Sherpa brand pet carriers are consistently the best-selling and number one rated pet carrier on NY Times list. I have one and I love the airflow and different zipper openings provided. They also have a Guaranteed On Board Program that will refund your ticket and pet travel costs if you are denied boarding with your pet.

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I bought this for my cat, it fits nicely across my back seat and seatbelts in, and it’s enough room for him to move about in and stretch out too

If you're traveling by car and have enough space, then a dog crate is best. You can put all his stuff in it too (familiar stuff, food, water, even a mini litterbox). This is proven to be the best low stress methods for cats.

Resources: https://www.maddiesfund.org/low-stress-cat-transport.htm

Here is a great video that summarizes flying with pets: https://youtu.be/aEKbf2tXm4Q

It's a cumbersome process, getting all the paperwork from the airline, country of destination, vet certificates that are required for flight. Some terrible stories also happened when pets have flown in cargo. Best wishes with this!

https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/you-and-me-small-animal-pet-carrier-large

Best purchase I’ve made! They can’t get out and I can easily fit three big girls in there comfortably.

Something that opens from the top.

https://app.chewy.com/s9jNWR3FCob

I have this one for my two girls and I like it. They come in different sizes. I got the medium because they travel with me for long car rides, but if you are only doing things like bringing two to the vet the small would work.

I have fabric collapsible carriers that have a waterproof lining. I bought them years ago, so I’m not sure if this specific type is still available but they were under $30 about 10 years ago. They’re technically dog carriers and have bones on the side, but I don’t mind. My only complaint is that It didn’t have a sturdy base, so I added a bit of spare plywood wrapped in cloth to the bottom for stability.
The things you want to consider: How big is your cat expected to be? Make sure the carrier will be large enough to accommodate their future size. Waterproofing? If you don’t get a waterproof one, line it with a puppy pad to help prevent damage to your vehicle.
Is it attractive enough for you to leave out all the time in your home? The key to getting kitty to not freak out and get into the carrier easily is to leave it out as a thing they can explore. Utilize it in your play as a spot where they can hide to sneak attack their toys. Is it easy for kitty to access? The backpack carriers are cute and convenient (I have one for my smallest girl), but make sure you leave it open in a way that they can jump in/out without your assistance when it’s not in use for vet/trips.

When I first got a cat I had one of the fabric ones, and at first that worked pretty well. But in the 5 months I had him for, we ended up going to the vet at least once a month (it turns out he wasn't a healthy guy) and he peed in the carrier every single time we were in the car, which leaked through onto the car seat. After several instances of that, I ended up having to get rid of it and getting a hard carrier, which he definitely disliked more and it was a lot harder to get him into, but at least it was easier to clean and the pee didnt leak through it! So I think for most cats a soft carrier works better, but it depends on the situation.

I bought a fabric collapsable one. It’s a bit bigger than the normal hard plastic ones, stores better, and came with a fluffy fleece base which is removable and washable.

Thought the question said "What kind of career is best for cats?" LOL!

I suggest a hard carrier. We picked up our kitten at the pet store and bought one while we were there and I am SO GLAD we went with a hard one. The MINUTE we drove off he had explosive diarrhea all over the back of the carrier. I was able to clean it out with disinfecting wipes and paper towels we had in the car. He wasn't sick, just nervous. When we got home we lined it with a folded up flat sheet and he used it as one of his many hidey holes.

I have a Sherpa brand carrier. It's purple, has two ways to get in or out, a removeable liner and a mesh zip wall if they want more air. Medium 16 lbs.

Mine chewed up a carrier like that, so we just use a smaller cage that fits in the backseat of the car.

My chin started chewing up a carrier like that one, so while I wait for my all-metal wired one to arrive, I've actually been using one of those hamster "starter kits" from Petco (minus the ledge and tiny wheel and whatnot) for vet trips. The bottom/lower sides are still plastic, so I put down a fleece liner and keep an eye on her to make sure she isn't chewing it. But it's just the right size for her to move around and stretch while staying portable!

I recommend a wire carrier as they will chew on it, and you don't want to have to worry about a foreign body.

I bought this travel carrier for emergencies and just incase we have to move or something. Anyway I'm having a little buyer's remorse because I wanted a wire carrier. You know, so she cant chew a hole in it. Everything I saw was just a bit too big for what I wanted. So I settled for this one. But now I'm thinking I should have just gotten a wire carrier. What does everyone here use for their travel carrier?

Sturdibag Large fits perfectly on Delta and cats can't get out of it easily at all. It's the one that's typically recommended in Facebook groups for flying overseas with cats and smaller dogs.

Edit - If you have any issues with importing your cat, you can fly into France and then take the ferry to Ireland. France can give you an EU Pet Passport as well, but the USDA paperwork should be enough for a few months anyway. Ireland is funny sometimes about people flying in with pets but doesn't mind it if you come in on the ferry. Don't ask me why.

This might be helpful. Various options and comparison.
https://burntdonut.com/purrfect-travel-best-cat-carriers-2024-guide/

I can recommend Trixie Mochila Connor or similar called Trixie Shiva carrier. It fits all airlines even with the most limited size restrictions. I’m traveling a lot with my cat and have two different carriers but in fact this one we use most. The only thing I dont like about this carrier there is no soft pad so you need to buy additional one for your ketty comfort especially on the long flights.

I got two of the hard plastic ones, no. 1 on the good List. I had one of those soft carriers before because they take up less space in my storage room. But one of my cats got a bit scared on the drive to the vet and peed in it. The bottom was made out of some kind of sturdy foam with a fluffy side on top and the pee completely soaked the thing. Couldn’t get it in the washer without destroying it and no amount of hand-washing got completed rid of the smell. Well, it was okayish to a human nose but I didn’t want to put my cat into a carrier where he could still smell the pee. So I bought a plastic carrier. They’re much easier to clean. I just put a towel inside so it’s a bit more comfortable. I actually put one of the carriers in the living room because my cat likes it so much he uses it as a cat bed sometimes.

I have struggled finding decent cat carriers. Part of the issue is my cat is TERRIFIED of carriers of any kind. We found him out side of a restaurant inside a tiny travel carrier when he was a kitten, abandoned by the dumpsters in the back, and he has NEVER gotten over it. He hates boxes, carriers, being under blankets and any situation where he can’t easily see a way out. It makes going to the vet very stressful as he will howl and cry the whole time.

We have two small dog cages we got when we adopted our two kittens (as in the shelter gave them to us to take the kittens home) and while he is okay with sleeping on top of them, he will not get inside them. He has an appointment next week and I am stressing trying to figure out how to get him there.

I find those carriers are a little too all or nothing- there’s only one door and it’s half the carrier, leaving little compromise between me and an angry cat. For example when the cat and has to be ISO’d down we have no option but to wrestle them out of it, where as the top + front allows me to clamp down w a towel from above and bring the iso in the front. The hard triangle one is not as bad as the fabric one because I’ve seen cats literally rip the fabric ones or get their claws stuck while trying to escape or get back in.

All in all any carrier is better than bringing them in loose which happens…. Way too often

Glad to see some don’t mind the number 3. I have one so I can take my cat with me on my bicycle. I have a number 1 from the good list if she’s really sick, needs an operation, etc (I’ll take an uber), but I don’t have a car, so for vaccines and checkups I plop my cat in the backpack and just bike her over there.

I prefer a hard one that has a top that opens or comes off. The soft ones are horrible and floppy and make getting the animal out difficult usually. Also the standard "cat size" carriers are usually too small and stress the cat out. Go for a larger one that allows them to sit up.

I'm a vet student and all my professors tell me they prefer the type of hard carrier that can open at the frontside and top (so you can grap the cat or dog from above). A carrier per pet is the most useful, seeing as you most often examen one pet at the time and don't want to have to deal with another per running off once you grap one of the pets.

Hope this helps

Hard over soft for sure and for a cat having the ones where the bottom just slides out is the beeeessssst. Allows you to get a hiding cat right out for an exam without having to move them or dump them or make loads of noise which can really stress cats out.

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High volume spay/neuter tech here. My preference are the hard carriers with the regular door on the side, and the top access door. Those doors on top are invaluable, especially for cats!