Oh, rest assured, your secret is safe with me! It's no fun telling other people's secrets for the sake of it.

[He takes the cape and poofs it back onto himself with a snap of his fingers, crouching down as she turns back into a cat and... doin' the ol' hover-hand over her head. Can he pet the cat...?]

My, can you not simply transfigure your clothing into something more manageable? Mine simply becomes a part of my fur and collar.