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Top-loading cat carrier

Also called Top-opening cat carrier, Two-door cat carrier, Top-entry carrier

Updated

What is a top-loading cat carrier?

A top-loading cat carrier is a carrier with a door or opening in its roof as well as, usually, one at the front, so a cat can be lowered in and lifted out from above. Some also have a top half that comes off, so a vet can examine the cat in the base.

Why do cat vets suggest a top opening?

A top opening means you can lower a cat in rather than push it through a small front door. The AAFP's Cat Friendly Homes advice suggests a carrier with both a top and a front opening, or one very large opening, and Cats Protection says top-opening carriers are usually easier to use.

What does a removable top add?

A removable top lets a cat stay put during the exam. The AAFP says many cats feel more secure and less anxious when they can remain in the bottom half of the carrier while the vet checks them, so a carrier that splits in the middle is worth looking for. Cats Protection adds that front-loading carriers with a removable top are easier for carrier training.

What to look for

  • A top door big enough to lower your cat through
  • A front door your cat can walk in and out of
  • A top half that lifts off, if you can find one
  • Secure latches, since the handle often sits on the top door

Tipping the cat out of the front door

A carrier with only a front door often ends with the cat being tipped or pulled out at the vet. A top door, or a top that comes off, lets you lift your cat out gently or leave it in the base instead.

Questions about top-loading cat carrier

Are top-loading carriers allowed on planes?

A top-loading carrier can fly in the cabin if it meets your airline's own rules, which differ between airlines, as the AVMA notes. Soft bags with a top zip are the usual in-cabin choice, because they squash to fit under a seat; hard plastic carriers are more often used in the car.

Is a top-loading carrier better for a nervous cat?

A top-loading carrier is often easier with a nervous cat, because you can lower it in from above instead of pushing it through the front, which the AAFP's Cat Friendly Homes advice describes. Leaving the carrier out at home with soft bedding inside helps too. The AAFP suggests keeping familiar bedding, treats or toys inside.

Where this comes up

Sources