The 10 Best Kitten Carriers for Style and Safety

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Your kitten may travel more in the first year of their life than at any other time. They’ll need to be spayed or neutered, and they’ll have two or three visits for immunizations (depending on the schedule your vet recommends). Whether you’re taking your kitten back and forth to the vet or to visit friends and relatives, it is critically important they have a safe, sturdy kitten carrier. A panicked kitten is surprisingly slippery and it takes only the honk of a nearby car horn, or a moment of inattention, for your kitten to escape from your arms or a makeshift container.

Training Your Kitten to Be a Good Traveler

With some cats, putting them in the carrier is as easy as picking them up and placing them in. With others (like our orange tabby Perdita) just the sight of the carrier provokes panic. With rescues like Perdita, it’s hard to change their attitude. But if you start right with your new kitten, you can have a cat that is a happy traveler.

This article from Catnip, a newsletter from the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University, provides detailed instructions on how to gradually introduce your cat to a carrier (a process that needs to begin several days before a trip in the car or to the vet). It’s pretty straightforward, and well worth it to ensure that you and your kitten will enjoy many years of pleasant travel experiences.

What Makes a Good Kitten Carrier?

The best kitten carrier to keep your little furball safe is one that closes securely and provides a feeling of shelter for a frightened kitten. Once your kitten is used to spending time in a cozy carrier, you can move on to some of the new models with “spaceship” windows so they can see out when they’re traveling. The Animal Hospital of North Asheville goes into additional helpful detail about what to consider when choosing a carrier.

Here are some details to keep in mind:

• Storage. Do you need a carrier that folds or comes apart for storage?
• Size. Do you want a small, secure carrier for quick trips to the vet or a large carrier for car travel, with room for litter and a water bowl?
• Protection. Can you go with a soft-sided, bag-like carrier or do you need a hard-shell carrier that would protect your kitten if the carrier were jostled or hit?
• Safety. While it’s tempting to put two kittens in a carrier, it’s possible that one cat may be upset after veterinary treatment and take it out on the other kitten. Experts suggest one cat per carrier.
• Security. Make sure you are confident that the carrier will stay latched. Spring latches are good. Be cautious when using a zippered carriers—a few people report that older, determined cats are able to open zippers and escape.
• Cleaning. Plastic and metal carriers are easy to clean and sterilize, while a cardboard carrier can be ruined with one “accident.” Some soft-sided carriers are machine washable, others…not so much. Keep ease of cleaning in mind when making your selection.

The Best Kitten Carriers

With all these options in mind, we’ve put together a list of carriers for a whole range of situations, from quick trips to the vet to long car trips and airplane travel.

Sherpa Airline-Approved Dog and Cat Carrier

This medium-size soft-side carrier is our top pick for under-the-seat airline transportation of your kitten. It also works well for car travel and vet visits. It has excellent ventilation, side and top zipper entrances (both lockable), and an outside pocket—which turns out to be extremely convenient for paperwork at the vet. It includes a faux-fleece liner that can be removed for machine washing. Dimensions: 18 by 11 by 10.5 inches.

Necoichi Ultra-Light Collapsible Kitten Carrier

Designed specifically for cats, this sturdy carrier will have your kitten riding in style. It has a comfortable, soft floor and ventilated sides. When not in use, it can be collapsed and folded flat to be tucked in a closet. Dimensions: 19.7 by 15.7 by 13 inches.

EliteField Expandable Kitten Carrier

We think this is a great travel kitten carrier—zip up the sides when you want to fit them under a plane seat, expand it when you reach your destination to give them some room to move around. It’s also a good choice for long road trips in the car. The soft cloth lining is machine washable. For kittens, the smaller (17 inches long) carrier should be ideal.

JesPet Backpack Kitten Carrier

The backpack-style carrier is designed for cats up to 16 pounds—so it will certainly work for a kitten. You can load them in from the front or from the top, both of which have zipper closures. We like the fluffy interior pad (removable for washing). The backpack straps are ideal for people who have trouble lugging a regular cat carrier with a single strap or handle. Dimensions: 13 by 12 by 17.

Gen7Pets Kitten Carrier Roller and Backpack

This wheeled kitten carrier converts to a backpack for use on rough terrain or stairs. Choose from two sizes: for cats up to 10 pounds and for cats up to 20 pounds. The side-storage pockets are convenient for treats, leashes, or papers.

Kong Two-in-One Airline-Approved Kitten Carrier and Travel Mat

This kitten carrier bag turns into a travel bed when you arrive at your destination. The zip-down side has a padded surface that expands the carrier bed into a large, comfy cushion for your kitty to lounge on. The bag comes with fabric handles and a carrier strap. Dimensions: 20 by 9 by 13 inches.

Petmate Sky Kitten Kennel

If your kitten requires a tough, secure pet traveling environment, give this Petmate carrier a look. The heavy-duty plastic shell provides strength and safety, and the wire door latches securely. It comes in small and medium sizes.

Ibiyaya Premium Kitten Carrier

This carrier combines security with style. Designed to fit under an airline seat, it features adjustable shoulder straps and a shoulder pad. The sides are tough, clear plastic for full visibility while the ends are perforated to provide air circulation. It opens at the top and at the end, and includes a removable, washable pad. The small carrier (15.7 by 11 by 11 inches) is for kittens and cats up to 11 pounds.

Frisco Two-Door Top-Load Plastic Pet Kennel

This popular and affordable carrier in the smaller size (19 by 12 by 10 inches) is a great choice for a kitten. Wire mesh front and top doors give you easy access to your cat, while the spring-loaded latches hold the doors securely shut when you are traveling. The top and bottom of the carrier can be unscrewed for easy storage.

PetAmi Deluxe Pet Backpack Carrier

This inexpensive pet backpack is a fine solution for transporting your kitten on short trips, or even for training them to enjoy walks with you. It has large zippered front and side openings so it’s easy to get your cat in and out. The pocket is ideal for leashes, treats, and papers. The dimensions are 12.5 by 10.2 by 16.3 inches. Bonus: It comes in several great colors.

Need more great pet travel suggestions? From carriers to travel bowls, see what’s new at the Rover store.

Further Reading

• How to Travel With a Cat (as Painlessly as Possible)
• The 10 Best Backpacks for Traveling Kitties
• The Best Cat Strollers for Taking Your Cat Everywhere