Pet carriers are often bought at the last minute, based on looks and price. Then it turns out the carrier doesn’t meet the airline’s size limits, or the pet is cramped inside. Yet the carrier determines whether your pet is accepted for travel and how comfortable the journey will be.
It helps to base your choice on three questions: how you’re travelling, how long the journey will take and how big your pet is. What follows is general information.
Soft or hard
Soft carriers made of sturdy fabric are lighter and fit more easily under a seat, so they’re often chosen for travel in the aircraft cabin. Rigid plastic containers are stronger and are usually mandatory for travel in the hold.
- Soft — for the cabin, short trips, and calm, small animals.
- Hard — for the hold, cargo and long car journeys.
- Hybrid models are handy for everyday use but don’t always meet airline requirements.
How to work out the size
The general principle many airlines follow: the animal should be able to stand up without its head touching the top, turn around and lie down in a natural position. For the hold, airlines often refer to the IATA Live Animals Regulations.
Which measurements to take
- Body length from the tip of the nose to the base of the tail.
- Height from the floor to the top of the head or the tips of the ears when standing.
- Height from the floor to the elbow of the front leg.
- Width at the widest point — usually across the shoulders.
From these measurements you can work out the minimum internal dimensions. But for the cabin there’s also an upper limit — the carrier has to fit under the seat, and each airline sets its own permitted dimensions.
Measuring is easier with two people: one holds the pet standing calmly, the other measures with a soft tape measure. If your pet is still growing, go by the size it will reach by the travel date, not its size today. And remember that in the cabin the pet is weighed together with the carrier — a heavy model eats into the allowance.
Design and safety
For travel in the hold, containers usually have to meet a number of requirements. Even if you’re travelling by car, these features help you choose a reliable model.
- Ventilation openings on several sides.
- A metal door with a secure latch.
- The two halves of the shell held together with bolts, not just clips.
- A solid floor without holes, so the bedding doesn’t fall through.
- A way to attach a water bowl to the door.
Wheels on hard containers are convenient at the airport, but many airlines ask for them to be removed or locked before check-in.
Pay attention to the smell, too. Cheap plastic sometimes has a strong odour, and your pet may refuse to go inside. Wash a new carrier without harsh chemicals and leave it to air for a couple of days.
Comfort for your pet
The inside of the carrier should be dry and soft. An absorbent pad works well, with a thin blanket that smells of home on top. Bedding that’s too thick reduces the usable height and can stop your pet from standing.
Cats often feel calmer when part of the carrier is darkened: you can drape a light cloth over it, leaving the ventilation clear. Dogs care more about seeing their owner, so in the cabin place the carrier with the door facing you.
Carriers for train and car travel
Requirements for ground transport are usually less strict than for air travel, but they have their own quirks. Rail companies often limit the combined length, width and height of a pet carrier if the pet travels as hand luggage, and ask that it stays inside the whole time. On some trains large dogs are only allowed muzzled and on a lead, without a carrier.
In a car, the carrier also acts as protection. An unsecured container can shift under hard braking and injure your pet. Place it on the floor behind the front seat or secure it across the seat with a seat belt if the design allows. Large dog crates fit well in the boot of an estate car, with the door facing the cabin.
- For a long car journey, choose a carrier slightly roomier than the minimum.
- Check that the handles and locks can bear your pet’s weight when carried.
- Plan for shade: a carrier can heat up in the sun inside a car.
- Keep spare bedding and clean-up bags in the car.
If your journey combines several types of transport — say, a train and then a plane — go by the strictest requirements so you don’t have to buy a second carrier on the way.
Buy it and get used to it
The best carrier is useless if your pet sees it for the first time on the day of travel. Buy it before the trip, leave it open at home and let your pet explore it at its own pace.
Before the trip, label the carrier: your name, phone number and your pet’s name. For the hold, add “Live Animals” stickers and “This Way Up” arrows if the airline requires them.
Requirements depend on the destination country, the type of animal and the travel date. Please check transport conditions with your airline or transport company.