Dogs, cats and rabbits understand the concept of a blanket and usually like to get covered by it when it’s too cold. So I think it’s not far fetched to assume they understand clothes.
My smallest dog is probably the smartest, and he not only understands "covering means warmth" but he also has a favorite throw blanket. Even when they've been freshly washed he prefers the flour tortilla patterned blanket, as it's the warmest.
And when it gets warmer overnight, he will switch to a cooler blanket.
Haven't managed to train him to put his unused blankets away, he just leaves them wherever he dragged it to last.
My cat likes to jump on my shoulders. When I wear clothes, she uses her claws to keep her balance. But when I'm topless, she doesn't use her claws (and instead awkwardly tries to get down). It seems like she knows that clothes mean I'm protected and that she can use her claws without hurting me.
My cats are the same, except kittens. And as a result, probably clumsier. I get stabbed through my clothing more often than I'd like, but less often as time goes on
A little o' column A, a little o' column B methinks.
They're very young, so a big portion of it can definitely be chalked up to "kittens learning to controls their claws better" as well as "learning from pain reaction responses" as well as "being less playful as they get older"
They kind of all describe the same thing. More stab times, less stab amount (until lots of age, then stab). Same is true for most cats, to varying degrees