Carrying a cat box by the handle is the worst part of a vet trip for both parties. The box swings, the cat braces against every step, and you arrive with a numb arm and a thoroughly annoyed animal. A backpack puts the weight across both shoulders and against your back, where it stays steady, and the pet travels pressed against a person instead of being swung about at knee height.

Mesh panels down the sides and front keep air moving through, which matters more in a soft carrier than a rigid one because the walls sit so much closer to the animal. The drawstring top opens so a confident cat or small dog can put their head out and watch where they are going, and cinches shut when they would rather be hidden. Padded shoulder straps and a widely adjustable waist strap shift the load onto your hips for a longer walk.

• 35 x 20 x 36cm
• Suitable for pets up to 8.5kg
• Waist strap adjusts from 60cm to 188cm
• Mesh ventilation panels on the sides and front
• Drawstring top opening
• Padded shoulder straps
• Weighs 600g empty

On the fit. The 8.5kg limit describes the bag, not comfort, and at 20cm deep this is a carrier for an animal who can sit and turn round rather than lie stretched out, which makes it a short-journey bag. Measure your pet sitting, floor to the top of the head, against the 36cm height. Never leave a pet inside it in a warm car.

Who it's for: Cat owners facing vet trips on foot or by public transport, and owners of small dogs who need carrying part of the way.