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Hi! I'm Leslie Gray Harmon, owner & creative director of Made By Cleo (and cat mom to Cleo, shown above — the kitty who inspired it all).The idea for Made By Cleo was born back in 2012, after countless trips to big-box pet stores to replace the ratty collars Cleo would lose on his outdoor adventures. As an indoor/outdoor cat, he needed to wear an ID tag so no one would mistake him for a stray — but I was always disappointed by the lack of stylish, tasteful, well-made options for cats. The aisles were full of cool dog gear, yet cat collars felt like an afterthought: flimsy, boring, and cheaply made, with breakaway safety clasps that came undone far too easily.
None of those qualities matched my dear kitty, Cleo at all (and how much he meant to me) — and if a better option had existed, I’d have gladly bought it. Since it didn’t, I decided to make it myself. Combining my sewing skills with my design background, I launched Made By Cleo to offer something different: beautiful, personality-packed collars and accessories that are as special as the pets who wear them.
Made By Cleo was founded with a simple mission: to create stylish, high-quality pet collars and accessories designed specifically for cats and small dogs. We aim to make our customers feel like they’ve stumbled upon an oasis of beautiful, personality-packed options after wandering through a desert of dull, uninspired or tacky mass-produced alternatives. All of our textile products are ethically handmade in the USA, and our ever-growing collection — now over 200 designs strong with customizable options — is crafted to be as accessible and affordable as it is delightful.
Made By Cleo is a woman-owned, women-led independent small business — and every piece we create is handmade with care at our headquarters in Austin, Texas USA. We’re a close-knit team of dedicated makers, artists, and pet lovers who put heart and craftsmanship into everything we do. Using premium materials and meticulous production techniques, we ensure every collar, ID tag, bow tie, bandana & other accessories meets the same high standards we’d want for our own beloved pets. We even try to proof and prevent typos (that our customers accidentally enter for their ID tag engraving instructions) from shipping out, as much as we reasonably can.😅
We believe that how something is made matters just as much as the final product.That’s why our employees are paid a fair, livable wage above industry average, receive paid healthcare, and work in a supportive, creative environment where their skills and contributions are deeply valued. That same philosophy extends to how we care for our customers, too — with exceptional service, careful attention to detail, and fast shipping (even when orders are customized).
If you have a photo or story you’d like to share with us (or just want to say hi), we hope you’ll email, tag us on social media or shoot us a DM. Thanks for stopping by!🐈🧡🐾
The numbers listed below represent the shortest & longest adjustable length range for the neck size options we offer. We strongly recommend measuring your pet's neck before ordering, if this is your first time. Tip: A simple piece of string or ribbon (or equivalent flexible household item) can be used to assess the collar length your pet needs -- then measure the amount of string you used, laid out flat alongside a straight ruler. Often, customers may not realize their pet is smaller (or larger) than average prior to measuring!
If your pet is in-between sizes, select the closest size from the dropdown menu, but be sure to provide your pet's exact neck size measurements in the "Special Instructions" message box (on the Cart page before checkout) so that our seamstresses can make any necessary custom sizing adjustments to ensure an optimal fit for your pet. We'll take care of it as long as you give us the measurements!
| Kitten | 6-10" (inches) | Fits small cats |
| Adult Cat | 8-13" (inches) | Fits average-sized & larger cats |
| XL Cat | 12-16" (inches) | Fits extra large, big cats |
| Tiny Dog | 6-10" (inches) | Fits very small pups (measure to be sure) |
| Mini Dog | 8-13" (inches) | Fits Chihuahuas, Yorkies, toy breeds |
| Small Dog | 12-16" (inches) | Fits Beagles, Jack Russell Terriers, Pugs |
A Note About Adding "Slide" Tags to Collars: If ordering a personalized slide tag name plate to be put on your collar, the length of the tag will reduce the maximum length of the collar by 1.5 inches. If your pet's neck size is very close to the maximum of a certain size range and you plan to get a slide tag with the collar - to avoid any fit issues, we recommend ordering the next size up, or adding a note in the "Order Notes" box (located on the Cart page before checkout) to let us know your pet's exact neck size so our studio can make any necessary adjustments as needed.
"Size" refers to the collar's adjustable length (in inches).Note: The standard width of our collars is 1/2", regardless of the size option / length you select. To see a quick demo on how to adjust the size of your pet collar and achieve an optimal fit, watch the video below.
"Buckle Type" refers to the black or white standard plastic side-release clasp shown in all collar product photos in our store. On every collar product page, you will be given the option to select whether you prefer a "Breakaway" or "Non-Breakaway" plastic buckle clasp. Both types look the same as what you see in the photos — the difference has to do with the internal pronged mechanism, which makes them function differently. See the illustration below to compare the visual differences. Please Note: The details regarding the differences shown below will apply whether it's pertaining to a white or black buckle clasp:
The functional differences are as follows:
"Hardware" accent color refers to the various standard metal components that are part of the pet collar— i.e. the collar length adjuster, the round split ring for cat collars (or D-ring for dog collars), and the included removable bell. Note: The hardware color choices do NOT apply to the plastic buckle clasp - the buckle will always be plastic (unless you specifically order a metal buckle upgrade to go with your collar).