Air travel isn’t always the most pleasant experience, but when you need to bring your cat with you, it can really add to the stressful event—for both of you! Did you know that some airlines expect your traveling cat to be over a specific age? For example, Delta Airlines won’t let you bring a kitten under 16 weeks old if you’re traveling internationally.
Besides checking airline rules, you also need to find the right carrier that you can bring onto an airplane. Fortunately, many carriers are listed as safe for air travel, so here are reviews of the top airline-approved cat carriers available today. We hope that this article helps you find the best carrier for your needs so you can make your cat’s trip as comfortable as possible.
A Quick Glance at Our Favorites for 2024
| Image | Product | Details | ||
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Best Overall
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Jespet Soft-Sided Airline-Approved Cat Carrier |
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Best Value
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Zampa Soft-Sided Airline-Approved Cat Carrier Bag |
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Premium Choice
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KOPEKS Travel Airline-Approved Cat Carrier Backpack |
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Frisco Soft Expandable Airline Cat Carrier |
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PetAmi Airline Approved Cat Travel Carrier |
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The 9 Best Airline-Approved Cat Carriers
1. Jespet Soft-Sided Airline-Approved Travel Cat Carrier — Best Overall
| Size: | 19”L x 12”H x 12”W |
| Weight: | 3 pounds |
| Material: | Polyester, synthetic fabric |
| Recommended Pet Weight: | Up to 20 pounds |
| Color: | Gray/red |
Our pick for the best overall airline-approved cat carrier is the Jespet Soft-Sided Airline-Approved Travel Carrier. Your favorite feline will be kept cozy on your travels with this well-ventilated carrier featuring a thick removable pad. The mesh ventilation also means your cat can see everything around them, so they’re entertained. And to make things simpler, this cat carrier has a safety belt designed to attach to your luggage.
Most cat parents were fans; however, one person said their cat tore through the mesh in minutes, so this may not be the best carrier for destructive kitties. There was also an occasional issue with one of the zippers not working.
2. Zampa Soft-Sided Airline-Approved Cat Carrier Bag — Best Value
| Size: | 19”L x 13.5”W x 13.5”H or 24”L x 16.6”W x 16.5”H |
| Weight: | 1.5 pounds |
| Material: | Mesh, nylon, synthetic fabric |
| Recommended Pet Weight: | Up to 10 or up to 20 pounds |
| Color: | Gray, blue, pink, green |
Looking for the best airline-approved cat carrier for the money? Then, we suggest this Zampa bag! Not only is it affordable, but it uses heavy-duty mesh to offer your pet safety and plenty of ventilation. Plus, if your cat is leash-trained, you can utilize the leash clip on the inside to safely open the door of the carrier without risking your pet running off.
Reviews of this carrier were a bit mixed. While this carrier worked well for most, some said the bottom was too flimsy and collapsed, making their pets uncomfortable. A couple of people also said the mesh was thicker than expected, so ventilation wasn’t as good as advertised.
3. KOPEKS Deluxe Travel Airline-Approved Cat Carrier Backpack — Premium Choice
| Size: | 13”L x 12”W x 20”H |
| Weight: | 6 pounds |
| Material: | Polyester, synthetic fabric |
| Recommended Pet Weight: | Up to 9 pounds |
| Color: | Black, gray |
If you want a premium option for your cat, look no further than this carrier by KOPEKS. This bag is for smaller cats only, though, because it’s a backpack carrier. However, not only can you use it as a backpack, but you can also wheel it like luggage or use the carrying strap to transport it. Mesh front and sides offer plenty of ventilation and the ability for the cat to see out, plus the carrier has two large pockets for storage.
The main issue with this carrier seemed to be with American Airlines; some people were not allowed to fly with this carrier as they were told it wouldn’t fit under the seat, but other people had no trouble with the airline. So, keep that in mind when traveling. This carrier is also much pricier than others on this list.
4. Frisco Soft Double Sided Expandable Airline Compliant Cat Carrier
| Size: | 17.3”L x 29.9”W x 11”H |
| Weight: | 3 pounds |
| Material: | Polyester |
| Recommended Pet Weight: | Up to 22 pounds |
| Color: | Gray |
Want to level up on the way your kitty travels? Then this carrier by Frisco is an excellent choice! This nifty carrier is expandable to give your pet more room when needed, but you can collapse the sides back down when it’s time to be stored on the plane. Besides giving your cat more room, this carrier has a padded, fleece-covered mat inside to keep things cozy and comes with a travel bowl.
Some smart felines figured out how to get out of this carrier due to the many zippers, though, so go with something else if that sounds like your cat. Other than that, this bag was a hit.
5. PetAmi Premium Airline Approved Soft-Sided Cat Travel Carrier
| Size: | 19.5”L x 10.2”W x 12”H |
| Weight: | 3.5 pounds |
| Material: | Polyester, synthetic fabric |
| Recommended Pet Weight: | Up to 18 pounds |
| Color: | Gray, blue, red, pink, charcoal, purple, taupe |
This durable, cozy bag by PetAmi allows you to take your pet on as many adventures as you want while they stay safe and comfortable. With sherpa bedding, this carrier is incredibly soft for your pet; plus, it offers excellent ventilation. You also don’t need to worry about your pet escaping with this carrier, as it has a safety strap and buckle. Add a name tag on the bag, and it’s excellent for travel.
Despite saying it’s fine for cats up to 18 pounds, those with felines weighing more than 15 pounds said their cats didn’t fit well in this carrier. This also isn’t the best bag for cats who claw and chew a lot.
6. Petsfit Expandable Cat Carriers Airline Approved
| Size: | 18” x 11” x 11” |
| Weight: | 6 pounds |
| Material: | Polyester, mesh |
| Recommended pet weight: | Up to 15 pounds |
| Color: | Gray, black |
The Petsfit Expandable Cat Carriers Airline Approved comes in gray or black, as well as in medium (which this review is for) and large (19” x 12” x 12”). This is a unique carrier, as it looks like your typical soft-sided carrier but has the ability to expand—kinda like when you expand your dining table with leaf extensions! This gives your cat extra space when needed (but not while in the airplane, of course), and it easily folds down for easy storage. It includes a side strap so you can secure it and a padded shoulder strap, as well as self-locking zippers and a side pocket. It also contains a machine-washable fleecy, soft liner.
On the downside, we found that when it’s fully expanded and you leave the door open, it tends to collapse. If you have a cat that will claw and bite their way out of an enclosure, the material isn’t that durable, and there’s a good chance that your cat might escape.
7. Jespet Cat Carrier Backpack
| Size: | 17” x 12” x 12” |
| Weight: | 4 pounds |
| Material: | Polyester, mesh |
| Recommended pet weight: | Up to 16 pounds |
| Color: | Blue, gray |
The Jespet Cat Carrier Backpack is the first (and only) backpack on this list. It comes in blue or grey and is made of durable polyester with a mesh door for ventilation (and a view). It features a padded handle and padded shoulder straps so you can carry your feline friend comfortably on your back. This carrier also has side pockets for extra storage and has a top and front entry.
The problems we found with this carrier were that while the shoulder straps are padded, they could use extra cushioning as they weren’t as comfortable as they should be. We also discovered that this backpack might be more comfortable for tall people, as it’s quite long.
8. Petmate Sky Cat Kennel
| Size: | 21” x 16” x 15” |
| Weight: | 6.02 pounds |
| Material: | Plastic, steel |
| Recommended pet weight: | Up to 20 pounds |
| Color: | Gray |
The Petmate Sky Cat Kennel is for the cargo part of an airplane. It comes in small (which is the size being reviewed) and medium (28” x 20.5” x 21.”5 inches) and features sturdy wire-steel doors and wire ventilation along the sides. A “Live Animals” sticker has been placed on the outside for added awareness, it’s made with a durable, strong plastic that is made from recycled materials, and it comes with a clip-on food and water dish.
On the downside, we found that the kennel itself isn’t as durable as what the company claims. Since it’s made from recycled material (which we do applaud), it seems to be flimsy and breaks easily. Some customers received a kennel that was damaged. We also found that some of these kennels had weak handles that were prone to breaking.
9. EliteField Soft-Sided Airline-Approved Cat Carrier Bag
| Size: | 17” x 9” x 12” |
| Weight: | 9 pounds |
| Material: | Polyester, mesh |
| Recommended pet weight: | Up to 12 pounds |
| Color: | Black, dark gray, pink, purple, light blue, medium blue |
The EliteField Soft-Sided Airline-Approved Cat Carrier Bag is a good price and comes in the sizes of 17 inches (the one being reviewed) and 19 inches (19” x 10” x 13” inches). It comes in multiple colors: black, charcoal gray, pink, purple, sky blue, and sapphire blue. It comes with removable plush bedding and mesh on the front and sides for ventilation and features a loop for a seatbelt. It is waterproof and easy to spot clean and has handles and a padded shoulder strap.
The disadvantages include that it only has a front entrance and not a top one, which is usually easier to use for a feisty cat. It’s also quite flimsy and seems to collapse in on itself. You also might be better off with the 19-inch, as the 17-inch is quite small.
Buyer’s Guide: Choosing the Best Cat Carrier for Airplane Travel
Now that we’ve provided you with a list of cat carriers to look at, there are a few other things that you will need to consider before and after you purchase one.
Size
Remember that the sizes posted with these carriers are for the outside of the actual bag or kennel. If you’re unsure of what size you should get, you can ask the company for the internal dimensions. Keep in mind that if you have a particularly large cat, they might not be able to fit in a carrier that will be allowed into the cabin.
- Related Read: Soft vs. Hard Cat Carrier: Selecting the Right One
Stocking the Carrier
You should consider lining your cat’s carrier with puppy pads. These act as diapers, as they are able to absorb a lot of liquid in case your cat needs to urinate. Bring extra pads with you, as well as Ziplock bags and paper towels.
Sedation
While flying is stressful for your cat, it’s highly recommended that you don’t sedate them, as this can cause more harm than good. Don’t feed your cat before the flight, and consider a number of strategies that will help calm your cat. For example, try pheromones, such as a collar for your cat to wear and wipes on the carrier itself.
Limitations
You need to be sure your cat is old enough to travel, since some airlines will prevent you from flying with a cat below a certain age. Even the breed might not be allowed, such as Persians or Himalayans. These breeds have flat faces, which can mean they might have trouble breathing. Double-check with the airline before booking your ticket.
Measuring Your Cat
To measure the length of your cat, go from the chest and to the rear, and for the height, measure from the floor to the top of the shoulders. Your cat should be able to stand up and turn around inside the carrier.
Before you actually buy the carrier, check with the airlines on their regulations. The last thing that you want to do is put a lot of money down only to discover that the airline will not actually approve of your carrier. While a company can claim that their carrier is airline approved, it doesn’t actually mean it will be. Always check with your airline beforehand.
Conclusion
When you want the best overall cat carrier for airline travel, check out the Jespet Soft-Sided Airline-Approved Travel Cat Carrier as it helps your cat feel more secure and has a safety luggage attachment. Looking for the best airline-approved cat carrier for the money? You want the Zampa Soft-Sided Airline-Approved Cat Carrier Bag as it’s affordable and heavy-duty. Finally, if it’s a premium option you need, look no further than the KOPEKS Deluxe Travel Airline-Approved Cat Carrier Backpack, as it offers three ways to carry it.
We hope that these reviews will help you find the right cat carrier for your cat. While you want to find one that is comfortable for you to carry, your cat’s safety and comfort should always come first.
See Also
- Best Litter Boxes for Multiple Cats — Reviews & Top Picks
- Best Cat Carriers for Nervous Cats — Reviews & Top Picks
- Best Soft-Sided Cat Carriers – Reviews & Top Picks
Featured Image Credit: MarinaTr, Shutterstock
