Travel
Best Cat Carriers
By PawPicks Research ยท Updated
Quick answer
The best cat carrier for most owners is the Petmate Two Door Top Load: it opens from the top as well as the front, so you can lower an anxious cat straight down into it instead of wrestling it through a small end door, and the top lifts off so the vet can examine your cat in the base. It's hard-sided, secure, and affordable. If you regularly drive with your cat, spend more on the crash-tested Sleepypod Mobile Pet Bed, which is the one carrier actually built to protect a cat in a collision.
The carrier you buy decides how the worst day of your cat's month goes. Getting a frightened cat into the carrier is the fight most owners know, and it's almost always the carrier's fault, not the cat's: a small front-only door forces you to push a splayed, panicking animal in headfirst. The fix is a design that opens from the top, or whose top comes off entirely, so you can lower the cat in calmly and let the vet lift the lid to examine it in the base it already trusts.
After loading, the split is about where the cat is going. Hard-sided carriers are more secure and protective, which matters most in a car, where a soft bag offers a cat almost no protection in a crash. Soft-sided carriers are lighter and squash to fit under an airplane seat, which is what airlines require for a cat in the cabin, though every airline sets its own size limits you have to check before you fly. The five picks below cover those situations: a practical hard carrier for vet visits, a crash-tested one for the car, a soft one for flying, a budget option, and a value hard-sided pick.
One honest note that costs nothing. The biggest reduction in vet-day stress isn't a feature, it's leaving the carrier out at home as furniture. A carrier that only appears before a vet trip becomes a trap the cat learns to fear; a carrier that lives open in the room with a soft mat and the odd treat inside becomes a napping spot the cat walks into willingly. Any carrier here works far better if the cat already knows it.
Our picks at a glance
| Pick | Product | Price | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best overall | Petmate Two Door Top Load Hard-Sided Carrier | about $35 | Vet visits and everyday use, especially with an anxious cat |
| Safest for car travel | Sleepypod Mobile Pet Bed | about $180 | Owners who drive with their cat regularly and want real crash safety |
| Best for flying | Sherpa Original Deluxe Soft-Sided Carrier | about $55 | Flying with a cat in the cabin, and lighter everyday trips |
| Best budget | Frisco Soft-Sided Travel Carrier Bag | about $25 | Occasional trips, spare carriers, and tight budgets |
| Best value hard-sided | MidWest Spree Hard-Sided Travel Carrier | about $30 | Owners who want a secure hard carrier without spending much |
Petmate Two Door Top Load Hard-Sided Carrier
about $35
- Type
- Hard-sided plastic
- Loading
- Top and front doors
- Vet access
- Top lifts off for exams
- Airline
- Not cabin-sized, cargo only
This is the carrier that solves the fight most owners have, which is why it's the top pick. The top door lets you lower an anxious cat straight down instead of shoving it through an end door, and the whole top half unclips, so your vet can examine the cat sitting in the familiar base rather than dragging it out. It's hard-sided, so it's secure and protective, the latches hold, and it's cheap enough that there's no reason to keep suffering with a front-only carrier. For routine vet visits and everyday use, it's the safe default.
Pros
- Top loading lets you lower a panicking cat in calmly
- Top half lifts off so the vet can examine the cat in the base
- Hard-sided and secure with latches that actually hold
- Affordable, and comes in sizes for small to large cats
Cons
- Too big for airline cabin use, so it's for cars and vet trips
- Bulky to store compared with a soft carrier that folds flat
Best for: Vet visits and everyday use, especially with an anxious cat
Check price on ChewySleepypod Mobile Pet Bed
about $180
- Type
- Soft-structured bed and carrier
- Safety
- Independently crash-tested
- Seatbelt
- Straps through with the belt
- Doubles as
- An everyday cat bed at home
Most carriers become projectiles in a crash; the Sleepypod is the rare one built and independently crash-tested to protect the animal inside, which is why it's the pick for anyone who drives with their cat often or far. It anchors to the car with the seatbelt so it can't fly forward, and off the road it converts to a plush open bed you leave out at home, which quietly solves the biggest problem in cat carriers: the cat sleeps in it daily, so it's never a strange trap on travel day. The price is the catch, and it's a big one, but for real car safety nothing else here compares.
Pros
- Independently crash-tested, unlike almost every other carrier
- Anchors with the seatbelt so it can't become a projectile
- Converts to an everyday bed, so the cat learns to love it
- Well made and durable enough to last years
Cons
- Far more expensive than any other carrier here
- Soft-structured, so it offers less airline flexibility than a folding bag
Best for: Owners who drive with their cat regularly and want real crash safety
Check price on ChewySherpa Original Deluxe Soft-Sided Carrier
about $55
- Type
- Soft-sided
- Airline
- Meets many under-seat limits
- Loading
- Top and end zip openings
- Flex
- Squashable to fit tight spaces
For cabin air travel you need a soft carrier that fits under the seat in front of you, and the Sherpa Original Deluxe is the long-standing go-to, with a spring-wire frame that lets you squash it into a tight under-seat space without crushing the cat. It has a top zip as well as an end one, so loading is easier than a front-only bag, and it's carried a huge number of cats through airports. The essential caveat: airlines set their own size limits and some differ from the carrier's stated dimensions, so you must confirm your specific airline's rules before you book, every time.
Pros
- Long-trusted design that meets many airlines' under-seat limits
- Spring frame squashes to fit tight spaces without crushing the cat
- Top and end openings make loading easier than front-only bags
- Padded and comfortable for the cat on long trips
Cons
- You must check your specific airline's size rules before every flight
- Soft sides give less protection than a hard carrier in a car
Best for: Flying with a cat in the cabin, and lighter everyday trips
Check price on ChewyFrisco Soft-Sided Travel Carrier Bag
about $25
- Type
- Soft-sided
- Loading
- Top and front zip openings
- Brand
- Chewy house brand
- Folds
- Flat for storage
Chewy's house-brand carrier is the honest budget pick: a soft-sided bag with mesh panels, a top and front zip so you're not fighting the cat through one small door, and a shoulder strap, at a price that undercuts the name brands. It folds flat to store, which suits owners who only travel occasionally. It won't match the Sleepypod's crash protection or carry the Sherpa's airline track record, but for short trips, the odd vet visit, or a spare carrier in a multi-cat home, it does the job for very little money.
Pros
- Cheapest carrier on this list, from Chewy's own brand
- Top and front zips make loading easier than a single-door bag
- Folds flat for storage and has a shoulder strap
Cons
- Soft sides offer little protection in a car crash
- Not verified against any specific airline's cabin size rules
Best for: Occasional trips, spare carriers, and tight budgets
Check price on ChewyMidWest Spree Hard-Sided Travel Carrier
about $30
- Type
- Hard-sided plastic
- Loading
- Top and front doors
- Vet access
- Top opens for exams
- Sizes
- Several, small to large cats
The Spree is the value version of the top pick: a hard-sided carrier with both a top and front door, so it gives you the same lower-the-cat-in loading and hard-shell security for a little less money. The top opens for the cat to be lifted in and out and for the vet to reach the cat, the plastic shell is easy to wipe clean after an accident, and it comes in a range of sizes. It's a touch less sturdy than the Petmate and its latches feel lighter, which is why it sits here rather than at the top, but as a cheap, secure hard carrier it's a strong buy.
Pros
- Hard-sided security and top loading at a low price
- Top opens for easy loading and vet access
- Wipe-clean plastic and several sizes to fit the cat
Cons
- Latches and shell feel lighter than the pricier Petmate
- Too large for airline cabin use, so it's for cars and vet trips
Best for: Owners who want a secure hard carrier without spending much
Check price on ChewyTop-loading is the feature that matters most
The hardest part of using a carrier is getting a scared cat into it, and the design of the door decides how that goes. A carrier with only a small front door forces you to push a resisting cat in headfirst, legs braced against the frame, which is stressful for both of you and the reason so many carriers sit unused. A carrier that opens from the top, or whose top half lifts off entirely, lets you lower the cat in rear-first and calm, which turns a wrestling match into a ten-second job.
The same feature pays off at the other end of the trip. When the top comes off, the vet can examine your cat sitting in the base it already knows, instead of dragging a frightened animal out onto a cold table, which many cats fight hard. That's why vets themselves tend to recommend top-loading or top-removable carriers. If you take one thing from this page for routine vet visits, make it this: buy a carrier that opens from the top.
Hard or soft: match the carrier to the trip
The hard-versus-soft choice comes down to where the cat is going. Hard-sided carriers are rigid and secure, they don't collapse, they protect against being crushed, and they wipe clean after an accident, which makes them the better choice for car travel and general use. Soft-sided carriers are lighter, more comfortable, and squash down, which is exactly what airlines need for a cat riding under the seat in the cabin. Many owners end up with one of each.
Two safety points people miss. In a car, a soft carrier on the seat is not restraint: in a crash it, and the cat, keep moving, so any carrier should be secured with a seatbelt, and only the Sleepypod on this list is actually crash-tested to protect the cat. For flying, the carrier must fit your specific airline's under-seat dimensions, which vary between airlines and sometimes differ from the carrier's own stated size, so confirm the current rules with the airline before every trip rather than trusting the label.
Getting the size right, and making the carrier a safe place
Size is a balance, not bigger-is-better. The cat should be able to stand up without ducking, turn around, and lie down comfortably, roughly one and a half times the cat's length. But an oversized carrier is actually worse in a car, because the cat slides around inside it with every turn and stop, and a cat wedged snugly feels more secure than one rattling in a big box. For airline use, size is set by the airline's under-seat limit, not by the cat, which is one more reason to check dimensions first.
The cheapest upgrade of all is behavioral, not physical. Leave the carrier out at home all the time, open, with a soft towel and the occasional treat or meal inside, so it becomes a familiar napping spot rather than a trap that only appears on vet day. Add a spray or wipe of a feline calming pheromone before a trip if your cat is a nervous traveler. A cat that already sleeps in its carrier loads without a fight, which is worth more than any feature you can pay for.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best cat carrier?
For most owners it's the Petmate Two Door Top Load: it opens from the top so you can lower an anxious cat straight in, the top lifts off so the vet can examine the cat in the base, and it's hard-sided, secure, and affordable. If you drive with your cat often, the crash-tested Sleepypod Mobile Pet Bed is the safest choice for the car, and for flying you want a soft-sided carrier like the Sherpa Original Deluxe that fits under the seat.
What kind of cat carrier is best for vet visits?
A hard-sided carrier that loads from the top or whose top lifts off, like the Petmate Two Door Top Load. Top loading lets you lower a scared cat in without a fight, and a removable top means the vet can examine your cat sitting in the base it already trusts instead of pulling it out onto the table. Vets themselves tend to recommend top-opening carriers for exactly these reasons.
Are soft or hard cat carriers better?
It depends on the trip. Hard-sided carriers are more secure and protective and wipe clean easily, which makes them better for car travel and everyday use. Soft-sided carriers are lighter and squash to fit under an airplane seat, which is what airlines require for a cat in the cabin. Many owners keep one of each. Whichever you choose for the car, secure it with a seatbelt, since only a crash-tested carrier actually protects a cat in a collision.
What size cat carrier do I need?
Big enough that your cat can stand without ducking, turn around, and lie down, roughly one and a half times the cat's body length. Avoid going much larger for car travel, because a cat slides around in an oversized carrier and feels less secure than one that fits snugly. For flying, the size is set by your airline's under-seat limit rather than by the cat, so check the airline's current dimensions before you buy.
How do I get my cat used to a carrier?
Leave the carrier out at home all the time, open, with a soft towel and the occasional treat or meal inside, so it becomes a familiar napping spot instead of a trap that only appears on vet day. Feed near it, then in it, over a couple of weeks. A feline calming pheromone spray before a trip helps nervous cats. A cat that already sleeps in its carrier loads without a fight, which beats any feature you can pay for.
Is it safe to travel with a cat loose in the car?
No. A loose cat can wedge under the pedals, bolt out an open door, or be badly hurt in a crash, and a distressed cat is a distraction for the driver. Keep the cat in a secured carrier every time. For real crash protection, use an independently crash-tested carrier like the Sleepypod and anchor it with the seatbelt, since an unsecured carrier, hard or soft, still flies forward in a collision.
Keep reading
Ready to try our top pick?
Petmate Two Door Top Load Hard-Sided Carrier - vet visits and everyday use, especially with an anxious cat
See it on Chewy