DIY Cat & Mouse Costume: 15-Min Felt Build

DIY cat & mouse costume built from headbands, black craft felt, and gray craft felt

AI-generated concept photo

Pictured: the cat and the mouse, mid-chase.

Time15 minEffortEasy

⏱️ We timed it, but results may vary.

Plan this costume →No signup · 2 minutes.

Cat ears versus mouse ears, and you spend the whole night chasing each other. Fifteen minutes, easy: headbands, black felt, and gray felt. The mouse ears are small and round, the cat ears are tall triangles. The contrast is the joke.

2 of 6 things covered, counting basics we assume you have.

Tap a supply to tick what you own.

Still need:

Headband (any color)Felt (multi-color stash)Black face paint

Update my pantry

Tip: glue a pink felt triangle inside each ear.

Materials

2 headbands (buy: dollar store)
1 sheet black craft felt, 9x12 inches (buy: craft store, construction paper works too)
1 sheet gray craft felt, 9x12 inches (buy: craft store, construction paper works too)
Black eyeliner pencil or non-toxic face paint, 1 (buy: toy store)
Scissors, 1 pair
Tape, 1 roll
Pink felt, 1 small triangle (optional, for inner ears; buy: craft store)

Steps

Cut one paper ear first: triangles for the cat, rounds for the mouse.
Check both ears against the headbands.
Cut two triangle ears from the black felt.
Cut two round ears from the gray felt, about 3 inches across.
Safety: Keep the eyeliner clear of the eyes.
Put on the headbands.
Draw whiskers on both faces with the eyeliner pencil.
Optional pro finish: glue a pink felt triangle inside each ear.

Start this costume in the planner

Common questions

How do you tell the cat and mouse apart at a glance?

Cat gets triangle ears plus drawn whiskers; mouse gets round ears plus a pink nose dot. Different ear shape plus one face detail each, never rely on color alone.

Eyeliner or face paint for whiskers?

Eyeliner pencil for teens and adults (precise), non-toxic face paint for kids (gentler). Either way keep it clear of the actual eyes.