The 6 Best Travel Carriers for Cats and Small Dogs of 2024
If you’ve ever had a pet carrier with stuck zippers, broken mesh, or a design so crappy that it couldn’t survive a basic cleaning, then you are well aware of a good carrier’s value when you’re traveling with your pal.
There are plenty of cheap options out there, but in our experience, it’s worth investing in a carrier that can withstand the rigors of travel while keeping your pet safe (and relatively cozy).
With its flexible frame, washable shell, and comfortable straps, we think the SturdiBag Pro 2.0 is the one of the most durable, versatile, and stink-resistant carriers you can find.
Our pick
This carrier stands out for its almost fully machine-washable design, as well as its good ventilation, security, and privacy features. But to wash it, you’ll need to remove some hardware and then reassemble it afterward.
Great ventilation plus a unique, flexible rod frame make the SturdiBag Pro 2.0 excellent for car trips. And this carrier can likely be squeezed under many airplane seats (depending on the airline and aircraft). This is the only carrier we tested whose outer shell can be safely machine-washed, along with the cushioned bedding insert. This is a major distinction—pet accidents mid-journey can have long-lasting effects on spot-clean-only carriers. This bag comes with zipper locks, to prevent pet breakouts, and it’s one of the most comfortable to carry. But before you wash this one, you need to remove the carrier’s rods, stiff foam-core base, and zipper locks, and then reassemble the whole thing afterward.
Budget pick
This affordable travel carrier can expand on two sides to give your pet space to spread out, but it’s less comfortable to carry than our other picks.
As the name communicates, the Petsfit 2 Side Expandable Pet Carrier opens out on the two long sides, so your little travel buddy can have extra room without leaving the confines of the carrier. For the price, it comes with decent metal hardware, and it holds up well to scratching and clawing. Only the bed insert cover is machine-washable, but in testing the interior surface spot-cleaned well. This carrier was nicer on our shoulders than other models in this price range, but it wasn’t as comfortable as our other picks.
Upgrade pick
This independently crash-tested carrier has a water-repellant interior that prevents leaks, and it has bendable bottom edges, to help it to fit under an airplane seat.
A pick since 2017, the Sleepypod Air In-Cabin Pet Carrier has a long, zippered mesh top panel, which provides good ventilation and easy access for your pet, especially if they refuse to walk through small, door-like openings. It has a plush padded bedding insert and a water-resistant lining that keeps fluids contained. This pet carrier was among the first soft-sided models to be independently crash tested by the Center for Pet Safety, but it has only a four-star rating, instead of a perfect five stars.
Upgrade pick
This crash-tested carrier stays secure in the back seat, and it has an innovative side-access panel, so you can swap out a pee pad without having to remove your pet. But the bed can’t be machine-washed.
The Diggs Passenger Travel Carrier has a five-star crash-test rating from the Center for Pet Safety. It straps in securely with an easy-to-use restraint system, so it will give you some peace of mind when you’re driving with your precious bundle of fur. Also, on the top panel, this carrier has a convenient zipper handle, so it’s a cinch to open and close, and the flap can be secured with a metal toggle, to prevent a furry head from popping it open at the worst possible moment. If you need to change out a pee pad, the Diggs carrier’s lower access panel lets you do so, even while your pet is still inside, but it can take a bit of effort. This is the sole model we tested with a bedding insert that can be spot-cleaned only.
Also great
Another crash-tested option, this carrier can match your carry-on, and it’s one of the most comfortable models we tested. But it’s also the most expensive carrier we tried.
The duffel-shaped Away Pet Carrier matches some of the colorways in the Away luggage ecosystem. In addition to its attractive design, it sports a five-star crash-test rating from the Center for Pet Safety. It’s slightly smaller than the Diggs carrier, so it may have a better chance of being accepted on an airplane. This pet carrier’s handles are longer than those on our other picks. So it’s the most comfortable bag to carry around for longer periods, if you need to switch from using the shoulder strap. But it’s the most expensive model we looked at, and the bedding insert is thinner and less plush than those of some of our other picks.
Also great
This pet carrier can be carried three ways: like a backpack, by hand, or over the shoulder. It has decent hardware for the price, it cleans up easily, and it has a laptop sleeve.
Mr. Peanut’s Monterey Series Convertible Backpack can be carried like a backpack, so it can balance the pressure on your shoulders. It can also be placed on two different sides, depending on your space constraints. This is the only model we tested with a sleeve pocket large enough to fit a laptop (depending on the size). But its seat-belt-attachment system doesn’t work well (it’s not crash tested), and the bag can get uncomfortable to carry after a while.
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