New cat moms (and dads too!) are always looking for products to spoil our fur babies with. For a busy cat parent, one of the most essential things to buy is a carrier for cats that would make road trips bearable and even enjoyable, while also being safe enough to fit under the seat of a car.
Yes, a happy kitty is great, but a safe one even better.
“But there are literally hundreds of cat carrier brands and products online!” you might say. And you’re right. Don’t worry, we’ve done the leg work for you. Here’s a list of the best cat carriers for car travel:
Top-Rated Cat Carriers for Long Car Trips
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Reviewing the Best Cat Carriers for Car Travel
1. Purrpy Premium Pet Car Seat Safe Carrier for Cats and Dogs
Dimensions: 16.5” x 9.5” x 10.5”
Weight Capacity: 12 lbs
With the Purrpy Premium Pet Carrier, you can expect comfort, security, and protection for your fur baby! This carrier is air travel approved but is also great for daily use.
Purrpy’s cat carrier is easy to carry and transport with its seat belt loops, adjustable straps, and padded handles. Meanwhile, the lockable zipper ensures your pet won’t accidentally run out of the carrier. They’ll also enjoy traveling as much as you with this carrier’s cozy fleece pad and mesh windows.
It also has a small opening for you to say hello or to provide comfort when in a new environment.
For a more enjoyable trip, you might want to acclimate your cat to this carrier first, at home, before going on the trip.
Special Features:
- Premium oxford fabric
- Cute bone-shaped name tag for easy identification
- Very portable
2. Pet Gear Carrier & Car Seat for Cats and Dogs
Dimensions: 19” x 12.5” x 12”
Weight Capacity: 20 lbs
The first thing you’ll notice with the Pet Gear Carrier is the excellent quality of the materials. It will also hold its shape for even the naughtiest of cats. For its size and weight, this cat carrier is spacious and with convenient pockets and handles.
In fact, it’s so spacious that you can fit two cats inside, provided though that they don’t weigh over 20lbs combined.
Speaking of handles, you also won’t need to worry about safety during trips. The Pet Gear Carrier can be easily attached to the car seatbelt. This traveling carrier also has a top and front zippered-doors for easy accessibility.
Special Features:
- Washable fleece pad cover
- Interior tethers
- Rear storage pouches
- Sturdy seat belt strap
3. AmazonBasics Soft-Sided Pet Travel Carrier
Dimensions: 16.5” x 9.5” x 10”
Weight Capacity: 16 lbs
If you are a stylish cat mom, then you’ll surely love this cat carrier from AmazonBasics with its sleek, all-black design. It’s specially made to keep your pet safe and secure while on the road, long trips by air, or simply that agonizing trip to the vet.
The front and a top opening make getting your cat in and out of the carrier a breeze. Meanwhile, the hook inside the carrier secures your kitty inside and prevents them from bolting out when you unzip.
The bottom of the AmazonBasics Soft-Sided Pet Travel Carrier is stiff, which comfortably supports the body. There is also a washable fleece material on the bottom that will comfort kitty and help prevent slipping.
The carrying straps are sturdy and wrap completely around the carrier, so there is no need to worry over it tearing over time.
Special Features:
- Machine washable
- Removable cozy fleece pet bed
- Interior tether
4. Pet Peppy Premium Airline Approved Expandable Pet Carrier
Dimensions: 18” x 11” x 11”
Weight Capacity: 20 lbs
If you like keeping your pet entertained during long trips, then this carrier might be the one for you. The Premium Airline-Approved Expandable Pet Carrier by Pet Peppy has zippered pockets for storing treats, food, toys, and other kitty-related things.
Your pet will stay cool and relaxed with the carrier’s breathable mesh windows on the top and on the sides. Its padded shoulder strap and hand carry handle will ensure you’re comfortable as well when you’re carrying your pet to the car or to the vet.
Your cat should be able to stretch all the way out in this cat carrier when it’s unfolded, and still be able to rest comfortably when it’s folded up. Some pet owners who have this carrier said their cats like it so much that they voluntarily hang out in it! It’s also sturdy and folds up easily for storage.
Special Features:
- Removable faux fleece bedding
- Colored pet bowl included
- Safety seat belt buckle attachments
- Convenient luggage strap
5. JESPET Soft-Sided Pet Carrier
Dimensions: 17” x 9” x 11.5”
Weight Capacity: 8 lbs
Our 6th cat carrier, the JESPET Soft Pet Carrier, is best suited for puppies, kittens, and teacup breeds. However, the carrier is still spacious enough for small pets to stand and run around in. You’ve got the coated mesh for ventilation, and many pockets for storage.
Meanwhile, the safety belt loop keeps your pet safe in the carrier via a seat belt. Aside from being exceptional for its price, lugging this carrier for cats around won’t be difficult too. It’s airline-approved, so it’ll be compact enough for air travel while carrying a pet lighter than 9 pounds, with still enough room for your pet to turn around.
A small yet important feature here is the side zipper, which will allow you to pet your kitty in transit. Additionally, the strap which may hang on to luggage can also be zipped up as an extra pocket. The manufacturers seriously thought of us pet parents with this design.
The JESPET Soft Pet Carrier has ample pockets for treats, portable water canisters, bags, mini towel, or whatever else.
Special Features:
- Carrying handle and padded strap
- Foldable, compact, and lightweight
- Removable pad for comfort and easy cleaning
6. Cat-in-the-Bag Cozy Comfort Carrier
Dimensions: >15”
Weight Capacity: 10 lbs
Last but not least, yet certainly the most different is the Cat-in-the-bag Cozy Comfort Carrier. Obviously, this carrier was neither made for air travel or long road trips. However, this carrier from the cheekily named Cat-in-the-bag is perfect for vet visits, grooming, medicating, and brief car rides.
Some cats are also habitual scratchers! The Cozy Comfort Carrier addresses this concern.
The Cozy Comfort Carrier is made of tightly woven cotton that is scratch and snag-resistant. It’s roomy enough for a cat not to feel cramped, but cozy enough to prevent too much movement. There is a zipper that runs across the bottom, and it opens the entire bag to allow you to place your cat inside easily.
The carrier gives enough space for your cat to move around comfortably, while the Velcro collar adjusts like a drawstring to fit any size. Since the bag expands on both sides, your cat can sit inside and curl up even when zipped up. Lastly, the carrier is available in 9 different colors – enough for the finicky, yet stylish, cat mom.
Special Features:
- Machine washable
- Durable
- Easy to store
- Excellent portability
7. Bergan Comfort Carrier Soft-Sided Pet Carrier
Dimensions: 19” x 12” x 7””
Weight Capacity: 22 lbs
The Bergan Comfort Carrier is for those big boys and girls! This cat carrier can hold up to 22 pounds of cuteness. It is sophistically designed and has a zippered opening that lets you comfort your pet while traveling. It’s available in different colors too!
Half-zip opening on one end, full zip opening on the other end, and mesh panels allowing for maximum accessibility and ventilation. There is also an optional padded and adjustable shoulder strap for a quick trip to the local coffee shop or to the vet.
For added safety, it has reflective strips, seat belt loops, and locking zippers. If your furry friends are the sensitive types (read: cats that freak out when traveling or when in new/different environments), then the Bergan Comfort Carrier is an excellent option.
Many cats tend to stress out and feel a feline’s version of claustrophobia when they’re carried in a cramped bag with minimal visibility. They’ll likely thrash around inside the bag and meow the entire trip. Hence, cat carriers with obstructed views work best with these finicky kitties.
Although many of the cat carriers on this list allow for visibility, the Bergan Comfort carrier has the most number of mess windows. Thus, you can expect even the most sensitive of cats to acclimate well to this carrier. They might enjoy it so much that if you leave this carrier open, it’ll quickly turn into a cat hotel.
Special Features:
- Excellent visibility
- Top-notch ventilation
- Several available colorways
- Stationary carrying straps
- ID tags
- Three exterior pockets for toys, treats, and necessities
8. PetLuv Happy Pet Cat & Dog Crate & Carrier
Dimensions: 24” x 16” x 16”
Weight Capacity: 45 lbs
The PetLuv Happy Pet Cat Carrier can make long trips with your feline friend easy and fuss-free. You can Expect a chill and happy cat with this go-anywhere kitty carrier.
It has excellent ventilation and allows your cat a 360°-view inside its tear-resistant rubber mesh. Meanwhile, Its closable flaps will give your cat the privacy it needs if it gets too anxious.
Your pet will be kept safe by the adjustable seat belt loops, which include locking zippers and reinforced seams. In case of a bathroom accident, you’ll only need to put both the cushion and the bag itself through a gentle cold wash and then air dry! No worries with shrinking and lingering smells.
Additionally, it’s incredibly easy to get your kitty into this carrier with its four access panels and top opening. It also has top carrying handles and adjustable shoulder straps – perfect for going to the vet or for use as a home-away-from-home for your cat.
One of the best things about this cat carrier from PetLuv, though, is that it can support cats weighing up to 45 pounds.
Special Features:
- Removable and washable plush bed
- High weight capacity
- Excellent ventilation
Final Thoughts
If you had to choose just one, we’d recommend getting the PetLuv Happy Pet Cat Carrier. It’ll last you and your cat a long time. That’ll be a lot of comfortable and stress-free trips. Alternatively, if you need a cozier option for short trips, and multiple uses, the Cozy Comfort Carrier from Cat-in-the-Bag will be perfect.
If you think about it, cat parents care so much about the quality of their cat carriers simply because they want their kitties to be as comfortable and relaxed as they are on a trip. It’s also crucial for us to make sure that our pets can feel our love and care for them during these trips.
After all, you may spoil them all you want with toys and food, but few things can compare with a comfort-giving temporary home during typically stressful trips.
Last update on 2023-09-24 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API