Long story short (I explain it in the blog entry with the pattern), my long cat gets cold and doesn’t fit in normal sized sweaters. So I made this sweater with long, tubular cats in mind.

Special features:

• Ribbed mock turtleneck expands and contracts, making it easier to slip on and off the cat while still maintaining its shape when worn. It also provides more coverage for cats with long necks.

• A bit of shaping in the first rows of the back provide widening to accommodate shoulder movement when cat is in different positions.

• One large armhole instead of individual sleeves allows more freedom of movement for the front legs. It also makes it tons easier to put on the cat. This seems to be the only style of sweater that Coco will tolerate for long periods of time.

• A bit of shaping in the lower half of the sweater widens the “belt” to better accommodate full bellies

• The uniform single crochet background is great for attaching decorative appliqués, should the mood hit you.

Sizing:

This was made to fit an 11-pound long cat. Will probably work for a 10-14 pounder of similar body type. Adjust according to your animal — I find that the top-down approach makes it easier to try on the cat as you go so you end up with fewer sizing errors at the end. Larger hook for a bigger cat, smaller for a wee one, etc.