The Best Large Cat Backpacks for Fat Cats

If your cat is overweight or simply a large breed, they may need more space to be comfortable compared to smaller cats. When it comes to carriers and cat backpacks, it’s important to keep your cat’s size and weight in mind.

I’ve reviewed available cat backpacks across several popular retailers to find the best cat backpacks for large and fat cats. The cat backpacks below are each at least 14″ x 11″ x 16″ with a pet weight limit of at least 20 pounds. I also read customer reviews and only included cat backpacks with a rating of at least 4/5 stars on this list. You can read my entire methodology here.

Below, you’ll find my five top picks for the best large cat backpacks.

Best Cat Backpacks for Large Cats

Cat backpacks are the coolest travel accessory right now. If you’re thinking about getting one for your favorite feline, make sure it’s big enough to keep them comfortable. If your cat is a little heftier than average, you may want to invest in a larger cat backpack.

While there are tons of great cat backpacks available, not all of them are made for bigger cats. I checked out a few of the most popular selections available online and narrowed the selection down to highly rated, larger-than-average cat backpacks with exceptional customer reviews.

Based on my research, here are the top five large cat backpacks:

Overall Best Fat Cat Backpack: “The Fat Cat” Cat Backpack
Best Large Cat Backpack for Travel: Snoozer 4-in-1 Carrier Backpack
Best Cat Backpack for Hiking with Large Cats: Jackson Galaxy
Best Cheap Cat Backpack for Large Cats: Lollimeow Large Cat Backpack
Best Hard-Shell Expandable Cat Backpack: Amazon Expandable Cat Backpack

In the table below, you’ll see each of my top picks for the best large cat backpacks along with their sizes and cat weight limit

Cat Backpack	Size	Cat Weight Limit
"The Fat Cat" Cat Backpack	15" x 11.4" x 17.7"	25lbs
Snoozer 4-in-1 Carrier Backpack	12.25" x 15.5" x 23"	30lbs
The Jackson Galaxy Convertible Cat Backpack Carrier	15" x 11.4" x 17.7"	25lbs
Lollimeow Large Cat Backpack Carrier	15" x 11.4" x 17.7"	26lbs
Expandable Cat Backpack (Amazon)	16.5" x 14.5" x 11.5" (when expanded)	20lbs

Below, you’ll find more information on each large cat backpack including a list of features and where to buy.

“The Fat Cat” Cat Backpack

Overall Best Fat Cat Backpack

Size: 15″ x 11.4″ x 17.7″
Cat Weight Limit: 25lbs

“The Fat Cat” Cat Backpack by Your Cat Backpack is an international best-seller, and with good reason. It’s a large backpack with lots of room for your cat to travel in, but the backpack itself is lightweight at only two pounds.

Made by Your Cat Backpack, “The Fat Cat” backpack can hold one cat up to 25 pounds. That makes it a great option for large breeds, “big-boned” cats, and fat cats alike. The backpack can also hold two medium-sized cats or several kittens up to the same total weight.

Here are a few of “The Fat Cat” backpack’s best features:

Inside clip to attach a leash for added safety
Bubble and screen attachments
Side pockets
Adjustable shoulder and chest straps
Strong mesh sides and top as well as air holes
Removable interior mat

At the time of writing, “The Fat Cat” had 4.8/5 stars based on 260 reviews. 227 of those reviews were 5-star ratings.

You can check out the full features, read customer reviews of “The Fat Cat” cat backpack, and buy it from Your Cat Backpack here.

Snoozer Roll Around 4-in-1 Travel Carrier Backpack

Best Large Cat Backpack for Travel

Size: 12.25″ x 15.5″ x 23″
Cat Weight Limit: 30lbs

This Roll Around 4-in-1 Travel Cat Carrier Backpack by Snoozer Pet Products is available online at Chewy. It’s the largest cat backpack on this list, and it holds the most weight.

However, this cat backpack also weighs the most on its own. Other cat backpacks on this list weigh 2-3 pounds, but the Snoozer 4-in-1 weighs 10 pounds before your cat’s added weight. That means this probably won’t be your best choice for an activity like hiking.

For moving with your cat, taking a trip in the car, or walking around on even ground outside, this cat backpack is a great option. Here are a few of its key features:

Functions as a wheeled carrier, backpack, car seat, or pet bed
Adjustable telescope handle
Mesh panels on three sides for ventilation and comfort
Holds cats up to 30 pounds

At the time of writing, this large cat backpack had an average rating of 4.2/5 stars from 95 customers.

This cat backpack is advertised as airline-approved, and several customer reviews mentioned successfully traveling with pets using this carrier on Southwest and Delta. Still, the dimensions of the carrier exceed those airlines’ maximum pet carrier sizes, so be sure to call your airline before flying with your cat to confirm that the size is okay.

You can check out a full list of features, read customer reviews, and purchase the Snoozer Roll Around 4-in-1 cat carrier backpack on Chewy.

The Jackson Galaxy Convertible Cat Backpack Carrier

Best Cat Backpack for Hiking with Large Cats

Size: 15″ x 11.4″ x 17.7″
Cat Weight Limit: 25lbs

Like “The Fat Cat,” The Jackson Galaxy Convertible Cat Backpack Carrier is also made by Your Cat Backpack. It’s also the same size and holds the same amount of weight.

This one is great for hiking, camping, walking, and travel thanks to its durable quality, lightweight build, and comfort for both you and your cat.

Here are a few of the Jackson Galaxy cat backpack’s best features:

Can be used as a backpack and a traditional cat carrier
Detachable shoulder strap
A removable mat that folds to fit both ways
Clip inside to attach a leash
Bubble and screen attachments
Side pockets
Adjustable shoulder and chest straps
Mesh sides and top as well as air holes in the front

At the time of writing, it had a rating of 4.2/5 stars based on 64 customer reviews. Many of the reviews mentioned the excellent quality of the carrier and the convenience of the convertible features.

You can check out a full list of the Jackson Galaxy cat backpack’s features, read customer reviews and buy it yourself from Your Cat Backpack.

Lollimeow Large Cat Backpack Carrier

Lollimeow large cat backpack from Amazon

Best Cheap Cat Backpack for Large Cats

Size: 15″ x 11.4″ x 17.7″
Cat Weight Limit: 26lbs

The Lollimeow Large Cat Backpack Carrier on Amazon is another great option for “big-boned” or fat cats.

This carrier can hold cats up to 26 pounds, and it’s the same size as both “The Fat Cat” cat backpack and the Jackson Galaxy from Your Cat Backpack.

Here are a few of the Lollimeow’s best features:

Bubble and mesh attachments
Top opening with zipper closure
Scratch-resistant and waterproof
Lightweight (3 pounds on its own)
Mesh sides and top in addition to ventilation holes

This cat backpack is also advertised as airline-approved, but it’s best to contact your airline beforehand to verify the maximum dimensions. Most airline-approved cat carriers have to be within 18″ x 12″ x 9″.

At the time of writing, this cat backpack had over 1,361 reviews on Amazon with an average rating of 4.5/5 stars.

In addition to great features and ratings, this cat backpack is significantly cheaper than most popular alternatives. When I added this carrier to the list, it was only $57.99!

You can check out a full list of features, read customer reviews, and check the current price of the Lollimeow large cat backpack carrier on Amazon.

Expandable Cat Backpack

Best Hard-Shell Expandable Cat Backpack

Size: 16.5″ x 14.5″ x 11.5″ (when expanded)
Cat Weight Limit: 20lbs

If you’re looking for a hard-shell backpack, this expandable cat backpack from Amazon is a great choice.

Perfect for walking, hiking, traveling, or just spending time with your cat outside, this cat backpack offers a giant clear window that lets your cat see it all.

Here are a few of this cat backpack’s best features:

Mesh side windows and mesh extender plus air holes for added ventilation
Side access opening for easy entry in addition to the main zipping compartment
Extra 4″ extension for larger cats
Built-in leash with clip for added safety
Soft, plush mat with hard base for support and comfort
Padded shoulder straps and waist pad

At the time of writing, this cat backpack had over 4,740 reviews on Amazon with an average rating of 4.7/5 stars. Plus, it’s pretty affordable compared to other popular cat backpacks.

You can check out a full list of features, read customer reviews, and purchase this cat backpack on Amazon here.

Methodology

While I was researching the best cat backpacks for large cats, I did the same things I would do before making a purchase for my own cats. I read customer reviews, I considered the weight and size of average-to-large cats, I looked at the manufacturer, retailer, and price of the cat carrier, and above all, I considered the comfort and safety of the cat and the wearer.

Here are the main factors I considered while choosing the best large cat backpacks for fat cats:

Size. Each of the cat backpacks on this list are at least 14.5″ x 11.4″ x 16.5″ to ensure enough room for large cats to be comfortable.
Weight Limit. I looked for cat backpacks that could hold at least 20 pounds.
Saftey. Each of the cat backpacks on this list is made from durable materials with proper ventilation. I also considered additional safety features including secure fasteners and included leashes or space to attach a leash for added safety.
Comfort. In addition to proper size and ventilation, I also looked to see if the cat backpacks included interior mats for your cat’s comfort. For the wearer, I considered padded and adjustable shoulder straps as well as carrier weight. The total weight of most of these cat backpacks on their own is 2-3 pounds for convenient, lightweight traveling, except the Snoozer 4-in-1 Travel Carrier Backpack from Chewy. It weighs 10 pounds on its own, but still made the cut for its versatility, impressive pet weight limit (30 pounds), and size (23″ tall!)
Customer Satisfaction. Before I make any purchase, I always take the time to read customer reviews and consider the overall product rating. For each cat backpack on this list, I checked to make sure that customer reviews are overall positive and that each backpack had an average rating of at least 4/5 stars. That helped me to understand how accurate the cat backpack description was as well as the reliability of the seller.

Final Thoughts

Cat backpacks are a great way to introduce your cat to the outdoors while keeping them safe and secure. If you have a cat that weighs a little more than average or one that’s just a larger breed, make sure you choose a backpack that’s big enough for them.

The best large cat backpack is “The Fat Cat” cat backpack. It has excellent customer reviews, holds cats up to 25 pounds, and it has a built-in clip to attach a leash for added safety. Plus, it’s lightweight with adjustable straps for your comfort as well.

If you’re looking for the biggest cat backpack available, the Snoozer Roll Around 4-in-1 measures up to 23″ tall and holds cats up to 30 pounds.

For a more budget-friendly large cat backpack, consider the Lollimeow Large Cat Backpack Carrier at Amazon.

Before you head out with your new cat backpack, be sure to take the time to let your cat get used to their new carrier. While you’re out, check in with your cat regularly and take breaks when necessary. Finally, be sure to start slow with short trips out in your cat backpack. Over time, you can work your way up to longer walks, hikes, trips, and rides.

If you plan on being outside for a long time with your cat, you may also want to consider an outdoor cat tent. You can check out my top picks for the best outdoor cat tents here.