Many airlines allow cats to travel on their planes as carry-on luggage, although you will need to check with your airline because acceptance varies according to destination, animal type, and specific flight details. Those that do allow cats have specific requirements for cat carriers, including the dimensions and materials used in their construction.

Airline-approved cat carriers meet the specifications of most airlines but, again, you should check with the individual airline before you travel to the airport because being turned away at the gate is not only frustrating but will scupper travel plans.

To help, we have included reviews of 10 of the best airline-approved cat carriers for planes, below, as well as a guide on choosing a carrier and traveling with your cat.

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The 10 Best Airline-Approved Cat Carriers for Planes

1. Sherpa Original Deluxe Airline-Approved Cat Carrier Bag – Best Overall

A cat carrier for planes needs to conform to airline requirements, but it also needs to be comfortable for your cat. The Sherpa Original Deluxe Airline-Approved Cat Carrier Bag has a spring-wire frame.

This ensures the carrier keeps its shape while being moved around and while free from the confines of being placed under the seat, but the wireframe also means that the bag can be easily pushed under the seat. It has soft sides with mesh windows, allowing for good airflow and letting your cat see what is happening outside the carrier. The top opening, in addition to a side opening, makes it easy to get your cat in and out and the zippers are lockable for extra security and to prevent escapes.

The Sherpa is very reasonably priced and offers a Guaranteed on Board scheme so you can be assured that the carrier meets the requirements of certain airlines. There are two different sizes of carriers, however. The medium carrier is compatible with fewer airlines, so do check. Reasonably priced and offering great comfort for cats, the Sherpa Original Deluxe Airline-Approved Cat Carrier Bag is the best available airline-approved cat carrier for planes, but the wireframe will eventually fail, leaving a soft bag with very little defined shape.

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2. PetAmi Premium Airline Approved Soft-Sided Cat Carrier – Best Value

The PetAmi Premium Airline Approved Soft-Sided Cat Carrier has roughly the same dimensions as the Sherpa above but costs less. It has a front and rear opening, rather than a top opening, and it doesn’t have a metal frame. It does have sherpa-lined bedding which means it offers a soft, comfortable, and warm environment for your cat to sleep in, and it has mesh side and top panels.

Closed panels, or panels that are difficult to see out of, can raise anxiety in your cat because it will be able to hear all the airport and plane activity but not be able to see what is causing the noise. It can also cause sickness.

The PetAmi Premium also has a side zipper opening which isn’t meant as a door but can be used to pet your cat or pop some treats in for your well-behaved pet. The low cost and good quality of the PetAmi Premium Airline Approved Soft-Sided Cat Carrier makes it the best airline-approved cat carrier for planes for the money, but it doesn’t hold its shape very well which means you will have to keep standing the walls up to prevent them falling in.

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3. Katziela Luxury Rider Removable Wheels Cat Carrier – Premium Choice

Draw up a list of the most desirable features for a cat carrier and the Katziela Luxury Rider Pro Removable Wheels Cat Carrier offers pretty much all of them.

It is roomy for an airline cat carrier, and it has a plush bed lining that is not only snug for your cat but can be removed and machine-washed for your convenience. Also, for greater convenience, it has six removable wheels and a telescopic handle which makes transporting it around the airport much less hassle. The top domed mesh section will push down so the bag fits under the seats, and the Katziela is compliant with most airline travel requirements. Mesh sides and top provide good airflow and visibility, and there are zippered pockets that can hold treats and other essentials.

It opens at the end of the carrier, and it can prove challenging to get reluctant cats in these designs. It is an expensive option, but it combines convenience and comfort and is a good option for regular feline fliers.

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4. EliteField Soft-Sided Airline-Approved Cat Carrier Bag

The EliteField Soft-Sided Airline-Approved Cat Carrier Bag is a lightweight cat carrier with soft sides, meshed side panels, and a mesh top. The main bag material is waterproof and there is a plush bed that can be removed for cleaning. A seat belt loop and strap enable you to secure the bag to car seats, and the dimensions and soft sides mean that the bag is compatible with most airlines that accept pet carriers. The carrier is inexpensive, has a padded shoulder strap for your comfort, and there’s a pocket for treats.

However, the lightweight materials don’t hold their shape very well and the carrier walls can collapse, especially when the bag is being carried. It also only has a maximum recommended pet weight of 12 pounds, which means it won’t be suitable for some larger breeds and more portly felines.

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5. Sherpa Original Deluxe Lattice Print Airline-Approved Cat Carrier

All airline-approved really means is that the manufacturer has used suitable materials and met the dimension requirements for most airlines that accept pets. Airlines don’t take and certify carriers as being approved and even with some airline-approved carriers, you might find that the carrier is inappropriately designed, and you are refused a flight because of the carrier.

Sherpa’s Guaranteed on Board program, which is included with the Sherpa Original Deluxe Lattice Print Airline-Approved Cat Carrier Bag not only provides you with details of what you need to do to meet airline requirements, but if you are refused because of your carrier, Sherpa will refund the cost of yours and your cat’s flight.

The bag itself is more generous than a lot. It also has mesh panels almost all the way around the bag. It is a front-opening bag, so you might need to practice getting your cat in and out before you travel, but it also has a lambskin liner that is comfortable and machine washable. The spring-wire frame means that the bag can be squished down to fit under the seat. However, the liner doesn’t stay in position and the wire frame can lose its shape quite easily.

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6. EliteField Expandable Soft Airline-Approved Cat Carrier Bag

The flight is usually only a part of the journey, and you will likely have car or rail journeys to follow. If you’re staying in a hotel or other accommodation during a trip, you may also need a carrier you can use as a temporary accommodation for your cat. Many hotels require that your cat be kept in a carrier when you’re not in the room.

The EliteField Expandable Soft Airline-Approved Cat Carrier Bag is a good option in these circumstances. The soft carrier, which features mesh ends and a front-opening design has expandable sides. It is adequately sized to take on most flights, but when you’re in your hotel or even in the back of a car, you can expand the sides and nearly triple the amount of room your cat has to move about. It also has a removable plush bed and a support board that helps retain the carrier’s shape.

However, while the bag is folded up for air travel, it covers the side meshes and leaves only a front mesh panel. And the lightweight walls do tend to collapse inwards.

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7. Frisco Premium Airline Compliant Cat Quilted Carrier Bag

The Frisco Premium Airline Compliant Cat Carrier Bag is a generously sized cat carrier that measures 18 x 11 x 11 inches and has a maximum pet weight of 20 pounds, so it should be suitable for most domestic cats. The carrier is sherpa-padded so provides a snug base for your traveling companion.

It has top and side entrances, so is suitable even for reluctant, challenging cats, and the padded strap is comfortable when carrying your pet over your shoulder. The sides do have some give, too, which means they will collapse slightly, making the carrier suitable for sliding under airplane seats. The liner does Velcro to the base and does a reasonable job of staying in place and there is a convenient pocket for treats and other items.

However, the design of the Velcro and zippers means that some curious cats might figure out how to open it and escape.

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8. EliteField Deluxe Soft Airline-Approved Cat Carrier Bag

The EliteField Deluxe Soft Airline-Approved Cat Carrier Bag is a lightweight carrier with mesh sides and front and a pouch pocket on the rear. The whole bag unzips as an entrance, which makes it easy to put your cat in place, but it also makes it very easy for your cat to get away before you’ve secured the top.

There is a padded shoulder strap, and the bag includes a hard support board to help retain the shape of the bag and prevent collapse. There’s even a hood above the front mesh window to help prevent rain and sun from getting inside the bag. Inside, it has a leash so you can secure your kitty in place, and has a maximum weight capacity of 15 pounds.

It is a really affordable carrier that might be suitable for kittens and very small cats but the triangular shape means that only the bottom section of the bag is useful as a carrier compartment, so space is very restricted.

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9. Jespet Cat Carrier Backpack

The Jespet Cat Carrier Backpack is a backpack top-loading and rear-opening cat carrier with a removable inner pad, a tether you can connect your cat’s collar to, and a collapsible design that will fit under the seat in front of you on a plane. A side pocket lets you carry toys, treats, leashes, and other essentials.

Backpacks leave your hands free for carrying other items and because they spread weight at least across your shoulders, they are easier to carry than side bags. However, their dimensions mean they might not be ideal for your cat. The dimensions of this carrier are reasonable, but the vertical space means your cat might struggle to lay down properly.

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10. PetAmi Airline Approved Backpack Cat Carrier

Carrying your luggage, hand luggage, documents, and a pet carrier into and around the airport is challenging for one person. A backpack is a good way of making it easier to move everything you need, including your cat.

The PetAmi Airline Approved Backpack Cat Carrier is made from polyester and has a mesh back panel and top panel. It is a top opening design and, according to the manufacturer, has been reinforced to ensure the walls don’t collapse on your cat during use. As well as the backpack straps, the PetAmi Backpack also has chest and waist buckles, which help spread the load of the bag and its contents around your body, so it is more comfortable when in use.

However, the backpack can’t be carried sideways which means that an adult cat will have to sit upright in the bag, and that won’t suit a lot of cats. And while the bag is said to be suitable for pets up to 18 pounds, there isn’t a lot of room inside and it would be a struggle to fit a cat of this size in the pack.

Buyer’s Guide: How to Choose an Airline-Approved Cat Carrier

Whether you’re flying on an internal or international flight, if you need to take a cat with you, you will need a suitable cat carrier. The carrier needs to be soft-sided, should be collapsible when placed under the seat, and it will need to conform to airline dimension requirements.

It also needs to be comfortable and secure for your cat and should be light and easy enough for you to carry through the airport and beyond.

What Is an Airline-Approved Cat Carrier?

Airlines don’t specifically approve carriers. Those that allow cats to fly, however, do provide requirements that need to be met for the cat to fly. Requirements can vary from one airline to another and even according to flight types and times. Carriers that are designated as being airline-approved meet the requirements of most relevant airlines. But that doesn’t necessarily mean that they meet all airlines’ standards. Therefore, you should check the specific requirements that will be present with your flight, before you travel and in plenty of time to arrange an appropriate carrier.

Cat Carrier Features

Mesh Panels

A cat carrier for planes has to meet several requirements. Not only does it need to meet the size requirements of airlines, but it still needs to be convenient for you and comfortable for your cat. Check dimensions and weight capacity and consider the following factors when shopping for your next carrier.

Opening

You have to be able to get your cat in and out of the carrier easily. Not only will you need to do this before you leave the house, but your cat can’t go through the bag scanner in airports, so you will need to be able to easily get them in and out at these times, too. If your cat is uncomfortable in carriers and resists, a top-opening carrier is usually easier.

But believe it or not, not all cats detest being placed in carriers. If your cat quite enjoys the solitude and confinement of a carrier, a front loader might be easier because your cat can walk in and out of its own volition.

Cushioned Liner

Even if you’re embarking on a short internal flight, your cat will likely have to spend at least two or three hours in the carrier, when you take into account the journeys to and from the airport. Therefore, feline comfort is an important consideration.

A padded base gives your cat a more comfortable sitting or lying position, but it should be easy to clean. Accidents do happen, but even if your cat doesn’t pee on the base, cat hair and dirt can get into padding and will need cleaning. Some padded bases can be machine-washed, but this isn’t true of all of them.

Padded Straps

You will have to carry the carrier at least around the airport, if not further. Even if the carrier is the only bag you have, it can be extremely uncomfortable if the weight of the cat and the bag are digging into your hand.

Padded straps can include hand straps, and also shoulder straps. The shoulder strap can prove invaluable if you have other luggage or items that you need to carry on the plane, too.

Bag Type

The restrictions imposed by airlines mean that there aren’t too many carrier types to consider. You can’t have a hard case, which means your options are soft hand-carried bags or backpacks.

Secure Fastening

No matter how careful you are, your carrier will get buffeted and shunted around at some point. To help keep your cat safe, some bags include secure loops and harness attachments.

Not only do these help prevent your cat from enduring too much movement but they can be very useful when you’re trying to get your cat in. Put them in place, securely attach them to the loop, and it leaves you with free hands to close the carrier door.

Pockets

When traveling with cats, it is a good idea to take water, treats, and even a toy or two. If your cat carrier has one or more pockets, you can keep your cat’s belongings with your cat so nothing gets lost.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Your Cat Have to Come Out of the Carrier at the Airport?

While your hand luggage goes through the bag scanner, your cat cannot. This means it will have to come out of the bag and will have to go through the body scanner with you. This means removing and replacing the cat from the carrier. Practice at home to ensure you don’t hold everybody up or lose your cat, and ensure they are wearing a harness and leash.

How Do I Stop My Cat from Meowing on the Plane?

Your cat is likely meowing from anxiety. Everything about flying is alien to cats, from the fuss of the airport to the wait at the gate and, of course, the flight itself. Be reassuring, include a blanket and toy from home in their carrier, and consider using a pheromone collar to help calm your anxious kitty.

Conclusion

Airline-approved cat carriers meet the dimension and soft-sided requirements of most airlines. They can be slid under the seat in front of you, on the plane, and they should be comfortable for your cat and convenient for your use. Hopefully, using the reviews above, you can find the best carrier for your needs.

We found the Sherpa Original Deluxe Airline-Approved Cat Carrier Bag to be reasonably priced and of decent quality. The PetAmi Premium Airline Approved Soft-Sided Cat Carrier is cheap and its sherpa lining comfortable, but it might not retain its shape after several uses.

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Featured Image Credit: New Africa, Shutterstock