We had a great experience with these carriers for moving our two cats across state lines. I had so much anxiety about how the whole move was going to work out and whether this was the right carrier. But it all worked out great and if I could go back in time, I would recommend to myself to buy this carrier and not worry so much.
My #1 anxiety was whether the carrier was the right dimensions to be "airline approved". According to the Southwest website, smaller dimensions are required so I was very worried we'd be denied at check-in. But of course, no one said a thing and sure enough, the soft-sided carrier squished down just enough to fit under the seat in front of us. (Note: middle seat is best. Window seat and aisle seat have obstructions.) We opened the "patio" while waiting in the airports and while on board the plane. On the plane, the mesh patio fit best opening into the under-seat area. Both our cats were basically silent the entire flight aside from a couple small mews that I doubt anyone else could hear.
Another anxiety was that the cats seemed to freak out in the carriers when we went for practice drives around the neighborhood. I tried to do the crate-training every day to get them used to the carriers and both cats seemed to dislike being in the carrier on these short trips. They clawed and meowed and were very upset. I was just sure we would all suffer on the big moving day with this kind of behavior incessantly for 9 hours! But when the big moving day arrived, those cats had already spent a day freaking out in a locked bedroom while the entire household got loaded into a truck. That made them sufficiently traumatized that by the next day, the 9-hour day of driving and flying and driving, those cats just wanted a small dark place to hide and the carriers were a welcome retreat. They made barely a peep on the 2-hour drive (unlike the short trips around the neighborhood) and they remained mostly quiet and still the whole day.
Unlike some other reviews, my cats never took to these carriers as a place they voluntarily went to sleep or hang out. I kept the carriers open in the living room for months before the move and for weeks after the move. But they never showed much interest.
Now that the move is done, these carriers are folded flat for storage and will be easily deployed for the next trip to the vet.
One word of advice: The zippers can get pushed open by the cat's nose or paws. This happened once during the neighborhood test-runs and I had a cat lose in the car. So I solved this by hooking the zippers together with a mini carabiner clip. I needed about 6 clips for each carrier. So I repurposed some mini carabiner clips from a dozen ChicoBags which have the perfect sized clip. A safety pin would probably also work.
Another minor complaint (or something to just be aware of) is that when rolling my luggage through the airport with a cat in carrier and the carrier looped onto the extended handle, the tipped luggage tips the cat. If you have upright rolling luggage, this won't be an issue. But a 2-wheeled suitcase is a little challenging. One cat/carrier kept sliding off the side so the poor cat was hanging. I just had to be very careful to make sure the cat hadn't fallen as I was migrating through the airport. Once our bags were checked, we just carried the carrier in hand but I was grateful for a way to carry the luggage, a carryon and the cat/carrier all in my two hands.
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We purchased this carrier for our kitty to travel in during our 900 mile trip in a UHaul to move from Chicago to NYC. I spent a lot of time reviewing carriers as our cat is not the best traveler, so needed to make sure I got the perfect carrier. We have a hard cased carrier, but felt it only suitable for short journeys and trips to the vet so decided we would go with a soft-sided carrier, especially as there's a change of air travel with her in the near future.Eventually we went with this one, mainly swayed by the expandable section as it seemed perfect for giving her that little extra space to stretch out. And it was great. She chilled out perfectly in this for hours at a time during our three-day road trip.PROS:The mesh is great for giving her some air and also allowing her to see what is going on around her.The wide opening at the front and on top makes getting her in a breeze (and as any cat owner knows, this is important!)The expanding side section is great for allowing her to stretch outIt feels strong and durablePockets on the side are helpful for storing treats, leash etc in.Has carry handles and a longer strap for your shouldersIt folds flat for easy storageCONSYou have to be really careful that the zippers are done up as if there's even a little gap, they can get wiggle their arm/head through and may get out.This happened once, but thankfully we were inside the vehicle and spotted her straight away. If the zippers are done up properly you will be fine. To make doubly sure we just put a twist tie in each zipper to keep them together.The zipper issue is why this only gets 4 stars, if it wasn't for that it would get 5. I really liked this carrier and think it's excellent value for money.And most importantly, the cat liked it.
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Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on October 20, 2017
Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on June 29, 2016
We purchased this carrier for our kitty to travel in during our 900 mile trip in a UHaul to move from Chicago to NYC. I spent a lot of time reviewing carriers as our cat is not the best traveler, so needed to make sure I got the perfect carrier. We have a hard cased carrier, but felt it only suitable for short journeys and trips to the vet so decided we would go with a soft-sided carrier, especially as there's a change of air travel with her in the near future.
Eventually we went with this one, mainly swayed by the expandable section as it seemed perfect for giving her that little extra space to stretch out. And it was great. She chilled out perfectly in this for hours at a time during our three-day road trip.
PROS:
The mesh is great for giving her some air and also allowing her to see what is going on around her.
The wide opening at the front and on top makes getting her in a breeze (and as any cat owner knows, this is important!)
The expanding side section is great for allowing her to stretch out
It feels strong and durable
Pockets on the side are helpful for storing treats, leash etc in.
Has carry handles and a longer strap for your shoulders
It folds flat for easy storage
CONS
You have to be really careful that the zippers are done up as if there's even a little gap, they can get wiggle their arm/head through and may get out.This happened once, but thankfully we were inside the vehicle and spotted her straight away. If the zippers are done up properly you will be fine. To make doubly sure we just put a twist tie in each zipper to keep them together.
The zipper issue is why this only gets 4 stars, if it wasn't for that it would get 5. I really liked this carrier and think it's excellent value for money.
And most importantly, the cat liked it.
Eventually we went with this one, mainly swayed by the expandable section as it seemed perfect for giving her that little extra space to stretch out. And it was great. She chilled out perfectly in this for hours at a time during our three-day road trip.
PROS:
The mesh is great for giving her some air and also allowing her to see what is going on around her.
The wide opening at the front and on top makes getting her in a breeze (and as any cat owner knows, this is important!)
The expanding side section is great for allowing her to stretch out
It feels strong and durable
Pockets on the side are helpful for storing treats, leash etc in.
Has carry handles and a longer strap for your shoulders
It folds flat for easy storage
CONS
You have to be really careful that the zippers are done up as if there's even a little gap, they can get wiggle their arm/head through and may get out.This happened once, but thankfully we were inside the vehicle and spotted her straight away. If the zippers are done up properly you will be fine. To make doubly sure we just put a twist tie in each zipper to keep them together.
The zipper issue is why this only gets 4 stars, if it wasn't for that it would get 5. I really liked this carrier and think it's excellent value for money.
And most importantly, the cat liked it.
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Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on January 28, 2019
First trip I did have to make a connection considering that it was an international flight. I was traveling with a 17lb poodle. I would not recommend this bag for this size dog when he would lay down he would be comfortable but if he sat up he would bend the roof of it and clearly wasnt comfortable the side part did help, but he was a bit if anxious pup as well, but in general he was just kind of to tall for the bag.
Second trip was with domestic flight but standard Airbus so the bag didnt bend at all compare the first trip connecting flight was a smaller aircraft so the roof of the bag bent a little under the seat. But over all my 13lb chihuahua mix has shorter legs then the poodle and fits comfortably in the bag and he honestly loves the bag. Even when I have it laying out if the zipper is open hes usually curled up in the bag sleeping. I think the material is fairly durable. It can feel a bit flimsy and it can tend to bend in the middle when you use the strap. But overall my dog loves the bag, so I love the bag. If he gets in without an argument i dont really care lol
Small dog loves it, medium dog not so much!!!
Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on January 28, 2019
So I think there are pros and cons to this bag. Overall I'm happy with what I bought I've use this bag multiple times on airline flights with 2 different types of dog.Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on January 28, 2019
First trip I did have to make a connection considering that it was an international flight. I was traveling with a 17lb poodle. I would not recommend this bag for this size dog when he would lay down he would be comfortable but if he sat up he would bend the roof of it and clearly wasnt comfortable the side part did help, but he was a bit if anxious pup as well, but in general he was just kind of to tall for the bag.
Second trip was with domestic flight but standard Airbus so the bag didnt bend at all compare the first trip connecting flight was a smaller aircraft so the roof of the bag bent a little under the seat. But over all my 13lb chihuahua mix has shorter legs then the poodle and fits comfortably in the bag and he honestly loves the bag. Even when I have it laying out if the zipper is open hes usually curled up in the bag sleeping. I think the material is fairly durable. It can feel a bit flimsy and it can tend to bend in the middle when you use the strap. But overall my dog loves the bag, so I love the bag. If he gets in without an argument i dont really care lol
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