Losing the use of the back legs is not usually the end of an animal's active life, but it does mean the front half is suddenly doing all the work. A rear-support cart takes the weight off the hindquarters so a cat or small dog can push themselves along on their front legs, which keeps muscle on, keeps the gut and bladder moving, and keeps them part of the household rather than parked in a bed by the radiator.

The frame is aluminium, and that matters more than it sounds: a cart heavy enough to be a burden is a cart that gets used once and then leant against a wall. The rear supports are foamed rather than bare tube, and the body supports are padded mesh, so the load spreads across the belly and flanks instead of digging in at one narrow point. Height, length and width all adjust, which lets you set the cart so the spine stays level rather than tipping nose-down.

• Aluminium frame, chosen to keep the overall weight down
• Adjustable in height, length and width for a level posture
• Foamed protectors on the rear leg supports
• Padded mesh body supports to spread the load
• Three sizes available, all in red
• Suits cats and small dogs with rear-leg weakness or injury

Please involve your vet before you buy. A cart manages a symptom and does not treat the cause, and some conditions, particularly unstable spinal injuries, need a different plan first. Start with short supervised sessions.

What the options mean. Sizes run from S to L — £86.99 for the smallest, £93.99 for the largest.

Who it's for: Owners of a cat or small dog recovering from injury or surgery, or living with age-related hind-leg weakness, who have a vet on side and want to keep them moving.