Short-haired cats and small dogs feel a draught long before we do, and in a house with air conditioning or a tiled kitchen floor that draught runs right through the summer. A thin cotton-blend vest gives them a layer without heat, which is the opposite job to a winter coat and needs completely different fabric: light, breathable, and cut so nothing traps warmth against the body.

It pulls on over the head with the front legs through, and there is enough stretch for a cat to twist and a dog to run without the shoulders binding. The stripes carry a small teddy-bear print reading 'Don't Worry', which is the reason most people buy it, but the practical benefit is quieter. A covered body sheds noticeably less onto sofas and car seats, and a vest washes far more easily than upholstery does.

• Lightweight cotton-blend fabric
• Striped, with a small teddy-bear print on the front
• Stretchy pull-on fit with no fastenings
• Sizes XS through to XXL
• Machine washable

On the colour, and on the category. It is also filed in places as a winter coat, which it plainly is not: this is a thin summer top with no lining.

Who it's for: Short-haired cats and small dogs in air-conditioned or draughty homes, and owners who would rather wash a vest than a sofa.