15 Photos Showing That People Have Always Loved Making Their Pets Look Ridiculous

The internet may have given us endless photos of dogs in sweaters and cats wearing tiny hats, but humans definitely did not need social media to come up with that idea. Almost as soon as cameras became accessible, somebody apparently looked at their perfectly respectable pet and thought it would look better dressed like a tiny person. Old photographs show cats in armor, formalwear, ridiculous hats, and outfits they absolutely did not choose for themselves. A century later, we are still doing exactly the same thing, only now the costumes arrive with next-day shipping and the resulting humiliation can reach millions of people. Here are 15 photos showing that people have always loved making their pets look ridiculous.

Brünnhilde Was Ready for Battle

In 1936, somebody dressed a cat named Brünnhilde in a miniature suit of armor complete with a winged helmet. Ninety years later, the concept has somehow only gotten funnier.

Sherlock Buns Is on the Case

A rabbit in a tiny detective costume somehow manages to look both deeply offended and completely prepared to solve a crime nobody asked about.

This Cat Had Somewhere Important to Be

A photograph dating to around 1906 proves people were already putting cats into elaborate little human outfits long before anyone could post the results for likes.

The Newfoundland Became a Cow

One giant Newfoundland was dressed as a cow, which works almost suspiciously well once you see how much dog there is to work with.

Somebody Actually Made the Cat Wear a Dunce Cap

One vintage portrait features a cat sitting patiently in a pointed dunce cap, giving future generations photographic proof that humans have always had exactly this sense of humor.

This Guinea Pig Became a Bumblebee

A guinea pig in a fuzzy bee costume looks less like an insect and more like a very determined cleaning tool with tiny wings.

The Sombrero Is Smaller Than the Cat’s Patience

Someone realized a tiny sombrero happened to be perfectly cat-sized. Naturally, the next step was putting it directly on the cat.

He Has the Hat and the Boots

This tiny senior dog was photographed wearing a tiny hat with little boots, creating an outfit that makes him look ready for an extremely important miniature expedition.

Someone Knitted the Cat Formalwear

A handmade top hat turned one extremely patient cat into what looks like the mayor of a very small and slightly suspicious town.

Meowdy, Partner

A cowboy costume gave this cat a tiny hat and an entirely unnecessary new career in law enforcement. The expression suggests the sheriff may already regret taking the job.

Count Catula Is Waiting

This Bengal spent Halloween dressed as a tiny vampire, complete with a dramatic costume that somehow makes sitting around the house look considerably more sinister.

Being a Black Cat Was Apparently Not Halloween Enough

Owning a naturally spooky black cat was not sufficient, so one person added bat wings for Halloween and completed a transformation nobody had actually requested.

This Dinosaur Looks Suspiciously Like a Dog

One dog was put into a dinosaur costume, creating the rare prehistoric creature that probably still expects treats for sitting nicely through the photo.

Her Name Was Princess, So This Was Inevitable

One cat called Princess was given the full royal treatment for Halloween, proving that sometimes a pet’s name leaves its owners with absolutely no choice.

This Dog Has Fully Committed to the Hat

There is no elaborate costume here, just a dog wearing a surprisingly convincing human-style hat and looking like this was somehow always part of the plan.