Traveling by plane or car, for a trip or just to the vet can be stressful for a pet. Pet carriers are the perfect way for your pet to accompany you on all your globe-trotting adventures or even a short trip to the vet and finding one that’s comfortable and secure can put your pet at ease. SyncroReviews has evaluated and tested many pet carriers and have found these to be the best ones out there. Read more below for some helpful tips to consider when buying a pet carrier.
Our review process:
Pet Carriers Considered
Hours Researched
Experts/Consumers/Pets Surveyed
Tips for finding the right pet carrier:
When it comes to our beloved pets, we want the most comfort for them especially when they go on long trips. Here are some tips to help you find the right pet carrier. Once you are ready to buy, check out the recommended carriers in our table above to see if it’s the perfect fit for you and your pet.
- Airline/TSA approved: since policies vary, be sure to check your airline’s regulations for your pet and pet carrier specified weight and dimension. Normally, pets up to 18” long (tip of nose to base of tail) and weighing about 11-12 lbs. should comply with airline policies, but they do vary with each airline. Most airlines also charge a fee to put your pet in the cabin. The average cost is usually $100 – $125 one-way. But the most important to consider is that the pet carrier must fit under the seat in front of you and must have the following features:
- A waterproof bottom – be sure to also have some good pet pads
- Adequate ventilation – at least 2 sides of the carrier should have mesh ventilation
- Security – should have zipper locks, not snaps
- Must enclose your entire pet – your pet’s head cannot stick out of the carrier
Did you know? You will need to take your pet out of the carrier at the security checkpoint. For that reason, it is wise to carry a metal-free collar and leash. If you feel your pet could escape when removed from the carrier, you can ask for a room. It will take a bit more time, but better than having your pet escape.
- Size: select the carrier size based on the pet’s measurements (length, width, height) and then by the pet’s weight, making sure not to exceed the maximum weight limits of the pet carrier.
- Small carriers: generally, fit pets up to 13” in length, 7.5” in height and up to 8 lbs.
- Medium carriers: generally, fit pets up to 16” in length, 10” in height and up to 16 lbs.
- Large carriers: generally, fit pets up to 18” in length, 11” in height and up to 22 lbs.
Did you know? Pet carriers are designed for pets lying down, pets may not be able to stand. To measure a pet’s length, start at the tip of the nose and measure to the end of the rear. For height, measure from the floor to top of pet’s head.
- Material/Price: there are two varied materials to choose from, hard plastic or soft-sided, depending on your travel needs. Ventilation is also something to take into careful consideration and you’ll want at least 3 sides of the carrier to be ventilated.
- Soft carriers: ranges from $20 – $140 and are usually made from a nylon fabric with a hard bottom that’s removable for cleaning. Many have mesh sides for ventilation with zippers for openings on the side and top. This is usually airline’s preferred material when taking your pet into the plane’s cabin with you.
- Hard carriers: ranging from $15 – $140 and are made of durable polypropylene and high-impact plastic. Since they can be rinsed out, they are easily cleaned. Hard carriers are heavy-duty and are perfect for large pets traveling in cargo
- Paddings: a stressful pet could lead them to having accidents and accidents can be difficult to wash out. Therefore, you should look for a pet carrier with a pet pad and many pet carriers today have removable, washable pet pads. Another thing you should consider is getting a carrier with a strong, padded shoulder strap. This will make it comfortable for you, as the pet owner, when you must carry your pet and the carrier for extended periods of time.
- Straps: there are a few strap options, depending on your type of travel with your pet.
- Traveling with you in a car: you should consider getting a carrier that has a seatbelt strap. A new concept that some carriers have are seatbelt secure loops, which ensures that when the carrier is on a car seat, your pet does not get affected by any jolts on the way.
- Traveling on airplanes: when spending a lot of time in the airport corridor, it can be painful and tiresome carrying your pet in the pet carrier on your shoulder. You may want to consider a pet carrier that has a luggage strap. These straps may come in slip over sleeve, pass-through slot or piggyback straps, which all of them ensures your pet carrier can be attached to the handles of your suitcase/luggage.
- Short travels: if you are just taking your pet out of your car and into the vet or other short distance traveling, you will want an adjustable padded strap that hangs over your shoulder for comfort. You may also consider two small straps where you can just hold or carry with your hands.
- Extras: carriers with pockets for toys, pet health records and other pet accessories are a plus as well as carriers with a leash clip. Another plus is having a privacy panel on the sides of the carrier to keep your pet calm and not expose them to airport activity. Some carriers may also even include bowls for food or water which is also a bonus.
Bonus tip: to ease the stress for your pet and to prepare for a more pleasurable travel experience, make your pet more comfortable with the pet carrier. One way to do this is to make your pet feel right at home while curled up in the carrier, by putting things inside that reminds them of you or home. But the best way is to purchase the pet carrier well in advance of your departure and get your pet to become familiar with it and eventually learn to love it. Try keeping the carrier open and available in your home prior to travel, showing your pet the carrier is a normal part of everyday life. Also, start feeding your pet in the carrier so that your pet can create a positive association with the carrier and treats. Lastly, practice getting your pet in and out of the carrier to make the action seem second nature. This will also help you through security screening much quicker.