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If you want more of an open experience for your cat when you are riding with them than a pet seat is a perfect way to do this.
What Is A Cat Car Seat?
These are a type of cat carrier but they are more open and without a top. They let your cat be more open and they are attached top a strap that is on the carrier keeping your cat out of trouble. Most of these have a foam bolster that has a fabric cover which is machine washable and they have a plush inside. Some of them are made of plastic as well they also can be raised or they sit lower.
Some of these also have side pockets to store things like food or water and even cat toys. They can also have mesh on them so your cat can stay cool in the car. When you use these booster seats you need to tether them into the seat which it comes with. You can do this with either their collar or you can use a harness as well.
Why Get A Cat Car Seat?
If you don’t really want to enclose your cat in a carrier so they can see whats going on outside and you want to make the experience for them more enjoyable or you want to make the car ride more safe for them then these would be great reasons. these can also aid in motion sickness because your cat has the ability to see out the window. your cat can also use it to sleep in which can be nice as well. It can also keep cat hair off your seats opposed to if you were to go with just get a regular seat belt strap.
Another thing I should note is that your cat might have to get used to riding with you in the car before you can use this car seat effectively as cats can easily get scared in the car.
1: PetSafe Happy Ride Booster Seat
Out of all the cat car seat carriers that I have used this is the one that I liked the most just because its the most secure, its made the best out of all the car seats here and its very affordable.When I unboxed it my initial recation was that the material felt very nice and high quality. It was very easy to set up in my car. All you do is wrap it around the headrest and the body of your passenger seat and you can also raise it so your cat can see outside the window.
The cushion inside I particularly liked the most and my cat liked it even more. It also has a strap to lock into your cats harness so they don’t jump out of the carrier. Overall my cat enjoyed using this thing and I would highly recommend it.
Pros:
- Very secure to the seat
- Keeps your pet safe from car crashes
- Can hold up to 12 to 25 pounds depending on the size you get
- Allows you to adjust the height of the the seat
- Comes in Brown, Navy and Tan
- Easy to setup
Cons:
- Virtually no cons
Click here to check the current price on chewy.com
2: Pettom Pet Car Seat Carrier
Pet Gear make some really great products and this one is no exception. When I tested this seat out my first impression of it was just how well it was made. It felt similar to a luggage bag. It also has these really nice mesh pockets that you can put toys and food into.
The straps are also really nice and feel really comfortable to carry around. The only thing I don’t like about this one is its slightly bulky but it not a huge problem for me as it doesn’t really get in the way too much and it not really that heavy to carry around. When I put my cat in to it she seemed to like sitting in it a lot and even slept in it at some point.
Pros:
- Good value for the money
- Pockets and mesh ventilation
- can fit pets up to 15 pounds
- Comes in Grey and Khaki
- Secure and doesn’t wobble
- Comes in small (15”L×12.5”W×9.5”H) and large (16 L x 13.5 W x 12 H)
Cons:
- Material can potentially rip easy for some people
- Not good for a cat that likes to chew things
- Material smells funny before use
Click here for the Amazon link
3: K&H Pet Products Bucket Booster Car Seat
This car seat has some drawbacks but its one of my favorites that I have used. K&H makes great products and has 20 years of experience making pet products. It has two straps that you can attach to your cats harness or collar. The material is also very soft and comfortable and my cat really liked sitting in this one. The biggest drawback with this seat is that I had a problem getting it to not wobble around. Overall its a great choice if you can get it to stay in place and you cat doesn’t move around too much.
Pros:
- Quick Installation
- It comes in Grey, Realtree EDGE Camo and Tan
- Comes in small 14.5 x 20 and large 14.5 x 24
- Sits very high up so your cat can see what is outside your car window
Cons:
- The price tag is a little steep
- It can be wobbly
- The strap isn’t as secure as I would like it
Click here for the chewy.com link
4: SWIHELP Car Booster Seat
This is a great choice if you want something that works well but you are on a tight budget. Setting it up was fairly easy to do and I didn’t have too many problems with doing so. You have to put these pipes into the top trimming by slipping them into the fabric and your pretty much set.
Strapping the booster seat in was also simple. They lock in with clips. I don’t like how it only straps into the headrest and the straps are in a really odd position in front of the booster seat. I also am not really a fan of the side meshing. The tether was also easy to use. My cat was pleased with the result. Overall its very good for the price.
Pros:
- Very price conscious
- Made out of high quality waterproof 600D oxford, nylon belt, antirust D ring, PVC mesh net
- Sizing is 40 X 32 X 24 cm
- Can handle a 14 pound cat
- Straps wrap around the car seat head rest
- foldable when not in use
Cons:
- Paw pattern design might not be for everyone
- Straps are in awkward position when locked in
Click here for the amazon link
5: Kurgo Rover Booster Car Seat
All of the Kurgo products I have tested I really enjoyed using them and this one is no exception. The material is very well made and it has a tether strap to keep your cat in place when you are driving. It can hold pretty much any cat unless they weigh more than 20 pounds. I set this up in my car and it was very easy to do just like the other booster seats I have tried. My cat also really liked riding in this one and didn’t have a problem using it at all.
Pros:
- Comes in Black/Blue, Black/Orange, Charcoal/Chili Red, Heather Grey, Heather Khaki
- Adjust the height to allow your cat to see out the car window
- Built to last for life
- Dimensions are 12″D x 16″W x 8″H
Cons:
- Virtually no cons
Click here for the chewy.com link
6: Pet Gear Dog & Cat Bucket Seat Booster
If you want something that holds multiple cats this would be the best choice to go with. Its made out of heavy duty plastic. It also has a cheetah print or grey felt texture on the inside depending on the color you get and it feels very soft.
The biggest pro of this booster seat is that it doesn’t require straps to hold it place and all you need is your seat belts to hold it in place. It makes things a lot easier. The biggest drawback with this design is that you can’t raise it but the height its in should allow your cat to see out the window. When my cats rode in this nbooster seat they really liked the experience and didn’t give me any problems while driving.
Pros:
- Holds multiple pets
- Comes in Jaguar, Chocolate and Fog
- Sizing comes in 17 and 22 inches
- Very sturdy so it doesn’t wobble around
Cons:
- Design might not be to your liking since its heavy plastic
- Has a California cancer warning
- Non raiseable
- Slightly expensive
Click here for the chewy.com link
7: HDP Deluxe Lookout Dog, Cat & Small Animal Booster Car Seat
This is another great cat car seat that I tested and really enjoyed using. It has a very nice design, built very well and has many pockets to put things in like treats and toys. Its made out of polyester and has a metal frame. I don’t really like the strap design as they secure and hang in the front of the seat like the SWIHELP booster seat does. The tether is also included and works like it should and my cat was very happy when using this booster seat and enjoyed the ride.
Pros:
- Comes in Pink, Red, Black and Blue
- Dimensions are measured at 14.2 x 9 x 14.2 inches; folds to 2.5 inches for easy storage
- Can Hold up to a 20 pound cat
- Made out of a 600 denier polyester
- Strap goes around the headrest
Cons:
- Can potentially fall apart after time but not always the case
Click here for the chewy.com link
8: Snoozer Pet Products Lookout II Dog & Cat Car Seat
I tested the K&H booster seat and really enjoyed it but this is another booster seat that I tested that was very similar to it that I also really liked. This is a great cat car seat because its waterproof and made out foam form and a cozy, faux lamb’s wool interior and it feels really nice on the hands.
It also has a flap in the front that reveals a storage tray to put whatever you need on the trip. This one also has doesn’t have the front missing like the K&H does which I didn’t like too much. My cat ended taking a nap on this thing while I was driving so I assume she approves.
Pros:
- Can hold heavy cats (up to 18 pounds)
- Secured by the headrest. Box secure design
- Waterproof
- Made out of foam form and a cozy, faux lamb’s wool interior
Cons:
- Price is on the higher end
- Lack of colors to choose from
- Not as aesthetically pleasing as I would like it
Click here for the chewy.com link
9: Kurgo Skybox Booster Seat
This is another great Kurgo booster seat that I had a really good experience with. Its got a water proof exterior, washable liner and reversable pad and it has a tether to lock your cat in place. I really like how the inside felt in this one. It also has pockets on the side so you can store things that your cat needs. When I set it up it was very easy to do. It straps onto the headrest and you wrap the other straps around the seat to secure it. My cat also liked this booster seat as well.
Pros:
- Comes in a nice black/orange/grey color
- Handles cats up to 30 pounds
- Machine washable lining
- Collapsible when not in use
- Very easy to install
Cons:
- Virtually no cons
Click here for the chewy.com link
Conclusion
Overall, any of these would be a great choice to go with just make sure they fit your specific needs since things like sizing, material and design matter. If you want your pet to be less bored and they can enjoy the view outside the car this would be a great thing to invest in. If you happen to get into a car accident with your booster seat you should probably replace it to ensure its safety. If you need a harness to go with the car seat I have an article on that you can read here “Best Cat Harnesses You Can Buy“.
