In this article I list out the pros and cons of a $40 cat backpack vs a $150 one. We bought both of these on our own and are not sponsored by either company.
When we first decided to take Big Chungus on adventures in a cat backpack, we did not want to buy her a $150 backpack and then find out that she hated being in it. We did some research, the PetAmi had great ratings, and it was under $50.
Pros
Both sides fully zip open
Comes in lots of colors
Newly added waist strap and has chest strap
Multiple pockets
Sturdy base for cat to sit on
Comes with expandable water dish
Padding on the back
The cushion is removable for cleaning
Zippers buckle together for cat proof design
Cons
Top opening is more towards the front
Ours did not come with waist straps (only chest straps)
The plastic on the bottom can start to dig into your back after a longer walk
If your cat is over 12 lbs the support may be compromised
Once we realized that Big Chungus enjoyed being in the cat backpack, we decided to look for one that would be more comfortable during longer hikes. After some research, we came across this option. We keep this one in the van. We did end up taking off the hip straps that it came with, and replacing it with sturdier ones from one of our hiking backpacks.
Pros
More room than the PetAmi
Pocket for water bladder
Hip straps can be taken on or off
Flattens well for storage
Can be used horizontally as a carrier + comes with additional strap
More organizational pockets
The entire front view is mesh so cats get a great outdoor view
Zippers buckle together for a cat proof design
Bungee clips can attach to cats harness
Cons
Expensive
The hip straps that it comes with are not comfortable
If you are tall, the hip strap location will be at your belly button or higher
So... Which one do we like better?
If our main goal was to take her on short walks around the neighborhood, to a restaurant, or outdoor facility, we would have stuck with the PetAmi.
We do really like the TravelCat for the longer hikes. It is definitely more comfortable for endeavors that extend beyond 30 minutes. We found that Big Chungus enjoyed both of them, but she has a better view of the outdoors in the TravelCat since the entire front of it is mesh. If the TravelCat would have come with better hip straps, then it would be an overall homerun.
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