Best Cat Carrier 

Sherpa Cat Carriers | Soft Cat Carriers | Hard Cat Carriers | Cat Carriers on Wheels | Unique Cat Carriers | Cat Carrier for Two Cats | Tips for Traveling with Cats

The best cat carrier is one that is great for the vet, airline travel, long car rides, is easy to get the cat in and out, & is comfortable. I use soft cat carriers when traveling because they are more comfortable for the cat and also because you can travel with your cats in the cabin of airplanes. You put your cat in its soft-sided bag under the seat in front of you. You can’t do that with a hard carrier. Just make sure the carrier you get is airline approved.

Having been a cat owner and an avid traveler for over 20 years, I’ve tried just about every type of cat carrier there is. I traveled with my cat to Europe using a Sherpa cat carrier many years ago and to this day it remains one of the best choices for cats on long trips. Cheap soft-sided bags can be flimsy and if your cats are anything like my cats, they will be attempting to destroy that bag from the inside as if their little lives depended on it. The Sherpa pet carrier is pretty indestructible. I’ve had some wild cats and if mine couldn’t bust out of them, I’m sure yours won’t be able to!

There are quite a few Sherpa pet carrier options available today, many more than when I first bought one 20 years ago.

The Sherpa Delta Deluxe Pet Carrier is sleek and black. Since I own this one, I can attest to the fact that it is easy to carry, which is essential when you’re running through the airport, late for your plane, and your hands are sweating profusely.

This carrier is Guaranteed on Board and approved for most domestic airlines, fitting nicely underneath the seat in front of you. It has top and side entry and locking zippers, which is important because some cats have been known to force the zippers apart from inside by shoving their nose between them.

Other than Sherpa, there are some other brands of cat carriers that are pretty popular. I haven’t tried any of these but based on reviews on Amazon, they are all solid choices.

The OxGord Airline Approved Pet Carrier is an incredibly popular option that is approved for most airlines. It has lots of storage compartments and a removable fleece liner that makes it easy to clean.

This Soft Sided Airline Approved Carrier has a unique look to it and almost looks almost like a gym bag. It’s got an adjustable shoulder strap with padding and folds flat for storage. It comes with a 2 year warranty and a 100% money back guarantee.

The AmazonBasics Soft-Sided Pet Travel Carrier looks similar to the Sherpa cat carrier but it more affordable. It has top and front openings and an adjustable shoulder strap. It is acceptable for most airlines and has a machine washable fleece lining.

So you aren’t planning to fly with your cat in the airplane cabin and just need a cat carrier to get your cat to the vet once a year and/or on occasional road trips. Some vets actually require that you bring your cat in a hard cat carrier if they are coming in for surgery. One benefit of the hard cat carriers is that they might be better in the heat because they don’t collapse and may provide more air circulation. Here are some of our favorites:

The bestselling hard cat carrier on Amazon is the Petmate Two Door Top Load Pet Kennel. It is made of sturdy plastic and steel. The top loading door on this will make it pretty easy to pop your cat right in.

The Suncast Deluxe Pet Carrier is nice looking, durable, and easy to clean. It comes with a bowl for food and water and is suitable for cats as well as dogs up to 30 pounds.

The Petmate Sky Kennel is a good option if you are planning to put your cat in the cargo hold of an airplane. We highly recommend against doing that because it is super stressful for the cat – take them in the cabin with you if at all possible. But if that isn’t an option, this kennel is a good choice. It is made in the USA and meets most airline requirements.

I’ve never used a cat carrier on wheels because I think the sound of the wheels rolling on the ground would drive my cats even more insane than they already are, but if you have a pretty mellow cat or cats, this might be worth a try. My cats are really big boned (and I don’t mean fat … I mean I think their mom may have mated with a bobcat) and I nearly throw my back out trying to carry them around in their bags and rolling them instead of carrying them would be super. I may have to try one of these to see if my cats can tolerate it.

The best cat carriers on wheels are the Bark and Meow Premium Pet Travel Tote Carrier Bag with Detachable Roller System, the Leopard Rolling Backpack Pet Carrier for Dogs & Cats, the OxGord® Dog and Cat Rolling Backpack Pet Carrier, and the Tough-Shell Wheeled Collapsible Final Destination Pet Carrier.

I’m a little freaked out by the name of that last one. Just don’t tell your cat when you’re taking him or her to the vet that he’s riding in a carrier called “Final Destination.”

Maybe you’re looking for something a little bit different than your standard cat carrier. Maybe you’re just looking for a way to take your cat out into the world on a walk or on short trips in the car or even, dare we say it, to the park. These cat carriers might be just what you’re looking for.

The Cat-in-the-Bag Cozy Comfort Carrier is a bag for your cat that basically immobilizes him from the neck down. My husband says this looks just like a pillowcase with a hole for the head cut out, but it does have zippers and velcro. Zippers and velcro make everything better. These bags would work well for the vet and might even make it easier for the vet to examine the cat.

Every picture and video I’ve seen of this features cats looking totally pissed off. But hey, they probably look pissed off when they’re in just about any carrier – it’s just easier to see how angry they are when their heads are free and we can see them better. The cat in the video below is definitely plotting his revenge.

The U-pet Innovative Patent Bubble Pet Carrier looks a little bit like an astronaut suit for your cat. It looks like he or she wouldn’t be able to breathe in there, but rest assured it has ventilation holes and mesh panels to keep the air freely flowing. This is approved for most major airlines and fits cats (and dogs) up to 16 pounds.

Wear it as a backpack and take your kitty all over town, on bike rides, to the park, on a plane, or wherever else you want to go. It comes in several different colors and the window can be switched to mesh so the cat will be able to sniff the whole world as it passes by.

Here’s a great video review of the Bubble Pet Carrier:

If you have two cats and they like each other’s company, then having a cat carrier for two cats like the Cat1st Portable Pop Open Cat Kennel might make them more comfortable on car trips and visits to the vet.

You can’t take this double cat carrier on planes but it is great for other situations. Your cats will probably enjoy just chilling in it at home if you leave it out.

It will fit two cats and a travel litter box. Just keep in mind, however, that unless your cats are kittens or very small, it is going to be difficult to lift a cat carrier with two grown cats in it. You may be better off with one carrier for each cat so that you can carry one in each hand and save your back.

I’ve learned a few lessons the hard way when it comes to traveling with cats and I have a few war stories as a result. Here are some things I’ve learned over the years on traveling with our kitty friends.

I can’t stress this enough. The day before you travel, trim your cat’s claws. Unless you have a very docile cat, he or she is going to grab onto the sides of a soft carrier while you are trying to put them in. It ends up being very comical as you lift your cat up with the bag hanging from his paws.

Also, if your cat can’t get his claws into the bag, he will get them into you. I have scars on my arms that were obtained from a cat scratching me when I was trying to get him into his carrier. This was when I was young and stupid. Now, I always trim. These Whisker Wishes Veterinarian Grade Pet Clippers should do the trick if you don’t already have clippers. You should also keep Styptic Powder on hand in case you cut down too far and cause bleeding.

Not sure how to trim their claws? Check out this video:

If you’re flying with your cat, you MUST have a harness on them in their carrier and a leash ready. You are going to have to take them out of their carrier to go through security. Back in the 90s, my cat got got loose at LAX when security took him out of his bag. Having never traveled with a cat before, I didn’t expect he’d be taken out of the bag. And (see above) I hadn’t trimmed his claws. So security took him out of the bag, he freaked out, it was a wild flurry of paws and claws, and the security guy let go of him. So my cat was running wild through the airport while I chased after him and security chased after me.

Having tried lots of harnesses since then, I can say you need to try them out well ahead of your trip to make sure your cat can’t get out of them. My cats are master escape artists and those flimsy little cat harnesses you see in stores don’t contain them. They can back out of the harness by wiggling and doing some fancy magic cat dancing. I use a thick mesh harness like this one for my cats and it holds them better than the thin ones. Still, I wouldn’t rely on it so much that I let my guard down. With a bit of determination, a cat could get out of this.

Don’t give your cats food and water the morning of travel. If you do, there’s a good chance you’re going to be going to be taking a stop at Poop and Puke City on your way to your destination. It’s no fun to have to stop to clean that mess out of their carrier and then you’ll have to get them back into their carrier again after you do. Cats really don’t want to get back in their carrier if there’s poop or vomit in there so you’ll have to clean it very well. If you have no choice but to feed your cat right before travel and you think there’s a chance of an accident, line the carrier with Pet Training Pads for easier cleanup.

No, not for you. Well, maybe for you but I’m talking about the cats right now. I’m not big on giving cats medication if it’s not necessary, but a mild sedative from your vet may go a long way in calming your cat if you’re going to be flying. Going through security, take off and landing, all of these will be less stressful on you and your cat if he isn’t flipping out. There are side effects and risks with any medication so talk to your vet first about your concerns and your cat’s personality and health issues and then decide if a sedative is the right choice for your cat.

You might also try natural, over-the-counter calming options like NaturVet Quiet Moments Calming Cat Plus Melatonin. It contains thiamine and l-tryptophan, both of which help to reduce stress. It also contains ginger which helps calm their stomachs and melatonin which promotes sleep and relaxation.

Don’t Let Strangers Stick Their Hands in the Cat Carrier

One time I had my Maine Coon on a flight from New York to Amsterdam and a large Dutch man next to me insisted on opening my cat’s carrier. I begged him not to but he did it anyway. He unzipped the top and threw some airplane mystery lunchmeat inside. The next thing I knew, my cat had jumped out of his bag and was running up and down the aisle of the plane. The Dutch man wouldn’t let me out of the row to go catch him because he was eating so I had to scream at him, “Let me by! Get up!”

He finally got up and I was down on my hands and knees in the center aisle looking for my cat while a stewardess screamed at me, “You are not supposed to take the cat out of the carrier!” We finally found him under the feet of some nice lady, I grabbed him, and took him back to his bag.

Lesson: Never, ever, under any circumstances should you let anyone else touch your cat’s bag, try to feed him, or pet him.

I\'ve been owned by cats my whole life, have traveled with them around the world, and today I\'m mom to two orange tabbies. On this page I share my opinions on the best cat carriers as well as a few funny stories from my travels with cats.

The sad truth is that cat carriers are a necessity for cat owners. Even if you don\'t have any plans to take your cat to the vet or on a trip, you need to have a reliable one in case of emergencies, like evacuation in the event of a fire or other disaster. Having had to evacuate my two cats during a fire, I know how crucial every minute can be and having reliable carriers on hand that they couldn\'t escape from in their panic was a lifesaver.

At the end of the article I share some tips on traveling with cats that I\'ve learned from years of traveling with my furry friends.