Copycats

Street Fighter V introduced nearly a dozen new characters, and Menat was one of the standouts. The bubbly fortune-teller travels the globe while honing her craft, but she never forgets where she came from. Her Egyptian roots are always apparent, and she gives off serious Cleopatra vibes with her bob hairstyle and gold-lined garments. The girl even wears an flowery usekh and an elegant tiara! Menat finds other ways to explore her cultural identity, too. Cats were viewed as divine symbols in Ancient Egypt, so Menat plays homage to them by making cat-like poses. Her holiday outfit takes this concept to the next level. Menat enshrouds herself with cat ears, a tail, and artificial cat paws. To top it off, she wears an adorable cat bell around her neck. This isn’t her only cat outfit, either. Menat also showcases her inner feline by cosplaying as Felicia from Darkstalkers.

Dead or Alive Xtreme 3 is ostensibly focused on summertime activities, but beneath the surface it’s really just a dress-up game for perverts. Your primary motivation in the game is to obtain slutty outfits for oversexed teenage girls, and it sort of feels like you’re playing with lewd Barbie dolls. There are many outfits that can be worn by the entire cast, but nobody leans more heavily into the cat motif than Marie Rose. Her cat hoodie has been featured in multiple games, and many of her shirts have had cats printed on them. Most of her outfits in Xtreme 3 are named after cat breeds, and her Bombay swimsuit even comes with its own cat bell. The string bikini can be matched with a cat tail and a pair of cat ears, and the ensemble is a purrfect fit for Marie’s tiny body. It’s always a thrill to watch her scamper around like a cat during the game’s closing credits.

As a high school student with a modeling gig, Ann Takamaki has a lot on her plate. Her life becomes even more complicated when she forms the Phantom Thieves of Hearts with her friends. By entering a supernatural realm born from humanity’s subconscious desires, the vigilante group aims to remove corrupting influences from misguided adults. Since the Phantom Thieves operate under the cloak of secrecy, its members all wear disguises. Ann’s skin-tight latex outfit fits in all the right places, and she completes the ensemble with a red panther mask and clip-on tail. (It’s both a catsuit and a cat suit!) The outfit gives off serious Catwoman vibes, but it was apparently inspired by an anime villain that Ann admired. She adopts the codename Panther in an effort to sound more ferocious, and she wears her catsuit to build her confidence.

Lucky Chloe was exposed to Japanese idol culture at a young age, and this inspired her to become an idol herself. Her unbridled enthusiasm (coupled with the power of viral media) made her a pop sensation, while her penchant for acrobatics helped earn her a spot in the King of the Iron Fist tournament. Against all odds, her dance-like techniques allow her to hold her own against the world’s greatest fighters. Chloe clearly understands the power of branding, and she leans heavily into a cat motif. She’s seldom seen without her cat-ear headphones, her skirt has a tail affixed to it, and her jacket has paw-like sleeves that cover her hands. Her fashion choices make little sense in the context of a fighting tournament, but they reflect her over-the-top persona. Everything’s an act as far as she’s concerned, and her colorful façade is just part of the show.

Hat Kid is a precocious young time-traveler who finds herself on an exotic planet. She gets caught up in many ridiculous situations as she explores the strange new world, so it’s fortunate that her distinctive hats grant her all sorts of special abilities. Hat Kid can make new hats by collecting yarn, and she can also customize them to her liking. Under normal circumstances, her brewing hat makes her look like an adorable witch. If she prefers, she can swap it out for a pair of cat ears and a cloth mask. (Naturally, the mask in question has a cat’s nose and mouth printed on it.) The charming costume was first seen in the Nyakuza Metro DLC, and it quickly became one of her most iconic looks. The outfit even served as the inspiration for an official plushie. Gears for Breakfast could have made a mint selling Hat Cat Kid masks during the pandemic.

After waking up in an urban slum with no memory of her past, Kat takes it upon herself protect the city. Her ability to manipulate gravity allows her to complete all sorts of daring rescue missions, and people start regarding her as a superhero. Kat welcomes the attention for the most part, and this might explain her eye-catching outfits. Her wardrobe includes everything from maid outfits to schoolgirl uniforms, but her spy catsuit is one of her more sensible options. A body-hugging outfit is the perfect choice for a superhero, after all, and the cat motif fits perfectly with her chosen name. Every outfit she owns could technically be considered a Kat suit, but only her spy costume can accurately be described as a cat suit. This write-up has now devolved into a bad Abbott and Costello routine, but it couldn’t be avoided.

Taokaka is an energetic girl who is shrouded in mystery. She typically wears a beige hoodie with a cat hood and artificial cat paws. The outfit is most likely redundant, however. No one is entirely sure what’s hiding behind her shadowed visage, but we can make reasonable assumptions based on her association with the Kaka tribe. Other members of her race could be described as feline demi-humans, so Taokaka almost certainly has cat-like qualities herself. (Fittingly, her daily routine mostly consists of sleeping and eating!) This doesn’t disqualify her from this list, though, since there’s no rule that says catgirls can’t wear superfluous cat outfits. Taokaka isn’t especially intelligent, but it’s hard not to to admire her positive mindset. The girl is eternally cheerful and upbeat, and she’s driven by a desire to protect her loved ones.

Some of the outfits on this list are utilitarian in nature, while others are purely cosmetic. Veronica’s cat suit serves no practical purpose, and its only aim is to be cute and funny. Adorable girls in cat costumes will always command my attention, and this is especially true in Veronica’s case since the outfit clashes with her personality. She doesn’t look the part, but the magical prodigy is brash, impulsive, and quick to anger. Although she has array of powerful spells at her disposal, her enemies often underestimate her because of how she looks. Her youthful appearance is the result of a de-aging curse, however, and she hates being treated like a child. The juxtaposition between her harmless appearance and her abrasive attitude is one of her defining traits, and the contrast is even more pronounced when she dresses up like an adorable tabby cat.

No one on this list puts more effort into acting like a cat than Cham Cham. Her attire includes cat ears and a tail, and she wears four oversized paws. She also walks on all fours, sits on her haunches, and meows like a cat. The Samurai Shodown series is known for imposing fighters with deadly swords, so a young girl like Cham Cham really stands out. She arms herself with a giant boomerang and a pet monkey, but her artificial claws are usually enough to keep her foes at bay. Cham Cham is defined by her youthful exuberance and adventurous spirit, and her upbringing in a remote Mayan jungle gave her unmistakable animalistic qualities. She may not be a real feline, but she’s the cat’s meow as far as I’m concerned. Anyone who walks like a cat, talks like a cat, and thinks like a cat deserves a lofty position on this countdown.

Most of the outfits on this list are purely cosmetic, but the Cat Suits from Super Mario 3D World have the power to transform anyone who wears them. Power suits have been part of the Mario series for several decades, and many of these suits draw inspiration from animals. In various games, Mario and his friends can obtain Frog Suits, Bee Suits, and Penguin Suits (among others), but the Cat Suit is arguably the most endearing power-up in the entire series. The suit allows individuals to pounce on enemies or smash through bricks with their claws. It also lets them climb walls, platforms, and flagpoles with the greatest of ease. Mario and his friends look adorable when they’re running around on all fours, and the Cat Suit is all-but guaranteed to be a mainstay in the series for years to come.