A carrier gets used on the two worst days of a cat's year, and the animal knows which box it is long before it knows where it is going. Anything that shortens the loading-in — a lid that opens from above rather than a door you have to post them through nose-first — is worth more than any amount of styling.

This one opens at the top through a clear lid, so you can lower a cat in rather than push it in, and see it on the way. It is made from high-quality 100% recyclable plastic, has ventilation openings around the body, a carry handle over the top and side holes a water bottle can be attached to. It comes apart for cleaning with warm soapy water, is simple to assemble, and the shells stack when they are empty. The larger of the two sizes measures L 40 x W 25.8 x H 22.4 cm and Moderna give a maximum pet weight of 4kg for it.

• Rigid plastic carrier with a clear, top-opening lid
• Made from 100% recyclable plastic
• Large size L 40 x W 25.8 x H 22.4 cm, maximum pet weight 4kg
• Ventilation around the body, plus side holes for a water bottle
• Carry handle, washable with warm soapy water, stackable when empty

On choosing between the two sizes. Buy on the animal's weight, not its breed — the small carrier carries a lower maximum pet weight than the large, and the weight limit is the number that matters if you are carrying a cat down a flight of stairs. Nothing supplied to us says this carrier is approved for air travel, so please do not assume it is; if you are flying, check the airline's own list before you buy anything.

Who it's for: cat owners doing vet runs and cattery drop-offs who want a hard shell they can hose out, and anyone whose cat has learned to brace all four legs against a front-opening door.