Back to School, But Make It Fun: Cat Shirts Kids Will Actually Want to Wear

September 9, 2026

Back-to-school week has arrived. New backpacks are packed, lunches are being planned, alarms are being set—and somewhere, a kid is already announcing that they have absolutely nothing to wear.

The first week back doesn’t have to be all uniforms, basics and boring outfits. A funny graphic tee is an easy way for kids to show a little personality, start conversations with new classmates and make that first morning back feel slightly less painful.

And if they’re a cat person? Even better.

Here are a few ideas for choosing a funny cat shirt for school from CopyCatTees.

For the kid who would rather still be on summer vacation

Some kids jump out of bed excited for the first day of school. Others need to be physically separated from their pillow.

A ridiculous cat graphic paired with jeans, shorts or a hoodie makes an easy first-week outfit—and accurately communicates their feelings about the return of the alarm clock. A tee like Everything Is Fine Cat Shirt gets the message across without anyone needing to say a word.

Best for: the kid whose summer sleep schedule is about to meet its natural enemy: 7 a.m.

For the class clown

A funny shirt is basically a conversation starter you can wear.

For kids heading into a new classroom or school, something genuinely funny can make those awkward first-day introductions a little easier. Cat memes and ridiculous cat graphics have another advantage: you don’t need to explain them.

Cat doing something absurd. Funny words. Friendship established.

Apocalypse Meow is exactly the kind of funny cat T-shirt that can earn a laugh before the first bell.

For the kid who’s completely obsessed with cats

You know this kid.

Their camera roll is cats. Their bedroom has cats. They stop walking when they see a cat across the street. They know which neighbourhood houses have cats in the windows.

Don’t fight it. A cat graphic T-shirt lets them take a little of their favourite thing to school with them—and there’s a pretty good chance it’ll help them identify the other cat-obsessed kids in the class.

Consider it networking.

For the future rock star

Back-to-school clothes don’t necessarily have to look like “kids’ clothes.” Music-inspired and retro cat designs are a fun option for older kids and teens who want something with a little more personality than a standard graphic tee.

Pair a design like Vinyl Cat with loose jeans, sneakers and an overshirt and suddenly you’ve got a first-day outfit that looks like they actually planned it.

Even if Mom planned it. We won’t tell.

For the kid who wants something nobody else has

One of the best things about graphic shirts is finding the weird one. Not the shirt everyone else at school has. The one with the cat.

Whether they’re into sports, music, retro designs, ridiculous humour or just cats being cats, picking a shirt that actually matches their personality makes getting dressed for school a lot more fun.

Let them pick their first-day shirt

Here’s our actual back-to-school advice: let them choose.

Give them a few options and let your kid pick the shirt they want to wear on the first day. It seems small, but choosing an outfit that feels like them can add a little confidence on a morning filled with new teachers, new classmates and new routines.

And if that confidence happens to come from wearing an absurd cat on their chest? We fully support it.