Are you looking for a cool set of headsets that your kids would simply love wearing? If yes, I can’t think of any better option than cat ear (or kitty) headphones. These are just like the regular ones but with cute cat ears at the top. But with the market being flooded with choices, you may wonder about what the best cat ear headphones are for music lovers.
So, I’ve got the answer.
In this article, get detailed reviews of the best cat ear headphones from the top brands you can rely on. Also, don’t forget to read about how this phenomenon started.
Table Of Contents
- 1 What Is the Best Brand for Cat Ear Headphones?
- 2 What to Consider When Looking for Cat Ear Headphones?
- 3 5 Best Cat Ear Headphones – Summary
- 4 5 Best Cat Ear Headphones – Detailed Reviews
- 5 1. Best Overall Cat Ear Headphones
- 6 2. Best Cat Ear Headphones With Mic
- 7 3. Best Wireless Cat Ear Headphones That Light Up
- 8 4. Best Gaming Cat Ear Headphones
- 9 5. Best Cat Ear Headphones for Kids
- 10 Best Cat Ear Headphones: FAQs
- 11 Conclusion
Key Takeaways
- Razer, Riwbox, YOWU, and ONITOON are the best brands for headphones with cat ears.
- These headsets are equally popular among adults and kids alike.
- While shopping for a pair, pay attention to the design, comfort levels, connectivity, sound quality, etc.
What Is the Best Brand for Cat Ear Headphones?
As is the case with regular headsets, there’s no dearth of brands when talking about cat ear headphones. Here’s a quick summary of the five leading manufacturers, based on their average pricing, sound quality, design, comfort, ANC, etc.
| Brand | Price (Avg.) | Sound Quality | Design & Comfort | Active Noise Cancelation | Battery Life (Avg.) |
| Riwbox | $$ | Exceptional | Sleek & stylish | No | Up to 12 hours |
| ONITOON | $$ | Exceptional | Premium build | No | Up to 55 hours |
| Razer | $$$ | Decent | Lightweight | No | NA |
| YOWU | $$$ | Balanced | Comfortable & durable | Yes | Up to 15 hours |
| SIMGAL | $$ | Decent | Stylish & diverse | Yes | Up to 12 hours |
How Did the ‘Cat Ear Headphones’ Phenomenon Start?
The phenomenon of ‘cat ear headphones’ started from a Japanese concept called Nekomimi. It’s a fictional character with cat ears on top of a human head, and possibly other feline characteristics, such as a tail.
Taking inspiration from this, an anime artist named Wenqing Yan, along with Victoria Hu, began designing cat ear headphones. You probably have also heard that Ariana Grande has collaborated with Brookstone on a pair of limited-edition Axent Wear headphones, based on Wenqing Yan’s original design. And today, cat ear headphones are equally popular among kids and adults.
What to Consider When Looking for Cat Ear Headphones?
Below is a quick checklist of some important features to consider when looking for cat ear headphones.
Design & Comfort
The first and foremost thing you must check is the headphone’s design. Check if its headband is adjustable or not. This is necessary if other family members also intend to use it.
In addition, earcups must be padded to provide enough cushioning to your ears for extra comfort.
Cat Ears
Next up, inspect the cat ears for their material, integration into the headphone, and whether they have LED lights. Generally, soft and fluffy cat ears with built-in lighting are favorites among kids (and adults, too.)
Audio Quality
Regarding the audio quality of the cat ear headphones, look for factors like clarity, accuracy, noise cancellation, surround sound, etc. Usually, there is a speaker to take care of most of these things.
Microphone
Whether for hands-free calling, talking to your friends in-game, or binging movies, a good-quality mic is necessary. Luckily, most cat ear headphones nowadays come with an integrated mic. All you need to test is its clarity.
Connectivity
Like regular headphones, those with cat ears are also wired and wireless. Which one is suitable for you depends on your preferences and requirements.
For example, wired headphones are the best bet for gaming as they can easily plug into your console, and wireless for every other purpose. In the latter, check the Bluetooth version, which should be at least v5.0.
Other Features
Other features include different LED modes, ANC, Music Sync, volume limits (especially for kids), etc.
Related: Best Headphone Stands – 5 Options from Budget to High-end
5 Best Cat Ear Headphones – Summary
- Best Overall Cat Ear Headphones – Riwbox CT-7 Cat Ear Bluetooth Headphones
- Best Cat Ear Headphones With Mic – ONITOON Cat Ear Bluetooth Headphones
- Best Cat Ear Headphones That Light Up – EASARS Wireless Cat Ear Headphones
- Best Gaming Cat Ear Headphones – Razer Kraken Kitty RGB USB Gaming Headset
- Best Cat Ear Headphones for Kids – SIMGAL Bluetooth Cat Ear Headphones
5 Best Cat Ear Headphones – Detailed Reviews
Now, let’s have a look at the 5 best cat ear headphones’ features, pros, and cons in more detail, so you can make an informed decision before making your purchase.
1. Best Overall Cat Ear Headphones
Riwbox CT-7 Cat Ear Bluetooth Headphones
Specifications
- Connectivity: Bluetooth, v5.0
- Form Factor: Over-ear
- LED Lights: Yes
- Weight: 7.4 ounces
The Riwbox CT-7 Cat Ear Bluetooth Headphone is an all-time favorite option among kids and the best mix of premium-quality sound, attractive RGB lights, and bright colors.
This dual-color cat ear headphone comes with a powerful 40mm speaker built-in to give your kids an immersive listening experience in all types of settings — for example, home, office, flight, school, etc. For the bass, I found it well-balanced. It’s neither too low nor too high.
The overall build quality is good, if not the best, due to the overuse of plastic. Still, sufficient padding throughout the body balances things well. Twin cat ears at the top are soft-touch and firmly attached.
Coming to connectivity, CT-7 is equipped with the Bluetooth v5.0 chipset for stable and reliable connections with all compatible devices (smartphone, PC, TV, laptop, etc.) If not wireless, the option for a wired setup is also present. But there’s no multipoint!
CT-7, unlike its peers, features a unique combination of RGB lights that not just blinks but changes color with the rhythm of the music your kids are listening to. Turning these lights ON/OFF is also simple. Press the ‘M’ button for a few seconds, and it’s done.
Lastly, the on-headphone controls are impressive, with separate buttons to play the next song, previous song, and volume control. Thus, no need to depend on the connected device to control those!
Pros
- Attractive LED lights
- Balanced sound quality
- Wired & wireless connectivity
- Music-responsive lighting
Cons
- Plastic-based body
- Battery drains faster
Check the Riwbox CT-7 Cat Ear Bluetooth Headphones’ latest price on Amazon.
2. Best Cat Ear Headphones With Mic
ONITOON Cat Ear Bluetooth Headphones
Specifications
- Connectivity: Bluetooth, v5.0
- Form Factor: Over-ear
- LED Lights: Yes
- Weight: 8.6 ounces
The next product on the list is the ONITOON Cat Ear Bluetooth Headphones – my go-to recommendation for rich bass and lifelike audio.
What I like the most about these headsets is their preset volume limits to protect the user’s hearing. While it’s 105 dB for adult headphones, it reduces to 85 dB in the case of kids’. But this doesn’t affect the sound quality, which the 40mm stereo speakers take care of.
For connectivity, you can either connect to other devices wirelessly via Bluetooth v5.0 or the supplied 3.5mm audio cable if the earphone runs out of juice. But I found the cable quality average, and thus, recommend buying one separately.
There’s also a built-in microphone for hands-free calling, audio recording, gaming, etc. I found its performance quite good!
The design and comfort of these ONITOON cat ear Bluetooth headphones are also one of their talking points. Be it the adjustable headband or earcups, both are crafted from soft leather and memory foam. Besides, the foldable design makes the headphones easy to take anywhere, and that too safely.
Tip: You can further protect your headphones by securing them in a storage bag, like this Desing Wish Lightweight Headphone Storage Bag.
Regarding the battery life, this particular model from ONITOON has a massive charge backup of up to 55 hours, but you must keep the flashy RGB lights OFF. If turned on, it reduces to 8-10 hours. Still, one charge is enough for a week!
Lastly, the various controls on both earcups let you change the volume, play/pause previous/next music, and turn RGB ON/OFF.
Pros
- Preset volume limits
- Premium build quality
- Adjustable design
- Decent sound quality due to 40mm speakers
Cons
- No ANC
- The quality of controls is average
Check the ONITOON Cat Ear Bluetooth Headphones’ latest price on Amazon.
3. Best Wireless Cat Ear Headphones That Light Up
EASARS Wireless Cat Ear Headphones
Specifications
- Connectivity: Bluetooth, v5.0
- Form Factor: Over-ear
- LED Lights: Yes
- Weight: 1.46 pounds
If you’re looking for the most vibrant cat earphones, the EASARS Wireless Cat Ear Headphones are your best bet.
Designed for general use and light gaming, the headset comprises long-lasting RGB LED lights on cat ears and ear pads. Their brightness is also nearly perfect.
Not just that, there are nine different lighting effects to switch to and amp up your gaming setup for late-night streaming. Still, the fact that these lights don’t work in a wired connection is something I didn’t like. Hence, you must stick to the wireless mode!
The EASARS wireless cat ear headphones also score a brownie point for their virtual 7.1 surround sound quality that the 50mm speaker enhances further. Besides, the retractable microphone can be adjusted at will. So, no external mic is needed!
Talking about the battery, it’s the standard 50 hours without lights, and up to 10-12 hours with them. But the fast-charging feature makes me rank this headphone higher than its peers.
Made from high-grade soft silicone material, this headband feels super soft on your hairline. Thus, you won’t face any discomfort, irrespective of how long you wear them. But sweating issues and poor isolation are two cons I would highlight with this headset’s silicone-based earcups.
Pros
- Multiple lighting effects
- Fast charging capabilities
- Built-in retractable microphone
- Voice reminder for low charge
Cons
- RGB lights don’t work in the wired mode
- Not for intense gaming
Check the EASARS Wireless Cat Ear Headphones’ latest price on Amazon.
4. Best Gaming Cat Ear Headphones
Razer Kraken Kitty RGB USB Gaming Headset
Specifications
- Connectivity: USB
- Form Factor: Over-ear
- LED Lights: Yes
- Weight: 14.4 ounces
Razer is a renowned brand in the gaming industry, and the Razer Kraken Kitty RGB USB Gaming Headset is worth checking out.
The main talking point of this pair of headphones is its stream-responsive lighting on the kitty ears. A one-of-a-kind feature in itself powered by Razer Chroma, what it does is respond to your audience’s emotes, alerts, and shoutouts through vibrant colors. You can even customize them through Razer’s official Streamer Companion app.
Next, there’s not just your regular microphone, but an active noise-canceling one tuned to block out every ambient noise. It’s retractable, too. You’ll miss wireless Bluetooth connectivity here, but the alternative USB mode doesn’t disappoint.
Regarding the audio quality, I loved these headphones’ Spatial 7.1 surround sound. It accurately positions the audio, resulting in an immersive listening experience across any form of entertainment, from intense games to epic movies.
Razer Kraken Kitty headphones are also worth the money for their superior durability and lightweight bauxite aluminum frame design that snugly fits over your head. In addition, the cooling-gel ear cushions keep you feeling great even after a long gaming session.
Pros
- Great at noise cancellation
- Customizable lighting effects
- The mute option is present on the mic itself
- Sleek and stylish
Cons
- No Bluetooth
- Audio often cuts in and out
Check the Razer Kraken Kitty RGB USB Gaming Headset’s latest price on Amazon.
5. Best Cat Ear Headphones for Kids
SIMGAL Bluetooth Cat Ear Headphones
Specifications
- Connectivity: Bluetooth, v5.0
- Form Factor: Over-ear
- LED Lights: Yes
- Weight: 10.2 ounces
Last but not least, check out the SIMGAL Bluetooth Cat Ear Headphones. These over-ear headphones are specifically designed for kids, and, thus, have a well-balanced sound profile, comfort, and easy-to-use features.
Being primarily wireless headphones, it uses Bluetooth v5.0 technology to connect to a wide range of devices, for example, mobile phones, tablets, computers, and more. But if needed, the option to use it as a wired headset also exists.
As I initially said, the SIMGAL Bluetooth cat ear headphones are highly comfortable. Made from high-quality soft leather and memory foam, the headband doesn’t pressure your hairline. Thanks to dual-layer padding, the earcups also feel gentle on the ears.
Coming to the sound, the built-in 40mm speaker ensures a great listening experience with sufficient bass and treble. Since the volume is limited to 85 dB, you don’t need to worry even if your kids keep on the headphones for long.
Despite them being a budget-friendly option, I appreciate SIMGAL for providing an HD microphone with a wind-proof and noise-reducing cavity design for hands-free calling, recording, voice chatting, etc.
Pros
- Foldable & adjustable
- Decent noise isolation
- Travel-friendly
- Multi-button easy operation
Cons
- Don’t have a long charge
- The lights aren’t bright enough
Check the SIMGAL Bluetooth Cat Ear Headphones for Kids’ latest price on Amazon.
Related: 5 Best Noise-Canceling Headphones for Sleeping in 2023
Best Cat Ear Headphones: FAQs
Q: Are Cat Ear Headphones Good for Gaming?
A: Yes, cat ear headphones are good for gaming. If you wish to buy a set, look at the YOWU RGB Cat Ear Headphone 4. This wired gaming headset has an attachable HD mic, ANC, dual-channel stereo, and every gamer’s favorite, customizable lighting.
Q: How Do I Turn Off the Lights On My Cat Ear Headphones?
A: This varies from model to model. Generally, you’ll have a tiny button to long press for a few seconds, and the lights will turn OFF.
Q: How Do I Turn On Lights On Cat Ear Headphones?
A: Look for the LED ON/OFF switch on your cat ear headphones. Press and hold it for some seconds to turn the lights ON.
Q: Who Invented Cat Ear Headphones?
A: Wenqing Yan invented the cat ear headphones. She’s an anime artist who previously worked at an animation company.
Related: 5 Best Headphones With Mic – A Helpful Guide and Reviews
Conclusion
The headphones discussed above combine a unique cat ear design with high-quality sound quality, comfort, durability, and functionality. The result? You get the same immersive listening experience as you would with your regular headsets.
So, what are you waiting for? Buy your favorite cat ear headphones and flaunt them like icons, such as Ariana Grande, Gigi Hadid, and more!
