Pets

wnylib

(23,503 posts) Thu Jul 11, 2024, 11:50 AM Jul 11

I need advice on buying a new cat carrier.

Two of the pegs that secure the top of Ember's hard plastic carrier to the bottom have broken.

I want a soft carrier this time, preferably one with wheels so that I can take her outdoors in it sometimes. I'm looking for one versatile enough to remove the wheels so that I can put it in a car when necessary. A bonus would be one that is TSA compliant in case I want to take her on a plane, although I have no plans to do that.

Ember only weighs 9 pounds, but she is high at the shoulders and long so she does not fit into carriers for small cats. I can't get accurate measurements of her because, whether I use a pliable measuring tape or a hard measuring stick, she plays with them too much. So I measured her current hard plastic carrier because she fits into it comfortably. It is 18" long, 12" high, and 12" wide.

I looked at Amazon and saw some that are close enough to the measurements to work, but customer reviews vary. I checked Petsmart, but their wheeled cat carrier got such a negative review that I'm wary of it. Don't know if that poster was sincere or a troll.

Can anybody here recommend a good quality, versatile wheeled cat carrier by brand name?

13 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

I need advice on buying a new cat carrier. (Original Post) wnylib Jul 11 OP

My cat sat in his hard-sided carrier like a perfect gentleman. marybourg Jul 11 #1

Some of the soft carriers have zipper locks to prevent wnylib Jul 11 #3

It doesn't matter that there's a lock at the end of the zipper. marybourg Jul 11 #6

Oh. Cats are clever. wnylib Jul 11 #7

My cat destroyed the soft carrier. Also kept getting his claws caught in material. It was a hazard. 58Sunliner Jul 11 #2

Well, yours is the second negative post about soft carriers. wnylib Jul 11 #4

We swear by ours TommyT139 Jul 11 #5

Thanks for the input. wnylib Jul 11 #8

Check out Chewy.com hermetic Jul 11 #9

Thanks. wnylib Jul 11 #10

You could try Travel Cat. Their cat packs are pretty good, but a little pricey. flashman13 Jul 11 #11

If You Get A Traditional Carrier Deep State Witch Jul 11 #12

I have transported a lot of cats in my time spinbaby Jul 12 #13

marybourg

(12,925 posts)

1. My cat sat in his hard-sided carrier like a perfect gentleman.

Reply to wnylib (Original post)

Thu Jul 11, 2024, 11:59 AM

Jul 11

He demolished and escaped from his new soft-sided carrier within 30 seconds.

wnylib

(23,503 posts)

3. Some of the soft carriers have zipper locks to prevent

Reply to marybourg (Reply #1)

Thu Jul 11, 2024, 12:10 PM

Jul 11

clever cats from opening them. A strong material should prevent a cat from clawing or chewing its way out of the carrier.

marybourg

(12,925 posts)

6. It doesn't matter that there's a lock at the end of the zipper.

Reply to wnylib (Reply #3)

Thu Jul 11, 2024, 01:45 PM

Jul 11

That’s human think. The cat just pulls the teeth of the zipper apart at the middle. That’s cat think. 🐱

wnylib

(23,503 posts)

7. Oh. Cats are clever.

Reply to marybourg (Reply #6)

Thu Jul 11, 2024, 02:23 PM

Jul 11

58Sunliner

(4,932 posts)

2. My cat destroyed the soft carrier. Also kept getting his claws caught in material. It was a hazard.

Reply to wnylib (Original post)

Thu Jul 11, 2024, 12:06 PM

Jul 11

wnylib

(23,503 posts)

4. Well, yours is the second negative post about soft carriers.

Reply to 58Sunliner (Reply #2)

Thu Jul 11, 2024, 12:13 PM

Jul 11

So disappointing. I was hoping to find a good one.

TommyT139

(333 posts)

5. We swear by ours

Reply to wnylib (Original post)

Thu Jul 11, 2024, 12:57 PM

Jul 11

Our cats have never tried to claw their way out of soft carriers. Not that they were thrilled, but it's way better than the hard carriers. He (just the one, now) can barely stand up in it. He's sitting or lying all the time anyway, except when stress-excreting (all three ways, like clockwork). Because the soft carrier has both top and end zipper openings, I am able to reach in and remove one of the layers of absorbent pads I put in before the trip. Awkward, yes, but he settles down quickly.

I've looked into cat strollers. For him, going to the vet is so stressful that I'd want to have a different stroller so he won't think he's going to the vet all the time. Also, the visibility in those is much better than in a regular soft carrier.

wnylib

(23,503 posts)

8. Thanks for the input.

Reply to TommyT139 (Reply #5)

Thu Jul 11, 2024, 02:26 PM

Jul 11

I'm going to call the vet for an opinion on the safety of the soft carriers and strollers.

hermetic

(8,516 posts)

9. Check out Chewy.com

Reply to wnylib (Original post)

Thu Jul 11, 2024, 02:29 PM

Jul 11

They have MANY to choose from. https://www.chewy.com/b/carriers-travel-454

wnylib

(23,503 posts)

10. Thanks.

Reply to hermetic (Reply #9)

Thu Jul 11, 2024, 03:24 PM

Jul 11

flashman13

(833 posts)

11. You could try Travel Cat. Their cat packs are pretty good, but a little pricey.

Reply to wnylib (Original post)

Thu Jul 11, 2024, 04:48 PM

Jul 11

Deep State Witch

(11,004 posts)

12. If You Get A Traditional Carrier

Reply to wnylib (Original post)

Thu Jul 11, 2024, 08:30 PM

Jul 11

Make sure that it has a door on the top. It is MUCH easier to get kitty into a carrier that way than shoving them into the side.

That being said, our kitties ride in style with these carriers.

https://www.chewy.com/pet-life-wheeled-travel-dog-carrier/dp/271632

spinbaby

(15,169 posts)

13. I have transported a lot of cats in my time

Reply to wnylib (Original post)

Fri Jul 12, 2024, 03:53 PM

Jul 12

I used to regularly drive a carload of cats 30 miles to get fixed. We always asked for clean, hard-sided carriers, but often got the soft ones, which is how I sometimes found myself driving along with a loose cat in the car.

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