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.
