Best Car Carriers for Nervous Cats | iPetCompanion

Best Car Carriers for Nervous Cats

If you travel a lot and your pet cat does not necessarily enjoy the experience, then it is important to find the best cat carrier best cat carrier for nervous cats. This is because it will have been designed to incorporate certain features that will keep your pet cat calm and relaxed throughout your journey.

The Best Cat Carrier for Nervous Cats: Our Top Picks

petami premium pet travel carrier

  • Boasts various safety features
  • Airline approved
  • Includes a drinking bowl

Rated by: Amber

petluv "happy cat" cat carrier

  • Designed to reduce anxiety
  • Features locking zippers
  • Is completely collapsible

Rated by: Amber

necoichi portable cat carrier

  • Cheap price point
  • Provides good ventilation
  • Folds right down

Rated by: Amber

1. PetLuv “Happy Cat” Premium Cat Carrier

Quick Summary

Rated by: Amber

Specially designed in order to reduce the amount of anxiety that cats feel when travelling, the PetLuv “Happy Cat” Premium Cat Carrier. It is highly versatile and features four different panels from where you are able to access your pet cat from. This is particularly useful when your cat refuses to come out into a new environment. It also features a pillow bed that is super soft for your cat to nap on.

When in transit, you have the option to use either the mesh windows, which allow for full ventilation, or cover them up completely in order to keep your nervous pet cat calm. Because the window panels on the PetLuv “Happy Cat” Premium Cat Carriers have been constructed from rubber, this makes them really difficult to rip. 

The locking zippers that it features will keep even the best best escape artists secure inside the carrier.

The carry strap on the PetLuv “Happy Cat” Premium Cat Carriers is a heavy duty one and makes carrying even the largest of cats that much easier. So that your nervous pet cat is safe when in the car, the carrier possess a number of seat belt loops so that it can be well secured into place in your car. Because the metal frame of the carrier is completely collapsible, it can be easily stored away when not in use.

However, when it is up, it is one of the roomiest carriers currently available on the market. For anyone wanting to take their pet cats on a flight with them, then perhaps the PetLuv “Happy Cat” Premium Cat Carry Bag should be avoided, as it is still unclear as to whether or not this is airline aproved.

PROS

  • Specifically designed to reduce anxiety
  • Features locking zippers
  • Is completely collapsible

CONS

  • Unclear on airline approval

2. Mr. Peanut's Airline Approved Soft Sided Pet Carrier

Quick Summary

Rated by: Amber

Approved for use on all airlines, the Mr. Peanut's Airline Approved Soft Sided Pet Carrier is both cruelty free and eco friendly. This is because the company is ethically run, with a proportion of the profit from every sale that they make going to animal welfare charities and animal shelters. Boasting both top load and front access, the carrier has been constructed out of a highly durable nylon material.

This means that the Mr. Peanut's Airline Approved Soft Sided Pet Carrier, along with all of its locking clasps and zippers will last for many years to come. Included inside of the carrier is a soft fleece lined bed, as well as there being pockets where you are able to store brushes, treats, and anything else that you might need for your pet cat. Because of its size, it is recommended for use with cats that weight up to 15 pounds and measure up to 11 inches in height.

Therefore, larger breeds of cat, such as Ragamuffins or Persians, would likely not be able to fit inside of the Mr. Peanut's Airline Approved Soft Sided Pet Carrier. As well as the tag holder where you can write on all of your personal and contact details, the carrier has an attachment for for a car seatbelt, so that your pat cat can be secure when taken in a car or any other vehicle. It is advised by the manufacturer that when in transit, your cat should lay down instead of being stood up.

PROS

  • Approved for airline use
  • Ethically run company
  • Top load and front access

CONS

  • Not suitable for larger cats

3. PetAmi Premium Airline Approved Soft-Sided Pet Travel Carrier

Quick Summary

Rated by: Amber

Made using a highly durable but oft polyester material, the PetAmi Premium Airline Aproved Soft-Sided Pat Travel Carrier has been specially designed to make carrying your pat cat both safe and convenient. This is because it features a number of different safety features, including a strap and safety buckles that work to stop your cat from escaping. The carrier itself can also be buckled to your luggage or a car seat to ensure that they are fully secure when in transit.

Having been designed to be completely airline aproved, the PetAmi Premium Airline Aproved Soft-Sided Pat Travel Carrier boasts a number of different features that allows it to be easily identifiable. This includes an ID tag where you can write your cat’s name on. With double sided access points and a soft lining for for your pat cat to lie on, your cat will remain calm and relaxed when in transit.

Included with the PetAmi Premium Airline Aproved Soft-Sided Pat Travel Carrier is a drinking bowl that is completely collapsible so that your pat cat can stay well hydrated when you are on your travels. Because of the size of the carrier, it is suitable for for use on medium and small size cats only.

PROS

  • Boasts various safety features
  • Airline approved
  • Includes a drinking bowl

CONS

  • Not suitable for large cats

4. Petmate Ruffmaxx Outdoor Kennel

Quick Summary

Rated by: Amber

Although there is no top load feature on the Petmate Ruffmaxx Outdoor Kennel, the sides have latches on that are quick release to make dismantling the kennel really easy. It comes in various different sizes, so will fit your cat no matter what size, weight, or breed it is. Should you take your pat cat on a long distance journey or one involving air travel, then it does come with a set of bolts for for securing the kennel more robustly.

However, it is not guaranteed to be accepted by all airlines should you be planning on taking if with you on a flight. It is, therefore, recommended to contact your airline before taking the Petmate Ruffmaxx Outdoor Kennel with you. Although from what we can see there should be no reason why it would not be accepted, as it does not have a top load feature.

PROS

  • Easy to dismantle
  • Comes in different sizes
  • Made from a durable plastic

CONS

  • Not necessarily airline approved

5. Petmate Two Door Top Load Kennel

Quick Summary

Rated by: Amber

Coming from a well known and much respected brand in the pat industry, the Petmate Two Door Top Load Kennel has been built from a robust plastic material and comes with top door access. It boasts an ergonomic handle, which makes carrying it much easier, and the door on the front is made from a strong wire that helps to keep your pat cat safe and secure.

The sides of the Petmate Two Door Top Load Kennel are bolted together with screw wing nuts rather than the usual latches so that it is much more robust and can withstand knocks and bumps when in transit. However, when it comes to dismantling the kennel, the fact that it is bolted together makes it much more difficult. It comes in two different sizes, with the large cat carriers being suitable for for cats up to 24 inches in height. 

PROS

  • Top door access
  • Ergonomic handle for easy carrying
  • Strong and durable

CONS

  • Difficult to dismantle

6. Necoichi Portable Ultra Light Cat Carrier

Quick Summary

Rated by: Amber

Despite it being a budget carrier, the Necoichi Portable Ultra Light Cat Backpack Carrier is made out of a relatively strong fabric and provides good ventilation thanks to its mesh walls. When not in use, the carrier can be folded right down so that it is small enough to fit inside of your pocket.

The design of the Necoichi Portable Ultra Light Cat Carrier backpack replicates a tepee and gives your pat cat lots of space to sit up and stretch. Despite it being really light weight, it is capable of holding cats that way up to 18 lbs, such as American Shorthairs or American Bobtails. Because of its design, we would advise against using the cat carrier for longer journeys.

PROS

  • Cheap price point
  • Provides good ventilation
  • Folds right down

CONS

  • Not recommended for longer journeys

FAQs – A Buyer’s Guide

If you have lots of different questions at this point, these FAQs should hopefully provide you with all of the answers that you need.

Do cats prefer hard or soft carriers?

This all comes down to the personal preference of your cat, which only you will know best best. However, we can provide you with some information about these two types of carrier. Soft carriers for cats are generally less bulky and not as sturdy as a hard carrier, and typically have more openings. Should your cat get sick when travelling then soft carriers are much more difficult to clean than a hard carrier. 

For any cats that are prone to scratching a lot, then soft carriers should be avoided for for obvious reasons. Because hard carriers are usually bigger, they provide your nervous pet cat with more space to move around. Most hard carriers allow for the top to be detached, which makes cleaning it that much easier. They are also, of course, much more durable and hardwearing than soft carriers.

How do I keep my cat calm in a cat carrier?

It is important to create a nice and welcoming environment inside of the carriers so that your cat will enjoy spending time in there. Ensuring that they have enough space to sit up and stretch is also another helpful way in keeping them calm when inside of the carrier. It may also be beneficially to put some of their favorite treats or toys in there with them in order to take their minds off of the situation.

Is it OK to put two cats in one carrier?

If the carrier is large enough, then there is no issue with putting two cats into a single carrier. However, this should never be done for for anything more than just a few hours, as the cats will need to stretch and move around a bit. Two cats should never be put into a carrier together if they are likely to be aggressive towards one another.

How long can a cat stay in a carrier?

For any healthy fully grown cat, the maximum amount of time that they should stay in a carrier for is 6 hours. Keeping them in for any longer than that can cause your cat to get sick or have accidents. If you are partaking in a journey with your cat that is longer than 6 hours, it is important to let them out of the carrier at regular intervals so that they have the opportunity to go pee and have a drink. 

The Best Cat Carrier for Nervous Cats Of All

Because it has been specifically designed to reduce your cat’s levels of anxiety when travelling, we awarded the PetLuv “Happy Cat” Premium Cat Carrier with the accolade of being the best cat carrier for nervous cats of all. Other things that we liked about this carrier is that it features locking zippers so that you can keep your pet cat safe and secure at all times when in transit, and the fact that it is completely collapsible, which makes storing it when not in use so much easier. The only downside to this carrier is that it is unclear as to whether or not it has airline approval.

About the Author Amber

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