The adjustable belly strap is what makes this one work on a cat. Most costumes are pulled over the head and hoped for, whereas a strap fastening underneath can be loosened to the exact tension an animal will accept, which on a cat is usually a good deal less than you would guess. The legs are soft, so they sit over the back and move as the animal moves instead of sticking out rigidly and catching on every doorframe.

It is light, and that matters more than the design does. Weight across the spine is the thing that makes a dog crouch and a cat drop into a low, unhappy crawl, and a costume that provokes that reaction will never stay on long enough for you to get a picture out of it. Three sizes cover small and medium animals, and the soft legs fold flat, so it goes back in a drawer rather than living in a box all year.

• Lightweight spider body with soft legs
• Adjustable belly strap
• Three sizes: S, M and L
• Suits cats and small dogs
• Legs sit over the back rather than around the limbs

On fit and wear. Chest girth behind the front legs is the measurement to take, not weight and not length. Fasten the belly strap so two fingers slide flat underneath and no tighter. Costumes are for short supervised sessions, in the room with you, never overnight, and never left on an animal alone in the house.

Who it's for: cats and smaller dogs, and anyone who has tried a heavier costume and had it flatly refused at the first attempt.