A knit is the layer that gets used most, because it is the one that works indoors as well as out. This one is done in a flecked tweed-style yarn with contrast green trim and a proper button collar, so it reads as a smart little cardigan rather than a novelty jumper. For a cold house, an old dog or a thin-coated cat, that everyday usefulness matters more than the look does.

The buttons down the front are the practical part. A cardigan you can open is far kinder to a pet who dislikes having anything pulled over their head, and kinder again on stiff older joints, since you can dress a leg at a time instead of lifting one. The knit is soft and has natural stretch, so it moves rather than binding at the shoulders. Sizes run XS to 2XL.

• Flecked tweed-style knit with contrasting green trim
• Button-through front and a turned collar
• Opens fully, so nothing has to go over the head
• Sizes XS through to 2XL
• Also made in a sky blue collar version and a mohair finish
• Soft, stretchy knit for indoor and outdoor wear

On sizing: knitwear stretches, which is precisely why a rough guess goes wrong, and too generous a fit lets a foreleg find its way through the neck. Measure back length from collar to tail base and chest girth behind the front legs, and send us both if you are between sizes. We would rather check than have you post it back.

Who it's for: Small dogs and cats who feel the cold indoors, older pets who dislike being dressed, and owners who prefer a classic knit to a padded coat.