The Best Cat Carriers for Any Reason You Might Need One

Kate Ajemian, Social Producer at PureWow, owns this soft-sided carrier for her kitten and finds it checks all her boxes. It’s lightweight, the inner pad is machine washable, it isn’t too cumbersome to take along on Amtrak train rides and, most important of all, her kitty seems very comfortable sitting in the carrier for long stretches of time. “He travels back and forth from New York to Connecticut to visit his vet (I adopted him from the shelter in my hometown where I used to work) and he's always very comfortable in it,” she notes. It’s also a great option for plane travel, as it’s TSA-approved, comes with a collapsible food dish, has a soft bottom pad that easily absorbs liquids and is machine washable and can be opened at both the front and back as well as from the top. Plus, it has mesh on four of six sides so your kitty can always have you in their sights.

Monica Cruz, Senior Associate at PureWow, regularly fosters kittens, so she needs a carrier that can easily fit multiple little mischief-makers into at once. “This soft-sided carrier has worked great for my fosters,” she says. “It’s lighter than a typical hard-shell carrier, which makes commuting on public transit with it much easier. Plus, it’s super affordable.” It can open from both the front and the top and has a built-in steel frame to give the bag enough structure without feeling too rigid. There’s also an inner safety leash that can clip onto a collar or leash extension if you plan to use the carrier for longer travels. And while the smaller size is recommended only for cats smaller than 16 pounds, there is also a larger size that can accommodate , up to 22 pounds

If you’re in need of a hard-sided carrier, this simple Petmate model is a great option to consider. It is surprisingly lightweight and comes with doors on the front and top. But the blue top can also be fully detached from the gray bottom if your kitty is really giving the vet a hard time not wanting to come out. There are ventilation holes all around the sides to ensure plenty of air flow and to give your kitty a good view of where they are. And because it's made of plastic, it’s a breeze to clean—there’s even a “stay dry moat” around the interior floor to keep your cat comfortable in the event they pee while on route. The design is also quite tall (14.5 inches) so your cat isn’t forced to lay down.

Emily Hepworth, pet parent to Princess Buttercup, has owned this lightweight carrier for six years. “I like that the straps are the exact right length to put on my shoulder without the whole carrier feeling awkward,” she explains, “and I like that it has both a front flap to open and an opening on the top. Makes it easier to get Buttercup in and out of the carrier even when she is resisting.” The fact that it is mesh on four of six sides is also great for cats who get claustrophobic as it gives them fabulous views of their surroundings and lots of air flow. There are five sizes to choose from, the smallest suitable for cats no larger than eight pounds, and the largest suitable for cats up to 22 pounds. And if you are planning to use this airline-approved carrier for longer trips, there’s also a leash attachment on the inside to keep kitty nice and secure.

If your travel plans involve a layover (or two) you should consider investing in an expandable carrier that will give your cat more room to explore without fear of them escaping, This Mr. Peanut’s carrier comes recommended by Sarah Ball, pet parent to long-haired beauty Oscar de la Renta, who has traveled cross-country with her fluffball on numerous occasions. She loves how easy the expansion is to set up, and the included fleece bedding is so luxurious, and machine washable too. Per one reviewer, who used two of these carriers on a whirlwind European adventure, “We had four different flights, all on different sized aircraft, and these carriers under the seat in front of us for all of them without issue. One of the cats had a small accident during our first flight, so we found a family restroom to clean her and the carrier in between flights. The inside was easy to wipe down, and the removable fluffy bed insert washed and dried easily and quickly with NO SMELL.”