Travel Cat “The Navigator” Convertible Cat Backpack Review 2025: A Detailed Look

Does adventure call to your kitty? Do they look at the confines of a catio and flick their tail in disgust? Then Travel Cat may just have the product for you.

“The Navigator” Convertible Cat Backpack was made for kitties who long to breathe mountain air, travel the world, and never, ever be left behind.

This ultimate cat backpack features multiple roll-up windows, two harness clips, four mesh sides, and safety clips on all zippers. For the human, this well-designed pack comes with highly adjustable straps, breathable padding, plenty of pockets for gear, and even a water bladder reservoir with a hose outlet.

It’s the perfect cat backpack for hikers, campers, adventurous, and the cats they love.

My adventure kitty, Makoa, and I had the opportunity to give this super-functional backpack a try. So far I’ve been very impressed with all it has to offer, though there is some room for improvement. Find out more in my full Travel Cat Convertible Cat Backpack review, below.

About Travel Cat

Travel Cat was founded by wife and husband team, Emily and Ian after they “accidentally” adopted a stray kitten. They wanted more for their cat than a life of lounging indoors, but the market didn’t have any companies dedicated to creating cat travel products. That’s when Travel Cat was born.

Today, this cat-centric company makes quality cat carriers, backpacks, harnesses, leashes, and everything else adventure cats need to feel safe and comfortable in the big, wide world outside their homes.

Where Are Travel Cat Products Produced?

Travel Cat is a small, family-owned business based out of New York. All their products ship from their warehouse in the state, though many of them are made elsewhere. The Navigator backpack, for instance, is made in Vietnam.

Which Types of Cats Are Travel Cat Products Best Suited For?

As you might imagine, many Travel Cat products are geared toward kitties who like to accompany their owners into the great outdoors. They have a long line of hiking backpacks, playpens, portable bowl sets, portable litter boxes, and everything else cats need to feel comfortable away from home.

But even less intrepid kitties can shop Travel Cat. Their carriers and convertible backpacks are great for car and air travel, too. And they sell plenty of cat beds, accessories, and necessities that even homebody felines will enjoy.

The Navigator Convertible Cat Backpack, in particular, is a great option for owners who want to hike with their cats. It has extra padding, pockets, and features to make long hikes with your kitty copilot safer and more comfortable.

The Navigator Overview

Here is an overview of Travel Cat’s “The Navigator” Convertible Cat Backpack. We’ll look at the build, features, storage, and technical specifications.

The Build

From the second you get your hands on this backpack, you can tell it is well-built and made with an eye for detail.

The polyester fabric is thick and sturdy—even the sharpest nails are no match for this bag. Each of the rubbery mesh screens is made to withstand tearing and chewing while maximizing airflow.

The straps and back of the pack are lined with thick padding and breathable mesh material to maximize comfort for the owner. Each strap, including the shoulder, chest, and waist straps, is highly adjustable to fit owners of all sizes. The chest strap, in particular, can be adjusted in width as well as up and down.

The Navigator can be used as a backpack or with the included removable shoulder strap, which converts it to a duffle-style bag. The bottom pad inside can be moved as needed to keep your cat comfy in all positions.

Features

This versatile backpack is popping with features.

For cats, it offers roll-up windows on the back and top so they can enjoy the world unobscured. These mesh windows roll up and secure thanks to a brilliant system of clasps. To keep kitties in, the pack features two internal, adjustable harness leashes.

Each opening and window flap features two zippers and clips to secure them together.

The shape of the backpack maximizes the space at the bottom so even big kitties can rest comfortably. The frame is fairly sturdy too, which helps keep the space inside from collapsing even as the pack gets jostled around.

For owners, there is plenty to love about this pack too. On one side, you’ll find two large water bottle pockets. On the other is a spacious zip pocket with three internal compartments and a key clip. This pack even has a water bladder pocket inside the main compartment, complete with a hose outlet at the top.

Storage and Usability

For those cramped car trips and camping expeditions, as well as those downtimes between adventures, this bag is made to be easy to stow and store.

The entire bag folds flat so it can be stuffed into the trunk or the closet.

But don’t put it away just yet. The convertibility to a duffel bag makes this backpack a great option for securing your cat in the car. The bag also falls under most airlines’ in-cabin size restrictions, which makes it a good option for air travel.

Technical Specifications

The Navigator is a good-sized backpack meant to accommodate cats up to 25 pounds. The dual harness clips inside mean you could even load this spacey pack with two smaller kitties at once.

The pack itself is 18 inches high by 15.4 inches wide by 10 inches deep. It is fairly sturdy but could easily be smashed down a bit to fit on an airplane or into a packed car. It weighs about 2 pounds when it’s empty.

In Summary

Key Features

Made for Kitty Comfort

The Navigator Convertible Cat Backpack was made with the comfort and safety of cats in mind. It has large mesh windows on four sides to ensure maximum airflow, which means more fun smells to smell. Two of the windows roll up to allow kitties to hang out and see the world around them. And the bottom pad provides a comfy place to rest while the study bag offers tons of room to move around.

For safety, the bag features two internal, adjustable harness clips and locking clips on every zipper.

Great for Hikes

The padded straps and padded, breathable material on the back of this pack make it a great option for long hauls. It has a chest strap and waist strap to help distribute the weight and unburden your shoulders (a great feature for owners of hefty tabbies). It also has two large water bottle pockets and a water reservoir pocket with a hose outlet.

With multiple storage compartments and clips to carry even more, this cat backpack may just become your go-to hiking pack.

Convertible to Cover All Your Needs

Whether you’re hitting the trail or just taking Whiskers in for a checkup, this bag is up for the job. It converts quickly from backpack to duffel thanks to the included shoulder strap. The pad inside the pack can be moved to the bottom or back depending on the orientation of the bag.

Is The Travel Cat Convertible Cat Backpack a Good Value?

There is quite a range of cat backpacks out there, from the simple $25 options to the premium products that can run near $200. At about $140, The Navigator is definitely on the premium side. But this pack also offers a lot more than most other options.

The extra storage, ample padding, multiple straps, water bladder pocket, and multiple other features are not things you’ll find on most cat backpacks. And certainly, you won’t get these options for a lower price, making this premium backpack a good value for what you get.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

How much cat can this backpack hold?

The Navigator is rated for up to 25 pounds of cat. It has two harness clips and can accommodate up to two smaller kitties or one big cat.

Are there multiple size options?

No, this is a one-size-fits-most backpack. The shoulder straps are highly adjustable, though they may not tighten down enough for petite people. The waist and chest straps also have plenty of room for adjustment.

Are there any other color options?

The Navigator is available in gray and the recently released “Earth” option. This new color choice is brown and tan with highlights of turquoise and orange.

Our Experience With Travel Cat Convertible Cat Backpack

My one-year-old domestic shorthair, Makoa, thinks he’s a dog. Maybe that’s because he’s been raised alongside my two dogs since he was five weeks old.

Because of this, he needs to be part of the pack. This means that he sits at the door and yowls every time I leave the house to walk the dogs. To remedy this issue, I thought I’d give The Navigator Convertible Cat Backpack a try.

I’ve used cat backpacks with Makoa before. But he quickly outgrew those in size and function. At 12 pounds, he’s a fairly large boy. He’s also completely fearless and does not want to be cooped up inside a pack when there are things to see outside.

For all these reasons, I thought The Navigator might be a good choice.

This backpack is roomy—it has more than enough space for my big kitty. And the combination of the harness clips and the roll-up windows means Makoa can literally “hang out” while we walk, rather than being locked away inside the bag.

As soon as I got the bag, I was impressed with the quality of it. The material is thick and sturdy and the bag has obviously been made and designed with care.

I love all the pockets and was so excited when I found the water bladder pocket. This combined with the padded straps and back had me forgetting walks with the dogs and plotting my first hike with Makoa, instead.

After a few test runs, I knew he would love it. He spends the entire time I’m moving with his head and front paws hanging out the back window. He seems to love being able to see everything clearly and smell the breeze flowing past.

He certainly meows less while in this pack compared to his previous backpacks.

On my end, I really appreciate the extra padding this pack has. It’s a substantial bag and my boy puts a lot of pressure on my shoulders, especially when he hangs out the back.

I only have two real gripes, in terms of comfort. One, the shoulder straps don’t quite tighten enough for my build. And two, the waist straps don’t have any padding around the hips. If this thing was built with the hip straps of a backpacking pack, I could hike for days!

Still, I think with a little conditioning, this backpack will be comfortable enough to take Makoa hiking and camping with ease. As an adventurer at heart, I know he’s very excited about having the means to get out more. And I’m happy to have an easy way to add enrichment to his life.

In fact, this pack has really inspired me to find more ways to include Makoa in my adventuring, specifically hiking and camping. I plan to load up on more of the wonderful adventure cat products Travel Cat offers in the near future.

Conclusion

If you have a cat who’s not content lounging around the house all day, I highly suggest checking out what Travel Cat has to offer. And if you like to hike and are looking for a way to include your cat in your adventures, then the Travel Cat Convertible Cat Backpack is definitely for you.

This pack is loaded with features. Multiple roll-up windows, a spacious interior, plenty of storage, a water bladder pocket, and more make for a better, safer, more comfortable experience for cat and owner alike. And because this pack quickly transforms from backpack to duffle, it has a multitude of uses.

Thanks to The Navigator Convertible Cat Backpack, I never have to leave my adventure-loving cat at home.