When cats dress up for Raya
2026-03-22 - 04:20
Every year, Raziellia dresses up her adorable cats in Raya outfits to take festive photos and videos. (Raziellia Nor Saafri pic) KUALA LUMPUR: As Malaysians got ready to celebrate Raya, some pet owners made sure their feline companions were just as prepared – which meant dressing them up. From miniature baju Melayu to colourful baju kurung, festive outfits for cats are a fun trend among pet lovers who see their furry companions as part of the family. The tiny clothes are more than just cute accessories: they add an extra dash of cheer to family gatherings and Raya photo sessions. For Raziellia Nor Saafri, dressing up her cats for Aidilfitri has become a yearly tradition. The 35-year-old was inspired by TikTok videos of other cats that wore festive outfits. “I thought it looked fun and decided to try it with my own pets,” she told Bernama, revealing that she owns a grand total of 58 felines! Raziellia, who affectionately calls the cats her “bosses”, insists each gets its own Raya outfit. “It wouldn’t feel fair if only one cat got to dress up for Raya,” she said with a laugh. Impressively, instead of buying the outfits, Raziellia’s mother sews them at home. It can take her up to five months to complete clothing for all 58 animals. Raziellia explained that buying ready-made clothing for that many pets would be costly, as the prices can match those of human clothing. So, she buys about 30m of cotton fabric at about RM3 per metre and turns it into free-size outfits for the felines. So ‘comel’! Some of Raziellia’s feline companions – out of a total of 58 – looking dapper. (Raziella Nor Saafri pic) Cotton, she noted, is the best material: “It’s stronger and can withstand their claws. Fabrics like satin or chiffon get damaged easily.” Despite their adorable appearance, the cats do not stay dressed for long – the outfits are worn only while photos or videos are taken. “Once the photos are done, we remove the clothes because the cats might feel warm,” Raziellia explained. “I also don’t force them to wear the outfits if any of them seem stressed.” Additionally, Raziellia has begun selling small batches of Raya outfits for cats, priced at about RM10 per set. Another cat owner, Athirah Lope, told Bernama she also enjoys dressing up her feline companion for the festive season. “My cat looked a bit confused at first,” she shared with a laugh, “but the clothing didn’t restrict its movement.” Notably, she said last year’s feline Raya outfit even came with a miniature songkok! Follow Raziellia Nor Saafri on TikTok.