How to Choose a Pet Carrier for a Dog or Cat

The right pet carrier should fit your animal, your trip, and the rules of the places you plan to use it. Start with your pet’s physical fit and comfort, then compare carrier construction, access, ventilation, handling, cleaning and any travel-specific limits.

1. Start with your pet, not the size label

Labels such as “small” and “medium” are not standardized. Measure your pet and compare those measurements with the carrier’s usable interior space. Your pet should not be forced into a carrier that is too small for the trip.

Use our pet carrier size guide before ordering.

2. Decide between hard-sided and soft-sided construction

A hard-sided carrier keeps a defined shell and can be useful for vet visits, road trips and situations where you want a rigid enclosure. A soft-sided carrier can be easier to store and may work better when flexible under-seat fit is important. Neither type is automatically better for every trip.

See Hard-Sided vs. Soft-Sided Pet Carriers for the trade-offs.

3. Check ventilation and access

Look for ventilation openings that remain unobstructed during normal use and a door or opening that can be secured according to the carrier instructions. Consider how easily you can place your pet inside without forcing the animal through a tight opening.

4. Think about how you will carry it

A top handle can be useful for short transfers, while larger or heavier setups may require a different transport method. Always consider the combined weight of the carrier and pet rather than the empty carrier alone.

5. Match the carrier to the trip

• Vet or grooming trips: prioritize secure access, ventilation and easy cleaning.
• Car travel: follow the carrier instructions and your vehicle guidance; do not assume a carrier is crash-tested unless the exact model has documented certification.
• Air travel: verify the operating airline’s current pet policy and aircraft-specific carrier limits before booking.

For flying, use our pet-carrier flight checklist.

6. Read the exact product specifications

Do not assume impact resistance, crash certification, “TSA approval,” airline approval, pet weight capacity, or a particular material grade unless those details are documented for the exact model.

A current Viva option

Viva’s hard-sided pet carrier with ventilation and handle is listed at approximately 22.44 × 14.57 × 12.99 inches, with a front access door, top handle and three color options. It is intended as an everyday transport carrier; it is not presented as universally airline-approved.

Browse Pet Living & Travel for carrier and everyday pet gear, and use each live product page as the source of truth for exact specifications and availability.