Whether you need to take your dog or cat to the vet, to a quick trip to the park or maybe even on an international flight, a reliable and sturdy pet carrier is a must-have item to keep your pet safe. Not only they will protect you pet from getting injured on a sudden stop, they will also keep them comfortable and cozy.
Nowadays, portable pet carriers and kennels come in a variety of sizes and shapes. One of the most popular lines of pet carrier is Pet Porter by Petmate. They offer a huge selection of carriers at affordable prices: from small units for small dogs and cats to larger, giant pet porter for really big dogs. They also offer replacement parts such as doors and nuts and bolts if you want to fix your existing Pet Porter.
The Good & The Bad About Pet Porter
The Good
- Heavy-duty plastic shell with wire door and plastic wingnuts that won’t corrode – good, quality materials
- Easy to put together
- Airline approved
- Some models have raised floors to keep your pet dry
- Steel door which a dog cannot open easily or squeeze through (like with those wire crates)
The Bad
- Some models may not have ventilation on all sides, which is a requirement for international air travel (domestic flights are ok, though). This can be easily solved by drilling a few extra holes.
Here are a few important things to consider when choosing a Pet Porter
Are You Buying Mostly For Traveling Or Crating?
Plastic kennels are great for travel, while wire kennels are best used in the home. If you are buying a Pet Porter mostly for crating overnight at home, you want to go with a slightly larger size, so your pet will be comfortable and have enough room to stand up and move around. On the other hand, if you are going to use your Pet Porter mostly for online travel, your pet will be better off with one that does not have too much space or there could be a lot of jostling around during turbulence.
What Size?
Below are only some of the breeds that will fit in the Pet Porter sizes available. If you do not see your breed, a good rule-of-thumb is to select a kennel that is 1-2″ taller than your pet’s standing height.
Note: exact size may change for different models. The measures here are to be used as a base only.
SMALL – (21″X16″X15″) – Perfect for small breeds like Welsh Corgis, Minature Pinschers, Schipperkes, Chihuahuas, Shih Tzus, Silky Terriers, Toy Poodles and Cats.
MEDIUM – (27″x20″x19″) – Perfect for medium breeds like Cocker Spaniels, Basset Hounds, Beagles, Shetland Sheepdogs, Dachshunds, Miniature Poodles, Lhasa Apsos, Corgis or even larger Cats such as Maine Coons and Ragdolls.
INTERMEDIATE – (32″x22″x23″) – The Pet Porter intermediate is recommend for breeds like Chows, Bulldogs, Springer Spaniels, Dalmatians, Shar Peis, Lhasa Apsos, Pugs, Cairn Tarriers and Westies.
LARGE – (36″X24″X26″) – The large Pet Porter is ideal for larger breeds such as Airdales, Boxers, Standard Poodles and Whippets.
X-LARGE – (40″X27″x30″) – This one is perfect for extra large breeds such as Retrievers, Boxers, Samoyed, Afghans, Shepherds, Dobermans, Collies, Rottweilers, Labradors, Setters and Siberian Huskies.
GIANT – (48″X32″x35″) – The giant Pet Porter is great for pets up to 34 inches tall, such as St. Bernards, Greyhounds, Great Danes, Newfoundlands, Bullmastiffs, Doberman Pinschers, and Irish Setters.
Our Conclusion
No matter what Pet Porter kennel you choose, rest assured they are not only sturdy and durable, but also easy to assemble and clean and airline approved (if you are going to travel). All Pet Porter models have a variety of vents to keep your pet comfortable, easy to find replacement parts and one year warranty from the manufacturer. Some models also have deluxe features such as raised interior floor to keep your pet dry.
Where To Get The Best Price
After looking around at local pet shops and online, I can say that Amazon usually has the best price. Some models have discounts and free shipping, but these don’t last in stock for too long — and the discounts change all the time. So if you see something that you like, I advise you to get right away.