How to choose a large cat carrier

From 7 kg upwards, standard sizes no longer cut it — this is where a large cat carrier comes in. A typical carrier measures 40 × 30 × 30 cm; an adult Maine Coon can easily measure 55 cm from nose to the base of the tail, and needs 65 cm. The problem isn't that the cat “won't fit”: it's that they fit curled into a ball, unable to turn round or lie down, which turns every journey into an ordeal.

The right measurement isn't weight

It's the mistake every guide starts with. Two 7 kg cats can differ by ten centimetres in length: one is compact and solid, the other long and big-boned. Weight tells you how heavy they are to carry, not how much space they take up.

Take three measurements, with your cat relaxed:

• Length — from nose to the base of the tail, then +10 cm.
• Sitting height — from the floor to the top of the head, then +5 to 10 cm.
• Shoulder width, plus a few centimetres.

That gives you the minimum internal dimensions. Make sure a product page gives the inside measurements, not the outside: on a padded carrier, the difference can reach 3 to 4 cm, which is enough to tip a model from “just right” to “too small”. The full method is in our guide to how big a cat carrier should be.

As a guide, a cat of 8 kg or more generally needs 55 to 60 cm of internal length as a minimum.

What gives way first with a big cat

The base

A soft floor sags under 8 kg: the cat ends up squashed into a dip, with nothing to brace against, and their usable space vanishes in one go. A rigid base isn't a luxury at this weight — it's what keeps the stated dimensions meaningful once the cat is inside.

The fastenings

A big cat leaning against a side panel puts a force on it that a thin zip can't take. Look for wide fastenings, backed up by a safety buckle that stops the slider from creeping back.

Carrying

Eight kilos plus the bag comes to nearly ten kilos to carry. A thin shoulder strap becomes unbearable after a few minutes. You need wide, padded shoulder straps, or a cushioned handle — and this is where the backpack format has a decisive edge, since it spreads the load across both shoulders.

Ventilation

A big cat gives off more heat in a space that's proportionally more cramped. Mesh on two or three sides stops being a nice extra and becomes a necessity, especially in the car in summer.

Depth matters more than weight
With 28 cm of depth, a heavily built cat of up to 8 kg can genuinely turn round inside, and the top panel unbuttons so they can put their head out. Discover the wide-opening backpack →

The breeds this applies to

The Maine Coon is the textbook case — an adult male commonly weighs 8 to 9 kg. But the Norwegian Forest Cat, the Siberian, the Ragdoll and the British Shorthair all reach sizes that spill over standard dimensions, not to mention big-boned everyday moggies of no particular breed who tip the scales at 7 kg.

If you'd like to know more about the needs of the biggest of them all, we've covered their lifestyle in our Maine Coon profile.

The subject nobody talks about: the aircraft cabin

Let's be frank — above 7 to 8 kg, the cabin is rarely an option. Airlines generally cap the total weight (cat + carrier) at around 8 kg, and set dimensions close to 46 × 28 × 24 cm. A big cat fits neither limit.

The options left are the hold, in an approved hard crate, or not flying at all. This isn't something to discover the day before you leave: check your airline's conditions before you even book, and read flying with your cat in the cabin. For trains, the rules in France are more flexible — see taking the train with your cat.

Backpack or hand-carried?

At this weight, a backpack has a real ergonomic advantage: ten kilos on two straps stays manageable; the same ten kilos at the end of one arm doesn't.

But watch out for the catch: a backpack is narrower by design, since it has to sit on your back. So you need to run the three tests — standing, turning round, lying down — even more strictly than with a hand-carried model. The pros and cons of the format are covered in cat backpacks: good idea or bad idea.

A top opening becomes essential

With a 4 kg cat, sliding them in through the front is doable. With an unwilling 8 kg cat, it's unmanageable: you don't have the grip, and they have the weight and the leverage.

A carrier whose top panel opens fully changes the whole operation — you lower the cat in vertically, in two seconds, without a struggle. The same advantage applies at the vet's, where the examination can take place right in the carrier opened from the top, with no need to haul out a tense animal.

Our carrier for big cats

The wide-opening backpack — top-loading, 36.5 × 28 × 43 cm, designed for cats up to 8 kg. It's the model in the range built for exactly this case, and it ticks the boxes listed above: a large top panel that opens fully, a wide mesh window, wide padded shoulder straps, a cushioned handle and an inner clip to attach the harness before you open it.

An honest caveat: this format is still a backpack, so it's taller than it is long. If your cat is well over 8 kg or longer than 60 cm, measure them and compare before ordering — better to avoid a return than end up with a cat who isn't comfortable.

The expandable backpack — at a lower price, designed for cats up to 9 kg — is the other route: compact on the move, it expands when you stop so your cat can stretch out and turn round. It's a different answer to the same space problem, particularly well suited to long outings with breaks.

All our carriers are in the Outdoors & adventure collection. For the full comparison, our guide to choosing a cat carrier goes through the criteria in order — and if your cat isn't used to travelling yet, start with the carrier training routine: a big cat in a panic is far harder to handle than a small one.