If you’re taking an extended trip, moving across the country, or moving internationally, you may be considering flying with your cat. One of the best ways to prepare for your trip is by purchasing an airline-approved cat carrier as early as possible.
I’ve reviewed dozens of airline-approved cat carriers across several popular retailers to determine which are the absolute best based on safety, size, convenience, and customer reviews. You can read my entire methodology here.
The 6 Best Airline-Approved Cat Carriers
Whether you’ve already booked your flight or you’re about to start planning your trip, it’s important to find out what the requirements are for pet carriers before you arrive at the airport.
You can check out the size requirements for several popular airlines here including Alaska Airlines, Delta, Spirit, and more. Still, it’s a good idea to call ahead to make sure you’re buying a carrier that will be allowed on the plane.
Based on the average maximum size of airline-approved pet carriers, safety features, convenience, and customer satisfaction, here are the best airline-approved cat carriers available now:
| Best Overall Airline-Approved Cat Carrier | Sherpa Original Deluxe Airline Approved Pet Carrier |  |
| Best Airline-Approved Cat Backpack | Mr. Peanut's Backpack Pet Carrier |  |
| Best Expandable Airline-Approved Cat Carrier | Mr. Peanut's Expandable Gold Series Tote |  |
| Best Budget Carrier | Henkelion Cat Carrier |  |
| Best Airline-Approved Cat Carrier With Cover | Mr. Peanut's Gold Series Airline-Approved Carrier |  |
| Best Cat Carrier for Frequent Flyers | JetPaws Official Pet Carrier of JetBlue Airlines |  |
Below, you’ll find more information on each carrier including its size, best features, customer comments, and where to buy.
Sherpa Original Deluxe Airline-Approved Pet Carrier
For the best overall airline-approved cat carrier, I recommend the Sherpa Original Deluxe. When I’ve flown with my cats in the past, I purchased one of these carriers for each of them and had a great experience.
The carrier comes in two sizes that are both airline-approved. The medium carrier measures 17″ x 11″ x 10.5″ while the large measures 19″ x 11.75″ x 11.5″.
While this is a little bigger than the average airline-approved cat carrier size, the carrier’s flexible frame allows it to easily conform to under-seat requirements. Plus, several customer reviews mention successful flights with the large size carrier on various airlines including Southwest, American Airlines, and Delta.
In addition to its airline compliance, this cat carrier is great for car trips, vet visits, and more. It’s machine washable with locking zippers, a padded adjustable strap, a seat belt/luggage strap, and a rear pocket. Plus, it weighs only 3.3 pounds and collapses nearly flat for easy storage.
Pros:
- Flexible frame allows the carrier to conform to under-seat requirements
- Machine washable
- Large size is suitable for most airlines
Cons:
- Quality may not be as good as the original Sherpa carrier
- No cover for privacy
At the time of writing, over 5,300 customers had given the carrier an average rating of 4.6/5 stars at Amazon. At Chewy, over 645 customers gave the carrier an average rating of 4.7/5 stars. You can read full customer reviews and check the current price of the Sherpa Original Deluxe Airline-Approved Pet Carrier at Amazon or Chewy.
Mr. Peanut’s Backpack Pet Carrier
Cat backpacks are particularly popular right now among cat owners, and some are even airline-approved.
My top pick for an airline-approved backpack is Mr. Peanut’s Backpack Pet Carrier. It measures at 17″ x 11″ x 11″ which is a nearly perfect size for the average airline-approved cat carrier.
This soft-sided cat backpack features auto self-locking zippers for zippers and large mesh windows on the top and sides. It also features padded shoulder straps for your comfort. The backpack is recommended for cats up to 15 pounds.
At the time of writing, it had an average rating of 4.6/5 stars at Amazon and was available in four different colors. After reading through the customer reviews, here are the biggest pros and cons that I found:
Pros:
- Self-locking zippers for safety
- Open air large mesh windows on top and sides
- Padded shoulder strap and ID holder
Cons:
- Not easy to clean
- A bit small for larger cats
Overall, the cat backpack seemed to be comfortable for wearers and perfect for smaller cats/kittens. However, a few reviews mentioned that it seemed a bit small for their full-grown cat. Additionally, some reviews mentioned that it was difficult to clean after an in-carrier accident.
You can read full customer reviews and check the current price of Mr. Peanut’s Backpack Pet Carrier at Amazon. Before you purchase a cat backpack for your flight, check out our post on how long cats can be in a cat backpack.
Mr. Peanut’s Expandable Gold Series Tote
If you may be hanging out at the gate for a while with your cat, you may be interested in an expandable airline-approved cat carrier. If so, I recommend Mr. Peanut’s Expandable Gold Series Tote.
This cat carrier measures at 18″ x 10.5″ x 11″ before its expanded, which is nearly the average airline-approved pet carrier size.
It features an interior fleece pad and window mesh for ventilation. It also features a leash tether and self-locking zipper for safety. The carrier easily slides onto a suitcase handle for easy travel, and the build-in expandable side unzips and pops out for additional room before flights.
Top-rated comments on Amazon mention an easy 25-hour trip with a 14.5-pound cat and a successful overseas move. In fact, at the time of writing, the cat carrier had over 1,200 customer reviews with an average rating of 4.7/5 stars at Amazon.
After reading through the customer reviews, here are the biggest pros and cons I found:
Pros:
- Breathable mesh on all sides for proper ventilation
- Removable fleece travel bed
- Easily attaches to luggage
Cons:
- A bit large for some airlines
- Doesn’t hold its shape
You can check out all the customer reviews and the current price of Mr. Peanut’s Expandable Gold Series Tote at Amazon.
Henkelion Cat Carrier
If you’re looking for a reliable airline-approved cat carrier that’s also budget-friendly, the Henkelion Cat Carrier is a great option to consider.
The medium size carrier is perfect for flying at 17″ x 11″ x 11″, and it’s available in five different colors. Plus, at the time of writing, the carrier was available for only $23 at Amazon!
Fortunately, the lower cost doesn’t mean you’ll be sacrificing any safety or comfort with this carrier. It has an adjustable shoulder strap for wearer comfort and four sides of mesh for proper ventilation. Additionally, it weighs less than a pound and it’s completely machine-washable.
I spent an hour reading product reviews at Amazon, and overall customers seemed very satisfied with this carrier. In fact, at the time of writing, it had over 29,000 reviews with an average rating of 4.7/5 stars.
After reading customer reviews, here are the biggest pros and cons that I found:
Pros:
- Affordable
- Machine washable
- Spacious
Cons:
- Not recommended for cats larger than 15 pounds
- Doesn’t hold its shape (soft-sided)
- Has a lingering plastic smell, according to reviews
You can read full customer reviews and check the current price of the Henkelion cat carrier at Amazon.
Mr. Peanut’s Gold Series Airline-Approved Carrier
Airports are hectic, and all of the different sights can cause anxiety for many cats. If you’re afraid your cat may be a little overwhelmed at the airport, I recommend getting a carrier that includes a rollaway cover. Specifically, I recommend Mr. Peanut’s Gold Series Airline-Approved Cat Carrier.
The carrier includes a rollaway cover that’s perfect for giving your cat some privacy during the trip. It’s also made with faux fleece bedding for comfort and a plywood base for additional support.
Safety features include self-locking zippers, seatbelt attachments, and large mesh windows made of claw-resistant resin material for ventilation and protection.
It measures at 18″ x 10.5″ x 11″ and should work on most airlines. Customer reviews mention successful 12-hour flights and a perfect fit for Alaska Airlines specifically.
I read the 60 customer reviews at Chewy, which left the carrier with an average rating of 4.7/5 stars. Here are the biggest pros and cons that I noticed:
Pros:
- Fabric roll-away privacy cover for anxious pets
- Fastens to your car’s seatbelt
- Plywood base for additional support
Cons:
- Not machine washable
- Best for smaller cats
- Better for carrying than strapping onto your luggage
You can check the current price of Mr. Peanut’s Gold Series Airline-Approved Cat Carrier at Chewy.
JetPaws Official Pet Carrier of JetBlue Airlines
A few airlines have their own pet carriers that are most likely to fit under all of their aircraft seats. If you fly frequently with your cat, it may be worth looking into your preferred airline’s official cat carrier.
I included the JetPaws Official Pet Carrier of JetBlue Airlines on this list because it’s small enough that it will be approved for most other airlines as well. It measures at 16″ x 8.5″ x 10,” which is actually smaller than the average airline-approved cat carrier dimensions.
The carrier features three mesh panels for ventilation, an adjustable and detachable shoulder strap, five pockets for storage of accessories, and a washable pad.
At the time of writing, the JetPaws Official Pet Carrier had over 260 reviews on Amazon with an average rating of 4/5 stars. After I read the customer reviews, here are the biggest pros and cons that I found:
Pros:
- Guaranteed to be approved by the airline that manufactures it
- Additional storage
- Save money by buying on Amazon instead of the airline’s official website
Cons:
- Not very spacious – this carrier is best for kittens and small cats
- May have a plastic/nylon smell when it arrives new
You can check out the full reviews and check the current price of the JetPaws Official Pet Carrier at Amazon. If you fly Southwest more often, you can check out Southwest’s official pet carrier here.
Methodology
While I was researching the best airline-approved cat carriers, I did the same things I would do before making a purchase for my own cats. I read customer reviews, I looked at the size, manufacturer, retailer, and price of the carrier, and above all, I considered the safety of the cat and the convenience of the design.
Here are the main factors I considered while choosing the best airline-approved cat carriers:
- Size. The average airline-approved cat carrier size requirement is 18″ x 12″ x 9″. I looked for cat carriers that were near these dimensions to ensure they’d likely be approved by your airline. Because the amount of under-seat space varies from airline to airline (and often from plane to plane), it’s best to call the airline ahead of time to verify the maximum size allowed for cat carriers on your flight.
- Safety. Anytime you take your cat out of the house, safety is the most important thing to consider. This is especially true if you’re taking your cat through an airport and onto a plane. When choosing the best airline-approved cat carriers, I made sure they each had excellent safety features including durable materials, locking zippers, and leash clips to ensure maximum safety for your cat.
- Convenience. When you’re catching a plane, convenience is key. The cat carriers on this list feature padded shoulder straps, luggage straps, ID tags, washable components, and additional features to ensure maximum convenience for you.
- Customer Satisfaction. As I reviewed available airline-approved cat carriers, I spent over three hours reading through customer reviews an looking at overall ratings across multiple platforms. I read top-rated positive reviews as well as 1-star, 2-star, and 3-star reviews to see what customers liked and didn’t like about the carrier. I only included carriers on this list with a rating of at least 4/5 stars and no repeating patterns of serious complaints.
Final Thoughts
If you plan on flying with your cat, I recommend getting your carrier as soon as possible. The sooner you can get a new carrier in your home, the sooner your cat will warm up to it. This will make the day of the flight slightly less stressful for them.
Overall, I recommend the Sherpa Original Deluxe Airline Approved Pet Carrier. I’ve flown with my cats twice in the past and used this carrier both times.
If you prefer a cat backpack for your flight, check out Mr. Peanut’s Backpack Pet Carrier. It measures at 17″ x 11″ x 11″ and comfortably rests on its back to easily fit under the seat in front of you.
For more space at the gate, I recommend Mr. Peanut’s Expandable Gold Series Tote. It’s airline-approved with a collapsable expansion for additional room in the carrier before you have to board.
Before you purchase a carrier, be sure to check the dimensions and verify that it’ll be approved by the airline you’ll be flying with. Size requirements for pet carriers vary from airline to airline and often from plane to plane, so it’s best to call ahead before making your purchase.
More Travel Tabby Content To Help With Your Upcoming Trip:
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- How Long You Can Travel With a Cat Before Needing a Break