ideas are fun and not too time-consuming. Who knows? You might get motivated to make your cat a different hat for each day of the week!


Featured Image Credit: Caterina Trimarchi, Shutterstock

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