Wrestling a grumpy cat into a carrier is one of the more stressful aspects of pet ownership, but the best cat carriers are an essential piece of kit whether you’re heading to the vet, moving house or travelling further afield. Choosing the right carrier can make the ordeal significantly less stressful for both of you.
We spoke to Blue Cross vet Anna Ewers Clark to find out what actually works. Her advice? Ignore the novelty “spaceman” backpacks and focus on practicality. Ideally, you want a carrier that offers privacy, good ventilation, and is easy to take apart. As Clark notes, carriers with removable lids are “incredibly helpful when trying to get your cat out at the vets without causing stress,” saving you from the indignity of having to shake them out like ketchup from a bottle.
The choice generally boils down to hard plastic versus soft fabric. Soft carriers act like an enclosed bed, which Clark suggests can be more comforting for anxious travellers who associate hard plastic with previous bad experiences. Hard carriers, on the other hand, are easier to clean and far better at preventing Houdini-style escapes.
To help you decide, our IndyBest cat owners have been testing the best cat carriers to keep your VIP passenger safe.
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The best cat carriers for 2025 are:
- Best overall – Catit cabrio top-opening cat carrier: £60, Amazon.co.uk
- Best budget buy – Pets at Home roadrunner wire door carrier for cats and dogs, medium: £24, Petsathome.com
- Best for top access – Ferplast atlas 20 deluxe: £37, Petsathome.com
- Best expandable design – Petsfit expandable pet carrier: £49.99, Amazon.co.uk
How we tested
For this guide, our reviewers teamed up with the felines in their lives to test a series of cat carriers, in a variety of styles and materials. Our reviews are based on factors such as convenience, ease of cleaning and comfort.
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Catit cabrio top-opening cat carrier
Best: Overall
Dimensions: 51cm x 35cm x 33cm
Weight: 3.04kg
Material: Plastic
Weight limit: 11.3kg
Why we love it
- Easy to clean
- Top and side access
Take note
- While you can top load, there’s no door on the lid
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 vet.
Buy now £60, Catit.co.uk
Pets at Home roadrunner wire door carrier for cats and dogs, medium
Best: Budget buy
Dimensions: 35cm x 37cm x 56cm
Weight: 1.51kg
Material: Plastic with metal door
Weight limit: 8kg
Why we love it
- Recycled plastic
- Easy to clean
Take note
- Doesn’t feel as robust as some other plastic carriers
- Top access is fiddly
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.
Buy now £24, Petsathome.com
Ferplast atlas 20 deluxe
Best: For top access
Dimensions: 37.4cm x 57.6cm x 33cm
Weight: 2.06kg
Materials: Plastic carrier with plastic-coated iron door
Weight limit: 8kg
Why we love it
- Lock on the door
- Removable food bowl
- Includes cotton cushion
- Easy to clean
Take note
- Handle could be more comfortable to hold
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.
Buy now £37, Petsathome.com
Pets at Home easy access pet carrier with travel mat
Best: For easy access
Dimensions: 43cm x 22cm x 32cm
Weight: 1.15kg
Material: Polyester
Weight limit: 7kg
Why we love it
- Zips give really easy access
- Storage pockets
- Comfortable handle
- Blanket included
Take note
- Quite narrow
- Not as stable as wider carriers
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.
Buy now £35, Petsathome.com
Petsfit expandable pet carrier
Best: Expandable design
Dimensions: 16in x 10in x 9in; 17in x 11in x 11in; 19in x 12in x 12in
Weight: 1.36kg
Material: Oxford cloth
Weight limit: 18lbs
Why we love it
- Lightweight
- Inside is easily accessible
- Sturdy base
Take note
- A little tricky to open the extra compartment
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.
Buy now £35.61, Amazon.co.uk
Trixie wicker cat basket
Best: Wicker cat carrier
Dimensions: 50cm x 46cm x 36cm
Weight: 1kg
Material: Wicker
Weight limit: Unspecified
Why we love it
- Natural materials
- Secure door
- Looks cute
Take note
- Difficult to clean
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.
Buy now £42.49, Viovet.co.uk
Archie & Oscar Edith pet carrier
Best: Portable cat carrier
Dimensions: 20cm x 41cm x 34cm
Weight: 1.2kg
Material: Polyester
Weight limit: 10kg
Why we love it
- Comfortable interior
- Front pockets
- Space-efficient
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.
Buy now £14.99, Wayfair.co.uk
Rosewood plastic pet carrier with cushion, medium
Best: For reluctant cats
Dimensions: 53.5cm x 35.5cm x 35.5cm
Weight: 1.76kg
Material: Plastic
Weight limit: Unspecified
Why we love it
- Easy to clean
- Secure
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?
Buy now £30, Argos.co.uk
MDC cat carrier
Best: For visibility
Dimensions: 46cm x 29cm x 29cm
Weight: Unspecified
Material: Non-toxic PVC
Weight limit: Unspecified
Why we love it
- Great visibilty
- Lightweight
- Easy top access
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.
Buy now £68, Amazon.co.uk
Ferplast atlas wire door carrier for cats and small dogs
Best: For using in the car
Dimensions: 60cm x 40cm x 38cm
Weight: Unspecified
Material: Plastic
Weight limit: 15kg
Why we love it
- Closes securely
- Removable mat
- Easy to clean
- Textured finish
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.
Buy now £42, Petsathome.com
Your cat carrier questions answered
What’s the best cat carrier?
With a host of handy features, as well as eye-catching design and robust build quality, the Catit cabrio came out on top as our best buy. It performed perfectly during testing, and, while there’s no guarantee a trip to the vet will ever be easy, this carrier could certainly remove some of the stress from the situation.
Alternatively, the Ferplast atlas 20 deluxe is an excellent choice, with good visibility for you and your cat, and easy access through the top and the front. The Petsfit expandable pet carrier, meanwhile, is a great soft carrier, with its clever, spacious design. If you’re looking for a budget option, however, consider the Pets At Home roadrunner carrier.
What materials are best for a cat carrier?
“The material for the cat carrier is less important than the design,” says Blue Cross vet Anna Ewers Clark. “Having a carrier that opens at the top is key to keeping your cat happy. It’s also important to make sure the carrier is easy to clean and assemble or disassemble, especially if you have more than one cat,” Clark adds.
How to get a cat into a cat carrier
This can be difficult but, preparation is crucial, says Clark: “Getting your cat used to the carrier before you need to travel is essential. You can do this by leaving your carrier out as a comfy bed all the time, not just getting it out when you travel. You’ll then need to choose whether your cat would prefer to go in head first or tail first. It’s really important to avoid stressing your cat, not only does it make it hard to get them in their carrier at the time, but it will be even harder the next time.”
What should I put inside the carrier to soothe my cat?
Clark recommends a non-slip blanket or vet bed, as this will “provide the smell of home and help stop them slipping”. However, big beds “make the carrier very hot and restrict your cat’s space”, which means they should be avoided. Clark adds: “Newspaper or absorbent pads can make the floor even slippier, so use these with care and make sure there are non-slip, soft items, too.”
What type of carrier is best for a kitten?
There are dedicated kitten carriers available but “if you use an adult cat carrier for your kitten, adding an extra blanket can make them feel more secure. But remember not to block the ventilation holes”, says Clark.
Why you can trust us
Lois Borny is one of our in-house IndyBest writers, who has lived with cats for most of her life. She is familiar with cats’ needs, and the considerations and challenges associated with travelling with them. Lois has also reviewed the best cat food and the best gifts to buy for cat lovers. Pete Wise is a product reviewer who has also written about cats. Both writers know what to look out for when it comes to carrying your feline passenger safely.
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