Cat And Jack Pants

As a parent, finding the right pants for your kids that are comfortable, durable, and affordable can be a challenge. That’s why Cat & Jack pants have become a go-to brand for many families. Created exclusively for Target, Cat & Jack offers stylish and functional kids’ clothing at a reasonable price point.

I’ve been buying Cat & Jack pants for my own kids for years and wanted to share my tips for navigating the brand as your kids grow. Whether you need school uniforms, play clothes, dress pants, jeans, or joggers, this guide will walk you through what you need to know to pick the best Cat & Jack pants for every occasion.

Where to Buy Cat & Jack Pants

The only place you can purchase authentic Cat & Jack clothing is Target, either in stores or online at target.com. The brand was created in 2016 as a replacement for Target’s Circo brand of kids’ clothing.

While you’ll get the best selection by shopping directly at Target, you can sometimes find Cat & Jack pants resold on secondhand sites like Poshmark and Mercari as well. I always check the secondhand sites first for deals on gently used pants my kids have outgrown.

The Size Range Offered by Cat & Jack

One of the great things about Cat & Jack is that they offer pants in sizes for kids of all ages. Here’s a quick look at the size range:

• Baby Sizes: 0-24 months
• Toddler Sizes: 2T-5T
• Little Kid Sizes: XS-XL (roughly fits ages 2-8)
• Big Kid Sizes: XS-XL (roughly fits ages 8-14)

The little kid and big kid sizes overlap quite a bit, but in general, I find that the big kid sizes fit better once kids are older than 6 or 7 years old. The adjustable waistbands give a little room to grow as well.

The Durability of Cat & Jack Pants

Considering the affordable prices, I’m always impressed with how well Cat & Jack pants hold up for my kids. The jeans and joggers seem virtually indestructible, surviving multiple tumbles, spilled paints, and playground adventures.

The lightweight twill pants and active pants show wear more quickly, especially in the knees. But overall, with proper care, most Cat & Jack pants make it through multiple kids and many seasons of wear. I almost always hand down or donate our Cat & Jack pants once my kids outgrow them since they last so well.

How Cat & Jack Pants Fit

Here are a few things I’ve noticed about the fit of Cat & Jack pants over the years:

• They tend to run true to size, though some styles may vary.
• The fit is generally trim through the hips and legs.
• Pants are available in slim and regular fits for older kids.
• Adjustable waistbands provide extra flexibility for growing kids.
• Lengths run on the short side, especially for tall or lanky kids.

My best advice if buying online is to go up a size if your child is between sizes or prefers a looser fit. You can always roll up long pants, but pants that are too tight are no fun for kids!

Cat & Jack Pant Materials

The majority of Cat & Jack pants are made from a cotton/polyester blend, which provides good durability at a budget price point. Some specific materials I see most often are:

• Stretch twill – Soft, comfortable everyday pants
• Denim – Durable and comfortable jeans
• Jersey knit – Soft joggers and athletic pants
• Chino twill – Lightweight pants great for school and play

You’ll also find pants made with moisture-wicking fabric, corduroy, french terry, and more. Cat & Jack uses many eco-friendly fabrics like organic cotton in their pants as well.

Options for Toddlers

The Cat & Jack toddler pants selection is fantastic. Here are a few of my favorite styles for the 0-5T crowd:

• Adjustable waist joggers – perfect for pull-ups and diaper changes
• Jeggings – give the flexibility of leggings with the look of jeans
• Sweatpants – soft, cozy everyday pants
• Leggings – great to layer under dresses and skirts
• Elastic waist denim – pull-on jeans for easy on and off
• Corduroy pants – soft, durable, and stylish

I appreciate how even the dressier pants like chinos have elastic backs or adjustable features to get the custom fit needed for toddlers on the move.

The Cost of Cat & Jack Pants

While prices vary by style, you can typically find most Cat & Jack pants in the $8-$20 range. Simple leggings and sweatpants may ring up closer to $5 or $6 on sale, while special styles like sherpa joggers might go up to $25.

Compared to mall brands, Cat & Jack provides outstanding value at very reasonable prices. Even cheaper discount brands rarely have the same breadth of options, quality, and attention to detail that I see from Cat & Jack.

Sales happen frequently, especially around back-to-school season or during the holidays. Even without sales, the everyday prices are hard to beat!

The Color Selection

Plain blacks, tans, and blues are always in stock, along with fun prints and brighter colors that change seasonally. For my daughter, pinks and purples are a must – thankfully, Cat & Jack almost always has a nice selection of both!

Recently I’ve noticed more grey, olive green, and blush tones popping up as well. There are certainly plenty of neutrals if you’re shopping for school uniforms or everyday basics. But they manage to keep things fun with vibrant accent colors too.

Are Cat & Jack Pants Comfortable for Kids?

My kids give Cat & Jack pants two enthusiastic thumbs up for comfort! Here’s why they love them:

• Stretchy fabrics that move with them
• Soft, lightweight materials – nothing stiff or scratchy
• Smooth, flat seams that don’t rub
• Elastic waists and adjustable tabs for the perfect fit
• Reinforced knees that hold up to wear and tear

As a mom, I also appreciate the range of motions kids can do safely in Cat & Jack pants when they’re playing on the playground or hanging upside-down on monkey bars!

Adjustable Waistbands

Nearly all Cat & Jack pants sizes 2T and up will have an adjustable interior waist tab. This is a huge help as kids grow, ensuring you get more than one season of wear from each pair of pants.

The tabs have a buttonhole closure and slide to tighten or loosen the waistband by around 2 inches in many styles. No more searching for belts or using rubber bands as a quick fix for pants that are almost too small!

Styling Tips for Cat & Jack Pants

Cat & Jack pants are so versatile – you can really dress them up or down. Here are some of my favorite ways to style Cat & Jack pants:

• Mix and match printed tops with solid color pants
• Pair leggings under dresses, tunics, or long sweaters
• Tuck in graphic tees for a polished casual look
• Add an infinity scarf to dress up a basic tee and jeans
• Layer patterned pants under skirts and dresses
• Go monochrome with same-color top and bottom
• Add a cardigan and ballet flats for dressier occasions
• Wear joggers with hoodies and sneakers for a sporty look
• Cuff hems of pants or jeans to show off fun socks

Finding Sales on Cat & Jack Pants

The best way to save money on Cat & Jack pants is to shop the sales. Here’s when you can typically find the best deals:

• Back to School Season – July through September
• Holiday Sales – Black Friday, Cyber Monday, etc.
• End of Season Clearance – Shop off-season months for the next size up
• Target’s Apparel Sales – Sales pop up year-round so check often
• Target Circle Offers – Create an account to get personalized deals

Signing up for RedCard savings and the Target app can help you grab sale prices as soon as they start. Pairing Cartwheel offers with sales scores the lowest prices.

Caring for Cat & Jack Pants

To make Cat & Jack pants last, follow these laundry tips:

• Wash in cold water to preserve colors and prevent shrinkage
• Machine dry on low heat or tumble dry to reduce wear
• Remove stains promptly with spray before washing
• Avoid fabric softener which can reduce moisture-wicking
• Use a garment bag when washing pants with zippers, embellishments, etc.
• Sew loose buttons promptly to avoid losing them in the wash
• Check pockets for crayons, tissues, and other items before washing

With proper care, your kids’ Cat & Jack pants should hold up well for multiple kids. I’ve got some pairs that have been through 3+ cycles in our family at this point!

Latest Styles and Trends

Some of the newest Cat & Jack pant styles I’m loving this season include:

• Joggers with cargo pockets – stylish and functional
• High-waisted jeans and pants – so cute with cropped tops
• Sherpa lined joggers – soft and cozy for winter
• Ripped and distressed denim – perfect edgy tween style
• Corduroy everything – pants, overalls, jackets, and more!
• Warmer colors like marsala, blush, olive, rust, and camel
• Eco-friendly fabrics like organic cotton, recycled polyester, etc.
• Matching sets – print pants with coordinating tops

Eco-Friendly Options

More and more, Cat & Jack is using sustainable materials like organic cotton, recycled polyester, and plastic-bottles-turned-polyester. I love that they make eco-friendly clothing accessible at low prices.

Some green fabric terms to look for:

• Organic cotton
• Recycled polyester
• REPREVE polyester (made from recycled plastic bottles)
• BCI cotton (sustainably sourced cotton certified by Better Cotton Initiative)

Buying pre-loved Cat & Jack pieces or passing them on through buy/sell/trade groups is another great eco-friendly option!

The Return and Exchange Process

One benefit of buying Cat & Jack pants at Target is their generous return policy. Unworn pants can be returned or exchanged within 90 days of purchase. You’ll need to provide the original receipt or lookup your purchase using your account.

Make returns even easier by downloading the Target app and selecting the items you want to return. The app will generate a barcode allowing you to make returns directly at guest services without waiting in line.

Exchanges for a different size or color are easy. Unfortunately, you can’t exchange sale or clearance items for a refund, but you can swap them for a similar item at the same discounted price.

Where Cat & Jack Pants Are Manufactured

According to Target, Cat & Jack sources their clothing from over 25 countries around the world. Many of their pants are manufactured in the following regions:

• Bangladesh
• Vietnam
• China
• India
• Indonesia
• Cambodia

By diversifying production between multiple countries, they can keep costs low while having oversight for ethical working conditions. When sourcing cotton, they aim to use sustainable US-grown cotton when possible.

How They Work for School Uniforms

With all the color, fit, and sizing options, Cat & Jack pants work really well for school uniform bottoms. Specific styles to look for include:

• Chino pants – They come in khaki, navy, black, grey, and black. The Ultimate Flex and Classic Fit are perfect for school uniforms.
• Jeggings – For girls who prefer leggings, the jeggings offer a uniform look with legging comfort.
• Athletic pants – For gym uniforms, the mesh athletic pants work great.
• Shorts – Pleated front shorts in navy and khaki are a uniform staple.

The adjustable waists provide growing room and reinforced knees mean they’ll hold up to school use. Best of all, the affordable prices help stretch uniform budgets.

Reinforced Knees

Finding pants that can keep up with active kids isn’t always easy. Many Cat & Jack pants have reinforced knee patches to reduce wear and tear:

• Jeans – Several fits of jeans have reinforced knees for added durability.
• Jersey knit joggers – Great for the playground, the mesh knee patches prevent holes.
• School uniform pants – Pleated and flat front uniform pants have durable knees.
• Cargo pants – Both classic and relaxed fit cargos have reinforced knee patches.

This knee reinforcement helps Cat & Jack pants last longer and saves having to retire them early due to holes!

Age Ranges the Pants Work For

Here’s a breakdown of what age ranges Cat & Jack pants generally work best for:

• Baby pants: Newborn to 24 months
• Toddler pants: 2T-5T (ages 2-4 years)
• Little kid pants: XS-XL (roughly ages 2-8 years)
• Big kid pants: XS-XL (roughly ages 8-14 years)
• Shorts: Toddler through big kid sizes

The overlap in little kid and big kid sizes provides flexibility. And many styles like jeans come in boys’, girls’ and unisex cuts for all ages.

Cat & Jack pants are well-made for growing kids at every stage! At our house, the brand has seen our kids through from babyhood all the way into middle school.

The Bottom Line

After years of buying Cat & Jack pants for my own kids, I can confidently say they offer outstanding value, quality, and selection. The affordable prices and wide range of stylish options beat out many pricier brand names.

I hope this guide gives you tips to shop Cat & Jack pants with confidence for everything from school days to play dates. Their pants are built to last through countless tumbles in the backyard and growth spurts. Let me know if you have any other questions – happy Cat & Jack shopping!