{{Short description|Suit made to resemble a feline}} {{About|the type of animal costume|the form-fitting garment|Catsuit}} [[File:Puss in Boots, 2011, Australia-2.jpg|thumb|A costume of the character Puss in Boots being used to promote the film of the same name.]] '''Cat suits''' are a type of costumed character or creature suit resembling a cat, or any member of the ''Felidae''. They are one of the most popular choices of mascot, and both stylized and realistic cat suits are commonly used in film and on stage, due to the frequent cultural depictions of cats. They are also used for advertising, entertainment and educational purposes.
== In theatre == An elaborate costume of the Cowardly Lion was created for the 1902 musical theatre version of ''The Wizard of Oz'', where it was played by Arthur Hill, a popular animal impersonator.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Oz Before the Rainbow: L. Frank Baum's 'The wonderful Wizard of Oz' on stage and screen to 1939|last=Evan Swartz|first=Mark|date=2002|publisher=Johns Hopkins University Press|isbn=0801870925|location=Baltimore, Md.|pages=79|oclc=50614902}}</ref>
In the musical ''The Wiz,'' an African-American retelling of the classic children's novel and musical ''The Wonderful Wizard of Oz,'' costume designer Tony Walton created a cat suit for the Cowardly Lion<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://museumofuncutfunk.com/2011/05/20/tony-walton-and-the-wiz/|title=Tony Walton and The Wiz {{!}} The Museum Of UnCut Funk|website=museumofuncutfunk.com|access-date=2019-08-31}}</ref> played by actor Ted Ross.
When creating the costumes for the musical ''Cats,'' designer John Napier followed the hints in T. S. Eliot's text, blending together the cat and human elements, while ensuring that the costumes were naturally flexible and easy to move in.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.catsthemusical.com/about-the-show/the-junkyard/|title=The Junkyard • Cats the Musical • Official Website|website=Cats the Musical • Official Website|language=en-US|access-date=2019-08-31|archive-date=2019-05-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190520123716/https://www.catsthemusical.com/about-the-show/the-junkyard/|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 2015, Napier was quoted as saying "A bit of a titter went around the theatre community that we were doing a show about pussycats, but I was determined to make it as rough as possible and not like a Puss in Boots pantomime".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thestage.co.uk/features/john-napier-im-a-concept-and-barbed-wire-designer|title=John Napier: 'I'm a concept and barbed-wire designer' {{!}} Interviews|last=Shenton|first=Mark|date=2015-11-20|website=The Stage|language=en-US|access-date=2019-08-31}}</ref> In a review of a production of ''Cats'' in Los Angeles, UCLA's student newspaper, the ''Daily Bruin'', described the show's cat costumes as "frighteningly realistic".<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://dailybruin.com/2019/02/28/theater-review-webbers-cats-displays-visual-excellence-mired-in-plot-confusion/|title=Theater review: Webber's 'Cats' displays visual excellence mired in plot confusion|website=dailybruin.com|language=en|access-date=2019-08-31}}</ref>
== In film == The character of Aslan was portrayed with a realistic two-person puppet suit for the BBC production of ''The Chronicles of Narnia'', where it was worn by Ailsa Berk and William Todd-Jones, and voiced by Ronald Pickup.
== In sports == Cat suits are widely used as the mascots of sports teams in schools. {{as of|2016}}, the second most popular animal used as high school sports mascot, after the eagle, was the tiger, which is picked because it symbolizes strength.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.insidermonkey.com/blog/20-most-popular-high-school-mascots-438421/18/|title=20 Most Popular High School Mascots|work=Insider Monkey|access-date=2018-02-11|language=en-US}}</ref> Panthera and wildcats were also fourth and fifth, respectively, symbolizing speed and fierceness, respectively.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.insidermonkey.com/blog/20-most-popular-high-school-mascots-438421/16/|title=20 Most Popular High School Mascots|work=Insider Monkey|access-date=2018-02-11|language=en-US}}</ref>
Other well-known cat mascot suits in sports include the Nittany Lion, which was inducted to the Mascot Hall of Fame.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.mcall.com/sports/college/psu/mc-spt-penn-state-football-nittany-lion-mascot-20171109-story.html|title=Penn State mascots reunite! The Nittany Lion is in the Mascot Hall of Fame|last=Wogenrich|first=Mark|work=themorningcall.com|access-date=2018-02-11|language=en-US}}</ref>
They are also used in professional sports, such as the mascot DJ Kitty, which serves as a secondary mascot for the Tampa Bay Rays.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mlb-big-league-stew/dj-kitty-debut-rays-reveal-cat-mascot-145548241.html|title=DJ Kitty's debut: The Rays reveal new cat mascot|access-date=2018-02-11|language=en-US}}</ref>
Additionally, cats are commonly used as Olympic mascots. One of the mascots of the 2014 Winter Olympics was a leopard, and one of the two mascots of the 2018 Winter Olympics is Soohorang, a white tiger that is represented by a "cute" mascot suit.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bustle.com/p/what-is-the-winter-olympics-mascot-soohorang-is-about-to-become-international-sensation-7798798|title=Everything You Need To Know About The Winter Olympics Mascot|last=Tognotti|first=Chris|work=Bustle|access-date=2018-02-11|language=en}}</ref>
== In advertising == The character Tony the Tiger often makes promotional appearances as a mascot, and an animatronic suit of the character was created in 2016 by Jim Henson's Creature Shop.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.adweek.com/brand-marketing/heres-whats-made-tony-tiger-cereals-coolest-cat-so-many-years-174646/|title=Here's What's Made Tony the Tiger Cereal's Coolest Cat for So Many Years|access-date=2018-02-11|language=en-US}}</ref> They are also made by the Olympus Group and serve the purpose of having people relate to the brand.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.southbendtribune.com/news/business/maker-of-mascot-costumes-has-customers-covered/article_1b406975-8475-5f2f-beea-afac3de3b9aa.html|title=Maker of mascot costumes has customers covered|last=Sentinel|first=Rick Romell Milwaukee Journal|work=South Bend Tribune|access-date=2018-02-11|language=en}}</ref>
Costumes of the feline characters Puss in Boots and Kitty Softpaws were commissioned by DreamWorks Animation to promote the film Puss in Boots and appeared at its premiere alongside the characters' voice actors.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.assignmentx.com/2011/exclusive-photos-from-the-puss-in-boots-los-angeles-premiere/|title=Exclusive Photos from the PUSS IN BOOTS Los Angeles Premiere|work=Assignment X|access-date=2018-02-11|language=en-us}}</ref>
== In education == Suits of the character The Cat in the Hat are sold to schools and communities by the National Education Association to help teach children literacy, by relating it to the books of Dr. Seuss.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Schools Or Markets?: Commercialism, Privatization, and School-business Partnerships|last=Boyles|first=Deron R.|publisher=Routledge|year=2004|isbn=1135606927|pages=76}}</ref>
== In popular culture == The character Hello Kitty is often represented by mascot costumes, although she only bears the appearance of a cat and is not described as one by Sanrio.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2014/08/28/world/asia/hello-kitty-revelation/index.html|title=Cat-astrophic revelation purr-turbs Hello Kitty fans|first=Hilary |last=Whiteman|work=CNN|access-date=2018-02-11|language=en-US}}</ref>
One of the main characters of the video game ''428: Shibuya Scramble'' is an unknown woman named Tama who wears a cat suit to promote a store.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://chun.sega.jp/428/chara/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081217023007/http://chun.sega.jp/428/chara/|url-status=dead|archive-date=2008-12-17|title=セガ・チュンソフトプロジェクト {{!}} 428 ～封鎖された渋谷で～|date=2008-12-17|access-date=2018-02-11}}</ref>
Big cats are one of the most popular designs for fursuits, personal costumes created by the furry fandom.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/fashion/2016/feb/04/furry-fandom-subculture-animal-costumes|title=It's not about sex, it's about identity: why furries are unique among fan cultures|last=Wall|first=Kim|date=2016-02-04|website=the Guardian|language=en|access-date=2018-02-11}}</ref>
== References == {{Reflist}}
Category:Cats in popular culture Category:Creature suits