Do you have a Pet Suites near you? I had to board my cats for a few days and it was a really nice facility! The cat room was so quiet and there was no dog noise at all. I was able to relax knowing my cats were in great hands while they were there. The facility does require certain shots, however. The cages were a pretty good size and you pay full price for one cat and half for the other. You also pay extra for special play time or other services like grooming. And they were always great about giving updates when I called to see how my pets were doing. I made sure to leave a blanket from home and some of their toys too.

My carriers are the soft side kind like a duffel bag. My cats cannot stand up in theirs nor do they need to. But they can turn around and are comfortable. I believe that the less extra space the better so that they will lie down and relax while in the car and they will feel more secure during the trip and at the vet inside their carrier. Mine use theirs all of the time to hang out and take naps when I leave one open in the house. I also use the seat belt looped through the handles to keep mine safe in the car on the way to the vet.