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Best pet carriers for moving with cats, dogs and other animals 2024

There are plenty of pet carriers to choose from, but which should you pick? We rounded up the best carriers for moving with your fuzzy friend.

Dan Thorp-Lancaster
·Contributing writer
Two small kittens come out of the carrier carefully. Photo in the home space
Two small kittens come out of the carrier carefully. (Anita Kot via Getty Images)

Whether you're moving across the country with your pet or just going to the vet, having a good pet carrier is critical. Fortunately, finding the best pet carrier to move with your cat, dog or other furry friend is easier than ever thanks to the variety of options available. Whether you want a simple plastic carrier or to give your pet a more comfortable experience with a soft-wall one, we rounded up some of the best carriers for moving with pets in 2024.

Quick Overview

Recommended reading from Yahoo: What is a pet relocation service, and should you use one when you move?

Amazon

Best overall plastic carrier

Petmate Two-Door Small Dog & Cat Kennel

Plastic carriers have been the go-to option for pets for a long time, and it's easy to see why. This carrier from Petmate is sturdy and easy to clean if your pet makes a mess inside. It can hold small dogs and cats up to 15 pounds while giving them plenty of ventilation to keep air flowing.

The carrier is available in several sizes and several reviews mention it's durability. "8 years later and both still look like new and they have transported a lot of cats to the vet and back. Best carriers I have ever owned," one reviewer said.

Two doors give you multiple options for getting your pet in or out, which can be handy if you have a cat that resists going in through the front door. If you have air travel coming up, this carrier is also approved for "most airline cargo specifications," according to Petmate.

Pros
  • Fits animals up to 15 pounds
  • Easy to clean
  • Sturdy and durable
  • Two doors
Cons
  • Not as comfortable as a soft carrier
$50 at Amazon
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$50 at Walmart$59 at Wayfair
Amazon

Best overall soft carrier

Petsfit Expandable Cat & Dog Carrier

If you want to give your pet a more comfortable travel experience, a soft carrier is a must. Though they're not as sturdy as a plastic carrier, they're much more lightweight and easy to store because you can fold them flat. This one from Petsfit is highly rated, comes in multiple sizes, and can hold small dogs and cats up to 20 pounds.

Several reviewers mention they like the material and accessibility. "Highly impressed, quality sturdy material and a beautiful design with lots of access options and doors and collapsible sides, and entirely foldable for easy storage," one reviewer said.

This carrier has expandable sides covered in a mesh material. If you're in a vet waiting room or airport lounge, you can expand the sides to give your pet more room to move around with plenty of ventilation. When zipped up, it's small enough to fit under most airplane seats.

Pros
  • Comfortable, soft interior
  • Expandable
  • Two mesh doors
  • Comfortable shoulder strap
Cons
  • Messes are harder to clean than plastic carrier
$63 at Amazon
Amazon

Best backpack carrier

Halinfer Expandable Cat Backpack Carrier

Backpack carriers are an excellent alternative to the usual pet carrier design. While most backpack carriers are relatively simple with a bubble for cats and small dogs to look out of, this Halinfer one can expand into a mesh tent to give your pet more room to lie down and move around when you're not on the move.

"The large, zippered openings make it easier to get him into the carrier, and the front extension gives him enough space to turn around and get comfortable," one reviewer said, referring to their large tomcat. "Overall, he cries less in this carrier and genuinely seems to enjoy looking through the shell at times."

Multiple versions of this carrier exist, with some including extra extensions to give your pet even more room. There's even one with a portable mini fan that can be inserted into the side pocket.

Pros
  • Expandable
  • Soft interior
  • Easy to carry
Cons
  • Bubble dome could be hard to fit in tight places
  • Only suitable for small animals
$35 at Amazon
Amazon

Best budget plastic carrier

Amazon Basics Dog & Cat Carrier

This Amazon Basics carrier is a good budget plastic carrier option for those who want the necessities. In addition to the front door, it has a top door that can open from either side. It can also handle pets up to 20 pounds and is made of durable plastic to last a long time.

"This carrier fit our needs for our puppy," one reviewer said. "It's lightweight, easy to assemble and use, and fits our pup perfectly." The one downside is that a few reviews mention screws coming loose from moving the carrier around. One noted that using a screwdriver, rather than hand tightening, fixed the issue.

Otherwise, this is a relatively basic carrier that should stand up to trips for years. Like all plastic carriers, it's also easy to clean if your pet makes a mess while traveling.

Pros
  • Easy to clean
  • Two doors
  • Top door opens from either side
Cons
  • Some reviews mention screws coming loose
$23 at Amazon
Amazon

Best budget soft carrier

Vceoa Soft Cat & Dog Carrier

If you want to grab a solid soft carrier on a budget, this option from Vceoa is a good choice. It's only $20 for the standard size, which can handle pets up to 16 pounds. A larger version, which holds pets up to 22 pounds, is available for $30.

"I love this carrier because it's super easy to get your cats inside it and provide them comfort, while also providing you comfort too," said one reviewer. "I've had this for quite some time and it hasn't fallen apart and the zippers still work perfectly."

Like other soft carriers, this one is easy to fold down for storage. It also has two zippered doors, making it easy to get a cat or dog inside through the top of the carrier. Reviews note that it's also pretty comfortable to hold, with a shoulder strap and two hand straps on board.

Pros
  • Mesh walls for ventilation
  • Multiple mesh doors
  • Soft and comfortable
Cons
  • Fabric can be harder to clean than plastic
  • Not expandable
$20 at Amazon

The biggest decision you have to make when deciding on a carrier is if you want a plastic or soft-walled one. Generally, plastic carriers will be easier to clean, but your pet may not be as comfortable. Fabric carriers are much more comfortable for you and your pet, and they're often more portable, but you'll have to wash them if your pet soils them during travel.

The best plastic carrier is the Petmate Two-door carrier because it's durable, highly rated, and has two doors with plenty of ventilation. If you want a soft carrier, the Petsfit carrier is our pick because of its versatility, allowing you to unzip the mesh sides to expand it into a roomy bed for your pet. Don't sleep on the Halinfer expandable backpack carrier, either, which is great for small pets who want to see more on the move.

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