10 best cat carriers for transporting your furry friend, reviewed by pet owners

This is the ideal cat carrier for practical purposes. The surfaces of the carrier are easy to clean, the handle on the top is comfortable to hold, and there’s plenty of space and ventilation to keep your passenger comfy.

Perhaps the greatest advantage of this carrier is that it gives you a choice of two ways to get your furry friend inside: either through the gate at the front, or by taking the lid off and lifting the cat inside. We found that this really helped with loading in our feline reviewer, Martha, ahead of a trip to the vets.

If you’re after a hard carrier that won’t break the bank, this one could be for you. It’s lightweight and, owing to two slots on the lid, we could secure it with a seat belt in the car. It’s sturdier than soft carrier options but, as you might expect from a budget buy, it does feel a little on the flimsy side compared with others we tested. It’s also worth noting we wouldn’t recommend this one if you want to top-load your cat, because you need to remove the entire top half, which, during testing, was a bit fiddly. That being said, it’s easy to store – just flip the lid around and place it into the base. Plus, we rate that it incorporates recycled plastic.

Everything about this carrier feels considered and well-made. We were able to lower our nervous moggy through the metal door in the lid, which is easy to open and close, and, because it’s a metal grill, we could keep an eye on our passenger throughout our journey. With an extra lock on the front door, the carrier feels reassuringly secure. A cotton cushion makes pet owner’s lives easier, as it saves you having to source a towel or blanket to ensure your passenger remains comfortable in transit. If you need to feed peckish passengers during longer journeys, there’s a food bowl on the inside of the front door. Overall, this is a brilliant all-rounder.

This carrier certainly lives up to its easy access name, with not one, not two, but three different entrance points. They’re zippered, which means they’re a doddle to open and close – one side of the carrier can be unzipped and opened out for full, easy access. This layout meant it was easy to encourage our feline friend inside but bear in mind the carrier is quite narrow when it’s closed, which does make it slightly less stable.

On the exterior, there’s one zippered pocket along with two slip pockets, which means there’s plenty of room to store treats and other essentials. When it’s not in use, the carrier collapses compactly, lying close to completely flat, which is great if you want to save on space. The handle is soft and comfortable and there’s a shoulder strap. The soft blanket/mat inside can be popped in the washing machine but it’s worth noting the carrier isn’t waterproof and will need to be spot cleaned. We really like the bright pop of orange in the design, too.

What’s great about this carrier is it’s expandable, so your moggy will have more room to settle down comfortably – this could come in handy during long journeys or when waiting to be seen at the vet.

We appreciated the multiple access points, too – there’s a flap in the lid and one on the side, both zippered and made from mesh, for better ventilation. Lightweight, and compact once folded away, it also has a slim pocket on the side, and a safety leash to stop your passenger from making a run for it. The base feels sturdy, with a plush furry finish, but no fear if it gets mucky, as the cover can be removed and washed between uses.

One of our feline reviewers, Bertie, has been using this wicker cat basket for several years now. He’s so fond of it, he has taken to using it as a bed on a day-to-day basis. From a human perspective, this is a great little cat carrier, combining beautiful natural materials with a stout metal door that keeps it reliably sealed.

The downside to this carrier – and this is true of many “natural” cat baskets – is that it’s relatively tricky to clean. However, we reckon the cute, cat-pleasing design merits the extra effort on upkeep between uses.

This is a simple, soft cat carrier combining a comfortable interior with plenty of useful features for pet owners. We particularly appreciated the pockets on the front, which are just the right size to accommodate some cat treats or a favourite toy.

One of the best things about this pet carrier is its outstanding space efficiency, which is in stark contrast to the hard plastic and wicker ones we’ve tested. Between uses, it packs down into its own bag, and, even when in use, its profile is neat, with just enough room for a medium-sized cat.

For a simple, cost-effective solution for transporting your cat, look no further than the Rosewood plastic pet carrier. Like the Catit cabrio included in this round-up, it features two ways to load your pet inside – either through the gate or by removing the lid. This makes all the difference when it comes to transporting a reluctant moggy. The carrier is well-ventilated, can be wiped clean, and also proved able to stay securely closed during testing. What more could you want?

Some cats, and some owners, prefer a carrier that has very good visibility in all directions. This helps the owner check on the cat, while allowing the cat to see its surroundings. If this sounds like something that would be important to you and your pet, we suggest you check out this carrier.

Secure, lightweight and easy to operate, it is fantastically functional. Loading your cat inside is made simple with a top-opening design, while the plastic tray in the base can be removed easily for cleaning.

This is a sturdy, spacious, no-nonsense pet carrier that prizes simplicity over swanky features. During testing, the twin clasps on the carrier held the gate securely, while a mat inside provides comfort during transportation, and can be removed for cleaning between uses.

The carrier itself is easy to wipe clean, with a textured finish that is not only pleasant to the touch but also provides traction, which could help prevent it from sliding while in transit.