Will you be traveling with your pet? Hands N Paws has the largest selection of dog and cat carriers on the web. Our pet carriers are fashionable, functional and very stylish. Many of our pet carriers also fit airline size requirements. On Hands N Paws you'll also find pet carriers can double as a car seat, bike basket or simply a travel bag for your pet.

Whether it's a designer pet carrier, leather pet carrier, small dog carrier or cat carrying bag, we have such variety that you're bound to find a pet travel bag that meets your dog or cat carrying needs. Many of our customers return to buy three or four pet carriers, each for a selective use.

Features To Look For In A Good Pet Carrier

We have a large variety of pet carriers to satisfy any budget or taste. Our dog carriers in particular are trendy, stylish and budget friendly for those watching wallets. Regardless of your pet carrying goal, there are a number of features one should consider depending on your needs. Sometimes one must consider color, or a need for superior ventilation or extra padding. Here are some features for your pet carrier that you may want to consider:

• Removable padded bottoms
• Elasticized safety collar
• Side mesh paneling (for ventilation)
• Top flap closure (keeping an agitated pet inside)
• Weight (a lightweight pet carrier is best especially for long trips or airline travel)
• Padding (for softness and comfort)
• Straps (consider for your pet's back support as well as your own)

Measuring Your Pet For A Pet Carrier

We do not recommend specific sizes for specific pets because we are not able to verify measurements; dogs of the same breed can vary in terms of weight, or dogs of the same weight can vary in terms of dimensions. We provide manufacturer guidelines for specific dog breeds, but also encourage customers to check out our very detailed section for measuring pets.

Airline Travel

Each airline has its own requirements for travel with pets. We provide the dimensions of our carriers so you can check to see if they are within a specific airline carrier's guidelines. Customers should note that there's more to airline travel with pets than the carrier. There may be restrictions on the type of pet and number of pets. There are usually requirements on the age -- American Airlines requires that dogs and cats be a minimum of eight weeks old.
Remember, airlines also distinguish between requirements for carriers inside the cabin and as cargo and for hard and soft carriers. Also, many airlines are going to be concerned about some of the features. For example, American Airlines requires that soft sided carriers be:

• water-repellent,
• padded nylon with mesh ventilation on two or more sides.

You can actually buy a pet carrier at the airport if you get stuck. Most have them. Just note, if you buy a carrier from the airline, they start at $45 and can go over $90! (American Airlines). And they're pretty plain.

The maximum size that American Airlines permits for a cabin carrier is: 23" long x 13" wide x 9" high. Funnily enough, we could find nothing in American Airlines documentation or after talking with several reps that prohibited a "peek hole" opening. We had assumed that this was a "no no" but not necessarily. You should note, however, that airline personnel have discretion to prohibit anything that they think is not safe or secure. The reps we spoke to all stated that they had observed passengers with Yorkies or other small dogs with purse style or peep hole carriers that had traveled without incident. Most pets are usually quite calm during travel and that is one of the main concerns that they don't disrupt the flight. If your pet is generally well behaved in his or her carrier, there's less chance of your pet carrier being a problem if it is within carry-on guidelines for fitting under your seat and meeting the baggage allowance. There's usually an overall limit to how many pets can be in the cabin at one time, so don't forget to make a reservation for you pet after you have made one for yourself.

Consider the following when it comes to airline pet travel:

• Most airlines require your pet to be at least eight weeks old.
• Your should let your pet become acquainted with his or her pet carrier prior to travel. Pets become much less stressed that way.
• Airlines may require a health certificate prior to travel that should be issued by your vet within 30 days of travel.
• Check that cargo is shipped on your specific flight if you want your pet to travel by cargo. This is not always available in the hot summer months or when it's very cold. If you want to use cargo, make sure you have the appropriate pet carrier for that trip.