Transcontinental Pet Movers LLC as well as many other pet agents have tested these products over thousands of pet moves.
Here we share our Pet Travel Crate recommendations and the accessories that go with them — for the safety and comfort of your pets and to ensure they meet airline travel requirements.
We update this page when we discover and approve better products. Our latest recommendation: Capybaro Bowls.
Recommended shopping and assembly list for travel carriers, crates, and kennels
The minimal configuration of a pet travel crate requires items from each category:
Travel crate, something for food and water, and bedding.
IATA airline approved travel crates and carriers
- Select a travel crate here (there is no need to buy the travel kit):
- Petmate Sky Kennel (Various sizes are available, please select the appropriate one).
- Petmate Vari Kennel (Slightly alternate design to the Sky Kennel but less approved for stricter airlines)
- Height extension kit for Sky Kennel #500 for the Petmate Sky Kennel #500 (40″ length) if necessary.
- Height extension kit for Sky Kennel #700 for the Petmate Sky Kennel #700 (48″ length) if necessary.
- Pet Express Crate (In-between sizes not provided above)
Food and water
- For #200 to #400 carriers (28″ to 36″ length)
- Purchase 2 bowls here: Capybaro Bowls
- Optional (do consider if your pet is familiar with drinking from these bottles): Dripper bottle: 32 or 64 Oz Dripper Bottle
- For #500 and larger carriers (40″ length and larger)
- Purchase 1 or 2 for water: 1 Gallon Water Bucket
- Purchase 1 bowl for food: 40 Oz Stainless Steel Bowl
Absorbent bedding
- This can be any material that can absorb moisture (spilled water or pee) – sweater, towel, t-shirt, bedsheet, shawl/throw, etc. Pee-pads are also acceptable but will fare less in terms of comfort.
Non-mandatory products
While these items have passed screening/inspection for flight, it’s ultimately up to the discretion of the screening officer at the port of departure.
- Kitty Disposable Litter Box (fits in the 28″ travel carrier). If sold out, try Alternative litter box A or Alternative litter box B
- Kitty Litter Clumping Tofu Flushable (to be used with Disposable litter box above). If sold out, try these alternatives: Alternative tofu litter A or Alternative tofu litter B
- Apple AirTags
- Waterproof Covers for AirTags
- Water-filled Cooling Mat