Amazon Basics Soft-Sided Mesh Pet Carrier

For the price, you can't go wrong. I had a hard plastic carrier for years because my cat gets carsick and the plastic was easy to hose off, but after 10 years, it's started breaking down on me, so it was time for a new carrier. I was surprised to find an Amazon Basics one, but figured why not give it a shot since it got good reviews. It's a well-constructed bag; I got the large, my cat is a fatty, and I wasn't worried about the straps or anything. The nylon is pliable but strong. The double-straps are a nice touch; carry in your hand or over your shoulder, or remove the shoulder strap if you're not going to use it. There's a firm cardboard piece that goes in the bottom to keep the bag upright; a soft layer velcros on to that that can be removed and machine-washed, and there's plenty of extra room in the bag if you want to wrap towels or anything around the bottom. For my travels, I put the soft layer on, wrapped plastic shopping bags over that (2 standard plastic grocery store bags, one on each end, more than covered the whole piece), then wrapped an old towel over that. I trust the nylon not to absorb fluids, but I figured if she did get carsick, my best bet would be to just put the dirty towel in a bag and wrap the spare around the remaining stuff in there. The carrier has zipper openings at the top and the front, which is great for ease of getting the animals in and out. My cat generally won't walk into a carrier because she knows what the carrier means, but once she's in. she's fine, so being able to just plop her in from the top is nice. There's a leash hook inside, which I did actually use in the car so I could open up the front to give her some space without her flying around the car, and it seemed to work fine, she was able to lay down comfortably with it attached. There's a huge amount of mesh space on this bag, which is great if you have a claustrophobic animal. I think one of the reasons she got carsick in her old carrier was she didn't have much of a view, so she freaked herself out, so she threw up. In this carrier, I was able to open the front for her, and she could see me next to her in the driver's seat without having to peek through a tiny hole, which I think made her more comfortable. I was also able to open the top and stick my hand in to pet her, which was nice. Overall, for the price, you simply cannot beat this bag for trips around town. I admittedly only use a carrier a few times a year, so I don't need a fancy one; if I was taking an animal with me regularly or planning a long road trip, I might invest in something cushier, but for trips to the vet, groomer, or cat-sitter a few times a year, this is more than satisfactory. Highly recommend this carrier.