The Best 9 Small Cat Carriers for Your Little Kitty
Table of Contents
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What is the Best Small Cat Carrier?
| Image | Product | Features | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
 | The first travel carrier designed for quick and clean waste management on the go. | Get on Diggs | |
 | Waterproof, and lightweight cat carrier with self-lock zippers and anti-scratch breathable mesh windows. | Get on Amazon | |
 | With over 31,000 reviews on Amazon, this is by far the most reviewed carrier on this list. | Get on Amazon | |
 | Owners of different animals were consumers of this product with over 13,000 reviews. | Get on Amazon | |
 | This pet carrier has a weight limit of 16 pounds which is more than any other pet carrier on this list. | Get on Amazon | |
 | With 10 pounds limit, this carrier is best suited for very small animals that appreciate softness and comfort. | Get on Amazon | |
 | This pet carrier features a plastic bottom insert that makes it leakproof and easy to keep clean. | Get on Amazon | |
 | With a convenient food bowl in its design, this cat carrier is made specifically for long travels. | Get on Amazon | |
 | Featuring a safety hook that attaches to the cat’s collar, this carrier is perfect for skilled escape artists. | Get on Amazon |
What Size is a Small Cat Carrier?
Generally speaking, the cat carrier should be about one and a half times the size of a cat.
For small cats around 8-10 pounds, this typically will mean a small cat carrier about 15 inches long, 8.5 inches tall, and 10 inches wide.
The Best Small Cat Carriers Reviewed
From regular bag-style carriers to small pet carrier backpacks – there are different types of carriers for small cats. To help owners find the right product, we have reviewed the best small cat carriers.
Summary: Bring your favorite travel buddy wherever (and however) you roam in our five-star crash test-rated Passenger Travel Carrier. By plane, train, car, or foot, Passenger is a safe and comfortable way to transport your pet. It’s the first travel carrier designed for quick and clean waste management on the go. With pet-focused features and people-friendly details, Passenger is exactly what you need to pack for your next adventure.
Dimensions: External Dimensions: 20L x 10.8W x 11.5H, Internal Dimensions: 18L x 10W x 10.75H
Material: Made of 100% Nylon with a 100% Polyester lining and YKK zipper.
Weight Limit: up to 18 lbs.
- Easy to Clean
- Crash-Tested For Car Travel
- Airline-Friendly
- Bed and pee pad included
- Easy access for accidents
- Available in different colors
- Price
Review: Most of the reviews on Amazon alone, 90% of them are four and five-star reviews. Many buyers were happy this fit the dimensions for air travel. Several reviews also noted that this is the highest quality travel carrier they’ve seen or had. Not only is it constructed of durable high-quality materials, but actually passed crash tests and is rated. Worth every penny and they are loving the pee pad system since it’s changeable.
Summary: Made with airlines in mind, this cat carrier is airline approved while also providing your pet with plenty of room to move. It is mildly waterproof and includes a padded shoulder strap and storage compartment for cat treats and cat toys. Plus, the carrier is car seat & seatbelt compatible. It also includes a removable pet bed made of cozy fleece. All in all, this carrier is a great choice for travel pet gear.
Dimensions: 17.2″L x 10″W x 11″H
Material: Nylon
Weight Limit: 14 pounds
- Anti-scratch breathable mesh windows
- Machine-washable fleece pet bed
- Sturdy hooks and self-locking zippers
- Soft-padded shoulder strap
- Available in different colors
- Complaints about a strong odor upon opening the bag
Review: Out of the 14,000+ reviews on Amazon alone, 90% of them are four and five-star reviews. Many buyers were happy this fit the dimensions for air travel. Several reviews also noted it fit their small and toy-sized “perfectly” and claimed this to be the “best cat carrier” you can buy. While only 4% of reviews were one and two stars, they were widely similar to one another. The most common claims were of a strong chemical smell.
Summary: Made to be durable, comfortable, and airline-approved, this small pet carrier is ideal for travel. It is designed with durable polyester to ensure pets cannot claw their way through it and has a seatbelt loop for secure transport. The adjustable shoulder strap helps pet owners carry it hands-free to make this a safe and convenient pet kennel option.
Dimensions: 15″ x 9″ x 9″
Material: Polyester
Weight Limit: 15 pounds
- Airline-approved and collapsible design
- Deluxe zippers and anti-scratch mesh
- Machine-washable and removable travel mat
- Opens in all directions for easy use
- Inside hook for cat collar attachment
- Often out of stock on online retailers
Review: With a whopping 31,000 reviews on Amazon and 92% of them being four and five stars, this small cat carrier is a best seller in the pet products world. Pet owners raved about how much their pets enjoyed being inside the carrier while traveling, and they were happy with the value this product offered. Only 3% of reviews were one and two stars. The most common complaints were of a strong rubber smell and a lack of quality in the shoulder strap and mesh screen in the front of the carrier.
Summary: This is a soft-sided pet carrier for small and medium-sized pets made of polyamide, a nylon material. It is waterproof and well ventilated, with all four sides containing mesh for ample airflow. The removable bottom insert creates a solid surface for the pet to stand on to help provide comfort when traveling, and the single front door opening makes this great for vet visits.
Dimensions: 18.5 x 9.8 x 10.6
Material: Polyamide
Weight Limit: 8 pounds
- Comfortable and fashionable design
- The four-sided mesh allows ample airflow
- Reflective strips add visibility
- Side compartments for extra storage
- Additional quick-access opening
- The maximum weight is only 8 pounds
Review: Most of the reviews about this small cat carrier on Amazon are positive, with buyers expressing satisfaction with the value and durability the pet carrier bag offers. While owners of a wide variety of pets were largely happy with the product, others were critical of the mesh windows and the chemical odor the carrier had when they received it.
Summary: This soft pet carrier is made with locking zippers for a secure door structure and a removal bottom layer for support and sturdiness. It includes shoulder straps, a machine-washable sherpa cat bed, and mesh windows for ventilation. It is made of scratch-resistant nylon to prevent escape artists from breaking out. The soft sides of the carrier improve the overall experience as they add safety and comfort.
Dimensions: 17.5” L x 11” W x 11” H
Material: Fleece
Weight Limit: 16 pounds
- Multiple doors for easy access
- High-quality self-lock zippers
- Scratch-resistant material
- With steel frame on two sides
- Removable base insert
- May not fit some airline’s specifications
Review: 96% of reviews are four and five stars for this carrier. The ease of use and storage of this bag made car travel and air travel easy, as well as vet visits. Negative reviews only make up 2% of total reviews, and the most common complaint is the smell it has and how it gives pet owners a headache if they are around it for too long, which makes them concerned about their pet’s smelling the odor.
Summary: Waterproof, breathable, and made of 600d oxford material, this is a carrier made to be safe and rugged. It includes side pockets for storage and a removable mat for easy cleaning. The small size and weight limit of only 10 pounds make this an affordable option for owners of very small animals like rodents, cats, and lizards.
Dimensions: 15.7″ L x 7.9″ W x 11.8″ H
Material: 600D Oxford
Weight Limit: 10 pounds
- Multiple doors for easy access
- Airline approved design
- Includes a padded shoulder strap
- Lightweight and easily portable
- Available in a variety of colors
- May lack structure to hold up a pet near the weight limit
Review: Out of the 9,000+ ratings on Amazon, 86% of them are four and five stars. The most common point of praise is the quality with which it seems to have been made. Most positive reviewers approved of the sturdiness it offered at a good price. Nearly 10%, however, were critical of the quality, and some had provided pictures of the carrier after their small pet tore through the material.
Summary: Collapsible and waterproof this carrier is made for easy storage and easy travel. This deluxe carrier is approved on airlines for cats and small dogs with its ventilated mesh sides and short height. It features multiple doors for easy access to your pet, and the windows in the carrier allow you to see your pet and for them to see you.
Dimensions: 17″L x 11″W x 11″H
Material: Polyester
Weight Limit: 15 pounds
- Durable, collapsible, and waterproof design
- Fits on top of luggage to work as a makeshift cat stroller
- Mesh windows allow ample ventilation and visibility
- Removable pocket for convenient storage
- Can be used for cats and small dogs
- Not fit for medium dogs and above
Review: Over 80% of all reviews on Amazon rate this product with four and five stars giving reasons like the hard plastic bottom, breathability, and visibility for their satisfaction. They also mention the value and the comfort this carrier provides their pet as reasons for their reviews, but negative reviews claimed it was not approved for American Airlines and that their small dog was too big for the carrier.
Summary: This carrier features dimensions suitable for most airlines and a shoulder strap to allow this to be used as a cat carrier backpack for hands-free travel. It has multiple doors for easy entry and windows made of mesh for ventilation and visibility. The soft-sided construction allows for easy storage when not in use and is still waterproof to be airline-approved.
Dimensions: 17 x 12 x 11
Material: Polyester
Weight Limit: 15 pounds
- Approved for travel with most airlines
- Mesh windows allow for high visibility
- Waterproof and easy-clean materials
- Self-locking zippers prevent pets from escaping
- Comes with a matching food bowl
- Aggressive cats can claw through the mesh
Review: The majority of reviewers who rated this product four and five stars were happy with the price and the durability of this pet carrier. Others said they would recommend this product based on how sturdy it was and how visible the mesh windows were. One-star reviews only made up 3% of all reviews, but almost all of them stated their pet escaped soon after being placed inside.
Summary: Soft-sided and collapsible, this is a breathable cat and small dog kennel suitable for any small pets under 12 pounds. It features a plastic bottom to provide a sturdy surface to stand on and add to the stiffness of the carrier when walking. Among the features is a shoulder strap designed to not put stress on the seams, metal fittings to prevent breakages, and a hook inside the bag that connects to a cat’s collar to prevent escapes.
Dimensions: 17 x 11 x 11
Material: Plastic
Weight Limit: 12 pounds
- Steel wire frame design for durability
- Sits nicely on top of the luggage
- Self-locking zippers for maximum safety
- The plastic bottom insert prevents odors
- With three doors for easy access
- Often out of stock due to high demand
Review: This pet carrier is rated highly for its lightweight design that is easy to store and easy to clean. Buyers tout the durability of this cat and dog crate as being “worth the price” and backed up the fact that it is airline approved. Critical reviews were quick to point out that cats are not keen on being fastened to a hook while in a carrier or complained that the quality was misrepresented in the post on Amazon.
What Should I Look for in a Small Cat Carrier?
Before clicking checkout on a small cat carrier, take into consideration the following factors:
- Size. A cat carrier should be small enough to keep the cat safe but big enough that it allows it to stand up and turn around without touching the top or sides of the kennel. The tote should be large enough to accommodate food/water bowls for longer trips and tall enough to allow a thick towel or blanket to be laid on the bottom for traction and comfort.
- Weight Limit. Even a small cat under 10 pounds can damage the carrier is designed to hold a smaller weight. Always choose a carrier with a maximum capacity that is higher than your cat’s body weight.
- Doors. Just like dog carriers, small cat carriers have more than one door. Featuring more than one door is practical as it enables pet owners to have quick and simple access to their pets in case of emergency.
- Latches. The latches on the carrier’s door are important because they keep the door closed and the cat safely inside. Plastic latches are common in cheaper carriers, but they are prone to cracking and breaking. Metal latches are more resilient and sturdy enough, even for aggressive cats.
- Ventilation. Ventilation is a big deal because, without it, the cat cannot get enough airflow to keep the crate dry should it spill a water bowl or have an accident inside the kennel. Foldable fabric carriers will usually have mesh windows for ventilation, although the mesh may be easily clawed and ripped, creating holes for small cats to try to escape through.
- Carrying Style. When it comes to small cat carriers, there are two main carrying styles: handle carriers and pet carrier backpacks. In both models, the shoulder straps should be well-padded for comfort.
- Designed with a ventilated top to meet all airline regulations of under forward seat.
- Mesh windows on top and all 4 sides provide optimal airflow.
- Mini zipper buckles ensure your pet stays tucked safely inside.
