Top 7 Best Cat Carriers UK (2025): Safe, Comfy & Travel-Ready Options for Every Feline
No matter whether you're off to the vet, having a holiday, or just a stroll in the park, travelling with a cat can be a stressful experience – for both you and your feline friend. Having a good quality cat carrier is important to travel with your pet safely and easily, as well as ensuring the experience is as comfortable as possible for them. In this buyers guide, we've narrowed down the 7 best cat carriers available in the UK for 2025, featuring budget options, airline approved carriers and soft-shell carriers, so you can find the right option for every feline friend.
With so many options available to you (as so many different types of carriers are available - soft-sided, airline approved pet carriers, durable hard carriers etc) it can be difficult to make the right choice for you and your cat. As a solution to this, we have reviewed many of the best sellers from Amazon UK, thousands of customer reviews, and key features regarding safety, comfort and your ease of travel. We have produced the following top 7 cat carriers for 2025.
Be prepared for the most trusted cat carriers by UK pet parents, that make every episode of travel with your cat (for whatever reason) as safe and stress free as possible - as well as the ultimate cat travel guide for 2025!
Our Criteria: How We Chose the Best Cat Carriers
To select the best cat carriers for UK cat owners, we focused on carriers that outshone in:
Safety & Security: Building material (sturdiness), secure latches, escape-proof.
Comfort: Spacious, good ventilation, comfort of bedding.
Ease of use for Owners: Assembly, secure carrying option, easy to clean.
Durability: Quality of material for repeated use.
Portability: Great for a variety of travel purposes, such as car rides and potentially flying!
Customer Reviews: Lots of very positive reviews from real UK pet owners.
Sales: Very consistently sold on Amazon UK.
The Top 7 Best Cat Carriers for 2025: Reviews & Recommendations
Here is our countdown of the highest-rated and most popular cat carriers available in the UK to make your every journey safer and more enjoyable for your significant feline!
1. The Classic Comfort: Amazon Basics Soft-Sided Pet Carrier
Best overall for everyday use and short trips, soft-sided carriers have become a best-seller because of their practicality and comfort.
Why do cats like it: Cozy inside with fleece bedding, lots of ventilation from the mesh, visibility and airflow, multiple entrances for less stressful entry or exit.
Why owners like it: Light weight, foldable for easy storage, good ventilation, two entrances (top and front), fleece pad is machine washable, available in sizes to fit different cats.
Key Features: Soft-Sided, mesh windows, zippered top and front openings, removable fleece bed, shoulder and carrying handles.
Pros: Portable, comfortable, good airflow, easy to store, generally airline-approved (check size dimension if necessary with airlines).
Cons: Not as robust as a hard case carrier for rough handling, some super determined cats are experts at working the zipper though.
Ideal For: Car rides, short vet visits, travel to friends/family, cats who like to have a cozy den-like feel.
👉 Shop the Amazon Basics Soft-Sided Pet Carrier designation on Amazon UK (affiliate link).
2. Overall Security: Petmate Two-Door Top Load Pet Kennel
The hard-sided carrier with front and top loading options is the gold standard if you need security and easy access, particularly for anxious cats or vet visits.
Why Cats Like It: The secure and sturdy enclosure provides a sense of safety feel, and there is good ventilation from all sides. For some cats, the loading from the top may feel less intimidating than only a front.
Why Owners Like it: Super secure and durable, the two entry (front and top) makes it much easier to get reluctant cats in, easy to clean too.
Key Features: Hard plastic shell, steel wire doors, flow-through ventilation (good airflow), secure latch mechanism, strong handle.
Pros: Very secure and safe, airline approved (but check your airline's requirements), easy to clean, prevents escapes.
Cons: They can be bulky to pack/store, heavier than a soft-sided carrier.
Ideal For: Vet visits, long road trips, air travel (as cargo), or cats that experience anxiety in less secure carriers.
👉 Shop for Petmate Two-Door Top Load Pet Kennel on Amazon UK (Affiliate link)
3. The Adventurer's Choice: Pecute Pet Carrier Backpack
For hands-free convenience, and over a long journey with an adventure opportunity like a hike or while using a public transport system, a top-notch pet carrier backpack is a great option.
Why Cats Love It: Many cats enjoy the view from above, being closer to their owner; good ventilation means your cat is comfortable. Some models have pop-out/tent features for extra space.
Why Owner's Love It: Frees up your hands, weight is distributed evenly, comfortable for longer wear, and usually has safety tethers for extra security.
Key Features: Ventilated mesh windows, durable shoulder straps, chest buckles, waist buckle (in most cases), internal safety leash, features with extendable mesh tent.
Pros: Hands-free carrying option, good for public transport or walking, your cat gets an interesting point of view, and the durability of bag style wear will last.
Cons: Not all cats want to sit in a backpack, may be warm for the owner in hot weather.
Ideal For: On-the-go, outdoor exploring (supervised), city commutes, cycling, or for the owner that leads an active lifestyle and wants to bring their cat along safely.
👉 Shop for Pecute Pet Carrier Backpack on Amazon UK (Affiliate)
4. Wheel Away Stress: Pet Gear I-GO2 Roller Backpack
Combines a backpack, a car seat, and a rolling carrier into one, making it extremely versatile in different travel scenarios.
Why cats love it: Stable rolling motion (less jostling), good visibility, can be transformed into a den they've very comfortable with.
Why owners love it: Multi-functional (backpack, car seat, roller, tote), useful at the airport when getting to the terminal or long walks, great extendable handle, comfortable to use.
Key Features: Rollers and telescoping handle, multiple entry points, breathable mesh, fleece liner, internal leash.
Pros: Extremly versatile, reduces owner's strain on the body, convenient for varied travel, can be secured in the vehicle.
Cons: A bit on the heavier side due to wheels and frame construction, can be on the pricier side.
Best used for: Travel frequently, with vet appointments involving a long walk, owners with mobility issues
👉 Shop Pet Gear I-GO2 Roller Backpack on Amazon UK (Affiliate Link)
5. Stylish & Secure: Sleepypod Atom Pet Carrier
The Sleepypod Atom is popular for its modern design and crash-test certification, providing the best safety and comfort for both air travel and car journeys.
Why cats love it: Luxurious plush bedding, spacious despite its small size, feels secure and stable.
Why owners love it: Can be secured as a car seat, fits under the airline carry-on requirements. Made with durable luggage-grade materials, easy to clean.
Key Features: Crash-tested and certified, ultra-plush bedding for comfort, trolley pocket for luggage handle, safety straps for attaching to a seatbelt.
Pros: Industry-leading safety, airline carry-on compliant, durable, great design.
Cons: Cost, relatively small capacity for only one average-sized cat.
Ideal for: Frequent fliers, owners prioritizing maximum safety in the car, cats who enjoy luxury travel.
👉 Buy the Sleepypod Atom Pet Carrier on Amazon UK (Affiliate Link)
6. The Cozy Cube: Pet Carrier with Expandable Soft-Sided Sides.
Cozy Cubes are terrific carriers that give you extra space for your cat to stretch out or relax while you are seated. By expanding the soft-sided mesh sides, your pet will be cooler while waiting or traveling.
Why they love it: Not needing to ball up in the corner for "a stretch out" during down time or wait times and good ventilation.
Why owners love it: They can provide extra space and comfort while stationary, they are easy to shrink down when you need to be portable, usually have a soft pad.
Key Features: Zippered, expandable mesh sides, several entry points, plush bedding, shoulder strap, safety leash.
Pros: You have flexible areas for your pet, the carrier is more comfortable for longer periods, mesh sides provide good ventilation.
Cons: It may seem bulkier when expanded (like a Cary-On suitcase in your car), the expanded areas are usually flimsy.
Ideal for: A cat who needs extra space during transport, short trips to the vet where there may be a wait, multiple short trips away from home.
👉 Shop for Expandable Soft-Sided Cat Carrier on Amazon UK (Affiliate Link)
7. Top-Entry Genius: IRIS Ohyama Plastic Pet Carrier with Top Opening
A straightforward, effective and often cheaper hard-sided carrier that has the added benefit of a top-opening door that makes it easier to get some less-than-willing cats into the unit.
Why Cats Love It: They feel secure inside the carrier, ventilation is decent and the top entry can make it seem less threatening to 'jump in'.
Why Cat Owners Love It: Sturdy, easy to clean and the top entry is really useful for cats that in many cases will refuse front-loading. Also, many options offer a small storage section.
Key Features: The carrier is constructed with durable plastic, it has a grid-metal door, good ventilation, easy to load with the top-entry, and a secured latch.
Pros: Budget-friendly, really easy to clean, secure, and top-loading entry is a huge bonus for many cats.
Cons: Little bulky, and less portable in comparison to a soft-sided carrier.
Most Suitable For: Vet visits, road trips as routine travel, or if you need a straightforward and secure hard carrier and an easy way to load.
👉 Buy IRIS Ohyama Plastic Pet Carrier with Top Opening on Amazon UK (Affiliate Link)
Key Considerations When Choosing Your Cat Carrier
Before you make your final decision, you need to decide on a few key points:
Size: Your cat should fit in the carrier and be able to stand up, turn around, and lie down comfortably. Measure your cat (length from the tip of the nose to the base of their tail, and height from the ground to their shoulder) and compare it with the carrier measurements.
Materials:
Soft-Sided: This is the lightweight, foldable type of carrier. They can be more comfortable for the cat, especially for travel in a car or as a carry-on. But it is also the least protective in a crash.
Hard Sided: This offers the most protection and durability, easiest to clean, and often required by airlines for shipping cargo. It can be bulky.
Backpack/Wheeled: Offers hands-free and specific use cases.
Ventilation: Make sure there is plenty of mesh for airflow and visibility. This helps with anxiety.
Opening: A top-loading or front-loading carrier can go a long way into helping you with your cat. Some carriers even offer multiple entrances.
Safety features: Look for secure zippers (with locks), latches that won't come off easily, and maybe even internal safety leashes.
Cleaning: Get a carrier with surfaces that are easy to wipe down, or is washable.
Airline compliance: If you are flying, check your specific airline's carry-on or cargo rules before buying the carrier, as dimensions and features vary.
Final Travel Paws-itive Thoughts
A premium cat carrier is about way more than being a box. It is a place of safety and a source of peace of mind. By getting one of these top-rated and best-selling pet carriers of 2025 in the UK, you are investing in your cat's comfort, health, and stress-free travel, wherever you may go! Safe Travels to you and your furry friend!
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