10 Best Cat Carriers [Tested and Reviewed]

Sherpa's Original Deluxe Airline Approved & Guaranteed On Board Travel Pet Carrier touts a unique frame that the brand says makes it easy to store under an airplane seat.

The zippers were tested at the equivalent of a cat's lifetime usage. After 15 hours of hanging with a weight, we didn’t detect any signs of damage, which bodes well for durability. Plus, the frame prevents the carrier from losing its shape when you lift it.

The fabric is soft and flexible, and the frame isn’t too rigid, so it’ll feel comfortable against your body when hauling it. It also has a cushioned handle to protect your hands. The large top opening will make it easy for your cat to enter or exit. One end of the carrier is softer, so you can place it under an airplane seat. A large mesh area provides plenty of ventilation for the cat, while a locking zipper and a leash ring will prevent sudden escapes.

As a carrier that can adapt to any travel scenario and allows you to bring your cat anywhere with peace of mind, we think this model from Sherpa is the best choice for most cat parents.

Vceoa's Soft-Sided Pet Carrier for Cats is a soft carrier with a thin steel frame on the side. It claims to use a material on the mesh parts that is resistant to cat scratches.

We opened and closed the zipper equivalent to the number of times one would during a cat's average lifespan and left it hanging for 15 hours. We didn’t detect any broken parts after that, but because it has a tightly stretched frame, it may not feel like it fits as well against your body. On the other hand, that frame does an excellent job of keeping the carrier intact, so you won’t have to worry about it collapsing on your cat.

A top-loading door and a bottom plate will make it easy to let your cat in and out of the carrier. The bottom plate has a removable cover so you can remove it and wash it when it gets dirty.

The large mesh area makes the interior breathable and airy for your kitty. Moreover, it provides a stable footing for cats so they’ll be comfortable. A locking zipper and a pop-out leash will prevent sudden escapes.

It has a firm frame, making it relatively safe to use even in crowded places. However, it may not fit snugly under an airplane seat, so we advise consulting with an airline before deciding to bring it with you.

Whisker City is the brand behind this 2-Door Pet Carrier. This is a hard carrier touted for its excellent ventilation and ease of maintenance.

Crafted from durable plastic, it can withstand shocks inside and out. Even after opening and closing the door the same number of times a cat would use it throughout its lifetime and hanging it for 15 hours, there was no damage to the main unit. As a larger handheld carrier, it won’t be comfortable to hold for long periods of time, but it otherwise feels okay against the body with no possibility of it losing shape.

A large top-side entrance makes it easy to let your cat in and out of the carrier. In the event that the carrier gets dirty, you can simply wipe it down.

This carrier has a lot of ventilation holes on the top, so your cat won’t feel stifled. The hard surface will provide a stable footing for your feline friend, as well. Additionally, it’s difficult to break open this carrier from the inside, so you won’t have to worry about your cat suddenly jumping out.

If you rarely travel with your cats and only need a carrier for emergencies or vet trips, this is a sound option – particularly if you’re traveling by car.

The Gapzer Pet Carrier for Large and Medium Cat is a soft carrier with roller blinds on the side, which you can open and close accordingly.

After repeatedly opening and closing the zipper and letting it hang for 15 hours, we found it sturdy. The long and slender shape makes it easy to fit against your body, and the frame will help it keep shape so your cat doesn’t get smushed.

However, the upper entryway is narrow and needs to be held open with a separate side zipper. It may be a bit of a struggle to get your cat inside, especially if they’re nervous and not used to traveling in a carrier.

A large mesh panel and side vents ensure proper ventilation. The side vents have covers you can open and close, whatever you need to make your cat feel more at ease. Lockable zippers and an anti-escape leash will make it difficult for your cat to escape.

Seclato's Pet Carrier Airline is a soft cat carrier that comes with a travel food bowl. It claims to use pet-friendly materials that are OEKO-TEX STANDARD 100 certified.

After repeatedly opening and closing the zipper and hanging it for 15 hours, we didn’t detect any obvious wear and tear. However, the top surface sags when lifting it with weight inside. This might cause concern during transit as this will reduce the space your cat has to roam..

On the other hand, an elongated rectangular shape and soft material contribute to its ease of carry, and it fits against the body well. The top entrance opens wide, so it’ll be easy to take your cat in and out of the carrier.

A large mesh panel aids in ventilation, as do holes in the upper part of the carrier to help warm air escape. The zipper is designed to lock in place, and there's also a lead to prevent jumping out, which could make escaping impossible for a rambunctious cat.

The Petseek Extra Large Cat Carrier is a large soft carrier suitable for bigger cats and multiple pets.

While the zipper didn’t break after repeated opening and closing, the fabric near it tore, which suggests that it may not be a long-lasting product. The inclusion of a shoulder strap is a nice touch, but this is otherwise a wide carrier that’s cumbersome to carry.

The top doorway is large enough to allow your cat to get in and out easily. It also has special parts for securing a seatbelt so you can use it with ease while driving.

Although there’s no locking mechanism, this carrier has parts to secure the zipper along with a pop-out lead to prevent escapes. There are ventilation holes on the entire surface so your cat won’t suffocate, but when we lifted the carrier with a weight inside, the bottom surface warped enough for us to question its overall comfort and safety.

The Sleepypod Mobile Pet Bed can be used as a pet carrier, a cat bed, and a car seat for a child. The brand claims it’s passed the same dynamic crash tests that guarantee the performance of standalone car seats.

We liked that it kept its shape no matter what. It’s also incredibly durable – we didn’t spot any visible damage to the main body, even after opening and closing the zipper repeatedly and suspending it for 15 hours. However, due to its round shape, it tends to roll too much against the body, so it’s not very stable. We didn’t rate it high for portability.

The removable inner cover is a nice feature, as it makes cleaning easy. It also comes with a seatbelt attachment, so you can securely use it while driving. Unfortunately, the top door is hard to open, so it could be a challenge if you’re dealing with a nervous cat.

The seat inside the carrier is firm and steady, and the dome on top of the carrier is fully made of mesh for ample ventilation. While this makes it comfortable for the cat, the zipper doesn’t lock, and there’s no anti-escape leash included. If your cat is like Houdini, you’ll need to take extra steps to ensure an escape-free experience.

The Petmate Two-Door Small Dog Kennel & Cat Kennel is a hard-sided carrier designed for cats weighing between 5 to 15 pounds.

After we opened and closed the door for the equivalent number of times it would be used in a cat's lifetime, as well as suspending it for 15 hours, we didn’t spot any noticeable damage. It’s made from plastic, so not only should it last a while and not warp, but it will also be easy to clean. However, it didn't score well for ease of carrying due to a protruding bump in the middle that could be uncomfortable against the body, along with a thin handle that digs into the skin.

Another pain point is the upper entrance door, which only opens up to 90 degrees. Therefore, it easily closes if even a slight object hits it when you’re loading your cat into the carrier. The seat inside the carrier is firm and stable, and the many ventilation holes on the top of the carrier provide sufficient ventilation, so your cat should be comfortable.

The SportPet X-Large Foldable Travel Cat Carrier is a hard carrier that you can fold down and store when you’re not using it.

Per our tests, it didn’t break after being opened and closed repeatedly, and since it’s made of plastic, you can count on it to last a long time. The front door is removable, but we were concerned that the screws were so tightly tightened that it was difficult to remove.

Given its large, triangular form, it doesn’t fit well against the body, and it’s difficult to lift it without tilting. (You can’t sling it over your shoulder, either.) The front door opens wide, so it’s easy to take your cat in and out, but the lock doesn't engage smoothly.

On the flip side, it’s easy to wipe down when it gets dirty, and cats will have a hard time breaking out of it. Despite the ventilation holes, the material isn’t conducive to good airflow, and the bottom sags a little when weight is placed on it.

The Siivton Airline Approved Pet Carrier is a soft carrier that stands out for its 4-way extension, giving cats space to roam while away from home.

While the zipper didn’t break after countless openings and closings on our part, the fabric was heavily pilled, which gives us pause when it comes to durability. Its slim shape fits well against the body for easy carrying, but we were concerned that the top sagged significantly when lifting it with weight inside. Because this sagging makes it hard to see what's inside, you may be worried about your cat when carrying it around.

Although the top entrance is a bit narrow, the advantage here is that you can place your cat inside from above. The 4-way extension is an attractive feature, as it allows you to secure a wider space for your cat when you’re out and about.

Despite the extension feature, there’s only one ventilation opening at the top when carrying it, so your cat may feel stifled. The zipper doesn’t lock, but there is a pop-out prevention lead to prevent sudden escapes.