Cats aren’t the most ideal travel companions, however there are methods to prepare them for travel. A cat carrier that is appropriate for your pet can help make traveling with your pet a lot easier. A perfect pet carrier to use for traveling in a car should be comfortable, secure and secure. To determine which is the accurate pet carrier suitable for travel we tested over 40 highly-rated and popular pet carriers in real-world environments.
“Carriers should be sturdy with multiple ways to access the cat a veterinarian at the VCA Cat Hospital of Chicago she told The Spruce Pets. “When not in use for transport, we recommend keeping the carrier or carrier bottom half in the environment as another resting space.”
Some cat carriers have seats belt attachment points or come with crash test certifications issued by non-profit groups like the Center for Pet Safety, such as our favourite cat carrier to take in the car The Sleepypod Mobile Pet Bed.
Best Overall
Sleepypod Mobile Pet Bed
Its Sleepypod Mobile Pet Bed combines tested safety in cars with a style that will maximize the comfort of your cat. The bed is a round cat bed for its base, with the idea that you keep it in the house for your cat’s daily usage. And, when it’s time to hop to the airport for your next trip to the vet your cat is already at ease and safe inside their pet carrier. The top that makes up the Sleepypod an open mesh dome that zips into the rim of the bed. Once it is secured, zippers with easy-grip pulls are used to open the dome in the middle to provide the cat to access it.
This combination does well, although it might not be as effective in the event that the cat has already a cherished cat bed. However, even if they do not get used to the bottom part of the Sleepypod it’s an choice that is among the accurate choices for car travel due to its secure design. The Sleepypod has been tested for crash safety compatible with the exact guidelines that are used in child safety seats (you can watch their crash tests via YouTube).
It’s also one of only a handful of automobile carriers that has been endorsed by the not-for-profit Center for Pet Safety, that conducts independent tests. Utilize the safety tethers to keep your cat in the of the Sleepypod. Then, buckle them into the seatbelt straps and your cat is as safe as it can be inside the car.
Dimensions: 17-inch diameter, 13.5 inches tall | Weight: 4.5 pounds | Colors: Arctic white, glacier silver, sky blue, robin egg blue, blossom pink, strawberry red, dark chocolate, jet black, first blush, olive green, charcoal gray | Materials: Polyester, ballistic nylon, ripstop mesh
Best Budget
Petseek Extra Large Cat Carrier
The soft-sided pet carrier we love the most The Petseek Extreme Large Cat Carrier is an overall great cat carrier, even though it isn’t equipped with the car safety benefits like the Sleepypod. Like the name suggests, it’s a spacious carrier, sporting a strong steel frame and a weight limit of 55 pounds. Our test subject used the cat carrier with two cats and commented, “This is my favorite cat carrier by far.” It’s also collapsible to make it easy to store.
In addition to the security tether in the car in addition, Petseek also has a safety tether inside. Petseek includes seatbelt loops that allow you to attach your seatbelt around your “waist” of the carrier and secure it and securely on your back.
It is a Petseek cat carrier comes with three doors with access via on the side, in front or the side. The mesh screen panels on the sides are able to be folded and leave the cat carrier unlocked and open to the cat. The liner of fleece inside is movable and is machine washable.
Dimensions: 24 x 16.5 x 16 inches | Weight: 6.37 pounds | Colors: Blue, gray, green | Materials: Polyester, nylon mesh, steel frame
Best for Short Trips
Diggs Passenger Travel Carrier
Its Diggs Passenger Travel Carrier is an elegant soft-sided travel bag made for ease of travel on airlines and comes with features such as the trolley sleeve that can be used to attach luggage and several pockets for carrying items. The Diggs carrier is equipped with numerous points of entry and features a dual-zipper upper panel with an easy-to-use lock. The dog bed that is removable has specially-designed pads for cleaning after accidents.
It’s also a great car travel option especially for short travel. Its Diggs Carriers for Passengers has passed crash tests with high scores, earning a five-star evaluation by the Center for Pet Safety (the Sleepypod Mobile received the same rating).
It is available in three colors. Diggs Passenger Travel Carrier is available in three colors.
Dimensions: 20 x 10.8 x 11.5 inches | Weight: 4.5 pounds | Colors: Navy, blush, slate | Materials: Polyester
Best for Multiple Cats
One for Pets Portable Pet Kennel
Cat carrier
The Pets One Portable 2-in-1 lets you carry up to two (or additional) cats, while keeping them in separate places. The two carriers are able to be operated in pairs or together. Each features door panels with zips at the sides and front. You can also unzip the dividers between carriers, and combine the two to create one big indoor space ai.
The mesh doors with zippers are equipped with velcro-attached with points at the top, so they can be rolled up and leave your portable Kennel accessible and open. The double carrier has pegs made of plastic which you can use to secure the entire set down to the ground during outdoor excursions.
However, as our reviewer observed, the unstructured and sagging bottom on The One for Pets pet carriers can be difficult for carrying (and cats won’t like the uneven footing when you’re taking them around in it) which makes this better suited for specifically for vehicle travel. The seat belt loops included allows you to connect this carry to the back of your car and impart plenty of space for your cat while travelling.
Dimensions: 39 x 20 x 20 inches (both compartments zipped together) | Weight: 7.55 pounds | Colors: Black, gray | Materials: Polyester, nylon mesh
Best Multi-Use
Tavo Pets Maeve Car Seat
Its Maeve Pet Car Seat has two primary components: the pet carrier as well as the vehicle base. It also has various additional attributes that make it an excellent option for keeping your cat safe while on a trip with two leash tethers, two liners as well as a pouch to organize everything. Additionally, the durable pet car seat comes with an adjustable canopy that is the breathable fabric that provides UPF 50+ sun protection. the sun.
Although it was it is heavy however, we found the car base (weighing just over 12 pounds) to be simple to set up, and once it was placed in the backseat, we could get the pet car seat was could be attached with ease. The Maeve comes in three sizes. The medium model can accommodate small pets as high as 25 pounds. It was designed by Nuna which is the manufacturer of strollers and carriers for infants and toddlers and toddlers, and was tested in the lab to meet the safety requirements for child restraints, in line to United Nations ECE (R129).
The Maeve Pet Car Seat can be purchased by itself or purchase the 3-in-1 pet security system, which combines the pet carrier with the stroller frame and the vehicle base together.
Dimensions: 31.7 x 16 x 22 inches (medium) | Weight: 10.8 pounds (carrier and canopy) | Colors: Onyx, merle, fawn, brindle, or sable | Materials: Aluminum, vegan leather, memory foam
Why Trust The Spruce Pets?
This article was written by Steven Asarch, a freelance writer and product expert for The Spruce Pets. A devout cat dad of two, he understands how to take care of felines in enclosed spaces (like an apartment) for long periods. In his search for the best car carriers, Steven prioritized practicality, durability, and safety.
Steven has also researched the best treadmills, specialized cat foods, litter box furniture, and even the best Tamagotchi.
To get the best understanding of what makes a great cat carrier for travel, he spoke with a veterinarian at the VCA Cat Hospital of Chicago.
