Cat travel and carriers
Getting a cat into a carrier is usually the hardest part of any vet visit, and the right carrier makes a real difference — we stock hard plastic carriers from Moderna alongside a cardboard option for occasional or one-off use.
Choosing between carrier types
A hard plastic carrier like the Moderna range is the sturdiest option, easy to wipe clean and secure enough for regular vet trips or travel, with most opening from the top as well as the front, which makes lifting a reluctant cat in far easier than pushing them through a single front door.
A cardboard carrier is a genuinely useful cheaper option for a one-off trip or as a spare, though it won't stand up to repeated use, a determined scratcher, or being left out somewhere damp the way a plastic carrier will.
Making the carrier less stressful
Leaving a carrier out at home between trips, with a blanket inside, helps a cat see it as a normal piece of furniture rather than something that only appears before something unpleasant happens. A cat who already naps in the carrier is a much easier cat to load on the day.
A top-opening design is worth prioritising if your cat is the type to wedge themselves against the back of a carrier — being able to lower them in from above avoids the tug-of-war a front-only opening can turn into.
In this section
Everything below is in stock with us, priced with delivery worked out, and packed and posted by hand in the UK.
Expandable Soft-Sided Pet Travel Carrier
A polyester duffel carrier that unzips into a 52 x 36 x 32cm mesh cabin held out by four support bars, supplied with a dual-season mat, safety rope and storage pouch.
£60.99
Small Pet Travel Kit
A large cardboard carrier, a small bag of shavings to line it and an edible hay bowl to keep them calm on the journey.
£8.99
Foldable Soft-Sided Pet Travel Carrier
Lightweight foldable pet carrier with breathable mesh panels, a roll-up door and a carry handle. The soft-sided design keeps small dogs and cats comfortable and ventilated on trips, then collapses flat for easy storage.
£40.99
Portable Pet Travel Water Bottle
A travel water bottle with a flip-up trough so your pet can drink on the move with no spills.
£7.99
Foldable Silicone Travel Pet Bowl
A collapsible silicone bowl that flattens for walks, trips and days out, then pops up to hold food or water in seconds. A clip-on strap makes it easy to carry on your lead or bag.
£7.99
Supa Cardboard Pet Carrier
A flat-pack cardboard pet carrier for cats, rabbits and small dogs, in two sizes: Medium 33 x 20 x 20cm and Large 38 x 25 x 25.5cm inside
From£4.25
Replacement Cage Lid Pin (33cm)
A genuine spare lid pin for folding cages — 33 cm in length, so your cage stays secure when the original goes walkabout.
£6.49
Moderna Odyssey Carrier
A hard plastic carrier with top and front openings, and a fold-away handle
From£47.99
Moderna Hipster Carrier Blueberry
Hard-sided cat carrier with a clear top-opening lid, in two sizes and washable plastic
From£9.49
Canvas Shoulder Sling Pet Carrier Bag
A soft canvas shoulder-sling carrier that lets your cat or small dog poke their head out while you walk. Breathable open top with a novelty lion-mane collar and paw design for hands-free trips.
From£9.99
Moderna Hipster Carrier Hot
A top-opening plastic carrier for pets up to 4kg, with a clear lid and a bottle mount
From£9.49
Front-Carry Pet Backpack Carrier
Hands-free front-carry backpack that holds a small dog or cat against your chest, with breathable leg openings and a padded, adjustable harness. Cute bear-pocket detail and drawstring top keep your pet snug and secure on the go.
From£15.99
Common questions
- How do I get my cat used to a carrier?
- Leave the carrier out permanently at home, with familiar bedding inside, rather than only bringing it out before a vet trip. Cats that already treat it as a normal resting spot are far calmer being loaded into it on the day.
- Is a top-opening or front-opening cat carrier better?
- A top-opening carrier is generally easier for a reluctant cat, since you can lower them in from above rather than pushing them through a single front door, which is where most of the resistance happens.
- Are cardboard cat carriers safe to use?
- They're fine for an occasional or one-off trip, but they won't hold up to repeated use, a determined scratcher, or damp conditions the way a plastic carrier will, so they're better as a spare than an everyday carrier.
- How do I clean a plastic cat carrier?
- Wipe it down with warm water and a pet-safe disinfectant after use, particularly if your cat was unwell or anxious during the trip, and let it dry fully before storing it away or using it again.
Related
Written by Matt Garnett, who runs Giddy Pets and is a lifelong pet owner — not a vet. This is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace an examination by the vet who knows your animal. How we write these guides.