Most cats are homebodies, but sometimes it's necessary to transport them, and when it comes to safety and comfort, the right size carrier matters. Whether it’s a simple trip to the vet or you’re bringing your kitty along for a road trip, you’ll need a proper carrier. Read on to learn about the cat carrier sizes available and which one is right for your feline friend.

Cat Carrier Sizes

When choosing a carrier for your cat, it’s important to choose the right size for comfort and safety. This will also depend on what you plan to use the carrier for. For shorter car transportation, like trips to the vet or groomer, you’re better off with a fitted cage to help your cat stay calm and not try to jump around during the ride. For longer car rides, you may want to choose an oversized carrier that allows room for a small litterbox and a bed.

No matter what you plan to use a carrier for, you should make sure that your cat can stand, turn around, and lie down in their carrier. Below you’ll find our standard cat carrier sizes based on weight – for an even more accurate fit, we recommend checking the specific carrier dimensions against your cat's measurements before purchasing.

Extra-Small Carriers

This size cat carrier is for kittens (and very small cats) between 1–10 lbs. Even if your adult cat falls between 7–10 lbs., you may want to size up just to give them a little extra room to turn around. Most young kittens are only a couple pounds each, so it’s sometimes possible to transport two together for short trips, if you have littermates or a bonded pair. Make sure you monitor their weights and growth so they don’t become too big for their carrier since kittens grow fast!

Tip!

Looking for a carrier for your new addition? If you’re shopping for a kitten, make sure you have all the essentials with our New Kitten Checklist.

Small Carriers

This is the most common carrier size for cats. Most cats fall just below or in between 11–20 lbs. and will fit nicely in a small carrier with plenty of room to stand, turn around, and lie down. While these carriers are typically pretty spacious for your four-legged friend, they are also easier to carry than bigger-sized carriers.

Tip!

If you’re looking for a carrier to bring your pet on a plane with you, make sure to get the exact dimensions allowed for in-cabin travel directly from your airline. Most accepted airline pet carriers’ dimensions fall within the extra-small to small carrier sizes.

Medium Carriers

Medium-sized carriers can comfortably fit pets anywhere from 20–50 lbs., making them big enough for plus-sized cats. Medium-sized carriers are also great if you want to give your smaller to medium-sized cat more room to move around on a longer trip. Keep in mind that a medium-sized carrier will be more awkward to carry if you decide to use it to get your cat into the vets or groomers.

Large Carriers

Large sized carriers give cats a ton of room to move around since they can hold pets that are 50–95 lbs. You may want a carrier this size if you have the space in your car and are taking your kitty along for a roadtrip. This size crate is big enough to accommodate your cat, a small travel litterbox, and a small bed, which is convenient if they’ll be in the carrier for an extended amount of time. These carriers can also come in handy if your cat is recovering from an injury or surgery and is on strict resting orders from your vet – sometimes they need to be kept in a large carrier or crate inside your house to prevent them from running or jumping for a time.

Tip!

Learn more about keeping your furry friends safe, happy, and healthy with our guide on How to Pet-Proof Your Home for Cats & Dogs.

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