soft cat travel carrier

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The 11 Best Cat Carriers Tested With Real Cats In Tow

In This Article

• Our Top Picks

How We Tested Cat Carriers

Other cat carriers we tested, what to look for in a cat carrier.

• Why Trust The Spruce Pets

The Spruce Pets / Tamara Staples

With the help of real cats (and kittens!) we tested 30 pet carriers—including hard-sided and soft-sided kennels, bags, totes, and backpacks—then selected 12 top performers. All of our recommendations provide great airflow and a secure environment.

The right carrier for you and your cat will depend on your travel needs—by foot, by car, or by plane—the size of your cat, and your budget. Features like an entry door on top of the carrier can make it easier to get your cat safely inside, plus it's preferred by most veterinarians, who are more easily able to access your pet for care. We also found several carriers that have the ability to limit outside distractions, which can calm a nervous cat. 

After hundreds of hours of combined testing, our favorite cat carriers are the Petmate Two-Door Top-Load Pet Kennel —which is about as lightweight and well-ventilated as hard-sided carriers get—and the soft-sided Petseek Cat Carrier , which has a strong, steel frame structure, but can still fold up for storage. Both carriers have multiple points of access, with doors on the front and top.

Best Overall, Hard-Sided

Petmate pet kennel.

Useful top-loading door

Made with recycled materials

Easy to wipe clean

Lightweight and airy design

Not recommended for pets over 20 pounds

Top latch sometimes misaligns

The best cat carrier for most is one with a rigid design because it provides a cat with a defined interior space. Our top choice among the hard-sided options we tested is the Petmate Two-Door Top-Load Pet Kennel, which has a traditional front door plus a top-loading door, both with gates that securely shut with a dual-spring-loaded latch.

The unwavering structure provided by this carrier will help your cat feel secure—a top priority—but only if you can first get your cat inside. The top door simplifies the obstacle of getting a cat into a carrier by limiting their opportunity to wriggle out before the door is fully shut. And from our experience, we've learned that most vets prefer a cat carrier with a top door because it makes their job easier. Here are more ways you can reduce stress on your cat while traveling .

Like any hard-sided cat carrier, the Petmate Two-Door is big and boxy, making it cumbersome to lug around, but it's also surprisingly light, thanks to thin plastic—though it never feels flimsy—and lots of ventilation holes, which keep it airy inside. The larger 24-inch model weighs 6.4 pounds and the 19-inch version weighs 3.8 pounds, without cats inside. And even with an adult cat inside, we found it relatively easy to take in and out of cars or walk short distances.

Our only structural concern is the handle, which is attached to the top door, meaning the weight of the carrier puts pressure on the hinges and steel latch. But while we noted it as a potential design flaw, the door has been reliably secure through more than a year of use. The steel wire latch to the top door is sometimes a little hard to align, but it's also easy to tell when you've securely closed it.

The Petmate Two-Door is made from recycled materials, with surfaces that are easy to wipe clean. The larger option is designed to carry cats up to 20 pounds, making it appropriate for use with most adult cats. Though it's not recommended, in a pinch we were able to safely use the carrier with two adult cats for a quick trip to the vet. Another of our testers used the Petmate carrier as a temporary den for a foster cat.

Dimensions: 19.4 x 12.8 x 10 inches (small), 24.1 x 16.8 x 14.5 inches (medium) | Weight Limit: Pets up to 10 pounds (small), up to 20 pounds (medium) | Weight of Carrier: 3.8 pounds (small), 6.4 pounds (medium)

The Spruce Pets / Jessica Juliao

Best Overall, Soft-Sided

Petseek extra large cat carrier.

Suitable for larger cats

Foldable for storage

Lockable zippers to prevent cat from opening from the inside

Top, side, and front door entry

Machine washable floor cover

Includes exterior pocket and seatbelt loop

Fabric sides are vulnerable to cat claws

If you have a large cat, like a Maine Coon or a Ragamuffin , or more than one adult cat in your care, the Petseek Extra Large Cat Carrier will help you keep your kitty comfortable while in transit. The interior is big enough to hold and support up to 55 pounds, and then easily fold up and put away until the next time you need to move your cat. We found the carrier easy to carry using the included shoulder strap.

Similar to a traditional hard-sided kennel, this carrier has a rectangular shape, but unlike the traditional cat carrier, this one can be collapsed and folded almost completely flat. The soft-sided carrier has a steel frame, with two cross beams that come apart in the middle for folding.

There are three doors, one on top, one on the side, and another on the front, which has a mesh screen that can be rolled up so that the carrier can be used as a little cat house. The double zippers at each entrance are accompanied by an additional clip that lets you lock the zippers together so that they can't be opened—a thoughtful feature that helps keep the multiple access points easy to secure. There is also a leash tether inside for further security.

The carrier is available in blue or grey, and can be used as a car seat for your cat with straps designed to attach to a seatbelt. A fleece bed is also included which is easy to remove for cleaning.

Dimensions: 24 x 16 x 16.5 inches | Weight Limit: Pets up to 55 pounds | Weight of Carrier: 6.4 pounds

The Spruce Pets / Dylan Thompson

Best Airline-Approved

Away the pet carrier.

Removable and washable bed

Crash test certified by the Center for Pet Safety for use as a pet car seat and approved for use in-cabin on most commercial airlines

Durable, water resistant construction

Top door and side door entry

Does not provide sufficient space for larger cats

Does not collapse for storage

The Away Pet Carrier is the most expensive cat carrier on our list, but this multi-use bag will serve you well for years, especially if you fly or travel often with your cat. Plus, there's a 100-day trial period, so you can test out the Away Pet Carrier for yourself.

The Away carrier meets the requirements for use in-cabin on most commercial flights (since requirements can vary from airline to airline, always check with your flight provider in advance). While suitable for flights, the Away carrier is also safe for car travel. It received a five-star crash test rating certification from the Center for Pet Safety , a nonprofit that conducts independent crash tests on travel products designed for cats and dogs.

This carrier is a structured soft-sided bag that holds its shape when empty and does not collapse for storage. It offers two zippered entry points, one on top and one on the side, and the doors are made of dark mesh. There is also an optional privacy panel to isolate your cat from outside distractions if they're too nervous.

Inside you'll find a plush, padded bed that can be removed and machine-washed. It has a water resistant lining, making it easy to wipe the interior clean. There's also a built-in safety collar clip, a key clip in the external pocket, and even a removable name card.

The Away carrier also has a variety of features for carrying and securing, including dual hand straps, a removable shoulder strap, a trolley sleeve for rolled luggage, and latches for attaching to a car seatbelt.

Away's The Pet Carrier is available in two colors, black or coast (a grayish shade of blue).

Dimensions: 18.7 x 10.8 x 10.8 inches | Weight Limit: Pets up to 18 pounds | Weight of Carrier: 3.9 pounds

The Spruce Pets / Alessandra Amodio

Travel + Leisure / Alessandra Amodio

We Also Like

Travel cat the transpurrter calming cat carrier.

Roomy enough for larger cats

Durable and sturdy

Blackout side panel to help keep cats calm

Multiple ways to carry

Too large to fit under seats of some airlines

Crossbody carrying is awkward

The soft-sided Transpurrter Ultimate Calming Convertible Cat Carrier from Travel Cat is a spacious and comfortable for cats of all sizes, and it is loaded with thoughtful design features to help make flight days less stressful.

The carrier is roomy enough for larger cats to move around, stretch, and chill out. It features a blackout panel that can be rolled up or down as needed, helping to keep your cat calm and giving them the privacy they need to relax outside of the home. Plus, there are five different ways to carry this bag—as a backpack, with a shoulder strap, cross-body (although we found it a bit awkward to carry it this way), by the handle located on the top of the bag, or on top of your suitcase secured with the built-in safety strap.

Other features we like include the "escape-proof" zippers that are virtually impossible to unzip from the inside, the slide-out bottom that has a waterproof lining, the removable soft-lined insert, eye-level peepholes, two slip pockets, and a zippered pocket with interior organization and a key clip. If opened via the top, the entire fourth wall can be put down, and the bag has a tether leash, which gives your cat room to stretch out on long layovers. But the carrier might not fit as easily as others on our list in the space under the seats of all airlines.

Dimensions: 19 x 11 x 10.5 inches | Weight Limit: Pets up to 30 pounds | Weight of Carrier: 3.31 pounds

Best Budget

Frisco plastic pet kennel.

Two doors (front and top) for easy entry

Made with 95% pre-consumer recycled plastic content

Lightweight with ventilation throughout

The top door does not stay propped open on its own

The Frisco Two-Door Top-Load Plastic Pet Kennel is an excellent choice for anyone in search of a classic hard-sided cat carrier at an approachable price.

Similar to our pick for Best Overall, Hard-Sided ( the Petmate Two-Door Top-Load Pet Kennel) , this carrier can be awkward to carry, but it will provide your cat with a secure mobile den for any essential trips, like visits to the vet. This carrier offers the convenience of top door entry too. Our cat tester for this carrier, a 15-pound Maine Coon , opted to take a few naps inside, so we think the trips they took in this carrier were enjoyable.

The lightweight case comes in two sizes, extra-small and small, and is made with 95 percent pre-consumer recycled plastic. There are ventilation slits throughout and you can easily add a blanket to make the inside a bit cozier for your cat. It's available exclusively at Chewy.

Dimensions: 19 x 12 x 10.1 inches (extra-small), 24.1 x 16.8 x 14.5 inches (small) | Weight Limit: Pets up to 10 pounds (extra-small), up to 20 pounds (small) | Weight of Carrier: 5.7 pounds (extra-small), 6.4 pounds (small)

The Spruce Pets / Jennifer Joanning

Best Budget Airline-Approved

Maskeyon airline approved pet carrier.

Top and side entry through zippered panels

Expandable mesh covered sides

Padded shoulder strap and padded mat included

We found the carrier difficult to move with the extensions open and a cat inside

The Maskeyon Airline Approved Carrier can be used on most commercial flights to keep your cat cozy and secure while they ride under a seat (always check with your flight provider). It may look like other duffle bag style carriers, but on two sides, this carrier has expandable mesh panels that can be unzipped to give your cat room to stretch while you wait to board. These built-in sections will nearly double the amount of space your cat has to move around without adding any bulk or weight.

We found the carrier easy to carry with the padded shoulder strap, and a removable padded mat inside kept our cat comfortable. The carrier's interior and exterior are very breathable and easy to wipe clean. It also offers entry through a zippered top panel and side panel making it easier to get your cat in and out.

Dimensions: 19.5 x 12 x 12 inches, with expansion 43.5 x 32 x 12 inches | Weight Limit: Pets up to 20 pounds | Weight of Carrier: 3.6 pounds

Petsfit Small Soft Cat Carrier

Expandable mesh side offers more room

Outside materials easy to clean

Various ways to carry

Liner might be hard to clean

The Petsfit Cat Carrier provides multiple ways for you to carry your cat comfortably when traveling, including a long strap you can put over your shoulder, two flexible handles, and a side strap you can attach over the handle of your own rolling luggage. It has a self-locking zipper and a leash tether ti attach to a collar to ensure that your furry friend can't escape.

We like the expandable mesh side that allows a cat to stretch out further when in the car or on the plane. This carrier fits easily under a standard airplane seat and with two mesh windows, your pet can peek out and you can peek in. The exterior is composed of mesh along with oxford cloth (a blend of polyester and cotton) that is easy to clean. Plus the soft liner inside is removable and can be spot cleaned or washed by hand.

Dimensions: 16 x 10 x 9 inches, with expansion 17.3 x 16 x 9 inches (small), 17 x 11 x 11 inches, with expansion 20 x 17 x 11 inches (medium) | Weight Limit: Pets up to 9 pounds (small), up to 13 pounds (medium) | Weight of Carrier: 2.1 pounds (small), 2.5 pounds (medium)

Best Backpack Carrier

Halinfer space capsule cat backpack.

Easy to carry as a backpack with mesh pocket on the side for storage of small items

Bubble viewing window on the front with expandable mesh encasement on the back

Leash tether inside to keep cat securely contained

Air holes throughout for air circulation

Difficult to get adult cats to use the small side door

With the Halinfer Expandable Space Capsule Cat Backpack, you'll keep your hands free while you comfortably transport your cat on your back. As a backpack, most adult cats will have to sit upright, but with the expansion open, a full-grown cat will have room to spread out. The front viewing window is made out of plastic and resembles a bubble. It's clear with air holes to allow your paw-ssenger to see and smell the environment around them.

There are additional air holes along the perimeter with a mesh pocket for storage on one side and a zippered door on the other side. Ideally, your cat will have no issue with entry through the side door, which was the case with our two kittens, but our two adult cats were not as easy to get inside. If needed, the front clear bubble portion of the carrier can be unzipped giving you more space to calmly get your cat inside.

When you arrive at your destination, you can unzip the mesh expansion to let your cat spread out while keeping them safely contained. There is also a built-in tether to attach to your cat's collar or harness to keep them securely inside. Some cats are excellent escape artists, so better to be cautious.

Dimensions: 15 x 10 x 7 inches | Weight Limit: 12 pounds | Weight of Carrier: 2.5 pounds

The Spruce Pets / Jordan Davidson

Best Electronic Backpack Carrier

Petkit pet backpack carrier.

One year warranty from manufacturer

Built-in LED light makes it easier for your cat to see at night

Side pocket designed to carry a power bank

Fan and ventilation system help to regulate your cat's temperature

Power bank not included

The back of the backpack is soft so on occasion movement would push and disturb the cat inside

Give your cat a tech-powered transport with the Petkit Pet Backpack Carrier. Designed for ultimate comfort, this bubble backpack has a built-in fan and ventilation system to facilitate airflow. There is also an LED light inside that gradually gets brighter as the environment gets darker to help your cat see. These advanced features require a power bank which is not included, but there is a built-in pocket to hold the power bank of your choice (we recommended the Anker Slim 1000 Portable Charger ).

The outward-facing bubble viewing window is made of durable plastic and the outer shell is available in three colors—white, blue, and green. The build of the exterior feels substantial but may get scuffed over time with use. The back of the satchel, the part that connects with the shoulder straps, is padded and soft. We found it comfortable to wear with our participating cat inside. However, the pad is pliable so your cat will be able to feel your movement which we found would occasionally disrupt our cat during our journey.

The backpack is recommended for cats up to 17 pounds and weighs three pounds on its own. It also comes with a one-year warranty from PetKit.

Dimensions: 13 x 12 x 18 inches | Weight Limit: Pets up to 17 pounds | Weight of Carrier: 3 pounds

The Spruce Pets / Elise Wojczyk Wang

Best Budget Backpack Carrier

Henkelion cat backpack carrier bubble bag.

Available in seven colors

Padded shoulder straps and chest strap for weight distribution of carrier

Zippered entry through side mesh door or front bubble

Leash tether and removal pad inside

Too small for larger cats (maximum weight of 10 pounds)

The Henkenlion Cat Backpack Carrier Bubble Bag is affordable and comfortable to wear, but if you have a bigger cat (10 pounds or more), this carrier might not offer enough space. We wore the carrier with a nine-pound feline inside and they seemed comfortable, but we would not want to keep a cat that size inside this backpack for a long excursion.

The front of the backpack is made of clear, round plastic so you can see your cat and they can see the world around them. There are holes for air ventilation on the front and on the sides of the carrier along with a mesh pocket. Inside you'll find a removal pad and a leash tether to keep your cat securely attached to the carrier. The shoulder straps are padded and adjustable, and there is also a chest strap for extra support and weight distribution.

Dimensions: 12.2 x 11.4 x 16.5 inches | Weight Limit: Pets up to 10 pounds | Weight of Carrier: 2.91 pounds

The Spruce Pets / Lydia Price

Best Collapsible

Sportpet designs travel cat carrier.

Folds and unfolds easily for travel and storage

Extra large sized carrier can accommodate more than one cat, up to 40 pounds

Extra large carrier sold out at time of publish

If you are looking for a reliable cat carrier that doesn't take up a lot of storage space, the SportPet Designs Foldable Travel Cat Carrier is the one for you. This hard-sided carrier offers the stability of a classic rectangular kennel without having to dedicate as much closet space.

The triangular shape of this carrier reminds us of a classic A-frame house, but the sides are not perfectly symmetrical. With this unique shape, the carrier is able to offer a sturdy yet comfortable space for a cat, but it's also easy to collapse and fold when it is not in use. For safety, the frame of the carrier locks in place with two latches and two red-colored clips. The carrier is made out of steel and plastic for durability and is available in two sizes, extra large and large. The biggest version of the carrier can support more than one cat with a maximum weight of 40 pounds.

Dimensions: 25 x 20.2 x 19 inches (extra-large) | Weight Limit: Pets up to 40 pounds (extra-large) | Weight of Carrier: 6.4 pounds (extra-large)

The Spruce Pets / Emma Wenninger

Best Roller

Gen7pets geometric roller with smart-level pet carrier backpack.

Telescopic handle and wheels make this carrier easy to transport

Can also be carried as a backpack with adjustable padded shoulder straps

Leash tether inside along with removable cushion for cleaning

When used as a roller, some cats may find the tilt of the carrier unsettling

One of humanity's greatest inventions, the wheel, can be put to good use by helping you transport your cat with the Gen7Pets Geometric Roller with SmartLevel Pet Carrier Backpack.

This roller bag has a telescopic handlebar that is easy to pull up and put down. The carrier is also equipped with adjustable shoulder straps for use as a backpack keeping your hands free. There are two zippered panels made of mesh that can be used for entry or as windows. If you do want to give your cat a taste of freedom while they stroll, there is a leash tether inside that can be latched to a collar or harness. This will keep them securely attached to the carrier while they poke their head out of an unzipped window.

The carrier comes in two sizes, large can hold up to 20 pounds while medium maxes out at 10 pounds. We found the medium-sized carrier easy to use as a roller and a backpack, but when we tried to pull the carrier like a suitcase, our cat was startled by the tilt of the carriage.

Dimensions: 11.5 x 19 x 18.5 inches (medium) | Weight Limit: Pets up to 10 pounds (medium) | Weight of Carrier: 6.8 pounds

Final Verdict

Our best overall, hard-sided cat carrier is the Petmate Two-Door Small Dog & Cat Kennel , which offers structured support, excellent ventilation, and two entry doors—including one on top. Our favorite soft-sided carrier is the Petseek Extra Large Cat Carrier , which provides a stable yet mobile den for a cat and can be folded for storage.

In total, we tested 30 different cat carriers, including hard-sided and soft-sided kennels, bags, totes, and backpacks. We purchased each cat carrier and sent it to a volunteer's home, along with a written methodology that guided them from setup through long-term testing.

Testers first documented the ease of setup and their cat's initial reaction to the carrier, taking photos along the way. Testers then evaluated each carrier's quality for themselves, exploring features and functionality, recording their thoughts, and answering a bevy of questions.

After three weeks of use incorporating the carrier into their routine, each tester provided detailed feedback and numerical scores across four categories: performance, portability, quality, and value. Additionally, each cat carrier will remain with the tester for ongoing insights.

Equipped with this first-hand information, we ranked and categorized our top picks to simplify your search for the purr-fect cat carrier to suit your needs, habits, and preferences.

Sherpa The Original Airline-Approved Deluxe Pet Carrier : With a soft fleece liner and mesh ventilation throughout, this carrier provides a cozy and airy space for a cat, but it's better suited for small cats. Our 7-pound feline participant had plenty of space, but cats over 12 pounds would likely find the airline-compliant sizes of this carrier to be a snug fit. Sherpa offers larger version of the The Original Deluxe Pet Carrier , and if you don't plan to fly with your cat, this might work for you.

Wild One Pet Carrier : This airline-compliant carrier is a solid choice with a lot of useful features, including a padded mat that expands, storage pockets, and the ability to unzip each section. We put this carrier in the same category as Away The Pet Carrier , our choice for Best Airline-Approved , and ultimately the Away Pet Carrier, with a five-star certification from the Center for Pet Safety came out on top.

Morpilot Cat Carrier Backpack : While testing this backpack, our cat participants felt at ease riding inside—even playing hide and seek in the carrier while at home. Ultimately, the carrier's boxy shape and the fact that it doesn't have an optional expansion component put it behind our Best Backpack Carrier selection, the Halinfer Expandable Space Capsule Cat Backpack .

Look for easy-to-clean surfaces, recommends Registered Veterinary Technician and professional dog trainer (KPA-CTP) Jaime Lyn Bast. "Lingering odors will be offensive to your cat," she says. Check to see if any removable fabric or foam padding is machine-washable.

“The safest carrier is made of sturdy plastic with access doors on the top and the side. A rigid carrier protects your cat from any external impact,” Bast told The Spruce Pets. “Cats are easily stressed by jostling and disturbances during transport, and hard-sided cat carriers make it easier to maintain consistent, level support."

The carrier must be large enough for your cat to stand up and turn around comfortably, but small enough that they feel secure and avoid excessive movement during the ride she says.

The ideal cat carrier should also have easy-to-use latches or zippers, according to Bast. "You should be able to open the crate easily with one hand."

Opaque Sides

"A visual barrier helps your cat feel protected from outside threats," says Bast. If you have a rigid carrier cage with a lot of places to look out, can also try covering it with a sheet or towel to help your cat feel secure.

“Ideally, you should train your cat to become comfortable with their carrier by leaving it out and placing blankets, toys, and treats inside. Once your cat forms a positive association with the carrier, you can entice them with treats to willingly enter,” suggests Bast. “However, if you have not had a chance to train your cat, or they do not voluntarily enter their carrier, you will have to place them inside."

Cats commonly resent their carriers due to pain and fear associated with improper loading she says. Always handle your cat gently and calmly to prevent panic. "When lifting your cat, support their body to avoid causing fear or discomfort. Gently lower your cat inside the carrier from above or, if using the side door, guide them in backwards (i.e., rear-end first). If your cat struggles, you can wrap them snugly in a towel, slide them inside like a swaddled baby, and then unwrap them.”

“Your cat will be comfortable in their carrier if they identify it as an extension of their territory,” notes Bast. “To achieve this, the carrier must be a predictable part of the home and an attractive hangout for your cat." Here are her training tips:

• Place the crate near your cat’s favorite resting spot.

• Remove the top and door initially, if necessary.

• Place a cozy blanket inside the carrier, sprayed with a synthetic feline pheromone to attract and calm your cat.

• Periodically place toys and treats inside the carrier for your cat to discover. 

• Feed your cat near, and then inside the carrier.

• Close the door briefly with your cat inside, then open the door.

“Gradually increase the time your cat spends in the carrier, so long as they remain calm,” says Bast. “If your cat panics, take a step back and progress more slowly.”

To help your cat remain calm during veterinary visits:

• Do not feed your cat in the hours preceding a car ride to prevent nausea.

• Drape a towel misted with feline pheromones over the carrier to create a visual barrier.

• Keep the carrier elevated on a chair or counter, and away from curious dogs.

“Cats should never travel loose in the car," explains Bast. "Unrestrained cats may distract the driver, impede driving, and risk severe injury, escape, or death in an accident." Cat carriers for car travel should keep your pet in a secure carrier on the floor behind the driver's seat. This location provides better security and stability during a sudden stop, turn, or collision, she says. “Carriers placed on the backseat may be tossed about on the ride or fall off the seat, distressing and potentially injuring the cat.”

Why Trust The Spruce Pets?

This roundup was written by Anna Mejorada , a writer for The Spruce Pets, with hundreds of hours of experience testing pet products, both in our labs and at home. Before researching and writing about pet products for a living, Mejorada embarked on a self-mandated, ongoing quest to find the optimal items for her dog, a happy Pomeranian named Gidget. She is now delightfully devoted to helping humans discover and select the most favorable products for their pets.

A previous version was written by Lorraine Wilde who has had at least two cat companions in her home for the past 35 years including some special needs kitties.

We also consulted with Jaime Lyn Bast, a Registered Veterinary Technician and professional dog trainer (KPA-CTP) with over 10 years of technician experience.

More from The Spruce Pets

• The 11 Best Dog Carriers Tested With Real Canines Inside
• The 6 Best Airline-Approved Pet Carriers of 2024, Tested and Reviewed
• The 6 Best Backpack Cat Carriers Tested By Transporting Real Cats
• The Best Cat Carrier For Road Trips Is Crash Test Certified
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10 Best Cat Carriers, Tested by Experts and Approved by Cats

Before you can let your cat out of the bag, you have to get it inside one!

We've been independently researching and testing products for over 120 years. If you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Learn more about our review process.

Getting a skittish cat into a carrier is probably one of the most daunting tasks as a pet owner (though maybe not as tough as trying to brush a cat's teeth). Cats somehow sense even the slightest intention and go into hiding. Once you manage to lure them out and get them into the carrier you have about five seconds in which to close it up before they make a run for it. So a cat carrier has to be sturdy, it has to be able to close up fast, it has to accommodate your cat's size (a special consideration if you have a large cat!) and you have to be able to clean it.

Our top picks:

Best Overall Cat Carrier

Away the pet carrier.

Best Value Cat Carrier

Vceoa soft-sided cat carrier.

Best Cat Carrier for Large Cats

Sportpet foldable travel cat carrier with waterproof bed.

Scroll to the bottom of this guide for helpful tips on choosing between a soft- and hard-sided cat carrier. Also, it turns out there are lots of ways to get your cat in a carrier with minimal stress — we include advice at the end of this story. For more ways to pamper your cat, check out our recommendations for the best cat toys and cat water fountains .

Away is a beloved luggage brand — we named it the best carry-on luggage — and its pet carrier is intelligently designed for travel. A trolley sleeve secures the cat carrier to the handle of your rolling luggage, and separate latches fit a seat belt to hold this securely onto a car's seat. It fits pets up to 18 pounds, making it good for large cats. It's a soft-sided carrier on the bigger side (roughly 18" by 10") so though it meets Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requirements for airplane travel, real-world reports say it does not fit under all airplane seats unless you squish it down a bit.

Only the top, one side and the front have mesh panels — if you have a scared cat, the less it sees the better, so that's a help. A privacy screen rolls down on the side if your cat wants to see even less. The lack of visibility also works to your advantage as you sail through the airport without attracting a lot of attention as your cat snuggles down in its comfy, sherpa-lined travel cave. Fewer curious faces peering in equals a less nervous animal.

Other things we love: It's made of high-quality, durable materials like water-resistant nylon and leather trim. You can load your cat in through the top or the side. The sherpa bed with walls (more luxe than the flat mat of most carriers) can be hand-washed and air-dried if there's an accident, and the rest wipes clean. There are little touches like an ID card, key clip and multiple pockets. Away's return policy gives you 100 days after purchase to return it, but only unused if you never put your cat inside. We also named this our best overall dog carrier , so it can pull double duty if you also have a small dog. (Just no fitting two pets in at the same time!)

This bargain is one of the most popular cat carriers on Amazon with more than 24,000 five-star ratings. It features mesh on four sides and zippered entrances on the top and the front. It has a light steel frame, so it does not fold flat, which makes it easier to get the cat inside, but doesn't help with storage. The solid back side has a zippered pocket for holding treats or paperwork from the vet.

Our Lab pros like that this comes with two inserts. One is hard, smooth and wipeable and it can give the bag a steady “floor.” The other insert has a zip-off, washable fuzzy cover for comfort. Several online reviewers whose cats had accidents in this tote report that they washed the liner and put the entire carrier in the washing machine on delicate with cold water, then let the carrier air-dry — and the smell was gone.

Many use this to get a cat up to 16 pounds to and from the vet, but it also fits under the seat in many airplane cabins. The brand says the shoulder strap doubles as a car seat belt but we did not test that. A few Lab notes: We found that the dimensions of the medium tote are smaller than the ones listed on Amazon. The buckle that attaches the shoulder strap to the bag is plastic, and so is the loop it hooks into, which helps keep cost down but makes this less durable over time. It also has no feet on the bottom, so it rests directly on the floor, which can wear the fabric down with repeated use.

Not only can this hold a large cat up to 25 pounds, but the SportPet carrier is among the easiest to load a cat into thanks to the extra-wide side opening . And this comes recommended by a vet . “I have this carrier for my own cat, and I am all for it as a veterinarian,” says Megan Conrad , M.B.B.S., who works for Wellhaven Pet Health outside of Portland, Oregon. “I appreciate how it opens because most of the time it gives me enough room to do an exam while keeping the cat in the carrier, which makes the cat feel safer.”

As much as we recommend this one for vet visits, it's not made for long-haul travel. It doesn't meet airline requirements nor does it fit under an airplane seat, and it has no special straps for a car. But we love that it folds flat for storage, and we appreciate that the hard-sided carrier can be rinsed clean. The cozy bed can be run through the washing machine and dryer. If you're mostly just taking a scaredy cat or a big cat to doctor visits, this is a fantastic choice.

Sherpa Deluxe Travel Pet Carrier

The medium size of this carrier (about 17" by 11") as well as the small size (about 15" by 10") are both airline-approved and reviewers have been able to fit this in an airline cabin better than most. It holds its shape thanks to a springy wire frame that can be squished down a bit for a better fit under a seat. The medium size holds a cat up to 16 pounds, and the small holds a cat (or likely a kitten) up to 8 pounds. There's also a seatbelt safety strap for securing this in a car.

Both the top and side open nice and wide, and we had success getting our 15-pound tester cat, Helen, in through the side. There's a thin fuzzy mat that holds to the bottom of the carrier with hook-and-loop strips so it doesn't shift around, which is a nice touch. Carry it by hand or use the shoulder strap that attaches with strong metal buckles. There are two zippers at each opening so you can get it quickly closed.

The polyester fabric can be wiped clean. With a little bit of work, this cat carrier can be folded down almost flat for storage. Three sides are mesh; the top and one end are not. The solid end features a deep, zippered pocket where you can stash vet records and other documents. We like that the feet on the bottom of the carrier are substantial and keep the bag off the floor to prevent wear and tear, but some online reviewers complain of the feet making the bag sit at an angle, and others report zippers breaking over time. Overall, the materials do not seem to be as durable as those on our top pick.

Sleepypod Air In-Cabin Pet Carrier

Use this as your cat's plush bed at home, then zip up the top for easy travel. It's one of the most well-made pet carriers we tested , constructed with durable hardware, a washable soft lining, nylon exterior and a sturdy mesh top. One of our tester cats, Helen, hopped right in. To have it ready for travel, we partially zipped the top on and left it propped open so that once Helen was inside, we could close the top down and quickly zip it the rest of the way.

Save the directions that come with your Sleepypod Air for the instructions on how to secure this into a car using the seatbelt. It's ideal for car travel and has even been crash-tested and passed additional testing by the Center for Pet Safety . This will fit under the seat in an airline cabin, too — it's made to compress down to 16" x 10.5" x 8" so your cat has room while going through the airport but then can fit snugly for the flight.

One of our favorite things about the Sleepypod Air is how much privacy it provides. The top is mesh but the sides are solid, so a scared cat can nestle in and not deal with the outside world. But you can easily peer through the top and be sure all is well in there.

Gen7Pets Roller Bag Pet Carrier

Do you have a chonky cat or a ways to walk with your pet? This pet carrier on wheels can be pulled along by the telescoping handle or worn as a backpack . In our tests, it was much easier to roll than wear with a large cat inside, since the bag itself weighs 7 pounds. If you have a lightweight cat or kitten, wearing it as a backpack works just fine.

When you set it down with the handle against the floor, you can open the top hatch to form a little pet bed. One of our tester cats, Azula, climbed right in without prompting. We also used this with a hefty male calico cat, Harry, and appreciated how easy it was to get him through the large side opening. The carrier itself is roomy, and Harry made a 30-mile car trip with ease. Reports from online reviewers about using this for airline travel are mixed. The bottom line is that it's easy to move through an airport but a tight squeeze on many planes.

We tested durability by rolling this through the New York City subway system, up steps and down escalators and along the sidewalks of Brooklyn. It held up beautifully and because one set of wheels can spin 360 degrees, it's easy to nimbly switch directions. Some online reviewers, however, were not happy pulling their cat behind them; if you aspire to wheel your furry pal ahead of you, you'll want a pet stroller . For those of us with fat cats (sorry, Harry), this can hold a pet up to 20 pounds.

Petmate Two-Door Cat Kennel

Hard-sided carriers aren't especially cute, and they don't squish down for storage. But they are a safe option if you'll be moving your cat around with a lot of luggage in the car. The cat is protected from anything knocking against it. Hard-sided carriers are also frequently used to trap feral cats because they hold up to sharp claws and teeth. This is also an easier carrier type to clean if your cat has an accident since you can wash or hose it clean.

We tested the 24-inch size which has plenty of room for a big cat. According to the manufacturer, the large model holds an animal up to 15 pounds, but we found that you could carry up to 20 pounds in the large carrier especially if you keep one hand under the carrier and use the other to hold the top handle. Online reviewers with big cats, including Maine Coons, attest to having success with this large carrier.

Unlike the other carriers in this story which are ready to be used out of the box, this hard-sided carrier requires about 8 minutes of assembly. You must put the metal door in place and use the included screws and washers to secure the top to the bottom. This is not sized for travel in an airplane cabin.

Sherpa Bubble Cat Carrier Backpack

Rockstar Taylor Swift totes one of her Scottish Fold cats in this faux-leather bubble-window backpack cat carrier in her “Miss Americana” Netflix documentary , leading a lot of cat owners to seek it out. My college kid was thrilled at the possibility of toting their young cat in this while going to and from campus during school breaks. It's a tall carrier, but it's not especially wide. Loading a large, hefty cat into this proved to be impossible, as did loading my kid's feisty little cat — she was able to spread her legs out and avoid going in. But we did have great success putting a slender, older tomcat, Buddy, inside and walking around with him; it held steady on our tester's back, and Buddy seemed to enjoy peering out of the window.

This carrier has a luxe feel, quality hardware, very secure and adjustable backpack straps plus a tote handle on top. You can swap out the bubble window for a flat, mesh window if you prefer; that would help this slide under an airplane set. One disappointment: The sherpa-fabric pad inside is not attached so it does slide around. But we like the open ventilation holes, a point of difference with this carrier — they help the cat breathe and also let you poke your finger in there to reassure your kitty or to slip it a treat. It gets great reviews on Petco.com, where it qualifies for free shipping.

Mr. Peanut's Airline Approved Backpack Pet Carrier

When you can wear your cat on your back in a backpack, taking them on mass transit or walking to the vet is easy . Your hands stay free and your cat doesn't swing back and forth the way they might when toting a kennel or bag in one hand. A backpack also keeps your cat up high, where they can watch dogs and other creatures down beneath them.

With this deluxe backpack, we found both the top door and the front door to be too small to load a full-grown cat (at least, too small for our large beasts), but either could work to get a kitten into the backpack. The small doors are good if you want to reach in and give some reassuring pats. For loading a grown cat, use the wide side doors. There's a 10-pound weight limit with this, so it's not for chunky cats.

Our favorite feature is the nice plush lining, not just along the floor but along the back of the inside, making the entire interior soft and cozy. One end has a cupholder and two small pockets, and the other has a zippered pocket and an identification tag. The back of the bag can slide over your luggage handle so it can ride on top of your suitcase. The black buckles on the front are for securing the bag to a seatbelt.

WZCPCV Expandable Waterproof Cat Carrier

Travel with your cat in this tote, then expand the two sides when you reach your destination so your cat can safely explore new surroundings. You wouldn't want to do that on an airplane, of course, but it is perfect if you bring your cat with you to a rental house or hotel room, to visit relatives or if you're relocating. Instead of hiding somewhere and making the transition difficult, your kitty can get settled in this roomy contraption. You can even fit a small travel litter box into one of the sides. It's also a way to bring your curious cat outdoors for some bird-watching without any danger of a dead bird or a lost cat.

While this carrier is not in Walmart stores, it is available on the website. Note that there's no fuzzy little mat in this one, but you could include a towel or shirt from home to give your cat something soft and familiar to sit on while in the carrier.

How we test cat carriers

Our team regularly reviews pet gear such as dog beds and cat condos , and our experts tested more than a dozen pet totes when we covered the best dog carriers. We sent some of those that could also work for cats to at-home testers with six cats over three households. Then we scoured online reviews to find more carriers that users say are specifically great for felines and tested those both in our Lab and in homes with consumer testers . We also consulted veterinarian Megan Conrad , M.B.B.S., of Wellhaven Pet Health , for her advice.

In the Lab, we used weights in each bag to make sure the straps could hold up to the stress, and we checked each bag's measurements against what was listed online to make sure the dimensions were accurate. Our final picks are the 10 pet carriers that we feel are best for traveling with a cat in a car, in an airplane or heading to the vet.

What to consider when buying a cat carrier

As soon as you adopt a new cat or kitten you should also get a cat carrier so you can safely transport your feline to the vet for shots and check-ups. Some families also want to travel with their cat if they're going away for any stretch of time. When you're deciding between a hard or soft carrier , consider the following:

✔️ The case for a hard-sided cat carrier: If your cat will be among a lot of luggage in your vehicle, a hard-sided carrier can prevent injury if the luggage shifts around. Also, if your cat is prone to peeing out of nervousness, a hard-sided carrier is easiest to wash or hose clean. We also like that the two hard-sided carriers in our story have large doors that make it easy to scoot a scared cat inside. Hard-sided carriers are often used by cat rescue organizations.

✔️ The case for a soft-sided cat carrier: Soft carriers usually have a shoulder strap and are easy to cart around. They're also best if you'll be traveling by plane. Officially, a plane's under-seat storage should be able to fit anything 18" x 14" x 8" or smaller. Unofficially, space varies by airline and plane size. If you're taking your cat in an airplane cabin, we recommend using a soft carrier that can be slightly squished down to fit if necessary. Any of the totes (without wheels) and backpacks in this story should work. While we were not able to fly-test the carriers in this story, we did study the manufacturer details and online reviews to understand which ones are made to successfully ride in an airplane cabin.

✔️ A note for city pet parents: For city dwellers who might tote their cat on public transportation, via bike or who have a walk to the vet, we like the backpack-style cat carriers or one on wheels.

✔️ And finally, advice if you have a large cat: A cat that weighs 12 pounds or less will fit into almost any cat carrier, including a backpack. Heftier cats in the 12- to 25-pound range should have a durable tote-style cat carrier that you can carry with a shoulder strap or move around on wheels, or a hard-sided cat carrier. If your big cat is in a hard-sided carrier, keep one hand underneath it while you carry it with the other.

Tips for using a cat carrier

Veterinarians recommend these steps for making it easier to get your cat in a carrier and keep them calm:

✔️ Put the carrier out in the open well before you need to use it. This takes the terrifying mystery out of it and allows your cat to explore the inside of the carrier on their own time.

✔️ Put a favorite treat and/or toy inside. Use that as a lure and as a comfort object for the trip.

✔️ Add a blanket or towel inside that's been sprayed with a cat-calming scent. Many vets and experts recommend Feliway Pheromone Spray to help ease your kitty. You can also spray it directly on the carrier liner. Use the spray and then let the alcohol dissipate for about 20 minutes before you transport your cat.

✔️ Most pet carriers do have a tether inside. The soft carriers in this story all have a tether inside. These attach to your cat's collar so that when you open the carrier, the cat can't immediately leap out. Vets and experts recommend it. However, those of us with skittish cats know that getting the feline in there is enough of a battle, and if you open a panel to fuss with the tether, the cat might jump right back out. No judgment from us if getting your cat tethered is one step too many.

✔️ Consider throwing a blanket or towel over the carrier at the vet. Cats may not like to see dogs or other cats who are strange to them. If a vet's waiting room is full of other animals, use a towel to shield your cat from the view to keep them less stressed.

Why trust Good Housekeeping?

For more than 120 years our staff has evaluated consumer products to help consumers make sound purchases. A dedicated roster of engineers, scientists and journalists employed by Good Housekeeping regularly test product claims and recommend items that live up to their promise.

Lead author Jessica Hartshorn is a contributing writer and 30-year veteran of the magazine industry which began with her working as an intern at Good Housekeeping during college. She was most recently a senior editor at Parents magazine where she covered pet products alongside kid products. She has four cats in her house and has also tested the best cat litter and self-cleaning cat boxes .

Some Lab testing in this roundup was carried out by former Parenting & Pets Reviews Analyst Jamie Spain , a graduate of the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University. Spain owns a dog and has reviewed products such as healthy dog treats .

This review was overseen by Rachel Rothman , former chief technologist and executive technical director at the Good Housekeeping Institute. Rothman, a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, was with the Institute for more than 15 years and founded major initiatives such as our Parenting Awards .

Jessica (she/her) is a freelance writer with several decades of experience writing lifestyle content and evaluating home and parenting products. A mom of two teens and two cats, her previous work can be seen in American Baby and Parents .

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Whisker City ® "Meow" Soft-Sided Cat & Dog Carrier, 19-in

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Whisker City Two Door Top Load Portable Kennel

Whisker City ® 2-Door Pet Carrier

Whisker City ® Cat Carrier

Whisker City ® Expandable Plastic Backpack Cat Carrier

Whisker City ® Tan Plaid Soft-Sided Cat Carrier

Whisker City ® Blue Floral Soft-Sided Cat Carrier

Top Paw Travel Airline Carrier

Whisker City ® Black Mesh Soft Sided Cat & Dog Carrier, 19-in

Whisker City ® Blue Cat Print Soft-Sided Cat Carrier

Great Choice ® Adoption Box Pet Carrier

Sherpa ® Ultimate On Wheels Soft-Sided Pet Carrier

Sherpa ® Original Deluxe Pet Carrier

Sherpa Element Deluxe Pet Carrier - Travel Airline Approved

Whisker City ® Top Load Cat Kennel

Top Paw ® Soft-Sided Pet Tote Carrier

Top Paw ® On-the-Go Dog or Cat Carrier Tote - Pink

K9 Sport Sack ® Plus 2 Pet Carrier

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K&H Pet Products Travel Safety Carrier

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Petmate ® Top Load Cat Kennel

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When you’re traveling with your cat, whether it’s just down the road to the vet’s office or across the country, you want to keep your pet happy and comfortable. PetSmart’s soft cat carriers are the perfect way to keep your feline friend comfortable, give them enough room, and help keep them calm. We carry soft cat carriers in many colors, types, sizes, and materials so it’s easy to find one that is just right for you and your cat. 

We know how difficult it can be to travel with pets, so we want to make it as simple as possible for both you and your cat to get where you need to go. Our collection of soft cat carriers can be found with many options that are specifically made for your convenience and your cat or kitten’s comfort, with options like:

Carry your cat in comfort and style with deluxe soft cat carrier bags at PetSmart. Shop our collection for traditional pet carriers, as well as slings, wheeled duffle bags, backpacks and wearable pouches you and your cat will love.

Looking for a different way to travel with your cat or kitten?  PetSmart also carries many other containment solutions , like cat doors and playpens . 

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Best overall

Best expandable, best stylish, best budget, best backpack.

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How to prepare a cat for flying

The 5 best airline-approved cat carriers, tested by cats and humans.

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Air travel with a cat is stressful, but one of the best airline-approved cat carriers can make it easier. When a cat is flying at your feet in the plane cabin, a durable soft-sided carrier with some key features will ensure your pet's comfort and safety, and your peace of mind.

To select the best carriers for flying with a cat, we spoke with a veterinarian and pet travel experts and tested 26 different airline-friendly pet carriers. Our top pick, the Sleepypod Air , is as durable as it is comfortable for pets and humans alike. If you're looking for a more affordable airline cat carrier, the simple Frisco Premium Airline Compliant Quilted Carrier Bag will keep your kitty comfortable from the beginning to the end of your journey.

Keep in mind that carrier size requirements vary by airline. Delta , American Airlines , and United allow pet carriers up to 18 inches (L) by 11 inches (W) by 11 inches (H). Some airlines have smaller maximum sizes, so make sure to check the airline's website before embarking with your pet.

Read more about how Insider Reviews tests and researches pet products .

Our top picks for the best airline-approved cat carriers

Best overall: Sleepypod Air - See at Chewy

Best expandable: Mr. Peanut's Gold Series Expandable Carrier - See at Amazon

Best stylish: Away The Pet Carrier - See at Away

Best budget: Frisco Premium Airline Compliant Quilted Carrier Bag - See at Chewy

Best backpack:  Mr. Peanut's Monterey Series Backpack Airline Compliant Pet Carrier - See at Amazon

The crash-test-certified Sleepypod Air has plush bedding, optimal ventilation, and a roomy interior to keep cats calm and comfortable in the air and on the ground.

• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Optional privacy screen
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Double-layered mesh
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Crash-test certified
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Ample storage
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Padded carry handle
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Washable interior mat
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Unzips into bed or car seat
• con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Carry handle may cause discomfort for those with larger hands due to its small size
• con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Expensive

Our cat testers weren't shy about expressing their clear preference for the Sleepypod Air. During a recent trip to the vet, they both piled into the carrier, opting for its cozy sanctuary over their other carrier. The Sleepypod Air's plush bedding, just-right ventilation, and spacious interior proved calming and comfortable. For skittish fliers, the carrier includes a privacy screen you can slide through the mesh top, though this significantly reduces your cat's access to fresh air.

Among the best airline-approved cat carriers, the Sleepypod Air stands out for its innovative design and commitment to pet safety — it's certified by the Center for Pet Safety (CPS), a nonprofit consumer advocacy organization that researches and crash-tests pet carriers to ensure their safety. Rather than doors, it features one continuous zipper that runs end to end. With one pull of the zipper, the carrier transforms into an open bed, converts into a car seat, or rolls up for convenient storage. It's also designed to fold in approximately 2.5 inches at each end, meeting the size requirements of most major airlines. We recommend practicing compressing the bag before your trip. 

The padded cross-body shoulder strap felt supportive, and the carrier rested comfortably against the body without collapsing inward. With the luggage strap, the carrier easily stayed balanced on a suitcase when rolling over curbs and rough sidewalks.

The Sleepypod Air isn't cheap. However, given its versatility, comfort, and impressive safety features, we believe it's well worth the investment. You can return it, used or unused, within a year, and Sleepypod guarantees a replacement if it's damaged in an auto accident.

Mr. Peanut's Gold Series Expandable Carrier unzips to almost double in size, providing a cat with extra room on long travel days.

• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Front and top-loading carrier
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Expandable compartment for more space
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Secure luggage strap
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Padded detachable shoulder strap
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Washable interior bed
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Easy to store
• con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Limited pocket space
• con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Expandable section can't be used in flight
• con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. No warranty

On long travel days with time spent in airports, Mr. Peanut's Gold Series Expandable Carrier offers jet-setting cats extra space to stretch out. It includes a zippered panel on its right side that unfolds into a mesh atrium that nearly doubles the carrier's interior space. While the expandable section can't be used in flight, this feature makes it the best airline-approved cat carrier for cross-country flights with layovers and extended stays away from home.

The spacious carrier is front- and top-loading with a roll-up privacy flap over the top door, and it offers plenty of ventilation to keep a cat from overheating. Inside, there is a soft plush bolster bed and safety tether. Outside, it has an adjustable padded shoulder strap and a faux leather carry handle. There is one 10-inch by 4-inch mesh pocket on the backside. 

With sturdy mesh screens and smooth zippers, Mr. Peanut's carrier excelled in our testing. It was easy to spot clean, and although the bed is labeled hand-wash only, it came out of the washing machine looking nearly new after air-drying.

When we tested the luggage strap, the carrier remained mostly balanced on our suitcase, slipping only about an inch to one side. Carrying it on the shoulder was comfortable, and the strap was easy to adjust to the correct length.

Away's Pet Carrier has a sleek design and offers your cat maximum comfort and safety from point A to point B.

• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Machine-washable interior mat
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Water-resistant nylon exterior and interior
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Multiple water-resistant pockets
• con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Only two color options

We're big fans of Away's luggage line for its sleek design and thoughtful features. Now your feline companion can travel with the same sophistication and safety thanks to the Away Pet Carrier. Like the Sleepypod Air, it is crash-test certified by the CPS and has an interior safety tether to keep your pet secure between destinations. It replaces our previous favorite stylish carrier, the Diggs Passenger Travel Carrier , because it fits most major airline carrier size restrictions without the need to squish or fold in the sides. 

Our feline tester loved the soft sherpa interior mat, making this carrier a prime napping spot at home and on the go. Mesh windows on two sides and the top provide excellent ventilation while giving your cat a sense of security. However, if your cat is a nervous flyer, simply roll down the privacy window for extra calm.

To navigate busy airports, you can slide the handy back sleeve over the handle of luggage from any brand. There's also an adjustable shoulder strap so you can wear it crossbody, and the carrier has just rigid enough construction so it won't collapse inward on your precious cargo. Or you can carry your cat using the leather hand strap. 

This carrier's wipe-away nylon exterior and interior make cleaning up messes on the go easy. Even the pockets are nylon-lined, and the front pocket is waterproof with drainage holes, perfect for storing a collapsible water bowl. The machine-washable interior liner is secured by velcro and easy to remove, so you can toss it in the wash once you reach your destination.

This Frisco cat carrier is a cozy and budget-friendly option that holds up well to wear and tear.

• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Two loading doors
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Velcro-secured pocket
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Holds large cats
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Comes with ID tags and collapsible travel dish
• con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Shoulder strap lacks padding
• con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Luggage strap not as secure as other carriers
• con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Only one color option

Although this carrier is a fraction of the price of our other picks for the best airline-approved cat carriers, it still performed well in durability testing. At home, it was also the carrier our tester cats consistently chose to lounge in time and time again. Simply put, the cozy Frisco Premium Airline Compliant Quilted Carrier Bag is an excellent budget airline cat carrier.

Susan Nilson , a cat and dog trainer and behavior specialist, recommends leaving a carrier with the doors open at home so your cat can get accustomed to it before travel. We did just that, and the carrier quickly became one of our cats' favorite spots to nap. Even after machine washing the interior fleece mat, it didn't lose its softness or cat appeal.

The carrier has two doors, top and side, and two storage pockets: a secure Velcro pocket to stash your keys and phone and a mesh pocket to keep your cat's treats and travel documents easily accessible. The included collapsible silicone bowl and ID tag ticks two essentials off your packing list.

The adjustable shoulder strap and carry handle lack padding and may become uncomfortable on longer journeys. Similar to pricier options, the Frisco carrier includes a luggage strap designed to attach the carrier to the telescopic handle of your suitcase. However, the strap doesn't keep the carrier well-balanced on curbs and sidewalks, so you'll want to have a free hand for added support. 

Mr. Peanut's Monterey Backpack Carrier is a great option for busy travelers who prioritize feline comfort and hands-free transport.

• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Hands-free convenience
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. Padded shoulder straps
• Check mark icon A check mark. It indicates a confirmation of your intended interaction. ID tag
• con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. No crossbody fit
• con icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. Small weight limit

If you already have your hands full, Mr. Peanut's backpack carrier might be your best bet. It's a cat carrier you can wear on your back to keep your hands free and your cat safe. 

The backpack prioritizes a cat's comfort with a wider profile similar to a traditional carrier. This design eliminates the need to turn the carrier — and your cat — on its side for stowing under the seat in front of you. It does sit a bit higher on my back than my favorite cat hiking backpack (reaching mid-back or higher depending on your height), but it's a small price to pay for a cozy feline friend. The adjustable, padded shoulder strap offers a carrying alternative but isn't long enough for a crossbody fit.

According to the brand, an interior machine-washable thermal pad is designed to keep cats comfortable in any climate. While I can't confirm its effectiveness at regulating temperature, my cats certainly approved of it as a napping spot. To test its ease of cleaning, I smeared a mix of dry and wet cat food on the interior and exterior. A quick wipe-down with a damp paper towel removed most of the mess from the nylon exterior. The interior quilted design trapped some dried food bits in the crevices, but the washing machine took care of the mess. A pre-wash scrub may be necessary for some dried-on accidents.

The carrier didn't take a toll on my back during walks, thanks to its mesh padding that offers breathability and cushioning. However, it lacks a waist or chest clip for added stability on long airport treks, so I tightened the shoulder straps to hold the carrier flush against my back. The carrier comes in medium and large, but only the medium size meets most airline carry-on restrictions.

What to look for in an airline cat carrier

The best airline-approved cat carriers come in many different styles at varying price points. To ensure you get the best value for safety and comfort, our experts recommend considering the following factors when shopping.

Safety: Unlike child car seats, there are no universal safety standards or inspections for cat carriers. However, some brands go the extra mile by subjecting their carriers to rigorous testing by reputable third-party or nonprofit safety organizations. Among our recommended picks, the Sleepypod Air and Away Pet Carrier have been crash-test certified by the Center for Pet Safety (CPS), a nonprofit consumer advocacy organization that studies the safety of pet products. 

Currently, CPS studies do not extend to air travel and flight safety. Despite the absence of standardized air travel safety tests, crash-test certification remains the gold standard. As Lindsey Wolko, founder and CEO of CPS, points out, you'll want to consider your entire journey, including driving from your home to the airport and transportation at your destination. 

Wolko says carriers are most susceptible to failure at seams where the mesh connects to the carrier body. She recommends inspecting carriers for any signs of loose threads, weak spots, or faulty zippers to ensure their overall safety and reliability throughout transit.

Size: A carrier should be roomy enough for your cat to comfortably turn around and lie down while still being compact enough to fit under the seat in front of you. Carrier size requirements vary by airline, so double-check your airline's specific requirements.   

Fortunately, size isn't usually a limiting factor for cats. More often than not, they prefer to curl up in a small ball and hide during the trip, says Dr. Jo Myers , a veterinarian with Vetster. She says extra room for playing, eating, drinking, or using the litter box during the flight is typically unnecessary. However, if you anticipate a long layover and want extra legroom for your cat, an expandable carrier like Mr. Peanut's Gold Series Expandable Carrier is a good choice.

Weight restrictions: Many in-cabin cat carriers are suitable for cats weighing up to 15 or 18 pounds. If your cat is on the heavier side, double-check the weight limit for the carrier you're considering purchasing and make sure your cat has room to comfortably move around in the carrier.  

Ventilation: Most carriers are designed with enough ventilation (at least 16%) to meet the International Air Transport Association (IATA) minimum requirement . Some carriers may have less or more, so the amount of ventilation you choose depends on you and your cat's preferences. 

Since Myers says most cats prefer to hide in stressful environments, carriers with privacy walls and flaps may be beneficial. Alternatively, she recommends bringing a towel or blanket that you can place over the carrier if your cat becomes stressed. "Even if you cover the carrier with a towel, it's far from airtight," she says. "Simply check on your cat occasionally, without disturbing them any more than necessary."

How we tested the best airline-approved cat carriers

We developed our selection and testing criteria for this guide to the best airline-approved cat carriers with advice from our experts. The 26 carriers we evaluated underwent the tests described here.

Feature comparison: After conducting interviews with our experts, we created a point rubric for scoring each carrier based on the following features:

• Shape and design
• Interior mat
• Loading doors
• Carrying straps and handles
• Ventilation
• Privacy flaps
• Interior safety tether
• Luggage strap
• Dimensions and in-cabin airline capability
• Safety certifications
• Ease of storage

Scrape test: We scraped a mesh section of each carrier 50 times with a fork to test its durability, noting any damage or discoloration. 

Zip test: To test the durability of each carrier's zippers, we completely zipped and unzipped one of its loading entrances 50 times. In the process, we observed changes in the zipper's ability to smoothly run its course.

Luggage test: If a carrier included a luggage strap, we evaluated how well it remained balanced on top of a suitcase. We placed a 10-pound weight inside and attached the carrier to a suitcase handle so it rested on top of our luggage. Then we rolled it over a curb, up a ramp, and along the sidewalk and street of a city block. 

Ventilation test: According to Wolko, ventilation is important to prevent a cat from overheating during travel. We measured the dimensions of each carrier's mesh panels and calculated the percentage of the total surface area they comprised. We favored bags with more ventilation. According to IATA live animal regulations, pet carrier bags must have a minimum of 16% ventilation. 

Walk test: We took each soft-sided carrier containing a 10-pound weight on a 15-minute walk around a neighborhood. Each was carried using the shoulder strap and held at the front of the body the way a person would if they had a real cat inside. For the last block of the walk, we switched to using the hand-carry straps. The backpack carriers were taken on the same walk but were not carried by hand. With each one, we paid attention to how comfortable it was to carry, how much it bounced, and whether it collapsed inwards.

Goop test: We devised this test to determine how easy it would be to clean the carriers if a cat vomited or defecated in transit. We mashed together cat kibble, canned food, and water with a mortar and pestle to make the goop, then spread a tablespoon on an exterior wall and interior mat of each carrier. After 48 hours, we wiped the goop from the exterior using dish soap and water and cleaned the mats in the washing machine. 

Drop and stomp tests: We brought the carriers to a local park, loaded each one with a 10-pound weight, and threw them off of a 10-foot play structure, looking for any damage that occurred upon landing. We then rolled the bags several times on the ground with the weight still inside, looking for damage to the stitching, mesh, or zippers. Later, at home, we placed each carrier on a rug and stomped on it a dozen times with bare feet, noting whether its frame changed shape or the bag suffered any other damage.

Airline cat carrier FAQs

What is considered an airline-approved pet carrier.

To fly with a cat in the cabin of a plane, you'll need a soft-sided carrier that fits within the allowable dimensions of the airline, which vary a little from airline to airline. Regardless of the carrier you use, Wolko says to make sure your cat has enough room to stand up, turn around, and lie down comfortably. Additionally, there should be at least 2 to 3 inches of clearance from the top of their ears to the interior roof of the carrier.

How much does it cost to fly with a cat? 

Fees for flying with a pet in the cabin of a plane vary between carriers. At United Airlines , a one-way flight for your cat adds $125 to your ticket price. At Delta , there is a $95 fee for domestic flights. Flying a cat in the cargo hold on a domestic flight is typically about $300 per trip. Sending a cat on an international flight can cost up to triple that amount.

How much ventilation should a carrier have? 

For soft-sided carriers, Wolko says mesh ventilation should be on at least three sides of the bag. In cargo, airlines require that a kennel is ventilated on all four sides. According to the IATA live animal regulations, both soft- and hard-sided pet carriers must have a minimum of 16% ventilation. 

Do cats need to go to the bathroom on a flight? 

Unless a cat has a medical condition, they will be fine without access to a litter box for the duration of a flight. "Just based on the physiology of cats, they could probably go from Boston to Hawaii without needing to void," says Dr. Bob Murtaugh , a veterinarian and chair of veterinary medicine for the National Academies of Practice.

In the cargo hold, kennels cannot be outfitted with a litter box or anything other than an absorbent liner and a soft bed or blanket. "If the travel day will be more than eight hours, during a layover pet owners can arrange a comfort stop for cats to be let out of their carrier," says Elaine Mathis, pet travel specialist and project manager at Happy Tails Travel . When you let your cat out of their carrier, you'll want to make sure your cat is safely secured with one of the best cat harnesses attached to a leash.

Do cats need food and water on a flight? 

On shorter in-cabin flights, it's unlikely your cat will require food or water. However, if you're flying your cat in cargo, Mathis says a food bowl and water bowl should be in the carrier regardless of the flight length. She recommends using dishes that fasten to the crate's door and can be refilled easily from the outside, such as Lixit's Quick Lock Crock 10-ounce bowls .

What are the signs that my cat may be in distress in flight?

According to Murtaugh, a few obvious signs may indicate your cat is in distress during a flight, either due to fear or excessive heat. A cat that is panting, restless, and vocalizing could be experiencing significant anxiety or overheating. If the membranes in their gums turn bright red, the latter is most likely, and it's important to cool them off quickly. If a flight attendant approves, placing the carrier on your lap so they can feel the air blowing from the vent above your seat or wiping them down with a wet cloth may help lower their body temperature. Before your travel, Nilson recommends lightly spraying the carrier with calming pheromones. 

In the weeks before their trip, introduce your cat to their carrier or kennel in a positive way. "Make the carrier feel like a cave or a home or something that's comfortable, something that they're not just jammed into the first time they're on their way to the airport," says Murtaugh.

Place the carrier in an area of the home where your cat spends a lot of time and encourage them to explore it by placing catnip and treats inside or by playing with them in and around the space. 

Murtaugh says that taking your cat on a car ride or other forms of transportation while in their carrier may also be helpful in the weeks before the flight. He recommends placing a bed or blanket that smells like home inside the carrier and using a pheromone spray or collar to help take the edge off. 

If your cat has a history of experiencing debilitating stress during travel and will be flying in the cabin, you can speak to your vet about prescribing an anxiety-relieving medication. However, it's important to test medication out before your flight. "Make sure there won't be any untoward side effects," says Murtaugh. "Your vet can help you tailor that to your cat's needs."

The IATA recommends against sedating a cat before flying in the cargo hold. It can be fatal for older, chronically sick, or highly stressed animals. Nilson says calming pheromones such as Feliway or Pet Remedy are safe alternatives.

You can purchase logo and accolade licensing to this story here . Disclosure: Written and researched by the Insider Reviews team. We highlight products and services you might find interesting. If you buy them, we may get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our partners. We may receive products free of charge from manufacturers to test. This does not drive our decision as to whether or not a product is featured or recommended. We operate independently from our advertising team. We welcome your feedback. Email us at [email protected] .

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The 12 Very Best Cat Carriers

From soft-sided duffels to space-age-y backpacks..

In this article

• Best overall
• Best less expensive
• Best hard sided
• Best expandable
• Most stylish
• Best backpack style

Best cat stroller

• Best “in a pinch”

Cat owners know how difficult it can be to travel just about anywhere with their feline friend. Wrangling a nervous animal into a pet carrier can often be a bit of a nightmare. Not only do you have to worry about your pet getting stressed, but you want them to be as safe as possible — while also following airplane regulations, if you’re flying .

There are tons of carrier designs on the market, but the best cat carrier is always the one that feels cozy, comfortable, and peaceful for your cat. “If you can find a carrier that your cat is not terrified of, that’s it: That’s the gold standard,” says Kerrie McKeon, resident cat expert at the animal-welfare and adoption organization Bideawee. “You can’t do better than that.” So we spoke to McKeon and nine other veterinarians, cat behavioral experts, and passionate cat owners about the carriers they recommend, to help you narrow down the crowded field.

What we’re looking for

Soft vs. hard sided.

Carriers can either be soft sided — made from flexible materials like nylon, polyester, or microfiber — or hard sided with a rigid, durable shell. Hard-sided carriers are sturdier and easier to clean, so they may be a better fit if your cat gets aggressive, suffers from motion sickness, or is prone to having accidents when nervous. However, since hard-sided carriers are more solid and bulky, it’s usually best to choose a soft-sided carrier if you’re planning to take your cat on a flight or road trip where they need to be stowed away into tight spaces. A soft-sided carrier is lighter and easier to store than a hard carrier, but could be more easily damaged by sharp claws and teeth and may not provide as much protection as a hard-sided carrier. Whether you ultimately end up with a soft-sided or hard-sided carrier, look for one with “both a top-load option and a front-load option,” advises McKeon. “Putting them in through the front can be hard if they’re trying to back up against you, but dropping them down through the top can be an easier option.”

While traditional handheld, duffel-style carriers are typically your best bet for vet visits or situations where you need to transport your cat from Point A to Point B as painlessly as possible, the carrier market has evolved in recent years to include some intriguing new designs. Some carriers now come with wheels, similar to rolling luggage , that allow you to pull your cat along rather than hoist it. Although it’s going to be “a much bumpier ride,” according to cat behavior consultant Dr. Mikel Delgado, a carrier with wheels can be helpful for cat owners with limited physical strength or mobility issues. Cat backpacks, often featuring a space-agey bubble peephole with ventilated openings, allow you to haul your cat on your back; they don’t allow as much room for your cat to move around, so they aren’t recommended for traveling long distances, but they’re perfect for taking your cat on quicker trips, especially ones where you need to keep your hands free. Finally, if your cat enjoys seeing the sights and getting some fresh air but is a little reluctant to explore the world on their own, they might enjoy being pushed in a cat stroller.

A lean, petite cat will require a different-size carrier than, ahem, a chonkier specimen. The perfect cat carrier will be roomy enough for your cat to stand, turn around, and lie down in, but not so big that they might slide around in it, which can cause them to become stressed. Your cat should feel snug, secure, and settled in their carrier. Not all brands offer multiple sizes, but most list the carrier’s dimensions and weight limits; knowing the general size and weight of your cat is a good place to start.

Best cat carrier overall

Soft vs. hard sided: Soft | Style: Duffel | Size: Two sizes with max weights of 7 and 15 pounds

All four cat experts we spoke to recommended Sleepypod carriers, with Kate Benjamin, founder of the stylish cat-gear website Hauspanther , calling it the “Cadillac of cat carriers.” (Note: It also comes with a Cadillac-level price tag.) It functions as three products in one: a carrier, a pet bed , and a car seat , which means that your cat will be comfortable and safe while traveling.

Experts also recommend introducing the carrier to your cat before you need to actually use it for transport. “For a cat to feel comfortable going out in a carrier, they need to be familiar with the carrier itself. So if you set it up at home as a bed or a hideaway and let the cat hang out in the carrier, their scent will be added to it, and that will help reduce their stress,” says Benjamin. When uncovered, the Sleepypod looks like a soft, plush, inviting bed, but it also comes with a removable mesh dome that can be zipped on top to turn it into an enclosed carrier. The design has also been tested for “car accidents, and demonstrated that they can protect your pet even when they’re strapped in with a seatbelt,” says Dr. Delgado. It comes in both regular and miniature sizes, as well as a TSA-compliant option that collapses for easy storage when not in use, all certified by the Center for Pet Safety .

Best (less expensive) cat carrier

Soft vs. hard sided: Soft | Style: Duffel | Size: Small, medium, and large sizes with max weights of 8, 16, and 22 pounds

For a more budget-friendly alternative to the Sleepypod, Strategist senior writer Liza Corsillo crowned this Sherpa carrier the best overall dog carrier , but it works just as well for cats. Corsillo was actually gifted the carrier by a friend who had used it for her cat for several years; Corsillo herself has owned it “for around five years now, and it still looks pretty much brand-new,” she writes. It has openings that allow for both top and front entry; it boasts an easy-to-clean, water-resistant lining and machine-washable bedding; and according to veterinarian John Iovino, its mesh side panels allow for ventilation and offer “a chance for you to see your pet to make sure everything is okay.”

Benjamin is also a fan. She says she owns “a ton of different carriers,” and her Sherpa is one that she’ll “always grab out of the closet” because it’s “really durable. The cat is comfortable inside. You can take pieces out to clean it. It’s great.” Plus, since Sherpa partners with several major airlines through a program called Guaranteed on Board , you can rest assured that the small and medium sizes of this carrier are flight-friendly and “your pet travels will go by without a hitch,” says Samantha Schwab, the former resident pet expert at Chewy.

Best hard-sided cat carrier

Soft vs. hard sided: Hard | Style: Duffel | Size: One size with a max weight of 15 pounds

Both the Sleepypod and the Sherpa are soft sided, but if you’re looking for a hard-sided carrier, McKeon suggests this one from Petmate. It has both top-load and front-load options for easy access, and is robust enough to contain a cat that may potentially become stressed and agitated by carriers in general. “The rigid sides means the cat can interact with it and it won’t collapse,” says Dr. Brian Evans, veterinarian and clinical director at Dutch , a 24/7 online vet-care service.

This carrier doesn’t come with any interior padding, but to make it more comfortable and easier to clean in the event of an accident, Dr. Evans suggests inserting a liner “as a way to collect any liquid that may get produced during these trips and make sure any padding is machine washable.” Additionally, hard-sided carriers may be the better choice for cat owners who live alone, because “you can prop it up against a wall and [put the cat inside by] yourself,” McKeon notes. “With a soft carrier, because of the zippering all the way around, a cat can just shoot out of the carrier. It’s really hard to do solo. So for one person, a plastic carrier is the way to go because it has its own structure.”

Best expandable cat carrier

Soft vs. hard sided: Soft | Style: Duffel | Size: Small, medium, and large sizes with max weights of 7, 13, and 15 pounds

This Petsfit carrier, which made our list of the best airline-approved pet carriers , is especially suited for long-haul travel. Keep the expandable mesh side panels zipped up while going through security to comply with airline regulations, then expand them out once you’re on the plane to allow your cat a little more room to stretch out. It also comes with a lightweight, flexible wire structure that can be compressed under a seat, as well as a comfy washable fleece mat. The carrier is available in three sizes; the small and medium options are likely to fit on most planes, but if your pet requires the large size, we recommend double-checking your airline’s size guidelines beforehand.

Strategist senior editor Jen Trolio owns two of these carriers, one for each of her two cats, and used them for a cross-country move a few years ago. She notes that you do have to “squish the carrier down a bit to fit them under some airline seats, but the frame, while flexible, is really strong.” She cautions that “you also have to give up some legroom to actually expand the carrier on a flight, but if your cat needs the space, it’s a nice feature to have.” In keeping with Benjamin’s advice, the carriers now live under her bed expanded and unzipped, and her cats like to use them “as a safe space when they want to hide or go to sleep in a very secure-feeling spot.”

Best expandable cat carrier for multiple cats

Soft vs. hard sided: Soft | Style: Kennel | Size: One size, no max carry weight listed

This dual-compartment carrier is “more like a soft kennel that fits in the back of your car,” says communications manager Carolyn Rehm, who runs an Instagram account for her cats, Broccoli and Dilly . The two sections can be zipped together to form one large chamber, with enough room to hold up to four cats, or you can leave them separated so that each cat can have their own personal space. Since the carrier fits neatly into a car trunk or backseat, with built-in straps that safely connect to a seatbelt to prevent it from sliding around, Rehm has found it very handy “in case we need to travel last minute with the cats and it’s a long car ride, we want them to have room to move and be able to fit a litter box as well.” It also comes with a washable mat and an optional hammock for lounging.

Most stylish cat carrier

Soft vs. hard sided: Soft | Style: Duffel | Size: One size with a max weight of 18 pounds

Premium pet-product brand Diggs recently released the Passenger, a very sleek and stylish nylon carrier that’s suited for cats and dogs up to 18 pounds. Available in a slew of sophisticated colorways (navy, slate, charcoal, and blush), at first glance it appears to resemble a regular weekender, something you’d see any JPMorgan lackey carrying on a trip upstate; a closer inspection, however, reveals details designed to make it a comfortable home away from home for your pet. There are safety considerations, including an interior collar-tether clip and exterior clips that attach to a seatbelt if you’re traveling by car, and thoughtful touches such as a detachable cross-body strap and a front pocket for storing essentials.

Diggs sent the Passenger my way for testing, and within 30 seconds of unboxing it, my roommate’s cat, Harry, who’d wandered over to see what all the fuss was about, was curled up inside and purring contentedly — zero bribing, threatening, or cajoling necessary. I attribute his alacrity to the soft, bouncy cushion on the bottom of the carrier, which can be fitted with a specially sized pee pad to assist in the cleanup of any accidents that happen on the road (you can buy the pads on the Diggs website.) As a cherry on top, the carrier is airline compliant and, like the SleepyPod, certified by the Center for Pet Safety .

Most stylish mesh cat carrier

Soft vs. hard sided: Soft | Style: Duffel | Size: One size with a max weight of 16 pounds

The Diggs carrier above is mostly solid and opaque, with two small mesh panels on the top and side. If your cat requires more airflow or gets anxious if they’re unable to see their surroundings, you may want to opt for this Wild One carrier, which is equipped with larger mesh panels (and is a favorite of musician Lauv ). “A lot of my issue with cat carriers is that there’s not enough breathability, especially when your cat is under an airplane seat,” says content creator Billie-Rae Grant, owner of a cat named Goblin . She likes this carrier for its all-around mesh design and for how “chic and minimal it is. I find a lot of pet accessories are just the same old basic designs, but this one is really cute to carry around.” Though ostensibly meant for small dogs, it can easily fit cats up to 16 pounds; Grant travels with Goblin fairly often and has never had any problems with it.

Best backpack-style cat carrier

Soft vs. hard sided: Hard | Style: Backpack | Size: One size with a max weight of 16 pounds

Sherpa also makes a sturdy, good-looking cat backpack that we included on our list of the best gifts for cat lovers — and it just so happens to be favored by avowed cat lady Taylor Swift . It comes recommended by McKeon for its hardy zippers and straps that ensure the backpack is both comfortable for you and difficult for your cat to bust out of.

Vulture’s former senior Snapchat editor Devon Sherer tested it out with her cats and reported that it was “as life-changing as it looks.” Both of Sherer’s cats preferred it “to the more standard, duffel-esque bag since they are up higher and can see things better”; they would even get into it voluntarily when it wasn’t in use and “glare at me through the bubble window,” Sherer says. Though backpack carriers can be useful for short jaunts (such as a trip Sherer took to Fire Island), they’re not advised for long journeys since they’re less roomy and it’s more difficult for you to monitor your pet. When transporting your cat in a backpack, Dr. Delgado advises owners to avoid “swinging it around or carrying it by the handle” and to support the bottom as much as possible.

Best airline-approved backpack-style cat carrier

Soft vs. hard sided: Soft | Style: Backpack | Size: One size with a max weight of 14 pounds

However, if need to tote your cat on your back through airport security, this Mr. Peanut backpack carrier is airline-approved, can be stowed on its side under an airplane seat the way a duffel would, and comes with convenient pockets for you to stash items like a laptop and water bottle. Erika Lorbes, owner of Instagram “catfluencer” Nori , says both she and Nori feel more comfortable with backpack-style carriers because Nori can “poke her head out and look around” and it doesn’t bump into Lorbes’s side as she totes it around. She appreciates that the Aspen model is made of soft and breathable mesh, which makes it easy to compress into tight spaces and allows Nori to see what’s going on outside. She says it is roomy enough for Nori to sit up when the backpack is upright and lay down when it’s tipped on its side, and comes with a removable faux- fur lining that’s “so nice and comfortable [that Nori] naps in it.”

Best rolling- and backpack-style cat carrier

Soft vs. hard sided: Soft | Style: Rolling and backpack | Size: One size with a max weight of 15 pounds

Rolling-suitcase-style cat carriers are a great choice for senior people “who have health issues that prevent them from being able to carry the cat” or for “very big cats that are hopefully not hugely overweight, but are large and heavy,” says McKeon. This carrier comes with a luggage handle that allows you to wheel it along, but there are also straps on the back that let you carry it as a backpack if your cat doesn’t love the rolling motion. “If you think about what the experience is like for your cat in that carrier, it’s gonna be a much bumpier ride that close to the ground,” Dr. Delgado says. The convertibility of this carrier means that you can switch between the two modes to give both you and your cat a break. One enthusiastic Amazon reviewer bought this carrier for their 15-pound cat who “gets too heavy to carry” and uses it to “bring him out on walks and adventures without having to hurt my back,” they write. “The carrier is extremely light and weightless, the mesh is sturdy, and it is easy to roll with my cat in it. Definitely a great product!”

Soft vs. hard sided: Soft | Style: Stroller | Size: One size with a max weight of 45 pounds

Pet Gear’s strollers come recommended by both Dr. Evans and Dr. Delgado for their sophisticated shock absorption and secure design. “I’ve seen strollers that were not made very well and had some gaps in the enclosure part, so a cat could theoretically escape. You really want to make sure that it’s completely sealed and there’s no small spaces that they could squeeze out of,” Dr. Delgado advises. This stroller features an easy locking mechanism as well as an interior collar tether for extra protection that guarantees your cat will remain safely ensconced, while still providing panoramic vinyl mesh windows so they can watch the world go by. While some cats may not enjoy the experience of bumping along, for those who don’t mind it, “it can be a safe and fun way to give your cats outdoor enrichment and activity,” Dr. Delgado says.

Best “in a pinch” cat carrier

Soft vs. hard sided: Hard-sided cardboard | Style: Duffel | Size: One size; no weight restrictions listed but recommended for smaller/lighter pets

Finally, if you’re short on space or cash (or both), a cardboard carrier is an easy and economical option, so long as you’re only making the occasional drive to the vet and not hauling your cat cross-country. Trolio used one when her cats were “younger and smaller and we lived in a one-bedroom apartment.” She found it easy to make the glorified cardboard box more comfortable “by putting a towel or blanket inside,” and appreciated that it could “fold super-flat when we weren’t using it and we could store it behind a dresser.” It’s also less of a headache if your cat has a tendency to pee when nervous, since it’s “technically disposable if you need it to be — and then you can just wash whatever bedding you’ve put inside,” Trolio says. However, if your cat is on the stouter side, cardboard may not work for you, as it’s a bit unwieldy and “not the easiest thing to carry.”

Our experts:

• Dr. Brian Evans, veterinarian and clinical director at Dutch • Devon Sherer, former Vulture senior Snapchat editor • Erika Lorbes, owner of “catfluencer” Nori • Billie-Rae Grant, owner of “catfluencer”  Goblin • Carolyn Rehm, owner of “catfluencers” Broccoli and Dilly • Jen Trolio, Strategist senior editor • John Iovino, veterinarian and contributor to  the Wildest • Kate Benjamin, founder of the cat-gear website Hauspanther • Kerrie McKeon, resident cat expert at Bideawee • Liza Corsillo , Strategist senior writer • Dr. Mikel Delgado , cat behavior consultant • Samantha Schwab, former resident pet expert at Chewy

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The best cat carriers for stress-free travel, according to editor reviews

Whether cats like it or not, spending time inside a travel carrier is necessary for vet visits and family trips. They run the gamut as far as size, style and build are concerned, so it’s important to think about what models your cat will be the safest and most comfortable in. We consulted experts about how to shop for the best cat carriers and rounded up our favorite options from brands like Away, Sherpa and Tuft+Paw. Experts also share tips for acclimating cats to their carriers, and what you should know about driving, flying and walking with them.

SKIP AHEAD Best cat carriers | Best cat backpacks | How to help cats get used to their carrier

Selected. Our top picks

How we tried cat carriers

• Mode of transportation and activity : How you’re traveling with your cat impacts what type of carrier you should purchase, our experts say. If you’re flying, for example, you’ll need to check your airline’s dimension requirements for in-cabin carriers (meaning those that fly with the passengers). But if you’re taking your cat in a car or on a train, there aren’t the same kinds of limitations, giving you more freedom in choosing one.
• Size : To find the right size carrier for your cat, measure from the base of their tail to their snout and add a few inches — that’s how long the carrier should be, says Albert Colominas, a cat trainer and behaviorist who founded Outdoor Bengal , which offers cat training videos, gear and other online resources. To determine how tall the carrier should be, measure from the top of your cat’s shoulders to the floor and add a few inches. This ensures they can stand and sit up straight without crouching, he says.
• Weight limit : Most brands note the maximum weight their cat carrier supports to help you determine if it’s the right fit.
• Style : Most cat carriers look like tote bags or backpacks. Tote bag-style carriers offer cats more sprawling room, which is especially important for longer trips. Backpack-style carriers are usually more cramped, but if you’re walking a short distance, they’re easy to carry. Brands also make wheeled carriers, which you should try to stay away from, says Jennifer Van de Kieft, a certified advanced feline training and behavior professional who owns Cat Advocate , a feline behavior consulting company. They may seem convenient, but they’re less stable than options you hold, and may cause your cat to get bumped around while in transit. Cats appreciate being close to you when they’re in unfamiliar situations, so carrying them with hand or shoulder straps is preferred, she says.
• Opening : Standard cat carriers have a side opening, but if your cat fights you on going inside, you may find it easier to maneuver them through wider top openings.
• Hard-sided versus soft-sided : Hard-sided carriers are often made from plastic, and they act as durable, solid, protective shells for cats, says Colominas. Soft-sided carriers, on the other hand, are typically made from fabric like nylon and polyester, so they’re lightweight, soft and comfortable. Soft-sided carriers tend to be best for air travel or for walking short distances with your cat. Hard-sided options are the safest option for car travel and come in handy for aggressive cats who gnaw or claw at fabric. They’re also preferred for cats who suffer from motion sickness or have accidents in transit since plastic is easier to clean than fabric, says Colominas.
• Visibility : All carriers allow cats to see their surroundings, but some offer more visibility than others. Confident, curious cats might feel more at ease if they can watch what’s happening outside of their carrier — in this case, look for options with mesh or clear windows, says Colominas. But timid cats often find visibility overwhelming — in this case, look for options with limited windows. You can also cover a carrier with a blanket or sheet to occasionally decrease visibility, like if you’re walking through a crowded airport, says Van de Kieft.
• Storage : Just like traveling with kids, traveling with pets requires lots of snacks, toys and other accessories to keep them happy and comfortable. Rather than packing a separate bag, look for carriers with exterior pockets. 
• Safety : If you want extra assurance that the cat carrier is safe for car travel specifically, look for those crash-tested by the Center for Pet Safety , a non-profit that conducts independent crash tests on cat and dog travel products. Also be aware that some carriers have a tether inside them with a clip on the end — attach it to your cat’s harness to prevent them from jumping out when you open a door. Van de Kieft does not recommend clipping it to a cat’s collar, as doing so limits their range of motion too much and could become unsafe.

The best cat carriers of 2024, according to our reviews

Below, we rounded up cat carriers NBC Select cat parents recommend. Some of our picks are NBC Select Pet Award winners , and all of them meet expert shopping guidance. Airline-approved cat carriers and backpacks are also noted, which means they’re designed to fit under seats in most commercial airlines, according to the brands. But different airlines have different size requirements for in-cabin carriers, so be sure to check before bringing it to the airport.

The best cat carriers

Best overall: away the pet carrier.

Away Pet Carrier

• Removable, washable bed
• Multiple pockets
• Seatbelt attachment
• High price point

Away’s carrier — a Select Pet Award winner — has soft yet rigid sides that help the bag keeps its shape during and between uses, in my experience. It’s designed with a leather body and water-resistant nylon interior, making accidents easy to clean up if they happen. The carrier comes with a removable, washable plush sherpa bed cats can rest on, plus it’s built with a luggage sleeve, latches that can fasten it to a car seat belt and a removable name card. You can also choose to carry the bag by its handles or removable shoulder strap. Away’s carrier is certified by The Center for Pet Safety and it’s personalizable for an additional $35.

I love using this carrier for my cats Wanda and Lucy. I appreciate the spacious exterior pocket, which holds their treats and a couple small toys, as well as my phone and wallet. There’s even a dedicated clip for my keys. The carrier also has a side pocket with water-resistant lining and drainage holes in case you put a collapsible water bowl inside. There’s mesh panels on three sides of the carrier, and one side has an added retractable privacy screen — I keep it up when we’re in the car or at the vet so my cats can see their surroundings, but roll it down while walking through busy New York City streets to shield them from some of the activity.

Size (LxWxH) : 18.7 x 10.8 x 10.75 in. | Opening: Top and side | Weight limit: Up to 18 lbs. | Airline approved: Yes

Best affordable: Sherpa Original Deluxe Pet Carrier

Sherpa Original Deluxe Pet Carrier

• Removable, washable liner
• Affordable price point
• Pockets and luggage sleeve
• High visibility

The majority of cat parents on NBC Select’s team own Sherpa’s carrier, and they all love its simplicity and functionality. The Select Pet Award winner also has a flexible spring wire frame and mesh side panels. The interior of the base is covered in water-resistant material and a removable, machine-washable liner, giving cats a soft, cozy place to rest. You can hold the carrier by its padded handles or detachable shoulder strap. There’s also an exterior storage pocket and a luggage sleeve that you can weave a seat belt through during car rides.

Size (LxWxH): 17 x 11 x 10.5 in. | Opening: Top and side | Weight limit: Up to 16 lbs. | Airline approved: Yes

Best carrier for large cats: Roverlund Out-Of-Office Pet Carrier

Roverlund Pet Carrier

• Two sizes available
• Sturdy structure

Roverlund’s carrier comes in two sizes — small and large — the latter of which is a great option for traveling with big cats, says Rebecca Rodriguez , NBC Select editorial projects manager. She uses it to take her 16-pound cat Enzo to the vet, and is impressed by its sturdy structure, despite being a soft-sided carrier.

The bag has three mesh side panels and a leak-resistant base lined with polyester. It also comes with a machine-washable, fleece-lined bed. You can store your cat’s travel accessories in the bag’s rear pocket, and Rodriguez finds its rope handles and shoulder strap comfortable and supportive. There are also reflective details, making it more visible in the early morning or late evening. 

Size (LxWxH) : 17 x 11 x 10.5 in. (small), 19 x 11.75 x 11.5 in. (large)  | Opening: Top and side | Weight limit: Up to 15 lbs. (small), up to 25 lbs. (large)  | Airline approved: Yes (must remove rear pocket insert before flying)

Best multifunctional: Tuft & Paw Porto Cat Carrier

Tuft & Paw Porto Cat Travel Carrier

• Turns into a bed
• Luggage sleeve and pockets
• Nothing to note at this time

Tuft & Paw’s Porto carrier doubles as a cozy bed, thanks to its zippered walls. You can unzip one of them to form the base of the bed while the other three stay upright, which makes my cat Wanda feel safe and secure while sleeping. In fact, she naps in it so much that I leave this carrier out 24/7 to make coaxing her inside for travel easier.

It's made from water-resistant canvas and has multiple mesh windows. It’s also designed with a luggage sleeve, handles and a detachable shoulder strap, as well as a pocket to store travel essentials. Plus, it comes with a machine-washable faux shearling pad.

Size (LxWxH) : 18.75 x 10.5 x 11.25 in. | Opening: Top and side | Weight limit: Up to 30 lbs. | Airline approved: Yes

Best for car travel: Petmate Sky Kennel Pet Carrier

Petmate Sky Kennel Pet Small Carrier

• Highly protective
• Comes with clip-on bowls
• Bulky design
• Not airline approved

Because they’re likely to be the most protective in an accident, a rectangular, hard-sided carrier is best for car travel, says Dr. Marcia Landefeld, a veterinarian and owner of the Feline Veterinary Hospital in Port Washington, New York. Its rigid top and bottom pieces are typically held together via metal nuts and bolts, and Landefeld likes options with a metal door that swings outward and tightly locks in place, preventing escape. 

Petmate’s Sky Kennel Pet Carrier offers all of these features, and it has a 4.4-star rating from 6,748 reviews on Amazon. Cats can see outside all four walls, and it comes with clip-on bowls and ID stickers. Petmate’s carrier has a top handle, but Landefeld suggests putting your arms underneath its base and holding it like a sack of potatoes to keep your cat more stable.

Size (LxWxH) : 21 x 16 x 15 in. | Opening: Side | Weight limit: Up to 15 lbs. | Airline approved: No

Best dome-shaped: Sleepypod Pet Carrier

Sleepypod Pet Carrier

• Easy to get cats inside
• Seatbelt attachement
• Removable, washable bedding

To prevent going into a carrier, some cats hold their legs out and stiffen them, making it very difficult — if not impossible — to finagle them through a narrow opening. You might have an easier time getting finicky cats inside dome-shaped carriers, which typically have very wide top openings, says Landefeld.

The Sleepypod Pet Carrier, certified by The Center for Pet Safety, has a mesh dome top that zips onto a rigid nylon base lined with water-resistant polyester. It comes with machine-washable plush bedding and to get cats in and out, you can either completely unzip the mesh dome from the base or zip the middle of the dome open. It also comes with a removable padded shoulder strap, or you can carry it by its top handle. Plus, it has built-in seatbelt straps to secure it to car seats.

Size: 17 in. diameter, 13.5 in. height  | Opening: Top | Weight limit: Up to 15 lbs. | Airline approved: No

Best expandable: Petsfit Expandable Carrier

Petsfit Expandable Carrier

• Expandable mesh panel
• Side storage pocket

One side of this cat carrier is designed with an expandable mesh panel, giving your cat extra sprawling room if you’re in the waiting room at the vet or sitting at the gate before boarding a plane. Once it’s time to move, you can fold the mesh panel so it’s flat against the carrier and zip it shut. The carrier — which has a 4.6-star average rating from 1,918 reviews on Amazon — has a solid wire structure, multiple mesh windows and a removable, machine-washable plush bed. Its base is made from water-resistant material, and you can store travel essentials in a side storage pocket. It's also built with a luggage sleeve and handles, plus a removable, adjustable shoulder strap.

Size (LxWxH) : 17 x 11 x 11 in., expands to 20 x 17 x 11 in.  | Opening: Top and side | Weight limit: Up to 13 lbs. | Airline approved: Yes

The best cat backpacks

Best overall: the fat cat mini backpack carrier.

The Fat Cat Mini Backpack Carrier

• Swappable bubble window
• Shoulder and chest straps

Kelsey Fredricks, NBC Select production coordinator, uses this backpack to show her 11.5-pound cat Kiwi the outside world. She finds it very protective while taking him on walks to see squirrels and pigeons, as well as to the vet.

There’s mesh on the tops and sides of the carrier, plus a bubble window cats can look out of. You can also swap out the bubble window for a screen to make the front of the backpack flatter, which you may have to do if you’re flying with it. There are multiple storage pockets on the backpack’s exterior, as well as adjustable shoulder, chest straps and a removable, machine-washable plush pad.

Size (LxWxH) : 20 x 7 x 19 in. | Opening: Top | Weight limit: Up to 15 lbs. | Airline approved: Yes

Best backpack for large cats: Jespet Backpack Carrier

Jespet Backpack Carrier

• Adjustable straps
• Removable, washable pad
• Exterior storage pockets
• Not easy to clean

Since her 16-pound cat Sammy is big, NBC commerce photo editor Kara Birnbaum finds it easier to carry him in a backpack compared to a tote. She says this model is comfortable since it has adjustable straps and padded walls that keep the backpack stable while she’s walking.

The carrier is designed with multiple mesh windows and comes with a removable, machine-washable fleece pad. You can lay it down or sit it up when you take it off. It’s built with exterior storage pockets, too.

Size (LxWxH) : 13 x 12 x 17 in. | Opening: Top and front | Weight limit: Up to 16 lbs. | Airline approved: Yes

Best for plane travel: Mr. Peanuts Aspen Series Backpack Pet Carrier

Mr. Peanuts Aspen Series Backpack Pet Carrier

• Extra wide doors
• Hidden laptop pocket

This cat backpack is a lifesaver when I fly with Wanda, which is why I’ve taken it on five flights in the past two years. In addition to the top and front openings, both sides of the backpack unzip, providing extra wide doors I put Wanda through when she’s being difficult about going in the more narrow openings. I lay the backpack down when I have to put it under the seat on the plane and it gives Wanda plenty of space to stretch out and rest comfortably. It's also tall enough that she can sit up straight when I stand it up. 

Mr. Peanuts’ backpack comes with a removable, machine-washable fleece pad and is built with a luggage sleeve, seat belt attachment and multiple mesh windows. Its padded shoulder straps are comfortable for me to wear while walking through the airport, and there’s a hidden pocket on the back of the carrier that’s large enough to store a 13-inch laptop. The sides also have pockets to store pet essentials or a water bottle.

Size (LxWxH) : 14 x 8 x 17.5 in. | Opening: Top, front and sides | Weight limit: Up to 16 lbs. | Airline approved: Yes

select I have two cats — these are the must-have products I recommend for new kittens

Frequently asked questions.

Hard-sided and soft-sided carriers each offer strengths and weaknesses. Ultimately, deciding which is right for your cat depends on their personality and your travel plans.

Hard-sided carriers

Hard-sided carriers are made from durable plastic that creates a solid, protective shell around your cat, says Colominas. Since they have more structural integrity than soft-sided carriers, the walls are less likely to cave in or collapse if you’re in a car accident. Because of this, they’re the safest option for car travel, says Landefeld.

Hard-sided cat carriers are also the best option for aggressive cats who are likely to scratch or gnaw through fabric. They’re also easy to clean, which is not always the case with soft-sided carriers, whose fabric may absorb accidents, hold onto odors and stain.

The challenge of hard-sided carriers is that they’re typically bulkier, heavier and less comfortable compared to their soft-sided counterparts. But you can make them cozy with soft cat beds and blankets, as well as items that help muffle noise, says Landefeld.

Soft-sided carriers

Soft-sided carriers are made from fabrics like nylon and polyester. They’re lightweight, making them easier to carry, and cushioned, making them more comfortable for cats. Soft-sided carriers’ fabric construction also means they’re more flexible compared to hard-sided carriers: “They can squish into smaller spaces, like under that airplane seat,” says Colominas. Every time I’ve flown with my cat, the airline required me to use a soft-sided carrier for this exact reason.

Despite their positive attributes, soft-sided carriers won’t stand up to gnawing and clawing from stressed cats, and they’re tricky — sometimes impossible — to clean if your cat has an accident in transit. The walls of soft-sided carriers can also cave in if they bump into something, making cats more vulnerable to outside elements.

All the experts we spoke to say to never put your cat in cargo while traveling, meaning underneath the passengers with the checked luggage. Instead, travel with your cat in the plane's cabin, meaning where the passengers sit. Here, your cat carrier goes underneath the seat in front of you.

Every airline has its own set of dimension requirements for in-cabin pet carriers. So even if you purchase something that's advertised as an “airline approved pet carrier,” don’t make assumptions. It’s best to call the specific airline you’re flying with to find out what their requirements are or read through the pet travel FAQs on its website, experts say.

While traveling with your cat in the car, it’s best to place their carrier on a seat with the seat belt around it, or on the floor behind the front seats, says Landefeld. These are the most stable places in the car, and if you stop short, the carrier is less likely to move around. Landefeld also says you should never take your cat out of its carrier while driving.

If you’re traveling with very young kittens, you may be able to get away with putting them in one carrier together. However, the stress of traveling can make cats aggressive toward one another, so it’s usually not worth the risk, says Van de Kieft. It’s generally best for each cat to be in its own carrier.

Some cats don’t make a peep in their carrier and are content lying down or looking out the window in transit. But for other cats, a little meowing, scratching and pacing back and forth is par for the course — and that’s totally normal, says Landefeld. They likely don’t like being in the enclosed space and want to get out. However, if your cat is open-mouth breathing (panting), vomits or collapses inside its carrier, they’re very stressed and should be removed from the situation as soon as possible. Experts also recommend immediately calling your vet.

If your cat is constantly upset inside its carrier, talk to your vet about next steps. Often, they’ll prescribe a medication called Gabapentin, which can help cats relax and has a mild sedative effect, says Landefeld. They’ll be less fearful in transit, making trips more enjoyable for both of you.

Finally, keep in mind that while some trips can’t be avoided — like vet visits or if you’re moving — others can be. And if your cat really hates being in the carrier, Colominas recommends weighing the benefits of bringing your cat along against the possible anxiety the journey could cause. “If it’s just for a weekend getaway, consider whether your cat would be happier at home with a pet sitter,” he says.

How to help cats get used to their carrier

Once you find the right carrier for your cat, it’s time to help them get used to spending time in it. Here are some of the best ways to do so, according to experts.

Make sure the carrier is clean

If a carrier has been in storage for a while, clean it before introducing it to your cat, says Van de Kieft. Make sure it doesn’t smell strange and is free of dust, dirt and bugs — all things that could deter your cat from getting inside.

Leave the carrier out in your home

It’s important to make your cat’s carrier a fun place to be, which starts with leaving it out in your home so they have constant access to it, says Van de Kieft. Cats are super smart, and if you exclusively bring the carrier out when it’s time to go to the vet, for example, they’ll associate negative experiences with it. Instead, let cats explore the carrier on their own and make it inviting by adding a soft blanket or one of their favorite toys.

Finding a place to leave your cat’s carrier out may take some trial and error. Some cats ignore their carrier in one room but jump right into it in another, says Van de Kieft. Regardless of where it ends up, it’s best to elevate the carrier on a table or chair, she says. Cats are biologically programmed to like heights — in the wild, it’s how they’d spot predators and find food. Thus, elevating their carrier makes it more attractive, says Van de Kieft.

Spray it with calming pheromones

Pheromones are chemical substances animals naturally release into their environments, and certain types have calming, comforting effects, says Van de Kieft. Feliway makes a spray that mimics the natural facial pheromone cats mark their territory with when they feel safe and secure, and this smell can cause them to feel less stressed, according to the brand. Van de Kieft and Landefeld recommend spraying your cat’s carrier with Feliway’s spray to help them understand that it’s a safe place to be. I’ve used this spray for about two years with my cat, and it seems to encourage her to explore her carrier at home, plus take the edge off when we’re in transit.

Praise your cat when they’re inside the carrier

“The best way to carrier train your cat is to reinforce every time they’re inside it,” says Van de Kieft. Give them a treat every time they’re inside it, verbally praise them by talking to them and pet them, for example. This creates positive associations with the carrier and signals that it’s a happy, safe place to be.

Play soothing music

Some artists make music that’s specifically composed to be calming for cats, and playing it can help reduce stress around certain situations, like being put into its carrier. Van de Kieft recommends David Teie’s Music for Cats , some of which you can stream for free through his website.

Buy a new carrier

“If your cat absolutely hates its carrier, the easiest thing to do might be to just get a completely different one,” says Van de Kieft. Cats who have a negative experience with a carrier may never go near it again, or panic at the sight of it. In this case, starting fresh with a new one may be your best option.

What to pack while traveling with your cat

Temptations Classic Crunchy and Soft Cat Treats

Feliway Classic Cat Calming Pheromone Travel Spray

Yeowww! Banana Catnip Toy

Pawaboo Collapsible Food and Water Bowls

Sport Pet Large Portable Litter Box

Meet our experts.

At NBC Select, we work with experts who have specialized knowledge and authority based on relevant training and/or experience. We also take steps to ensure that all expert advice and recommendations are made independently and with no undisclosed financial conflicts of interest.

• Albert Colominas is a cat trainer and behaviorist. He's also the founder of Outdoor Bengal and frequently travels around the world with his cat Mia.
• Jennifer Van de Kieft is a certified advanced feline training and behavior professional. She owns Cat Advocate , a feline behavior consulting company.
• Dr. Marcia Landefeld is a veterinarian and owner of the Feline Veterinary Hospital in Port Washington, New York.

Why trust NBC Select?

Zoe Malin is an associate updates editor at NBC Select who writes about pet products, including kitten supplies and accessories to keep your dog cool . For this article, she interviewed three experts about how to shop for cat carriers and rounded up products recommended by NBC Select pet parents.

Catch up on NBC Select’s in-depth coverage of personal finance , tech and tools , wellness and more, and follow us on Facebook , Instagram , Twitter and TikTok to stay up to date.

Zoe Malin is an associate updates editor for Select on NBC News.

• Cat Behavior
• Health & Care
• Vet Approved

12 Best Cat Carriers for Car Travel In 2024 – Reviews & Top Picks

Image Credit: New Africa, Shutterstock

Last Updated on July 10, 2024 by Catster Editorial Team

Every cat owner knows the struggles of traveling with their pet and how difficult it can be for both parties. While you’re looking for the most convenient way to transport your cat, your kitten just wants to feel safe and comfy. Finding an ideal cat carrier is easier said than done, as there are many options to choose from.

To help you narrow your options, we have reviews of the 12 best cat carriers that may fit all your needs and requirements. These cat carriers are specifically made for car travel to help make trips less stressful for your cat (and you!).

• A Quick Comparison of Our Winners (2024)
• The 12 Best Cat Carriers for Car Travel
• 1. Pet Gear Signature Dog & Cat Car Seat & Carrier Bag – Best Overall

This Pet Gear Signature Cat Car Seat and Carrier is perfect for long and comfortable car travels with your pet. It is incredibly spacious and gives your cat a great view of its surroundings. This pet carrier is our overall best choice because of its sturdiness and durability, ideal for larger cats and even small dogs. While the mesh may not withstand anxious kittens not used to being confined, it will make your cat feel safe and cozy when inside.

It comes with a removable fleece pad that makes it convenient to remove and wash if there are any accidents during the trip. While the zipper may not endure long-term wear and tear, this product offers excellent overall quality.

• Folds flat for convenient storage
• The fleece bottom pad is removable and washable
• The top and front open for easier access
• Safety belt loop, pockets, interior tether
• The zipper may break over time
• Anxious cats can easily break through the mesh during a trip
• 2. EliteField Soft-Sided Airline-Approved Cat Carrier – Best Value

The EliteField cat carrier is a product of excellent quality and is the best cat carrier for the money. It comes in six colors, so every pet owner can find something that matches their taste. This carrier is soft-sided, which is an advantage and a potential drawback as the sides may collapse, but it’s perfect for fitting under airplane seats.

The EliteField carrier is suited only for smaller pets up to 12 pounds and comes with a convenient 3-year warranty. It can be carried by the two handles or by the comfortable, padded shoulder strap. It has enough pockets to fit all your pet’s necessities and can be folded flat for effortless storage.

• Airline-approved
• Waterproof and easy to clean
• Hand and shoulder straps
• 3-year warranty
• It comes in six colors
• Suitable for smaller pets only
• 3. Pet Gear View 360 Booster Travel System Cat Carrier – Premium Choice

This Pet Gear View 360 Booster carrier is another impressive product on our list, and several valuable features make it our premium choice. This carrier doubles as a booster seat and is exceptionally convenient for car traveling. It contains an inside tether to secure your pet’s harness without worrying about them during the ride.

While the carrier comes with a unique zipperless design that most pet parents love, it might be easy to accidentally push the open button, opening your pet’s carrier and creating a risk during travel. While the Pet Gear carrier has a higher price, it is worth it due to its convenient and sturdy design.

• The carrier doubles as a booster seat
• The zipperless design opens with a single push of a button
• Equipped with an inside tether to easily secure your pet
• Removable and easily washable cushion
• The opening button can accidentally be pressed
• 4. Frisco Single Soft-Sided Expandable Cat Carrier

This Frisco Single Soft-Sided carrier is a great choice for pet owners who frequently travel by car or airplane with their cats. It’s very versatile, as the sides can collapse, which can come in handy when storing the carrier beneath a seat. The Frisco carrier’s low price draws most cat owners towards it, and the expandable sides will make it a comfortable experience for your pet.

It also comes with a soft shoulder strap so you can easily carry your pet hands-free.

• Expandable mesh sides
• Airline approved
• The sides may collapse easily
• 5. K&H Pet Products Travel Safety Pet Carrier

The K&H Travel Safety pet carrier is another very convenient product that can make travel for your cat much more comfortable. It is cozy, secure, and safe for your pet since it can be easily fastened to the car seat. It’s mostly made of breathable mesh to give your kitten a view of the surroundings and good airflow.

One of the very few minor inconveniences this carrier has is the small entry door compared to the overall size of the carrier. However, you can open three sides of the unit to allow your pet easier access. Some customers also reported a slight chemical odor when they received the product.

• Multiple entry points
• It can be safely secured to a seat belt
• It comes with a removable pad
• Small entry door
• Chemical odor
• 6. One for Pets Fabric Portable 2-in-1 Double Pet Kennel and Shelter

The One for Pets Fabric Portable Double Carrier is a fantastic choice for those looking for a larger unit for more than one cat. While it comes at a higher price, it offers an extra spacious unit for your pets to stay safe and secure during travel. The double design allows space for two cats, with a divider in the middle—but when unzipping the partition, you get one large space if needed.

The only risk with this carrier is that some cats can quickly figure out how to unzip the zipper from the inside, which can be dangerous during a car ride. However, the carrier can easily be secured to the car seat.

• Double design
• Two separate units or one large unit
• Cats may be able to open the zipper from inside
• 7. Siivton 4 Sides Expandable Cat Carrier with Removable Fleece Pad

This Siivton Expandable cat carrier is a fantastic choice for overly anxious or claustrophobic cats. It makes traveling much easier and more comfortable for our furry friends, and the breathable mesh cloth makes them feel like they are not confined. Because of its convenient and sturdy design, you can even use it on airplanes and fit it snugly beneath any seat.

While the bottom is flexible, it may collapse under heavy weight when carried on the shoulder. However, it is double-sided to provide your pet maximum comfort while resting. When receiving the product, you may notice a chemical odor that can be unpleasant for pets, especially during longer trips, so make sure to air out the carrier before use.

• Four expandable sides
• Doesn’t take up too much space during travel
• Flexible bottom
• 8. GAPZER Travel Carrier for Large and Medium Cats

The Gapzer Travel Carrier is one of the best value carriers, considering its low price. It is incredibly affordable and offers fantastic quality. The all-mesh design gives your kitten a perfect view with excellent air circulation.

The zipper is extra strong, and a cat cannot open it from the inside, although the mesh may get caught by the zipper sometimes. This carrier is perfect for road trips because it comes with a strap to secure your pet to the seat. It can be folded easily for your convenience and easy storage.

• Long strap to secure the carrier
• All-mesh surface
• Easy to fold and store
• The zipper may get caught easily
• It might collapse when open
• 9. Prutapet Large Cat Carrier with Collapsible Litter Box and Bowl

The Prutapet Large Cat Carrier  is an excellent product for all small pets, including dogs. One of this carrier’s best features is the additional collapsible litter box and a water bowl, making road trips and camping much more convenient.

Because the bottom is equipped with a soft lamb fluff, your cat will enjoy using this carrier and resting inside. It is ideal for car rides because it can be buckled for safety, and when you are not using it, you can fold it for easy storage. While the zipper makes it quick to open the carrier, some skilled cats may find a way to open it and get out—so keep an eye on that!

• It comes with a travel litter box and a water bowl
• Foldable for easy storage
• The carrier can easily be buckled during car rides
• Unpleasant chemical odor
• Cats may open the zipper inside
• 10. Wakytu Portable 2-in-1 Cat Carrier for Travel

The Wakytu Portable 2-in-1 Cat Carrier is an excellent solution for traveling and home use. While most pet owners choose this carrier for car traveling and camping trips, it is also an effective crate for your cat to rest at home.

While the carrier may be a bit more expensive, it comes with several convenient accessories if you want to use it for travel. For camping, you can use the four gift tent stakes to windproof your carrier and secure it. The mesh may be a bit weak for cats that may try to break free, as they can easily tear a hole in the fragile material.

• Includes extra accessories
• It can be used as one large pet carrier or two separate carriers
• Waterproof, washable material
• Mesh can be ripped from the inside
• 11. Petprsco Large Soft Cat Carrier with Washable Pad

This Petprsco Large Cat Carrier is versatile and convenient for transporting your pet. It is a perfect product for car travel as it contains many useful features such as side pockets, a built-in safety leash, and additional gadgets. While it doesn’t come with a handle on the center of the carrier, it has handles on each side, making it fairly easy to use.

While the anti-scratch mesh is handy for anxious pets, it might not be entirely scratch-proof; if your cat is not used to traveling this way, several scratches may rip the mesh. The plushy pad and warm blanket should help make your cat more comfortable.

• Three openings
• Waterproof, anti-scratch mesh
• It comes with a plushy pad, warm blanket, and foldable bowl
• It doesn’t include a shoulder strap
• No center handle
• 12. Jespet Soft-Sided Airline-Approved Travel Cat Carrier

The Jespet soft-sided travel carrier might take the last spot on our list, but it is still one of the better carriers on the market. It has an amazingly low price and offers excellent value for money. It can easily be collapsed for storage and is perfect for car rides.

The inside ridges are made of fiberglass, which can be dangerous if your cat tries to chew on them, so keep an eye on them while they get used to the carrier. Also, a determined cat will tear through the mesh easily. The carrier is soft-sided and convenient for traveling as it’s lightweight and easy to stow away.

• Collapsible
• Includes carrying handles and shoulder strap
• The inside ridges are made of fiberglass
• Not highly durable
• Mesh tears easily

• Buyer’s Guide: How to Pick the Perfect Carrier

Picking out the ideal cat carrier depends on its intended use. Some pet owners use their carriers only for monthly or annual vet trips, and others use them for regular trips. Whether you take your cat on a vacation or need to transport them from point A to point B, you’ll need a sturdy and durable unit.

It is best to search for carriers that include portable litter boxes and bowls for longer trips, while some may even have tent stakes. A comfy, fluffy mat is another plus to keep your cat warm and cozy. If you are looking for a simple transporter carrier, it’s best to find one with sturdy edges that won’t collapse and plenty of attachments to secure it to the car seat.

When deciding on the ideal cat carrier size, there are several factors you’ll need to consider. The larger the carrier, the better. While the cat’s weight is an essential measurement for a perfect fit, you must also consider the cat’s length. Some cat carriers have an excellent weight capacity but tend to be a little shorter, so you don’t want your cat to feel uncomfortable or cramped.

Finding a large enough carrier can make vet visits and trips much more tolerable, as your cat won’t try to scratch their way out and destroy the carrier. Search for a cat carrier with as much mesh fabric as possible, giving them sufficient airflow and allowing them to view their surroundings.

We know how difficult finding a perfect carrier can be, and hopefully, our reviews will give you some great options to consider. We discussed several high-quality carriers but we have a few favorites we recommend over the rest.

To recap, the Pet Gear Signature Cat Car Seat and Carrier is ideal for long car travels with your pet and is our top choice overall. If you’re looking for a more budget option, the EliteField cat carrier provides an excellent value for the price and is ideal for airline traveling.

• How to Sedate a Cat for Car Travel
• Best Cat Water Bowls

Featured Image Credit: New Africa, Shutterstock

About the Author

Jana Blagojevic

Upon completing my degree from the College of Fine Arts, I embarked on a quest to find a platform to manifest my wild imagination. It was then that I discovered my passion for content writing, which swept me off my feet. As a freelance writer, I am always on the move, with an adventurous and restless spirit that propels me forward. When I am not typing away in my cozy writing nook, I spend my time honing my skills as a sculptor, painter, and woodworker in my workshop. Writing has become my primary medium of expression, and I plan to nurture this passion further, using it as a conduit for my never-ending creativity.

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Soft Cat Carriers

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Sherpa Element Deluxe Pet Carrier - Travel Airline Approved

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When you’re traveling with your cat, whether it’s just down the road to the vet’s office or across the country, you want to keep your pet happy and comfortable. PetSmart’s soft cat carriers are the perfect way to keep your feline friend comfortable, give them enough room, and help keep them calm. We carry soft cat carriers in many colours, types, sizes, and materials so it’s easy to find one that is just right for you and your cat. 

We know how difficult it can be to travel with pets, so we want to make it as simple as possible for both you and your cat to get where you need to go. Our collection of soft cat carriers can be found with many options that are specifically made for your convenience and your cat or kitten’s comfort, with options like:

Carry your cat in comfort and style with deluxe soft cat carrier bags at PetSmart. Shop our collection for traditional pet carriers, as well as slings, wheeled duffle bags, backpacks and wearable pouches you and your cat will love.

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The Best Travel Carrier for Cats and Small Dogs

By Kaitlyn Wells

After interviewing seven pet travel experts, researching 28 pet carriers, and lugging eight of them around lower Manhattan over two weeks, we think the Sherpa Original Deluxe Carrier is the best soft-sided pet carrier for most cats and small dogs. It is durable, has multiple ways to load and unload your pet, is well-ventilated, is available in multiple sizes, and meets the under-seat requirements of most airlines.

Everything we recommend

Sherpa Original Deluxe Carrier

The best pet carrier.

This durable carrier has a flexible wire frame that can compress down to fit into tight spaces, and it’s available in several sizes to accommodate more pets.

Buying Options

May be out of stock

Kurgo Wander Carrier

Better warranty, but thinner fabric.

Kurgo offers a thinner bag with a standout warranty and more ventilation per square inch than our pick.

Upgrade pick

Sleepypod Air In-Cabin Pet Carrier

Expensive, but safest for driving.

This soft-sided carrier is the only one we looked at with crash test certification—and its winged edges make it easier to fit under an airplane seat.

The Sherpa Original Deluxe Carrier comes in three sizes to accommodate pets up to 22 pounds, and its durable outer shell and ventilation windows will withstand even the sharpest little claws. It has better airflow than most other carriers we tested, has top and side openings that are easy to get your pet in and out through, and is flexible enough to squeeze into smaller spaces. The small and medium sizes are great for air travel and public transit, though the included shoulder strap doesn’t provide much support while walking, and like almost all soft carriers, the Sherpa doesn't provide enough protection for your pet in a car crash. Like most carriers we tested, it has only a one-year limited warranty.

If you can’t find the Sherpa, or are deterred by the short warranty policies of most pet carriers, the Kurgo Wander Carrier is a solid choice. Its polyester shell is thinner and less resistant to abrasion than Sherpa’s, so we don’t expect it to hold up as well as for owners of destructive cats and dogs, and it comes in just one size, similar to the medium Sherpa pick, so smaller animals may have too much room to rattle around. But it has a lifetime warranty—Sherpa has only a one-year plan—and more ventilation per square inch than our other picks. But like the Sherpa and most other soft carriers, it doesn't offer adequate crash protection for car rides.

If you drive and fly with your pet constantly and want to make sure they’re as safe as possible, consider the Sleepypod Air In-Cabin Pet Carrier . It’s substantially more expensive than our other picks, but it’s one of only two carriers we tested that has been independently certified as crash-test safe when connected to a seat belt (and the only one to do so without an expensive attachment), so it's safer for frequent car use than the other carriers we tested. Its shape is longer, thicker, and more durable than the medium Sherpa’s, but it still fits under airline seats, thanks to ends that fold up like wings. Even getting your pet into the carrier is easier, thanks to its opening design that unzips in one long motion from front to tail. It doesn’t have as much ventilation as either the Sherpa or Kurgo, but it still has enough—we're not worried about it being unsafe for a pet.

The research

Why you should trust us, who this is for, what “airline approved” really means, how we picked, how we tested, our pick: sherpa original deluxe carrier, who else likes it, flaws but not dealbreakers, runner-up: kurgo wander carrier, upgrade: sleepypod air in-cabin pet carrier, what to look forward to, the competition.

As a lifelong pet owner, I’ve used several carriers over the years to lug my pets to the vet for checkups and across the country for family visits. As an animal shelter volunteer, I’ve also transported pets of all sizes for adoption events and vet visits, and have written columns about general pet safety.

For this guide, I spent more than 35 hours testing pet carriers. I brushed up on the design requirements for various types of carriers set by the Animal Welfare Act, and I researched proper bag ergonomics and general pet travel tips. I talked to Michele Marini Pittenger, the president of the Travel Goods Association , to learn more about what makes a pet carrier stand out when traveling long distances. I consulted with David Fine of Bark n Bag , pet travel blogger Mary-Alice Pomputius of Dog Jaunt , and Erin Terjesen of Sherpa Pet on how to select a carrier. I discussed travel safety with Lindsey A. Wolko, the founder of the Center for Pet Safety, which is an independent, consumer-safety organization that evaluates pet products. I asked Bobbie Egan of Alaska Airlines how airlines set their pet travel requirements. And I learned pet carrier training tips from Russell Hartstein, canine executive officer of Fun Paw Care , a pet services company.

If you have a cat or a dog and you need to move them by car, plane, or public transit, you need a pet carrier. (Soft carriers are for pets weighing less than 20 pounds; those with heavier animals need a  hard-sided crate .) Carriers that fit under the seat in front of you are required by most airlines for pets small enough to take in the cabin, but they're useful for other travel situations, too. They can prevent your dog from getting into mischief while traveling, keep them safe from busy roads and crowded sidewalks, and keep them calm on the go. They're also pretty much the only way to get a cat anywhere.

We focused on soft-sided carriers for this guide. Though hard-sided carriers are more durable and easier to clean, soft-sided carriers are typically lighter and more versatile, with carrying straps, pockets, and more entry points. They're more comfortable to tote with you and easier to fit beneath airplane or bus seats, and harder for your pet's collar to get caught in.

Keep both your pet’s height and weight in mind when buying a carrier. Some specify a weight limit, while others list a maximum height and length for a pet (usually a couple of inches less than the carrier's height and length). You should check both; a chunkier miniature dachshund can weigh as much as a svelte Jack Russell terrier, but be only half as tall.

While all of our picks are suitable for air travel, public transit, and general lugging around, most pet carriers either haven't been crash-tested or failed independent crash tests. If you frequently travel in cars with your pet, you should buy a crash-test-certified carrier like our upgrade pick or (for dogs above 15 pounds) complement your carrier with a crash-certified restraint harness. In an accident, a contained pet is safer than an uncontained one, but, as with humans, it's better to use safety restraints, and it may be required by law. Roughly one in five states requires dogs to be restrained in a moving vehicle. 1 In 16 states, the laws are ambiguous, and the rest don't prohibit unrestrained dogs, though legislation is pending in some, according to data compiled by outdoor goods company Orvis.

Even states that require restraints don't test them. “There are no requirements for mandated crash testing for any of these products,” said Lindsey A. Wolko, the founder of Center for Pet Safety , which conducts independent safety tests on pet goods. If you don't have a car harness for your pet, Wolko recommends placing the carrier on the floor behind the front seat of your vehicle because it’s one of the safest locations for your pet, unless your carrier is designed to be belted into a seat and has passed crash tests, like our upgrade pick.

Just because a carrier is marketed with a phrase like "airline approved" doesn't mean it will fit under an airplane seat. “Airline approval varies by airline, but generally ‘airline approved’ just means it contains moisture,” so it won’t leak if your pet has an accident mid-flight, said David Fine of Bark n Bag , which makes pet travel carriers and accessories. Other requirements set by the United States Department of Agriculture for travel carriers and crates include proper ventilation, adequate space—which varies by pet size—and no cracks or sharp protrusions that can harm your pet.

Under-seat dimensions often vary by airline carrier and become more complicated when you throw in disparities between pet carrier type, class seats, and short-haul and long-haul flights. For example, Alaska Airlines posts different dimensions for hard-sided and soft-sided pet carriers because they “are the maximum sizes we can safely accommodate in the cabin,” noted Alaska spokesperson Bobbie Egan via email. So always do your research to determine the under-seat measurements your airline allows, especially for multi-leg flights.

In reality, you can probably get away with an additional inch or two on your soft-sided pet carrier. The soft-sided design makes it easy to manipulate them so they’ll fit into a cramped space before expanding again for your pet’s comfort. Fine admitted to us that airline personnel aren’t taking a measuring stick to the carrier, which Wirecutter staffers have noticed in their own travels with pets as well. “Unless you have someone at the gate who’s in a miserable mood, no one’s going to say a word to you,” he said.

We limited our search to fully enclosed, soft-sided pet carriers because they’re lighter and more insulated, the fabric shells and handle straps are more comfortable to maneuver when in transit, and they’re nicer to look at than a plastic hard-sided box. They’re also safer for your small pet: “You don’t have to worry about a dog’s collar getting accidently attached to a soft crate,” like you would with a hard-sided or metal one, noted Russell Hartstein, a certified pet behaviorist and trainer with 25 years of experience, and who’s the canine executive officer at Fun Paw Care in Los Angeles.

We stuck to carriers less than $100, because the American Pet Products Association 2017-2018 National Pet Owners Survey (PDF), found dog owners spend an average of $86 on pet carriers, and cat owners $38. We made exceptions for pet carriers that had a stellar reputation or knockout features, such as high third-party safety ratings.

We noted each pet carrier’s dimensions, pet weight restrictions, design and color variations, padded inserts, warranty, and notable features, such as seatbelt straps and detachable wheels. Then we cross-checked each pet carrier’s dimensions and compared it to an average of the airline under-seat measurements for five major US airlines: 17 inches long by 11 inches wide by 9 inches tall. We focused on pet carriers that came within an inch or two of these dimensions and were available to accommodate medium-size small pets (around 15 pounds) over smaller carriers that came in just one size.

Finally, we combed through hundreds of pages of product reviews across pet carrier manufacturing sites, as well as Amazon, Bed Bath & Beyond, Chewy, Jet, Overstock, Petco, Pet Guys, PetSmart, Walmart, and Wayfair. We favored products that featured promising reviews over a long period of time.

What remained were eight pet carriers that met our criteria, all of which we brought in for testing: Kurgo Wander Carrier , Pawfect Pets Pet Travel Carrier , PetEgo Jet Set Forma Frame , Pet Magasin Soft-Sided Pet Travel Carrier , Sherpa Original Deluxe Carrier, Sleepypod Air In-Cabin Pet Carrier , SturdiBag Carrier , and Teafco Argo Aero Pet Carrier .

I thought about how pet parents transport pets and developed a series of criteria that most people should consider when selecting a bag. They are:

• Durability: First, I took plastic meat shredders and clawed at the ventilation screens on each carrier to see if they held up to abuse. Then I filled each pet carrier with 10 pounds of unbleached flour and suspended them overnight, and checked the seams for any signs of wear and tear the following day.
• Ease of use: I examined each carrier’s zippers, buckles, straps, and doors to see which made it easier to load and unload a pet.
• Ventilation: The United States Department of Agriculture’s Animal Welfare Act and Animal Welfare Regulations handbook mandates that animal carriers used to transport pets commercially have 14 percent surface area for ventilation—but that only accounts for the walls, not the top or bottom. Since some pet carriers also have ventilation on the top (like Pawfect Pets, Sleepypod Air, and SturdiBag), I calculated the total ventilation area on all sides as a percentage of the total surface area of the carrier, and we favored bags with more.
• The airplane test: I stuffed each carrier into a box the size of the average under-seat dimensions of eight major US airlines: 17 inches long by 11 inches wide by 9 inches tall.
• Comfort: I packed each carrier with 15 pounds of flour—rather than traumatizing my dog by hauling her around New York in eight different carriers—and walked around Lower Manhattan for 10 blocks (at a New Yorker’s faster pace), paying attention to any added strain on the carrier’s general shape and shoulder straps, and looking for signs that the carrier frames were bunching or collapsing, which would point to a pet being squished in transit.
• Cleaning: I used our stand-ins for urine and pet excrement (an ammonia solution and some halfway-melted chocolate) to soil each carrier’s removeable fabric lining. I let the stains sit for two hours and washed the linings on a gentle cycle using our pick for laundry detergent . Afterwards, I checked which linings looked and smelled like new and which ones needed to be replaced.

The Sherpa Original Deluxe Carrier is the best soft-sided pet carrier for most people. It comes in sizes that will fit under the seat on most airlines, has a flexible and durable frame, is tough enough for day-to-day use, features two points of entry for easier loading, and keeps your pet cool with its large ventilation windows. It's easy to find both online and in pet stores, and it has great reviews from thousands of pet owners.

The Sherpa comes in four colors—black, brown, gray, or plum—and three sizes for pets up to 22 pounds, though only the small and medium carriers (for pets up to 8 pounds and 16 pounds, respectively) are guaranteed to fit under airline seats. The Sherpa is equipped with a spring-wire frame that bends just enough that you can squeeze it into a space smaller than its dimensions without the frame breaking or squishing your pet. And its 420 denier nylon construction makes it tougher for little paws to damage compared with other pet carriers tested (including Kurgo and SturdiBag, which are made of polyester). 2

It’s easier to load your pets into the Sherpa than most other carriers because it has both a top and a side opening (only Kurgo and Teafco also offered this feature). The medium version of our pick (the size we tested) has openings that are larger than half of the carriers tested: There’s a top opening that is 15.5 by 7 inches, and the side opening is 11 by 10.5 inches, and is secured with dual locking zippers. It’s also one of three carriers with a zippable pocket for storing your pet’s essentials. (The others are Sleepypod and Teafco, while the remaining carriers have open pockets or no pockets at all.) The pocket on the medium-size carrier is one of the largest among tested pet carriers and measures 11 by 8 inches.

The medium Sherpa also has more ventilation windows than half of the carriers tested: 180 square inches, or just under 19 percent of the surface area of the walls and top. The windows, which passed our pet-claw test, are located on three sides of the pet carrier. (The fourth side houses the pocket.)

The medium carrier houses pets up to 16 pounds, and is 17 by 11 by 10.5 inches. In our tests it fit easily into our makeshift box, and measurements state it’ll fit under the seats of most airlines we looked at, including Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Hawaiian Airlines, United Airlines, and Virgin America, and its flexible frame means you can compress it down slightly if you need to. (You can squish the spring-wire frame to even get it to fit under tighter space, such as Southwest Airlines’s seats, which have 8.5 inches of under-seat clearance.) As always, though, airlines can use many different sizes of aircraft, so if you're traveling with your pet, make sure to look up the under-seat clearance of each aircraft you'll be flying on.

If you have a small, short pet—lighter than 8 pounds, and smaller than 7.5 inches tall and 13 inches long—you should get the small Sherpa. It's 15 by 10 by 8.5 inches and can fit in tighter spaces than the medium or our runner-up pick, the Kurgo Wander, which is available in just one size.

Sherpa’s small and medium-size carriers qualify for their Guaranteed on Board program. The program promises the pet carrier is airline-approved on select carriers, 3 or they’ll refund the cost of both your ticket and your pet’s travel fee, though if you want to take advantage of it you'll need to submit a form prior to every flight you take it on, and the medium Sherpa is guaranteed on only three airlines, even though our tests showed it should fit under the seats on many more. But to date no one using a Sherpa carrier has been turned away at the gate or sought reimbursement, Sherpa’s spokesperson Erin Terjesen told us in an email.

The Sherpa has a 4.5 Amazon-star rating out of more than 4,000 reviews, and several Wirecutter staffers endorse its longevity and durability. Others like it too: “It is every bit as durable as the original Sherpa I purchased 8 years ago,” wrote ChicagoNow’s pseudonymous pets blogger.

“I really enjoyed using the Sherpa Original Deluxe Carrier,” noted Amy Tokic, editor of PetGuide.com . “[My dog] Oscar likes it too—when we get to our final destination, he uses it as a makeshift dog house once he’s finished being social.”

And Dogster contributor Pamela Mitchell recalled in a blog post: “I have fond memories of those early trips with Dolly and have recommended her carrier … more than a few times to those flying with their pets.”

Sherpa Original Deluxe Carrier is a good carrier for everyday travel. But like most other soft carriers, it's not enough to restrain your pet in an accident—only the substantially more expensive Sleepypod fared notably better. Sherpa also only offers a one-year limited warranty.

The Sherpa’s packaging is labeled with a bright yellow badge that reads “AUTO SAFE.” But like most other carriers, it isn’t crashproof, and you shouldn’t let this labeling lull you into a false sense of security. All this means is that the Sherpa has a luggage strap that you can loop a seat belt strap through to secure it to the seat of the car, but as crash-test videos of similarly designed carriers provided by CPS show, just looping a seat belt strap around a carrier or through its straps won’t protect your furry friend from getting hurt (or from hurting you). “If you do get into a crash the stitching will fail nine times out of 10,” CPS's Wolko warned. She added that most pet carriers, including Sherpa, haven’t been independently tested due to testing costs and advertising restrictions for manufacturers.

If you do take the Sherpa in a car, Wolko recommends you put it on the floor behind the driver's seat. Your pet will be safer there than elsewhere in the car, or strapped into a seatbelt in a carrier that can't handle it.

The padded bed insert also doesn’t provide much support for your furry friend. It’s a thin piece of fleece with a “hand wash only” tag, so rule-abiding pet parents may find it challenging to clean stinky pet messes. (Sherpa’s website, to the contrary, says it’s machine washable, and in our test we tossed it in the washing machine on a gentle cycle and it was fine.)

Like most pet carriers we tested, Sherpa’s nylon shoulder strap doesn't have any fabric piping or padding, so the straps are rough on your shoulders and arms. The shoulder strap’s thin padding also provides insufficient support, especially when lugging around heavier pets.

Loading the pet carrier with our simulated pet weight also presented some issues with the carrier’s bottom slightly deforming. Sherpa’s seams, like most of the pet carriers tested, held up well during our suspension (10 pounds of flour) and walking tests (15 pounds of flour). However, also like most of the pet carriers tested (but not the runner-up Kurgo), the Sherpa’s bottom did bow a little when loaded to 15 pounds, which could mean it’ll become uncomfortable for your pet when you’re walking from place to place.

Some online reviewers said the bag’s zippers were easily broken and that their pets chewed holes in the ventilation windows. We recommend verifying you’ve purchased an authentic Sherpa bag to limit your chances of similar issues—there have been reports of fakes on Amazon , and most Amazon reviews as well as the experiences of Wirecutter staffers don't mention those issues.

If you do run into any issues, keep in mind Sherpa’s warranty isn’t as flexible as those of Kurgo, Pawfect Pets, or SturdiBag. It only has a one-year limited warranty, similar to that of half the carriers we tested.

The Kurgo Wander Carrier offers more ventilation per square inch than our Sherpa pick and has a better warranty than many of the pet carriers we tested. But it’s available in only one size for pets up to 18 pounds, the polyester material was less durable in our testing than Sherpa’s and Sleepypod’s shells, and like most pet carriers tested its seat belt straps don’t hold up to third-party crash tests.

The Kurgo Wander Carrier is 17 inches by 11 inches by 11 inches, which accommodates pets up to 18 pounds and fits under most airline seats, but may be too large for some toy dogs and too small for some heavier ones that would fit in the large Sherpa. It has ventilation windows on the front, back, and one side of the pet carrier—with the pocket on the opposing side—for just over 200 square inches of ventilation, or 21 percent of the bag’s total surface area. That’s around 2 percent more ventilation than our Sherpa pick, but it’s almost twice as much ventilation as the Sleepypod, our upgrade pick.

The Kurgo's exterior shell is made of 600 denier polyester, which is thinner and less abrasion-resistant than Sherpa’s 420 denier nylon or Sleepypod’s 1680 denier nylon. (Nylon is inherently stronger than polyester.) It also lacks the thicker shell padding used in Sherpa’s and Sleepypod’s frames, which makes them more durable and more comfortable for the owner to carry. (And keep in mind it has nylon straps, like Sherpa, which can be rough on bare skin.) The base is reinforced with fiberboard that goes inside a thin, machine-washable polyester fleece insert, which kept it from bowing under load in our tests.

Unlike the Sherpa, the Kurgo has a lifetime warranty, which we got to test firsthand. We noticed wear and tear on its seams after a single day of use that included our weight-suspension and walking tests. We reached out to Kurgo’s customer service, who replaced it for free after we submitted photos of the defective seams on the company’s online portal. Jill Akers, a Kurgo spokesperson, confirmed over email that “this carrier should last many years and the stitching would be covered forever, no matter how old the product.” Indeed, the replacement bag held up just fine in our testing. Only two other bags we tested have lifetime warranties: SturdiBag and Pawfect Pets . Sherpa and Sleepypod both have one-year limited warranties.

Though the Kurgo Wander has seat belt straps, as with the Sherpa and other general-purpose soft carriers, we wouldn’t recommend using them. While Kurgo performs crash tests on its line of dog car harnesses, they don’t test their carriers because they aren’t designed with crash performance in mind, according to an email from Kurgo spokesperson Kerry Sutherland. But independent crash tests do exist: The CPS’s 2015 Carrier Study determined Kurgo was “a complete failure” at providing crash protection. So if you must take the Kurgo in the car, as with other soft carriers you should put it on the floor behind the driver's seat.

The Sleepypod Air In-Cabin Pet Carrier is much more expensive than our other picks, but it's the only soft-sided pet carrier brand that's crash-test certified by the Center for Pet Safety, so it's worthwhile if you have a pet that spends a lot of time on the road, especially a cat. In addition to being the only carrier that can be safely attached to a car seat without additional accessories, it had the highest quality construction of any bag we tested, its convertible design lets you adjust how much space it takes up on the fly, and its zippered design lets you both open it wider than most other bags, and collapse it down smaller when not in use. But it also has comparatively little ventilation, and is almost six times the price of our main pick.

Sleepypod Air is sold in one size (22 by 10.5 by 10 inches) and can accommodate dogs up to 15 pounds and cats up to 18 pounds, which may vary depending on your pet’s body type. Unlike the vast majority of pet carriers, the Sleepypod Air is certified by the Center for Pet Safety and passed its rigorous tensile and crash testing . If your cat racks up a lot of miles in the car, the Sleepypod could be worth the considerable extra expense. (For road dogs, a Sherpa or Kurgo carrier and a CPS-certified car restraint harness will still be about $70 less than a Sleepypod.)

Sleepypod’s products feature the company’s Pet Passenger Restraint System , which safely secures a pet during a sudden vehicle stop or front-end accident. If there is an accident, Sleepypod will replace or provide a new pet carrier at a discount (and sometimes for free), even if your existing pet carrier is from another brand, as part of its Sleepypod Crash Replacement Program .

It’s one of two carriers tested that unzips in one long strip, from front to top to back. (The Pet Magasin unzips from front to bottom to back.) It’s a nice feature if you need more loading room than traditional carriers that only open from the top or front. The pet carrier’s ventilation windows are located along the strip, totaling just 125 square inches, or 11 percent, which is substantially less than Sherpa’s 19 percent. We saw a couple of isolated complaints about the ventilation —but with more than 300 reviews on Amazon and more than 80 percent at four or five stars, these issues are not widespread.

The ends of the Sleepypod act as little wings that you can fold up at a 90-degree angle to shrink the carrier’s size, which makes it easier to fit it in tight spaces before expanding again to allow your pet the most space available. (When compressed, the ventilation windows account for 14 percent of Sleepypod’s surface area.) Getting the wings to stay up takes some effort—just make sure you bend them over a few times before your flight to work the seams into shape. (Like bending a hardcover book open multiple times to wear it in.) In its compressed state, Sleepypod Air should fit under the seats of most of the airlines we consulted, including Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Hawaiian Airlines, United Airlines, and Virgin America.

The ventilation windows cover three sides of the carrier, but they’re probably not located in the ideal spot for people who prefer to see their pets directly. If you set the Sleepypod on a chair at the vet or under the seat on an airplane, your viewing angle will be obstructed since there are no ventilation windows on the pet carrier’s longest sides (just pockets). Plus, the windows are double-lined for added durability, which also means the windows are thicker and darker than most pet carriers tested, further limiting your view. But if you’re looking for a discreet way to travel with your furry friend, the lack of side windows and darker mesh may be just the thing. And for skittish pets, there’s also a removable privacy screen that virtually blacks out half of the ventilation window—but given that the Sleepypod already has less ventilation than many other carriers, be especially mindful to watch how your pet reacts with the airflow restricted further.

Many pet carriers can droop while being lugged around: The bottom may bow, while the top collapses slightly when crushed under the walker’s armpit. The Sherpa , for example, has a spring-wire frame that makes it flexible enough to fit into tight spaces, but also makes the bag more likely to sag under load, as it did when we tested it with a 15-pound weight. Sleepypod’s frame is reinforced with a “semi-rigid plastic structure” which didn't fall or sag in our testing. The shell is made with luggage-grade ballistic nylon, also known as 1680 denier nylon, which is common in tool belts, police utility belts, and higher-end luggage.

The Sleepypod Air is the only carrier tested that has a shoulder strap positioned at a diagonal, as opposed to a straight line—although we couldn’t tell if the strap’s location improved our balance or not. The nylon strap has the thickest padding of any pet carrier we tested, which makes it slightly more comfortable on your shoulders. If you don’t feel like carrying the bag, there’s a luggage strap to attach it to your rolling luggage, but it’s not a secure form of travel, so don't do that if your pet’s inside.

Pet owners and writers love the Sleepypod Air. “For a tiny pet, you can't do better than the Sleepypod,” Dog Jaunt founder Mary-Alice Pomputius told us via email.

“I consider all of Sleepypod’s carriers the best on the market in terms of design, safety, and ease of use,” explained Ingrid King, founder of ConsciousCat.net.

“At $150, Sleepypod Air doesn’t come cheap—but with the first-class price tag come first-class perks,” says Katherine Kluznik Rentmeester on People.com , noting the seat belt strap, luggage loop, and foldable sides as her favorite features.

Sleepypod Air has a machine-washable padded insert, and an internal pocket at its base to house an electrical warming pad . When not on the go, pet owners can snap the ventilation window into place to convert it into a travel pet bed. It is available in seven colors and has a one-year limited warranty.

After recent testing, we’ll be removing the Sherpa and the Kurgo and adding five new picks to an updated version of this guide (in addition to the Sleepypod Air ), including the SturdiBag Pro 2.0 as our main pick, as well as two new crash-test certified models—the Diggs Passenger Travel Carrier and the Away Pet Carrier . We’re also adding the Petsfit 2 Side Expandable Pet Carrier and the Mr. Peanut’s Monterey Series Convertible Backpack .

Pawfect Pets Pet Travel Carrier is one of the smaller pet carriers tested, which means it’ll pass dimensions tests for most airline carriers. It’s unsuitable for larger cats and taller small dog breeds, and it’s also more difficult to load your pet because it has only one entry point at the front of the carrier, compared with the Sherpa’s front and top-load capabilities.

PetEgo Jet Set Forma Frame has a built-in metal frame that keeps the bag from collapsing, but its rigid design makes it less comfortable to carry. It’s also too large to fit under most airplane seats lengthwise, and the roll-down curtains over the ventilation windows aren’t ideal for air travel because they block circulation. It’s also difficult to place a pet inside because it’s lacking a top-entry point.

Pet Magasin Soft-Sided Pet Travel Carrier is one of the cheaper-looking pet carriers tested—and we found a dozen Amazon reviews over the last year highlighting durability issues on the mesh alone, which supports our wariness about the pet carrier’s lightweight construction. It also offers the least amount of ventilation (just under 11 percent) and is awkward to load and unload your pets into since it unzips in one long strip from front to bottom to back.

SturdiBag Carrier showed promise with its larger size, thick egg-crate–style padding, and lifetime warranty, but it was too difficult to assemble. It’s dome-shaped, and every time you use it, you have to insert three plastic rods into its frame to lift it into place, like a tent—multiple testers couldn’t get that last rod into place. The rods make the pet carrier more flexible, so it’s easier to squish it into a small space, like underneath the airplane seat in front of you.

Teafco Argo Aero Pet Carrier is the second-most durable-looking pet carrier, but also the shortest out of those tested—it’s just 8.5 inches tall in the small and 9.25 inches tall in the large, which would make for a tight fit for most pets. And at 18.5 inches long in the small and 20 inches long in the large, it’s also too long to fit into most under-seat storage areas.

Connecticut, Hawaii, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Dakota, and Rhode Island

Denier is a measure of fiber weight. A measurement of 420 is on the light end for luggage, but it’s still acceptable.

Sherpa’s medium carrier (for pets up to 16 pounds) is guaranteed aboard American Airlines, United, and Air Canada; the small carrier (for pets up to 8 pounds) is guaranteed on American Airlines, AirTran, Alaska Airlines, Southwest, US Airways, United, Air Canada, and West Jet.

Bobbie Egan, media relations director for Alaska Airlines , email interview , October 18, 2017

David Fine, Bark n Bag , phone interview , October 16, 2017

Russell Hartstein, CDBC, CPDT-KA, canine executive officer of Fun Paw Care , phone interview , October 13, 2017

Michele Marini Pittenger, president of Travel Goods Association , email interview , October 16, 2017

Mary-Alice Pomputius, founder of Dog Jaunt , email interview , October 15, 2017

Erin Terjesen, spokesperson for Sherpa Pets , email interview , October 17, 2017

Lindsey A. Wolko, founder of Center for Pet Safety , phone interview , October 2, 2017

“2015 Carrier Study Results” , Center for Pet Safety

“Does Your State Require Dogs Be Harnessed in the Car?” , Orvis News , June 22, 2017

United States Department of Agriculture, Animal Welfare Act and Animal Welfare Regulations , Transportation Standards

Meet your guide

Kaitlyn Wells

Kaitlyn Wells is a senior staff writer who advocates for greater work flexibility by showing you how to work smarter remotely without losing yourself. Previously, she covered pets and style for Wirecutter. She's never met a pet she didn’t like, although she can’t say the same thing about productivity apps. Her first picture book, A Family Looks Like Love , follows a pup who learns that love, rather than how you look, is what makes a family.

Further reading

The Best Dog Crate

by Kaitlyn Wells

We tested 17 dog crates with our own escape-artist pups and those from area rescues. And our longtime pick, the MidWest Ultima Pro , still came out on top.

Adopting a New Cat Checklist

Before you bring home a cat for the first time, make sure you have everything to keep your new pet happy and healthy.

The Best Automatic Cat Litter Box (But We Don’t Recommend It)

Self-cleaning litter boxes are expensive and more work than they're worth. The Litter-Robot III Open Air is the least bad, but we don't recommend one.

Adopting a New Dog Checklist

Before you bring home a dog for the first time, make sure you have everything to keep your new pet happy and healthy.

Hepper is reader-supported. When you buy via links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no cost to you. Learn more .

7 Best Soft-Sided Cat Carriers – 2024 Reviews & Top Picks

By Ed Malaker

Updated on Jul 5, 2024

If you want to get a soft-sided carrier for your pet but aren’t sure which brand is best, you’ve come to the right place. We’re about to review several brands and we’ll tell you the pros and cons of each one—we’ve even included a short buyer’s guide so you will know what to look for if you continue to shop. Keep reading while we look at the size, material, durability, and more to help you make an informed purchase.

A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites of 2024

The 7 best soft sided cat carriers, 1. elitefield airline-approved soft-sided cat carrier – best overall.

The EliteField Soft-Sided Airline-Approved Dog & Cat Carrier Bag is our pick as the best overall soft-sided cat carrier. It’s available in multiple colors, so you can get something that matches your current accessories, and it’s extremely lightweight at just a little over 2 pounds. It has a removable plush bed for added comfort, and it’s machine washable. Mesh sides allow plenty of airflows and provide visibility.

We liked using the EliteField and found it extremely sturdy and durable. However, it’s a little small and might not be suitable for some larger cat breeds.

• Multiple colors
• Lightweight
• Machine washable
• Removable plush bed
• Not ideal for larger breeds

2. Pet Magasin Airline-Approved Soft Cat Carrier – Best Value

Pet Magasin Soft-Sided Airline-Approved Dog & Cat Carrier Bag is our pick as the best soft-sided cat carrier for the money. It features a durable waterproof material that you can get in several colors, and it folds flat, so it’s easy to store away when you’re not using it.

We enjoyed using the Pet Magasin and found it surprisingly sturdy and durable for its price. The downside is that it’s a little small, and some larger cats will have difficulty fitting inside. This is not for a Maine Coon, for example.

• Waterproof material
• On the small size for larger cats

3. PetLuv Happy Cat Soft-Sided Cat Carrier – Premium Choice

The PetLuv Happy Cat Soft-Sided Cat Carrier is our premium choice soft-sided cat carrier. It has a steel frame for extreme rigidity and durability, while large mesh panels provide plenty of ventilation and visibility. It even has adjustable seatbelt straps so the carrier will remain stable while you travel, which is especially helpful if you need to take your cat to the vet alone.

The downside to the PetLuv is that it’s quite heavy at around 9 pounds, so it can be hard to manage with a full-grown cat inside. We also found it expensive compared to the other models on this list.

• Plenty of ventilation and visibility
• Extremely durable
• Adjustable seat belt loops

4. IRIS Soft-Sided Cat Carrier – Best for Kittens

IRIS Soft-Sided Dog & Cat Carrier is our pick as the best for kittens. It’s available in multiple colors, including camouflage, and the material is water-resistant. Large mesh panels provide plenty of ventilation and visibility to help keep your pet calm while you drive, and it folds up nicely to store it away when you don’t need it.

The downside we experienced while using the IRIS carrier is that it is a little small, and you might need to choose a different brand when the cat is fully grown. We also noticed that the zipper could work its way open on long trips or if your cat is trying to escape.

• Water-resistant
• Plenty of ventilation
• Cats may be able to jimmy the zipper open

5. Jespet Sport Soft-Sided Cat Carrier Bag

The Jespet Soft-Sided Sport Dog & Cat Carrier Bag is another well-built carrier that’s extremely sturdy, and it will help keep your pet safe on long trips. It has large mesh panels that provide plenty of ventilation invisibility, and it has three large built-in pockets for storing treats and accessories for your trip.

The downside to the Jespet is that it’s a little small, and, like many carriers on the market, bigger cats might find it a tight fit. The zipper is also a bit of a pain to use and keeps getting stuck.

• Three large pockets
• Hard to use the zipper

6. Petmate Soft-Sided Dog & Cat Carrier Bag

The Petmate Soft-Sided Dog & Cat Carrier Bag is an attractive bag that’s easy to carry around and suitable for airline travel. There’s plenty of room to travel back and forth while the soft sides stay comfortable and keep your cat safe. It has several large mesh panels that provide ventilation and visibility to help keep your cat calm, and we found the material easy to clean.

The downside to the Petmate Soft-Sided Dog & Cat Carrier Bag is that it’s not too tall, and full-grown cats may push their head against the top, which we found makes it easy to open the zipper allowing the cat to escape.

• Suitable for airline travel
• Plenty of room
• Several mesh panels
• Some cats can open zipper

7. Mr. Peanut’s Airline-Approved Soft-Sided Cat Carrier Bag

The Mr. Peanut’s Soft-Sided Airline-Approved Dog & Cat Carrier Bag is the last soft-sided cat carrier on our list, but it still has plenty to offer. It’s extremely attractive, comes in multiple colors, and has a paddle handle that makes it easy to carry. It has a nylon exterior and inside is a soft fleece bed providing maximum comfort while you travel.

The downside to Mr. Peanut’s carrier is that the stitching is irregular and suggests poor craftsmanship. It also falls apart quickly after a few washes. That being said, it is one of the more affordable choices.

• Multiple storage pockets
• Soft fleece bed
• Irregular stitching
• Falls apart in the wash

Buyer’s Guide: Picking the Best Soft Sided Cat Carriers

Choosing a soft-sided cat carrier, soft-sided cat carriers vs hard-sided carriers.

While you shop, you will notice that there are two kinds of carriers, soft-sided and hard-sided. Both cases will protect your cat, and which one you choose is mostly a matter of personal choice. We only discuss soft-sided carriers in our reviews, but we wanted to mention hardshell cases briefly because they can be useful in some situations. Hardshell works great for long trips where there is more risk of an accident. Hardshell cases are also a better choice for “Houdini” cats that are masters of escaping confinement. You might also choose a hard-shell case if you have a large or overweight cat, as many softshell carriers can crumble under the weight making for an uncomfortable ride.

Soft-sided cases are considered more attractive than hardshell, are less expensive, and are easier to carry. They appear more comfortable, and our cats don’t seem to struggle as much when trying to get them in or out. However, they are usually smaller and may not be suitable for larger cats. They are not as durable and often acquire stains with use. Cats are also more likely to find a way out of soft-sided cases, so it’s best to try them out a few times in the house before taking them outside.

Which Should I Choose?

If you need to spend a lot of time traveling in the car or have a large, heavy cat, the hard-sided carrier may be the better choice. If you only take your pet out on the occasional vet trip, or you want something easy to carry so you can keep your cat with you while you travel on foot, the soft-sided carrier is the one you want. These carriers are more comfortable for your cat as long as they’re not too large and they are easier to carry while still providing excellent safety, ventilation, and visibility.

One of the first things you want to look for when choosing your soft-sided carrier is the size. We recommend choosing the largest you can find as they tend to be a little small for full-grown or overweight cats. Larger carriers also tend to be more durable and provide your cat with better visibility than smaller models.

Durability is extremely important as most cats don’t like to travel and will attempt to dig or scratch their way out. We recommend inspecting any brands you are considering to make sure they use a thick, durable material that can withstand your cat’s abuses.

Before you settle on a brand, we recommend inspecting it to ensure it’s easy to clean. If it has a pad, make sure it’s removable and machine washable. The material should be water-resistant and be wiped clean with a damp rag.

When choosing your next soft-sided carrier, we highly recommend our pick for the best overall. The EliteField Soft-Sided Airline-Approved Dog & Cat Carrier Bag is extremely durable, comes in several colors, and is machine washable. Our pick for the best value is another smart choice: the Pet Magasin Soft-Sided Airline-Approved Dog & Cat Carrier Bag is attractive, extremely sturdy, and folds up for easy storage.

• See also:  10 Best Cat Carriers – Reviews & Buyers Guide

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8 Best Cat Carriers With Litter Box for Traveling Cats

Traveling with your cat requires a lot of preparation to pack everything your cat will need. A cat carrier and travel litter box are two important travel accessories you won’t want to forget.

I’ve reviewed available cat carriers with litter boxes across several popular retailers to find the best combo for traveling with your cat based on carrier size, safety, and customer reviews. You can read my entire review process here .

Below, you’ll find my eight top picks for the best cat carriers with a litter box.

The Best Cat Carriers With Litter Boxes

If you’re getting ready to travel with your cat, one of the first things you should do is purchase your cat carrier . The sooner you can introduce your cat to their carrier, the more likely they’ll be to get comfortable in it before the trip.

If you’re traveling for a long distance, you’ll also want to bring a travel litter box for your cat to use as needed. Buying the two together is one way to save time and money.

Based on my research, here are the top eight cat carriers with a litter box: 

• Best Overall Cat Carrier With Litter Box: Necoichi Portable Stress-Free Carrier
• Best All-in-One Cat Carrier Combo: Kitty Obsession All-in-One Cat Carrier
• Best Large Cat Carrier With Litter Box: Porayhut Mispace Portable Twin Carrier
• Best Cat Backpack With Litter Box Bundle: The Whole Kitten Kaboodle Bundle
• Best for Long Distance Car Travel: Prutapet Large Cat Carrier
• Best for Large Cats: Pet Fit for Life Large Cat Carrier
• Best Cat Carrier for Two Cats: One for Pets Portable 2-in-1 Double Kennel
• Best Large Cat Travel Crate: Sport Pet Kennel

In the table below, you’ll see each of these top picks for the best cat carriers with litter boxes along with their sizes, whether or not they come with a travel litter box and their customer satisfaction rating based on a 5-star review system.

Below, you’ll find more information on each cat carrier including what it comes with, a breakdown of customer reviews, and where you can buy it.

Necoichi Portable Stress-Free Carrier

Best Overall Cat Carrier With Litter Box

Size : 20″ x 20″ x 31.8″ Customer Satisfaction : 4.6/5

The Necoichi Portable Stress Free Carrier is the best overall cat carrier with litter box. The carrier is large enough for more than one cat to comfortably travel, and it includes a litter box that fits inside.

Here are a few of the Necoichi cat carrier and litter box set’s best features: 

• Two mesh panel sides for ventilation and visibility
• Waterproof liner for easy cleaning and leak prevention
• Foldable litter box that snaps shut for portability
• Zipper locks for additional safety
• Includes a removable fleece mat and storage bag

You can get the Necoichi cat carrier and litter box set at Amazon where over 3,500 customers have given it an average rating of 4.6/5 stars. You can also find the same Necoichi carrier at Chewy where customers have rated it 4.5/5 stars. 

Kitty Obsession All-in-One Cat Carrier

Best All-in-One Cat Carrier Litter Box Combo

Size : 19″ x 12″ x 14.75″  Customer Satisfaction : 4.9/5

The Kitty Obsession All-in-One Cat Carrier is another great choice for traveling with your cat. While this carrier has a compartment for the included litter box, your cat can’t access it during travel. However, this all-in-one set is practically designed for easy travel, convenience, and comfort. 

Here are a few of the Kitty Obsession All-in-One Cat Carrier’s best features: 

• Includes a carrier, litter box, containers for food and water, a scooper, and trash bags
• Labeled pockets for easy organization (plastic-lined pocket for scooper)
• Felt lining and mesh front side for comfort and breathability
• Separate compartment for litter box during travel

At the time of writing, this carrier had a rating of 4.9/5 stars on Amazon . Plus, it includes free delivery!

Porayhut Mispace Portable Twin Carrier

Best Large Cat Carrier With Litter Box

Size : 39.3″ x 21.7″ x 23.6″  Customer Satisfaction : 4.6/5

The Porayhut Mispace Portable Twin Carrier offers extra room for your cat(s) and included litter box. The twin compartments can be opened in the middle to create maximum room, and it includes cat hammocks for each side. The carrier also features anti-scratch mesh panels and removable mats. 

Here are a few more of the carrier’s best features: 

• Durable waterproof coating
• Removable interior hammock hooks
• Outside pockets for cat accessories
• Double large size zipper for safety and access
• Transparent cat cart display window for travel

You can get the Porayhut Mispace Portable Twin Carrier at Amazon , where customers give it 4.6 out of 5 stars. Reviews highlight how easy the cat carrier litter box set is to assemble and store, how much space it offers, and how convenient it is during travel.

The Whole Kitten Kaboodle Bundle

Best Cat Backpack With Litter Box Bundle

Size : 15″ x 11.4″ x 17.7″  Customer Satisfaction : 4.5/5

If you’re looking for a cat backpack with a litter box, The Whole Kitten Kaboodle by Your Cat Backpack is a great bundle to buy. While you won’t be able to fit the litter box in the cat backpack with your cat, it’s made for portability and use on the go. 

In addition to the cat backpack and travel litter box, the bundle includes the following accessories: 

• Harness and leash set
• Retractable leash
• Convertible cat bed and cave
• Portable cat food and water dish
• Hands-free clip-on cat treat pouch

The cat backpack itself holds up to 25 pounds, and features an interior clip for attaching a leash, a bubble attachment, screen attachment, side pockets, adjustable shoulder straps and chest strap, strong mesh sides and top, air holes, and a removable mat. You can purchase the bundle from Your Cat Backpack where customers give it an average rating of 4.5/5.

If you’re looking for a large cat backpack, you can check out my full list of top picks here .

Prutapet Large Cat Carrier

Best Cat Carrier With Litter Box for Long Distance Car Travel

Size : 24″ x 16.5″ x 16.5″  Customer Satisfaction : 4.6/5

If you’re going to travel a long distance in a car with your cat, the Prutapet Large Cat Carrier is a great accessory to check out. It’s large enough for your cat to be comfortable in the car and holds pets up to 55 pounds. In addition to the cat carrier, this bundle also includes a travel litter box and a collapsible travel bowl.

Here’s what makes the Prutapet Large Cat Carrier great for car travel: 

• Seatbelt loops for securing the crate in your car
• Locking zippers for added safety
• Safety strap to attach to your cat’s harness
• Three access points for you to get to your cat
• Mesh windows for ventilation on all four sides
• Washable upholstering for comfort and easy cleaning

Out of five stars, customers give the Prutapet Large Cat Carrier an average rating of 4.6. You can read full reviews and purchase the cat carrier right now at Amazon .

Pet Fit for Life Large Cat Carrier 

Best Cat Carrier With Litter Box for Large Cats

Size : 32″ x 19″ x 19″ Customer Satisfaction : 4.5/5

The Pet Fit for Life Large Cat Carrier is big enough to comfortably fit two adult cats. You can get the same cat carrier in a smaller size, but only the large carrier comes with a portable litter box. In addition to the cat carrier and travel litter box, this bundle also includes a collapsable water/food bowl, a reversible soft-sided floor mat, and a stick toy for your cat. 

Here’s what I love about the Pet Fit for Life:

• It includes two side windows and a zippered front door for ventilation
• Integrated seat belt straps for securing the carrier in your car
• Four included stakes to secure the cat carrier outside

At the time of writing, the Pet Fit for Life Large Cat Carrier had over 3,200 reviews on Amazon with an average rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars. 

One for Pets Portable 2-in-1 Double Kennel

Best Cat Carrier for Two Cats

Size : 20″ x 20″ x 39″  Customer Satisfaction : 4.8/5

The One for Pets Portable 2-in-1 Double Pet Kennel is perfect for traveling with two cats as it includes attachable twin cat carriers. Unfortunately, this cat carrier doesn’t come with its own travel litter box (you can check out our top picks for travel litter boxes here ). However, there’s plenty of room to insert your own travel litter box, especially if you’re only traveling with one cat. 

In addition to the twin compartments, here are a few of the best features of the One for Pets Portable 2-in-1 Double Kennel: 

• Built-in straps to safely connect to a seatbelt
• Removable, washable pad cover
• Three ways to use: connected but divided compartments, one big space, or two single kennels
• Lightweight and spacious with three zippered mesh doors for ventilation

This carrier has earned a rating of 4.8 out of 5 stars from over 750 customers. You can check out the full reviews and purchase the One for Pets 2-in-1 Double Pet Carrier at Amazon .

Sport Pet Kennel 

Best Large Cat Travel Crate

Size : 45.25″ x 17.25″ x 18.75″ Customer Satisfaction : 4.4/5

The Sport Pet Kennel is another great option for giving your cats extra space while traveling. While this cat carrier doesn’t include a travel litter box , you can purchase the matching travel litter box for $15 at Amazon . The carrier itself offers the biggest amount of space for your cat(s) compared to other carriers on this list and stretches across your back seat during travel. 

Here are a few of the Sport Pet Kennel’s best features: 

• Durable gate entry on each side
• Mesh panel sides for ventilation and visibility
• Adjustable security leash for clipping to a harness
• Headrest straps and seatbelt loops for secure transportation

The Sport Pet Kennel has an average rating of 4.4 out of 5 based on over 5,000 customer reviews at the time of writing, and it’s an Amazon’s Choice product. You can check out the Sport Pet Kennel at Amazon .

Can You Put a Litter Box in a Cat Carrier?

This list contains several cat carriers that come with litter boxes; some are designed to fit inside while others are designed to be used alongside the carrier. In either case, can you (or should you) put a litter box in a cat carrier?

You can put a litter box in a cat carrier if it comfortably fits along with your cat. A traditional litter box is not going to comfortably fit in any traditional cat carrier, so be sure to buy a smaller travel litter box and a larger cat carrier. 

That being said, you may not have to travel with your cat’s litter box in their crate with them. If you’re traveling with your cat for less than 2-4 hours, you may not need a travel litter box at all. Assuming your cat is healthy, they should be able to wait that long before using the litter box. 

If you think your cat may need to use the litter box more frequently than you’ll be able to stop, consider getting a cat carrier with a travel litter box that fits inside. Still, be sure to give your cat breaks from their carrier as often as possible. 

How To Travel With a Cat Litter Box

If you’re getting ready to travel with your cat over a long distance, you may be traveling with a litter box as well. Here are a few things you can do to make the trip easier:

1. Choose a travel litter box .

The litter box you use at home is likely too big to fit in your car comfortably, so be sure to buy a travel litter box. These are typically much smaller and collapsible for easy travel. 

Some cat carriers (like the ones above) come with their own travel litter box that either fits inside the carrier itself or folds for portability.

2. Make sure the litter box is secure in the car .

Once you have your travel litter box, secure it in the car for travel. If it will have loose litter in it during the trip, you don’t want it dumped all over the back floorboard. 

You can secure a travel litter box into a cat carrier, cover it and secure it in another section of your car, or fold it down while empty and store it in an easy-to-access place in the car for your next stop. 

3. Bring extra litter, bags, and a scoop .

Be sure to bring everything you’ll need for your cat’s trip including extra litter for the travel litter box, plastic bags to clean it out with (we use recycled grocery store bags), and a scoop that can be kept in an easily cleaned space during the trip.

Whether your cat’s litter box is in their carrier or you plan on letting them use it when you stop driving, you’ll want to have everything you’ll need to keep it clean and securely stored during the trip. That being said, you may even want to bring emergency cleaning supplies for the car just in case.

You can check out our full guide on how to travel with a cat litter box in the car here .

Methodology

While I was researching the best cat carriers with litter boxes, I did the same things I would do before making a purchase for my own cats. I read customer reviews, I looked at the manufacturer, retailer, and price of the cat carrier, and above all, I considered the comfort and safety of the cat and the driver.

Here are the main factors I considered while choosing the best cat carriers with litter box sets:

• Size . Each of the cat carriers on this list is at least 15″ x 11.4″ x 17.7″ to ensure enough room for cats to be comfortable.
• Travel Litter Box. Each of the cat carriers on this list either comes with a travel litter box that fits inside the carrier, comes with a travel litter box that collapses for portability, or is large enough to fit a travel litter box along with your cat.
• Safety.  Each of the cat carriers on this list is made from durable materials with proper ventilation. I also considered additional safety features including secure fasteners, included leashes, space to attach a leash, seatbelt loops, and any other car-specific features for travel.
• Comfort.  In addition to proper size and ventilation, I also looked to see if the cat carriers included interior mats for your cat’s comfort. For the driver, I considered the space available in the car and easy visibility so that you can check on your cat throughout the trip.
• Customer Satisfaction.  Before I make any purchase, I always take the time to read customer reviews and consider the overall product rating. For each cat carrier litter box combo on this list, I checked to make sure that customer reviews are overall positive and that each one had an average rating of at least 4/5 stars. That helped me to understand how accurate the cat carrier description was as well as the reliability of the seller.

Final Thoughts

There are hundreds of cat carriers and travel litter boxes available now, and finding the best one can be time-consuming and expensive. However, it’s important to make sure you’re getting what you and your cat need for any travel.

If you’re looking for a large cat carrier that comes with a travel litter box to fit inside during the drive, I recommend the Necoichi Portable Stress Free Carrier . If you’re looking to maximize space in your car for a move, the Kitty Obsession All-in-One Cat Carrier offers a perfect balance of comfort and compactness.

No matter which cat carrier and litter box you choose, be sure to give your cat plenty of time to get used to them before the trip. Whether you’re moving across the country or visiting a friend , buy your cat carrier early and plan for litter box breaks during the journey. Finally, don’t forget to bring or buy additional travel accessories such as a litter box scoop, plastic bags, extra litter, and emergency cleaning supplies.

More Travel Tabby Content You May Enjoy:

• Moving Across the Country With Cats: Everything I Wish I Knew
• Moving With Cats: What To Do on Moving Day
• 6 Best Food and Water Bowls for Traveling Cats

Dallas is a proud cat parent of three (Kitten, Meera, and Jojen) and they love to travel. In addition to running Travel Tabby, Dallas also writes money saving tips on Clark.com.

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A4Pet Airline Approved Cat & Dog Carrier, Removable Soft-Sided Portable Pet Travel Washable Carrier for Kittens, Puppies, Rabbit, Hamsters

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STURDY FRAME & DURABLE FABRIC --Sturdy bottom and solid steel wire support rods hold the pet inside without collapsing; the well-stitched Oxford cloth material can ensure long-term use; the S size can hold 9 pounds, and the M size can hold 14 pounds, the L size can hold 18 pounds, neither collapse nor lose shape.

AIRLINE APPROVED CARRIER --This carrier is airlines approved. Fit for American Airlines, United Airlines, Alaska Airlines, Jet Blue, Southwest, Frontier Airlines, Allegiant airlines, Virgin America, Lufthansa and so on .Easily to get this under the airplane seat when travel. (PS:There are two detachable fiber rods on both sides of the top of the carrier. When the size Large carrier is too high to fit under the seat, you can remove the two fiber optic rods and put them in easily)

VENTILATION DESIGN & POCKETS --The 2 mesh door openings on the front and the top are convenient for pets to enter and exit,and the 3 mesh designs make the carrier more breathable and ventilated. The good ventilation design is very healthy for your dog or cat; each opening has two zipper pulls; the side pockets can put some small items

EASY TO CARRY --Adjustable shoulder straps and handles are easy to carry; the carrier back has a wide and sturdy strap, which can be passed through with a seat belt to fix the carrier on the car seat, and the luggage lever can also be used Pass through this strap to fix it to the suitcase

SAFETY & EASY CLEANING : The built-in safety rope is tied to your pet's collar to prevent escape; the carrier is spot-washed, and the cushion is machine-washed

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Traveling With Cats: American Airlines Policy

• Last updated Jul 13, 2024
• Difficulty Beginner

• Category Travel

American Airlines allows passengers to travel with their cats, but there are several rules and restrictions to be aware of. The airline's pet policy outlines the requirements for cats travelling in the cabin and cargo hold, as well as the fees and documentation needed. Cats must be at least eight weeks old and fully weaned, with a health certificate issued by a licensed veterinarian within ten days of travel. The cat carrier must be able to fit under the seat, and the combined weight of the carrier and cat cannot exceed 20 pounds. American Airlines also restricts the number of pets in the cabin per flight, so it's important to book early if you plan on travelling with your cat.

What You'll Learn

In-cabin vs cargo travel, pet carrier requirements, flight restrictions, health and documentation requirements.

American Airlines allows cats to travel in the cabin and cargo hold. However, there are different requirements for each option.

In-Cabin Travel

According to American Airlines' in-cabin pet policy, small cats can fly with you in the cabin as a carry-on pet. The cat carrier must fit under the seat in front of you, and the combined weight of the carrier and cat cannot exceed 20 pounds. Your cat must remain in their carrier at all times.

Cargo Travel

If your cat is larger, or if the combined weight of your cat and its carrier exceeds the 20-pound limit, your cat can travel in the cargo hold. American Airlines ensures that the cargo hold is temperature-controlled, safe, and comfortable for your cat.

Health and Documentation Requirements

Before flying with your cat, make sure it is healthy and up-to-date on its vaccinations. American Airlines requires a health certificate issued by a licensed veterinarian within ten days of travel, proof of rabies vaccination, and proof of other vaccinations like feline distemper.

Kennel Requirements

Your cat must be in a kennel made of metal or hard plastic, with a secure door and enough room for your cat to stand up and turn around. The kennel must be clearly labelled with your name and address, and have food and water dishes securely attached to the inside.

American Airlines charges a fee for travelling with a pet, ranging from $150 to $200 depending on the route. If you're flying internationally, you'll need to pay a fee of $125 for flights within the country and between the United States and Canada, Mexico, and Central America.

Flight Restrictions

American Airlines only allows cats on flights that are 12 hours or less. The airline does not permit pets on nonstop flights to Maui, the Big Island of Hawaii, or Kauai, or if your pet is pregnant and past 45 days of gestation.

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When travelling with a cat on American Airlines, there are specific requirements that your pet carrier must meet. The carrier must be made of metal or hard plastic, with a secure door and enough room for your cat to stand up and turn around. It must also be clearly labelled with your name and address. The airline also requires that a food and water dish be securely attached to the inside of the kennel.

Soft-sided collapsible kennels are recommended and can be slightly larger but still need to fit under the seat without having to excessively collapse the kennel. They must be secure, padded, made of water-repellent material and have nylon mesh ventilation on three or more sides.

For pets travelling in the cabin, soft-sided carriers must not exceed 18" x 11" x 11" (45 cm x 28 cm x 28 cm) and hard-sided carriers must not exceed 19" x 13" x 9" (48 cm x 33 cm x 22 cm). Animals must be able to stand up, turn around, and lie down in their carrier.

For pets travelling as cargo, carriers should not exceed 40" x 27" x 30" (101 cm x 68 cm x 76 cm). Carriers must be large enough for animals to turn around, sit, and lie down in a natural position; constructed of wood, metal, or plastic; and be leak-and-escape-proof. Doors of carriers must fasten securely and have ventilation on two sides in addition to the door. Carriers must also have a water container with outside access for filling.

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American Airlines allows cats to travel in the cabin and cargo hold. The airline charges a fee for travelling with a pet, which ranges from $125 to $200, depending on the route and the size of the animal.

In-Cabin Pet Fee

American Airlines charges a $125 fee for each one-way itinerary where your pet accompanies you in the cabin. This fee also applies to any one-way itinerary within the U.S. with a voluntary stopover of more than four hours.

Checked Baggage Pet Fee

American Airlines currently only offers checked baggage service for live animals for active-duty U.S. Military and U.S. State Department Foreign Service personnel travelling on official orders. The airline charges a flat fee of $200 for larger dogs and cats flying as accompanied checked baggage. This fee increases to $150 for travel to or from Brazil.

Cargo Pet Fee

American Airlines offers two transport services for pets travelling as cargo: Priority Parcel Service (PPS) and ExpediteFS. PPS is for domestic flights and smaller pets, while ExpediteFS is for international flights and larger pets. An additional $150 handling fee per air waybill will apply to the animal rates.

Military Discount

All active members of the U.S. Military may receive a discount of 50% off the published rate when transporting cats and dogs while under PCS or TDY orders.

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When flying with a cat on American Airlines, there are several flight restrictions to be aware of. Firstly, American Airlines only permits cats on flights that are 12 hours or less. Additionally, the airline does not allow cats on nonstop flights to Maui, the Big Island of Hawaii, or Kauai, nor does it allow pregnant cats past 45 days of gestation to travel to Hawaii. American Airlines also has a limited number of pets they allow in the cabin, so it is recommended to book early if travelling with a cat.

Furthermore, American Airlines does not allow carry-on pets on transatlantic or transpacific trips. The airline also has specific requirements for the kennel that cats must travel in. The kennel must be made of metal or hard plastic, with a secure door and enough room for the cat to stand, turn around, and lie down. It must also be labelled with the owner's name and address, and have food and water dishes securely attached inside.

In addition, American Airlines has temperature restrictions in place to ensure the safety and comfort of cats travelling in checked baggage or cargo. The airline will not transport cats when the current or forecasted temperature is above 29.4 degrees Celsius or below 7.2 degrees Celsius at any location on the itinerary. These temperature restrictions apply to animal holding areas, terminal facilities, and on the plane.

Lastly, American Airlines does not accept certain breeds of cats as checked baggage due to the risks associated with their hereditary respiratory issues. These breeds include Burmese, Exotic Shorthair, Himalayan, and Persian cats.

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To ensure your cat is healthy and fit to fly, American Airlines requires you to obtain a health certificate from a licensed veterinarian within ten days of travel. This certificate must include the following information:

• Your cat's breed, weight, and date of birth or age. If your cat is a mix, the predominant breed must be referenced.
• A statement confirming that your cat has been examined by a veterinarian and found to be free of infectious or contagious diseases that may pose a risk to other animals or public health. It should also state that your cat appears healthy enough for travel.
• If your cat is pregnant, the veterinarian must clarify that there is no risk of birth occurring during the journey. Females with suckling young and unweaned animals will not be accepted for travel.
• Rabies vaccination certification, issued and signed by a licensed veterinarian in accordance with local timeline regulations. Cats less than 12 weeks old are exempt from this requirement.
• Breed verification form, signed by a licensed veterinarian, is required for all cats.

If the ground temperature at any location on your itinerary is below 45 degrees Fahrenheit (7.2 degrees Celsius), you will need to obtain a separate acclimation letter from a licensed veterinarian. This letter should include your name and address, the veterinarian's name, signature, and accreditation date and number, as well as the exact lowest temperature (between 20 and 44 degrees Fahrenheit) that your cat can be exposed to.

For international travel, an English translation of the health certificate is required. An electronic health certificate is acceptable in some cases, but an ink signature may be necessary for certain countries.

It is important to note that American Airlines does not accept brachycephalic cats of any mix as checked pets. Additionally, your cat must be at least eight weeks old when traveling within the US and Puerto Rico.

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Frequently asked questions.

The maximum size for a soft-sided carrier is 18 x 11 x 11 inches, and the combined weight of the carrier and cat cannot exceed 20 pounds.

Your cat must be at least eight weeks old and fully weaned.

Your cat must be in good health and vaccinated for rabies if it is older than two months. A health certificate issued by a licensed veterinarian within ten days of travel is also required.

The fee for flying your cat in the cabin is $150 USD.

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• Jose Ramos Author Editor Reviewer Traveller

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• Pet Supplies
• Carriers & Strollers
• Soft-Sided Carriers

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PETSFIT Cat Carrier, Pet Carrier Airline Approved, Cat Travel Carrier for Small and Medium Cats Under 12 Lbs, Soft Sided Kitten Carrier with Cozy Extendable Mat, Cat Carrier Bag, Pink

17.0"L x 10.3"W x 10.3"H

Purchase options and add-ons

About this item.

• [Pet Carrier Airline Approved] With an airline-approved design, Conforms to the under-seat dimensions of most airlines, you can take your pet to go to everywhere. The cat carrier bag comes with an extendable cozy fleece pet mat, which offers extra sleeping space for your traveling pet.
• [Multifunctonal Pet Carrier for Cat] The cat travel carrier can be carried by hand with the padded top handle, or over the shoulder using the included detachable carrying strap. The strap can also be used as a seatbelt when car travel and a back webbing can fasten the cat carrier bag to your luggage.
• [Perfect for Travel] Our cat carrier bag is easier to get pets in or out because it has 1 top opening and 2 side doors. The cat travel carrier features 4 mesh panels not only for ventilation but also easy for you to check on your pet. The escape-proof locking zippers and safety hook keep your pet safe.
• [Cat Carrier for Small & Medium Pets] The cat travel carrier measures 17.5" L x 10.5" W x 10.6" H, recommended max load of 12 lbs pets. Please do not choose your carrier based on weight--please kindly reference your pet's length and height in selecting a carrier size.
• [Portable & Collapsible] The pet carrier airline approved can also be used as a soft-sided crate for regular outings and vet visits with cats and small dogs, it comes with a removable machine washable cozy mat and a large pocket. When not in use, just unzip it and fold it down into a flat package for storage.

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Product description.

Escape-proof Locking Zipper

Useful Pocket

Safety Leash

Easy to Fold

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MUST WATCH Before Buying Petsfit Pet Carrier!

✨ The Keaney Family! ✨

Excellent Animal Carrier! Easy to Carry & Has Large Space.

Izabella Carlson

Pet Carrier for Travel

Cat Carrier with Extendable Mat for More Space

PETSFIT Pet Carrier

More Detail of PETSFIT Pet Carrier

Collapsible Soft Sided Pet Carrier for Easy Carry

PETSFIT Airline Approved Pet Carrier

Cozy extendable mat provide more comfort

Product information, product details.

• Product Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 17 x 10.25 x 10.25 inches; 2.05 Pounds
• Item model number ‏ : ‎ DHCA012093I1
• Date First Available ‏ : ‎ June 15, 2023
• Manufacturer ‏ : ‎ PETSFIT
• ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0BZ88BN5X
• Country of Origin ‏ : ‎ China
• #48 in Cat Soft-Sided Carriers

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Customer reviews.

Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.

To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.

Customers say

Customers like the value, comfort, size, quality and performance of the animal carrier. They mention that it's plush, roomy and well made. Some appreciate the versatility, ease of setup, and color.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

Customers are satisfied with the quality of the animal carrier. They mention that it's built well, solid, and ideal for helping a cat relax in a carrier. The shoulder strap and handles are sturdy.

"...This carrier is ideal for helping a cat relax in a carrier, because the front opens up into a cozy fold-out bed...." Read more

"...This is a good solid cat carrier for not much money. I am so happy he is comfortable and secure during travel. I highly recommend this product." Read more

"...Its very sturdy and great quality , so I know why they love it. It has many openings of many sizes so that’s great as well. Very worth the money!" Read more

"... Construction appears sturdy , various carrying strap options and zipper entrances...." Read more

Customers like the size of the animal carrier. They say it's the right size for their pet, has enough room for them without being unmanageable, and fits perfectly under their seat on a plane. Some customers also appreciate the many openings of many sizes and the pocket on the side for food. Overall, most are happy with the size and functionality of the carrier.

"...The carrier is large enough that the cats don't have to crouch to go inside. It is very sturdy, provided you don't open the zipper on the back end...." Read more

"I finally got a chance to use this today. It is the right size for my 12 pound cat Chester...." Read more

"...It would work for a couple hours in a pinch, but it's not roomy . Construction appears sturdy, various carrying strap options and zipper entrances...." Read more

"...It has many openings of many sizes so that’s great as well. Very worth the money!" Read more

Customers are satisfied with the color of the animal carrier. For example, they mention it's pretty, functional, and sturdy. Some say that it'll be a good fit for their pet.

"It's cute and perfect for my petit 9lb cat. She loves it! It's not too big and clunky." Read more

"...It is a pretty pink . I really love the top and front openings, and soft extendable cushion...." Read more

" Very pretty color , efficient design, and my kitten like it too." Read more

"This carrier has all the features I was looking for, and it looks nice ...." Read more

Customers like the comfort of the animal carrier. They mention that it's pretty plush, has a little squish to it, and has s a cozy fold-out bed. They also like that the side of the carrier are soft and moldable, and that there is a small padding bed inside. They like that it isn't too big and clunky, and is perfect for their petit 9lb cat.

"It's cute and perfect for my petit 9lb cat . She loves it! It's not too big and clunky." Read more

"...I am so happy he is comfortable and secure during travel. I highly recommend this product." Read more

"...I really love the top and front openings, and soft extendable cushion ...." Read more

"...Plus the carrier has a little squish to it in case you need to squeeze into a tight spot. That said, it's SMALL...." Read more

Customers appreciate the value of the animal carrier. They say it's a nice economy carrier.

"...It has many openings of many sizes so that’s great as well. Very worth the money !" Read more

"Great quality and value for the price .. I used it for airport travel for my cat (whos a fatty) and it worked wonders for him...." Read more

"...It was well worth the price , nice carrier." Read more

" Great price , dog is happy...." Read more

Customers find the animal carrier easy to setup and use. They mention that it has multiple zippers that make it easy for their pets to come in and out of the carrier.

"Light weight and easy to handle even with a heavy cat in it." Read more

"...It was easy to put all together and seemed pretty sturdy." Read more

"...It is very easy to get them in and out of the carrier as there are multiple zip up doors and is made of a sturdy material...." Read more

"Liked the product. Nice quality and easy to setup , use" Read more

Customers are satisfied with the performance of the animal carrier. They mention that it works well for their pets and is easy to move around in. Some customers also use it as a safe hiding and sleeping space for their animals.

"...Once home we connected it to a playpen and it has worked great as a safe hiding and sleeping space. It is a good size for our 6 month old kitten." Read more

"bought this to have my doggo fly with me and it works great . all the zippers are nice and helpful for folding...." Read more

"... It worked great ! She was 5 lbs at the time and she fit perfectly under the seat on the plane. It was well worth the price, nice carrier." Read more

"I picked up my puppy across the country. This carrier worked perfectly for a 9 pound puppy . He could easily move around...." Read more

Customers like the versatility of the pet carrier. For example, they mention it's great for airport transport, travel, and the mesh will keep their kitten secure and give it a sense of privacy.

"...I am so happy he is comfortable and secure during travel . I highly recommend this product." Read more

"...It was very roomy, and she had no problems on our drive home. It traveled well . She likes to hop in and just lay there sometimes!" Read more

"...It was well worth the price, nice carrier ." Read more

"...The mesh will keep my kitten secure and give it a sense of privacy. Highly recommended." Read more

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Find everything you need to know about travelling with trained service animals, falcons, cats and dogs with Etihad Airways.

You must submit all required documents before your flight and bring the original copies with you for verification at the airport. Your pet will not be permitted to fly otherwise.

If you have any questions, please email [email protected] .

How to book

• Submit a booking form at least seven days in advance.
• Email all required documents no later than 72 hours before your flight.
• Flying to Abu Dhabi? Apply for a release permit for your pet and complete a UAE Health Certificate .
• UAE Health Certificates must be signed and stamped by a government-accredited health official in your country of departure within five days before your flight. You must present this at the airport. Your pet will not be permitted to fly otherwise.
• If you're travelling to Abu Dhabi from any of the following countries, you can provide a local government health certificate instead. This must be signed and stamped by a government-accredited health official in your country of departure within five days before your flight.:

Rules for travelling with pets

You can pay to bring your cat or dog on board Etihad operated flights to and from Abu Dhabi. Pets are allowed to travel in Economy and Business only. For all other destinations, please check with the relevant country authorities.

All other pets must be transported as manifested cargo with Etihad Cargo .

• Available when you book directly with Etihad and on Etihad operated flights only (your ticket number starts with 607).
• In Economy, pets must sit in their carrier at all times, either under your seat or on an adjacent seat.
• In Business, pets must sit in their carrier on an adjacent seat. They will not be permitted under your seat.
• Carriers must not exceed 40 x 40 x 22cm (L x W x H) to fit under the seat in front of you, or 50 x 43 x 50cm (L x W x H) if you have purchased an adjacent seat.

Additional seats must be purchased in advance.

• If you’re travelling on a return flight but your pet is only travelling one way in an adjacent seat, make two separate bookings for each leg of your trip.
• Your cat or dog must be at least 16 weeks old and weigh no more than 8kg including their carrier.
• You must be at least 18 years old to travel with a pet.
• You must not be seated on an exit row seat or on the bulkhead.
• A relief area is available for pets in Zayed International Airport, located close to the toilets at the beginning of Pier C.
• Need help? Email [email protected] .

How much does it cost?

It costs $1,500 or 215,000 Etihad Guest Miles each way to travel with your cat or dog in Economy. If you are transiting, the combined price will apply. Read more

If you’d prefer to book an adjacent seat travelling in Economy, you’ll be charged for the cost of an extra seat plus $1,500 each way.

If you’re travelling in Business, as there is no space available under the seat, you must purchase an extra seat for your pet. You’ll be charged for the cost of an extra seat plus $1,500 each way.

To pay using Etihad Guest Miles, please call us .

Your travel checklist

Before you travel with your cat or dog, make sure:

• You’ve checked all entry and exit regulations for the countries you’re flying to and from.
• You have all the official documents, vet examinations and treatments for your pet to travel.
• Approval to travel has been received from Etihad Airways.
• You’ve submitted a booking form at least seven days in advance.
• You’ve asked your vet about any medication your pet may need for the journey.
• Your pet is familiar with their travel bag or kennel.
• You have a lead and a suitable harness or collar available.
• You have dry pet food in a sealed container in your cabin baggage. Wet food may be permitted, subject to local regulations.
• You bring all original documents for your pet for verification by an airport vet at your destination.

Important information

Pet carriers.

On board, your pet must always stay in their carrier. They must be able to sit, stand, turn around and lie down in their carrier.

Carriers must:

• Not exceed 40 x 40 x 22cm (L x W x H) to fit under your seat, or 50 x 43 x 50cm (L x W x H) if you have purchased an adjacent seat.
• Be ventilated on at least three surface areas
• Be escape and leak-proof
• Be lined with absorbent material. 

Arriving at the airport

Arrive at check-in with your pet in a suitable carrier three hours before departure.

You must present all required documents at check-in. Your pet will not be permitted to fly otherwise.

Your pet can travel in addition to your cabin baggage allowance.

If you’re eligible to use one of our lounges in Abu Dhabi, you can bring your pet along too. Lounge access for pets in other airports is subject to local regulations and access policy.

We recommend that you board before other guests to give our crew time to help prepare your pet for travel.

Arriving at your destination

If Abu Dhabi is your final destination, you must complete all arrival formalities according to UAE regulations. This includes an inspection by the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE) veterinary officer, performed in the Customs clearance area.

For all other destinations, you must complete all arrival formalities according to local regulations. Inspection and clearance areas may vary from airport to airport. Check with the applicable authority at your destination for specific requirements.

Final destination Abu Dhabi?

Apply for an import permit for your pet. This must be included in the documents submitted to us no later than 72 hours before your flight.

If you want to bring your pet on a flight to the UAE, you must complete a UAE Health Certificate . This certificate must be signed and stamped by a government health official in your country of departure, within five days of your flight. Stamps from private veterinarians are not accepted.

Apply for an Abu Dhabi Customs Bill of Entry. This must be done no later than 48 hours before your flight. To do this, send the following to [email protected]

• For UAE residents, a copy of your Emirates ID
• For non-residents, a copy of your passport
• Import permit for your pet
• Your mobile number
• A copy of your reservation/ticket
• Weight of the pet, including the carrier

MICCO will review the documents and share a payment link. Once you have completed payment, the Bill of Entry will be provided to you via email.

• The Bill of Entry application process is managed by MICCO Logistics. Any personal data will be processed in accordance with MICCO Logistics’ privacy policy.
• You must present the UAE Health Certificate and Bill of Entry at the airport of departure; otherwise, your pet will not be permitted to fly.
• In order to obtain the final release to clear Customs, you will be required to visit the MOCCAE veterinary officer in the Customs area on arrival in Abu Dhabi.

Rules for falcons

Falcons are permitted on board all Etihad operated flights.

• You can travel with a falcon for free as part of your cabin baggage allowance, or as checked baggage for US $500 per cage.
• In Economy, you’re permitted to carry one falcon per person, or two falcons per additional seat.
• In Business you’re permitted to carry two falcons per person, or three falcons per additional seat. 
• In First Class you’re permitted to carry two falcons per person.
• To avoid any delays at the airport, please make sure that you have the correct permits and documentation for your falcon to travel.

If you’d like to travel with a falcon on board, please call us to book in advance of your flight. 

Can I travel with a trained service dog?

If you have a qualifying disability, you can travel with a trained service dog with a license from any ADI or IGDF accredited organisation. You need this service dog license on all flights except for flights from the US. If you have a psychiatric support dog, you can only travel with it on a direct flight from the US.

Dogs trained for emotional support, comfort or companionship, or service dogs in training are not permitted on board as a trained service dog. You can pay to carry these dogs on board if they meet our rules for pets (check pets' section).

Trained service dogs must behave properly in public. They will not be accepted in the cabin if they display any form of disruptive behaviour, which may include growling, biting, jumping or causing damage to the cabin.

Rules for trained service dogs

Trained service dogs are permitted at no cost on board all Etihad operated flights or in the cargo hold in addition to your checked baggage allowance. 

• You can travel with one trained service dog on board, or two on flights from the US. 
• The dog must sit within your seat space and be harnessed, leashed or tethered at all times on the flight.
• Regulations may vary depending on where you are flying from, so always check well in advance. 
• To avoid any delays at the airport, please make sure you have all the correct permits and documentation for your trained service dog.
• Service dogs cannot be transported on Etihad Airways flights departing China.
• If you're flying from the US with a service dog, you do not need a license. For all other flights, you need a service dog license from an ADI or IGDF accredited organisation. Please have your service dog physical or digital ID available at all times as you may be asked to present it before boarding the flight.
• A relief area is available for trained service dogs in Zayed International Airport, located close to the toilets at the beginning of Pier C.

We recommend you call us at least 48 hours before your flight if you are travelling with a trained service dog.

For all flights, you must complete a  Live Animals On-Board Booking Form .

For flights from the US, you must also complete a  U.S DOT Service Animal Air Transportation Form , and a  U.S DOT Service Animal Relief Attestation Form .

For all other flights, you must also complete a Trained service dog on board booking form .

We may refuse carriage of the dog or transfer the dog to the cargo hold at additional costs if the dog does not behave in an appropriate manner.

Legal requirements need to be fulfilled and embargos need to be followed for origin and destination.

More about travelling with pets

Country restrictions.

Due to government-imposed restrictions, you will not be permitted to travel with your pet on board on the following routes:

Flying to or from: 

• India (Ahmedabad, Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram and Kozhikode)
• South Africa
• Indonesia (Bali)  

Flying to: 

• China (Guangzhou and Shanghai)
• UK (London and Manchester)

Dangerous breeds

Dogs posing a danger such as the below are not permitted on our aircraft.

Banned Breeds

• Staffordshire Bull Terrier breed of dog
• American Pit Bull Terrier breed of dog
• American Staffordshire Terrier breed of dog
• American Bully

Mastiff Dogs

• Brazilian Mastiff (Fila Brasiliero)
• Argentinian Mastiff (Dogo Argentino)
• Any Mastiff or Hybrid
• Japanese Tosa or hybrid

Rottweilers breed or hybrid

Doberman Pinschers

Canario Presa

BoxerAny mixed breed of above breeds of dog or their Hybrid

Upgrading your flight

If you upgrade your flight, please  call us  to rebook your cat or dog to travel with you. In Business, you must pay for an additional seat for your pet. Your pet must travel always with you in the same cabin. 

Changes and refunds

• Voluntary Changes: You can change your request up to three hours before the flight departure time. To arrange a new flight, please contact us to confirm availability before you make any changes to your itinerary. You must complete all approval processes again and will still be liable for ensuring that the required documents, certificates and permits are in order for your pet to travel on the rebooked flight.
• Involuntary changes: We will coordinate with you and provide the best available options in cases where your flight has been rebooked or cancelled. You can request a full refund for the fees that were paid for transporting your pet if the options that we have provided do not meet your needs, provided that your pet was not transported from the country of origin.
• Refunds: A full refund is only given for cases where we had an irregular operation and are not able to transport your pet. In this case, you can reach out to our Contact Centre and request a refund to the fees that were paid. If we were able to transport your pet on another flight/date or airline after obtaining your consent, then a refund is not permitted in this case.

Terms and conditions

• Documentation – The documentation required for pets in cabin must be provided as per Etihad requirements and/or country regulations. Etihad documentation policy is more restrictive for some countries.
• You are permitted to carry one pet on board. If you are travelling with another guest, you may bring two pets, provided the pets are from the same household and known to each other. If you are travelling with two pets, you must complete a separate booking form for each pet.
• Etihad Airways will not be responsible if authorities in other countries refuse entry of your pet due to non-compliance with local regulations. Etihad will in this case, not be liable for any resulting costs such as flight rebooking charges, hotel accommodation if Etihad have to refuse the carriage of your pet due to non-compliance with the regulations.
• We assume no liability for the health or well being of pets carried in the cabin.
• Pets must be able to stand and sit erect, turn around normally and lie down in a natural position in their travel bag or kennel (without touching any side or the top).
• Pet travel bags or kennels can’t exceed the under seat dimensions of any aircraft in your journey.
• You are responsible for additional costs for import or export.
• Pregnant pets cannot be accepted for travel.
• You must report 3 hours prior to departure at the airport.
• You must bring enough of absorbent sheets for your pet to relieve itself, including connecting flights and transit airport, if applicable. You will be responsible for the replacement and associated disposal.
• You can only carry dry pet food in your cabin baggage. Food should be carried in a sealed container so the smell does not disturb other guests.
• If there are guests travelling on-board that are allergic to animals, our crew may be required to re-seat you and your pet. In rare occurrences, we may need to re-book your flight.
• Sedation of animals, except under certain conditions and carried out under veterinary supervision, is not recommended. Commonly used tranquilizers lower blood pressure, which also occurs at high altitude.
• Third party lounge access for animals is dependent on local regulations.
• In cases of a guest with an allergy statement and a guest with a pet request travelling on the same flight, the request of the guest who made the first reservation shall be confirmed.
• In cases of a guest wishing to travel with a trained service animal and a guest wishing to travel with a pet in the same class on the same flight, the request of the guest wishing to travel with a trained service animal shall always take priority regardless of time of reservation.
• It costs $1,500 or 215,000 Etihad Guest Miles each way to travel with your cat or dog  
• If you are transiting, the combined price will apply.
• You can pay for this fee using Etihad Guest Miles by calling our Contact Centre . 
• You must be travelling on an Etihad operated flight. If you have a connecting flight operated by another airline, we'll be unable to permit carriage of your pet.
• Customs/Veterinarians import checks are governed by the airport authorities/ministries/veterinarians at destination and may take several hours for clearance.

Booking form

To travel with your cat, dog or trained service dog on board, submit a booking form at least seven days before your flight. To travel with a falcon, please call us .

You must complete this form in English.

Guests with allergies and other animals on board

If someone is allergic to animals and a guest with a trained service dog requests to travel on the same flight, the trained service dog will take priority, regardless of the time of reservation. Allergies must be proved by a medical report submitted before the flight.

If a guest with a trained service dog and a guest with a pet request to travel in the same cabin on the same flight, the trained service dog will take priority, regardless of the time of reservation!