I have a much larger collection of animal carriers and crates than is recommended. But that’s what gives me something to say on the matter. My smallest is a kitten carrier – looks like a purse – and my largest is a medium dog crate.
Let’s start by dismissing the kitten carrier. It kept one kitten comfortable tucked behind the driver’s seat for one two hour ride and never made an appearance again: Don’t bother.
Everyday and Airline Travel Cat Carrier
I have had both hard and soft-sided carriers for my cats over the years. The hard-sided ones absolutely protect your pet and are what you want if your cat is traveling without you. But the soft-sided carriers can’t be beaten for lightweight and storage.
Henkelion from Amazon
- Quite comfortable for one cat. You can jam two in if you are not going far.
- Sized for airline travel, though I’ve found not all airlines are alike.
- Has front, top, and side panels that zip
- Plenty of ventilation, sturdy screens
- Collapsible for storage.
- Waterproof bottom.
- Excellent value and plenty of colors.
- Collapses
Large Cat Carrier
Nothing says cat like a big picture of a dog. Imagine the pictured dog hunched over, because this photo shows a carrier a full foot bigger than the 24″ version that I bought to carry a pair of cats. I use it to take them outdoors so they can watch (but not kill) chipmunks and to consolidate when I move, which I’ve done fairly often.
The 24″ carrier is only a hair larger than the airline size, but it’s much more comfortable for the cats to lounge in.
X-Zone Pet Carrier 24 inch
- Quite comfortable for two cats, can jam in a third if you can then lift the thing.
- Zips front, top, and side
- Plenty of ventilation, sturdy screen and able to bear 30 or so pounds without strain.
- Waterproof with shearling pad for comfort.
- Reinforced corners so it lasts.
- Accordion folds for storage, though I seldom bother and the cats sleep on it when I stand it on end.
Multi-Cat Crate
This is the 36″ verson of the same thing I have as an everyday playpen to put the cats outside in. Until I bought the smaller one, the 24″, I used to lug this thing in and out for them. Where this really performs is moving multiple cats or penning them up when you have work done on the house or are moving. I took three cats cross-country in one of these things. They slide into the backseat (even of a sports coupe) and then pop open. The several access panels (the top is the most critical) make it easy to maneuver the animals in and out and the crate is plenty big enough for all the animals to be comfortable and have food and water to boot.
X-Zone Pet Carrier 36 inch
- Quite comfortable for up to five cats, though you’d have to shoot me before I’d do that again.
- Zips top, front and side – the top zip is the important one when you’re deal with multiple cats.
- Not waterproof, put it on a pad in the car.
- Reinforced corners so it lasts.
- Plenty of ventilation and very sturdy screening. (… dog)
- Accordion folds for storage.
I wanted to limit my recommendations to things that I actually have tried, but while I was looking at that X-Zone entry for any photo that showed the 24″ version (there is one with some sad puppy giving someone a high five), I ran into this which I found very interesting for everything but the size. If you only have two cats, this is for you for the reasons I’ve noted:
Prutapet Large Cat Carrier 24″
- Has all the features of the X-Zone except the 36″ size. This is more in the size of the 24″ carrier.
- Offers built-in catbox and dish. My cats held it going cross country but they didn’t like it.
- Has snaps to close the zippers (and prevent the cat from working them open, which has happened to me.)
- Special slots for seat belts to secure the carrier to the seat.
- Great ventilation and panel zip access.