Guide · Carriers
The 7 Best Cat Carriers of 2026, Ranked
Hard top-loaders, soft in-cabin bags and backpacks, compared on how they open, their size, the weight they take and crash certification.
What is the best cat carrier?
On published specs, the Sleepypod Mobile Pet Bed is the best cat carrier for vet trips and car rides: its dome top lifts off so your cat can stay in the base, and it is crash certified by the Center for Pet Safety. For flights, the Sleepypod Air opens at the top and both ends and carries the same certification.
- Best for vet visits and car rides: Sleepypod Mobile Pet Bed, because its mesh dome lifts off so your cat can stay in the base at the vet, and it is crash certified by the Center for Pet Safety.
- Best for flying with your cat: Sleepypod Air, because it opens at the top and both ends, squashes from 22 to 16 inches long, and is crash certified by the Center for Pet Safety.
- Best for easy-clean vet trips: Petmate Two Door Top Load, because its hard plastic shell has a steel front door and a steel top door, so you can lift your cat in from above.
- Best for larger cats: IRIS USA Two-Door Top Access Carrier, because at 22.5 by 15.25 inches it is the roomiest hard carrier here and takes pets up to 18 pounds.
- Best for a lighter cabin bag: Sherpa Original Deluxe Carrier, because the medium bag weighs about 3 pounds, has top and side entries, and its frame pushes down to fit under a seat.
- Best for hands-free and crash certified: PawsInCar Crash-Tested Backpack, because it is the one backpack on the Center for Pet Safety's certified list, with windows that open at the top, front and sides.
- Best for walks with a heavier cat: Petsfit Backpack Carrier, because it carries pets up to 18 pounds, with an entrance door, a top window, a waist strap and an inside safety tether.
At a glance
No. 1 · Best for
Vet visits and car rides
Sleepypod Mobile Pet BedNo. 2 · Best for
Flying with your cat
Sleepypod AirNo. 3 · Best for
Easy-clean vet trips
Petmate Two Door Top LoadNo. 4 · Best for
Larger cats
IRIS USA Two-Door Top Access CarrierNo. 5 · Best for
A lighter cabin bag
Sherpa Original Deluxe CarrierNo. 6 · Best for
Hands-free and crash certified
PawsInCar Crash-Tested BackpackNo. 7 · Best for
Walks with a heavier cat
Petsfit Backpack Carrier
The best cat carrier is the one your cat will walk into and the vet can open from above. The AAFP's Cat Friendly Homes advice asks for a sturdy carrier with a top and a front opening, or one very large opening, and ideally a top half that lifts off so your cat can stay in the base during the exam.
Where you are going changes the rest. For car trips, the AAFP says to belt in only a carrier the Center for Pet Safety has crash certified, and a cabin flight usually means a soft bag that fits under the seat in front of you, if your airline allows it. A backpack frees your hands on foot. The seven carriers below cover all three: two Sleepypods, two hard top-loaders, a soft Sherpa bag and two backpacks.
Many cats dislike vet trips, and the AAFP notes that the trouble often starts with getting them into the carrier. The AAFP and Cats Protection both suggest leaving the carrier out at home with soft bedding inside. If your cat gets carsick, tell your vet, as the AVMA advises, rather than giving anything on your own.
How we picked and ranked these cat carriers
We opened 13 Amazon listings for hard-sided carriers, soft in-cabin bags and backpacks, from Sleepypod, Sherpa, Petmate, IRIS USA and Catit as well as newer backpack makers, and checked the Center for Pet Safety's list of certified carriers. We kept the listings that publish a size and say how the carrier opens.
For each one we compared the published how the carrier opens, outside size, pet weight limit, crash certification and airline claims, using the maker's own pages and the Amazon listing, checked on . Where a maker does not publish a spec, the page says “Not listed” rather than guessing.
Carriers that let your cat stay put at the vet come first, because the AAFP suggests one with a top and front opening, or a very large one, and a top that comes off so the exam can happen in the base. Among those, crash certification ranks higher, since the AAFP (formerly the AAFP) says to use a seat belt only with a crash-test certified carrier.
The hard top-and-front carriers follow, with the Petmate ahead of the IRIS because its floor moat and plastic shell suit the AAFP's easy-clean, leak-proof ask and the IRIS publishes a small top door. The soft in-cabin bag comes next, then the backpacks, certified first. Nothing here is a score or a test result.
We left out a larger Sherpa Original Deluxe (we list the medium, the in-cabin size), a Catit carrier whose top is a petting hatch rather than a door, a backpack whose listed weight limit of 4.4 pounds cannot be right for most cats, a Necoichi listing whose photo and specs describe two different products, a Sleepypod Atom listing that publishes no size, and a newer backpack with a lower weight limit than the Petsfit. Airline cargo crates are outside this page.
- We removed any product whose Amazon listing carried Amazon's “Frequently returned item” badge when we checked it.
- We do not test products hands-on. Everything here comes from published specs, listings and the sources at the foot of the page, and no score or rating is shown.
- No maker paid for a place on this list or for its position. We earn a commission from Amazon on qualifying purchases, which never sets the order.
Read our editorial policy for how every guide is researched, sourced and updated.
The 7 cat carriers, in order
1. Sleepypod Mobile Pet Bed
Sleepypod Mobile Pet Bed is a round carrier 17 inches across and 13.5 inches high whose mesh dome lifts off, leaving a padded bed. That matches the AAFP's ideal of a top that comes away so a cat can be examined where it sits. It is on the Center for Pet Safety's certified list, which is the kind of carrier the AAFP says can be belted in.
It is listed for pets up to 15 pounds and the listing makes no airline claim, so pair it with a soft bag if you fly. Because it doubles as a bed, it is simple to leave out at home, as the AAFP and Cats Protection suggest.
- Type
- Round soft carrier that doubles as a bed
- Size
- 17 inches across, 13.5 inches high
- Openings
- Mesh dome top lifts off
- Pet weight
- Up to 15 pounds
2. Sleepypod Air
Sleepypod Air is a soft carry bag that measures 22 by 10.5 by 10.5 inches and compresses at the ends to 16 inches long and 8 inches high. It opens at the top and at both ends and takes pets up to 17.5 pounds.
Sleepypod's listing calls it airline approved, and it is on the Center for Pet Safety's certified list for cars. Still check your airline's under-seat size before you fly, as the AVMA advises.
- Type
- Soft-sided carry bag
- Size
- 22 x 10.5 x 10.5 inches; ends squash to 16 inches long, 8 high
- Openings
- Top and both ends
- Pet weight
- Up to 17.5 pounds
3. Petmate Two Door Top Load
Petmate Two Door Top Load is a 19.4 by 10 by 12.8 inch plastic kennel with steel doors on the front and the top, the pairing the AAFP suggests. The plastic shell wipes clean, and a moat in the floor directs liquid away from your cat, which helps on a nervous trip.
The listing gives both 10 and 15 pounds as its limit, so assume the lower figure and treat it as a carrier for a small cat. Petmate says it meets most airline cargo specs (its claim, not ours), but it is not a cabin carrier, and it makes no crash claim.
- Type
- Hard plastic kennel
- Size
- 19.4 x 10 x 12.8 inches
- Openings
- Steel front door and steel top door
- Pet weight
- Small pets; listing gives 10 and 15 pounds
4. IRIS USA Two-Door Top Access Carrier
IRIS USA Two-Door Top Access Carrier is a hard plastic carrier of 22.5 by 15.25 by 12.75 inches, listed for pets up to 18 pounds. The front door is 10.25 by 9.62 inches and the top door 7.85 by 7.37 inches, so you can lower your cat in from above.
The carry handle sits on the top door, so check it is latched before lifting. The top door is fairly small for a big cat, and the listing makes no crash or airline claim.
- Type
- Hard plastic carrier
- Size
- 22.5 x 15.25 x 12.75 inches
- Openings
- Front door 10.25 x 9.62 in; top door 7.85 x 7.37 in
- Pet weight
- Up to 18 pounds
5. Sherpa Original Deluxe Carrier
Sherpa Original Deluxe Carrier in medium measures 17 by 11 by 10.5 inches and takes pets up to 16 pounds, with zip entries on the top and the side. Its spring wire frame lets the back end push down several inches to fit under a seat, and Sherpa's listing advertises its Guaranteed On Board program (Sherpa's own claim).
A luggage strap doubles as a seatbelt pass-through in the car, but it has no crash certification, so the AAFP's advice is to keep it on the floor instead.
- Type
- Soft-sided carry bag
- Size
- 17 x 11 x 10.5 inches (medium)
- Openings
- Top and side zip entries
- Pet weight
- Up to 16 pounds
6. PawsInCar Crash-Tested Backpack
PawsInCar Crash-Tested Backpack is a 13.5 by 11 by 17 inch backpack whose mesh windows open at the top, front and both sides. It is also on the Center for Pet Safety's certified list, so you can belt it in for car trips instead of only carrying it.
The listing gives no pet weight limit, which makes it hard to judge for a large cat, and it is a newer listing. It makes no airline claim.
- Type
- Backpack carrier
- Size
- 13.5 x 11 x 17 inches
- Openings
- Mesh windows open at the top, front and both sides
- Pet weight
- Not listed
7. Petsfit Backpack Carrier
Petsfit Backpack Carrier is 13.5 by 12.5 by 17.5 inches and listed for pets up to 18 pounds, the highest limit among the backpacks. It has an entrance door and a top window with locking zips, four mesh panels, a reinforced frame, a waist strap and an inside tether to clip to a harness.
It makes no crash or airline claim, so it suits walks and short trips on foot more than car rides or flights.
- Type
- Backpack carrier
- Size
- 13.5 x 12.5 x 17.5 inches
- Openings
- Entrance door and top window with locking zips
- Pet weight
- Up to 18 pounds
How they compare
| Product | Type | Size | Openings | Pet weight | Car and air | Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Sleepypod Mobile Pet Bed | Round soft carrier that doubles as a bed | 17 inches across, 13.5 inches high | Mesh dome top lifts off | Up to 15 pounds | Center for Pet Safety certified; no airline claim | View on Amazon : Sleepypod Mobile Pet Bed, opens in a new tab |
| 2. Sleepypod Air | Soft-sided carry bag | 22 x 10.5 x 10.5 inches; ends squash to 16 inches long, 8 high | Top and both ends | Up to 17.5 pounds | Center for Pet Safety certified; sold as airline approved | View on Amazon : Sleepypod Air, opens in a new tab |
| 3. Petmate Two Door Top Load | Hard plastic kennel | 19.4 x 10 x 12.8 inches | Steel front door and steel top door | Small pets; listing gives 10 and 15 pounds | Petmate says it meets most airline cargo specs | View on Amazon : Petmate Two Door Top Load, opens in a new tab |
| 4. IRIS USA Two-Door Top Access Carrier | Hard plastic carrier | 22.5 x 15.25 x 12.75 inches | Front door 10.25 x 9.62 in; top door 7.85 x 7.37 in | Up to 18 pounds | No crash or airline claim listed | View on Amazon : IRIS USA Two-Door Top Access Carrier, opens in a new tab |
| 5. Sherpa Original Deluxe Carrier | Soft-sided carry bag | 17 x 11 x 10.5 inches (medium) | Top and side zip entries | Up to 16 pounds | Sherpa's Guaranteed On Board program; seatbelt pass-through | View on Amazon : Sherpa Original Deluxe Carrier, opens in a new tab |
| 6. PawsInCar Crash-Tested Backpack | Backpack carrier | 13.5 x 11 x 17 inches | Mesh windows open at the top, front and both sides | Not listed | Center for Pet Safety certified; no airline claim | View on Amazon : PawsInCar Crash-Tested Backpack, opens in a new tab |
| 7. Petsfit Backpack Carrier | Backpack carrier | 13.5 x 12.5 x 17.5 inches | Entrance door and top window with locking zips | Up to 18 pounds | No crash or airline claim listed | View on Amazon : Petsfit Backpack Carrier, opens in a new tab |
What should you look for in a cat carrier?
A top that opens, or comes off
How a carrier opens matters a great deal on a vet day. The AAFP suggests a carrier with both a top and a front opening, or a very large round one, so you can lift your cat in rather than push it through a small door. Cats Protection also says top-opening carriers are usually easier to use.
Best of all is a top that comes off. The AAFP says many cats feel more secure staying in the bottom half while the vet examines them. The Sleepypod Mobile Pet Bed's dome lifts away completely, while the Petmate and IRIS carriers add a top door to a front one.
Crash certification for car trips
The AAFP's 2025 position statement on transporting cats, published under its new name, FelineVMA, says to put the carrier on the floor behind a front seat, and to use a seat belt only with a carrier that is crash-test certified, because a belt can crush one that is not.
The Center for Pet Safety runs that certification, and three carriers here are on its list: the Sleepypod Mobile Pet Bed, the Sleepypod Air and the PawsInCar Crash-Tested Backpack. The others are not on that list, so the same statement says to keep them on the floor.
Room to turn, but not to slide
Cats Protection says a carrier should let your cat lie down and shift position comfortably while staying snug enough that it does not slide about. Check the pet weight limit against your cat, and the inside height against how tall it sits.
Most limits here run from 15 pounds on the Mobile Pet Bed to 18 pounds on the IRIS and Petsfit carriers. The Petmate's own listing gives both 10 and 15 pounds, so assume the lower figure and treat it as a carrier for a small cat. The PawsInCar backpack lists no limit.
Airline rules and an easy clean
Airlines set their own rules for pets in the cabin, and the AVMA says to check them when you book, because they differ. A soft bag that compresses, like the Sleepypod Air or the Sherpa Original Deluxe Carrier, can be easier to fit under a seat, but check the size limit your airline gives.
Whatever the trip, the AAFP suggests a carrier that is easy to clean with a leak-proof base, plus a visual shield with good airflow. A towel over the carrier gives your cat somewhere to hide, which the AAFP's 2025 position statement also recommends.
Questions about cat carriers
Is a hard or soft cat carrier better?
A hard or a soft cat carrier can work if it is durable and safe, and how it opens matters more. Cats Protection says to avoid cardboard and choose sturdy plastic or metal wire, and plastic is easy to wipe clean. Soft bags can be lighter and squash to fit under an airline seat. The AAFP's main ask is a top and a front opening.
What size carrier does my cat need?
A cat carrier should let your cat lie down and change position comfortably but stay snug enough that it does not slide around, which is Cats Protection's guidance. Weigh your cat and check the listed pet weight limit, then compare the inside height with how tall your cat sits. Most limits on this page run from 15 to 18 pounds.
Where should a cat carrier go in the car?
A cat carrier should ride on the floor behind the driver or passenger seat, according to the AAFP's 2025 position statement. It says to use a seat belt only on a carrier that is crash-test certified, because a belt can crush one that is not. The AVMA adds that a cat should be confined to a carrier in the car.
Can I take my cat on a plane in a carrier?
Some airlines allow a cat in the cabin in a carrier that fits under the seat, but each sets its own rules. The AVMA says to check with your airline, including whether you may keep your cat in the cabin. Soft carriers that compress, like the Sleepypod Air, can be easier to fit.
The AVMA also says to ask your vet before giving any sedative for a flight, since sedatives can raise the risk of heart and breathing problems and airlines generally do not allow them.
How do I get my cat to like its carrier?
A carrier is easier to use when your cat already treats it as furniture. The AAFP suggests leaving it out in a room your cat uses, with familiar bedding and a few treats or toys inside. Cats Protection says to keep it out and visible between trips.
Should I cover my cat's carrier?
Covering a cat carrier with a towel or blanket gives your cat a place to hide, which the AAFP's 2025 position statement recommends. Cats Protection suggests a familiar blanket or towel. The AAFP also asks for good ventilation, so leave the vents uncovered, and make sure you can still carry the carrier steadily.
Terms used on this page
Learn more
Related guides
Sources
- Sleepypod Mobile Pet Bed, Crash Tested Pet Seat/Carrier (Amazon.com listing)
- Center for Pet Safety Certified products (Center for Pet Safety)
- Choosing the Perfect Cat Carrier (Cat Friendly Homes, American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP))
- Sleepypod Air, Airline Approved Cat/Dog Carrier, Crash Tested (Amazon.com listing)
- Traveling with your dog or cat (American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA))
- Petmate Two Door Plastic Pet Kennel for Small Dogs and Cats, 19in, Top and Front Loading (Amazon.com listing)
- How to choose and use a cat carrier (Cats Protection)
- IRIS USA Pet Carrier, 23" Cat & Dog Carrier, 2-Door Top Access (Amazon.com listing)
- Sherpa Original Deluxe Travel Pet Carrier, Airline Approved & Guaranteed On Board, Medium (Amazon.com listing)
- Crash-Tested Multi-Window Dog Backpack Carrier, Certified Crash Protection (Amazon.com listing)
- 2025 Transportation of Cats in Motor Vehicles Position Statement (Feline Veterinary Medical Association (formerly the AAFP))
- Petsfit Dog and Cat Backpack Carrier, Padded Waist Support, Up to 18 lb (Amazon.com listing)
Published · Updated