Van Ness Pets Calm Carrier Max with EZ Load Slide Out Drawer, Hard-Sided Travel Crate for Cats and Small Dogs

I’ve gone to a few different vets in the past few years and they have mostly all approved and complimented this carrier. They mentioned how easy it makes their job and how they wish other pet owners used this kind of carrier. Truly recommend it, especially for cats that aren’t too fond of carriers.

This crate is really well made and sturdy! It does have to be put together correctly in order to work correctly, but that's everything. Our favorite part about this carrier is that all of our veterinarians we've been to (which has been more than we'd want to because of our diabetic kitty) have complimented the carrier and said that it was their favorite thing ever! We even have had a tech ask to show off the carrier to everyone else in the office! Our diabetic kitty is very calm at the vet (she's been there enough), but for our squirrelly kittens, this carrier is aaaalmost perfect. The only change we'd like is also being able to open the front door, so it's a little bit easier to dump a kitten in there and shut the door quickly haha.

i’ve recently purchased the bigger carrier to bring my 12 pound and 7 pound cats to the vet together because the feel safer in the same carrier. (i do bring a small carrier for the smaller cat just in case). today was the first time i used it and it was fine, if not a little difficult to lug around, until we got home. i had just my 12 pound cat in the carrier with a blanket that weighs no more than one pound and the handle busted and my poor cat took a tumble down the stairs. this was the first time using the crate!!! luckily everyone was okay just a tad traumatized.It is not worth 80+ dollars given the flimsy materials and poor construction (there are four screws that hold the top on with plastic caps to keep them in place). this should be more than able to hold both cats at once (equal to just under 20 lbs) and it couldn’t even hold one.

I bought this carrier for my 'large-breed' senior cat with arthritis. I like the concept of sliding the drawer base in, and it was definitely easier to gently place my cat onto the foam bed (purchased separately) in the carrier compared to front- or top-load carriers I have used. Our vet also liked the concept because they could leave the cat in the carrier (where they felt more secure) for the exam and injections. There were a few things I wish were different, which is true for every type of carrier I've tried over the years and with numerous cats. I found assembly a bit frustrating because the instructions are mainly pictures with arrows, which resulted in some trial-and-error interpretation. If the manufacturer ever makes a revised version that addresses my concerns, I would buy it without thinking twice.The carrier was large enough for my cat to stand, turn around, and stretch out. It has good ventilation.The drawer was easier to slide into place when the carrier was on carpet than on a hard floor. I had to make sure the vet techs knew not to try to slide the drawer all the way out. There's a stopper, but it's not as sturdy as I would like (the plastic is very flexible) and once it's popped loose, I had to take the whole carrier apart to get the drawer back in properly. I also left the sticker with how-to-open instructions on for their benefit, and will likely re-write with a marker when the sticker wears off.The plastic of the carrier overall felt thinner and less rigid than other carriers I have. It flexed more under pressure (e.g., cats standing on top), and there was some side and bottom bowing, especially when it was lifted from the handle while my 16-lb cat was inside.Speaking of handles: the handle popped off when the carrier was lifted with the cat inside. Twice. So I wrote a caution note on the top for the vet techs to not use the handle.Based on the thin/flexible plastic tab connector system, I was also concerned about the top separating from the bottom, either if the carrier was dropped when the handle came loose, or if my cat got spicy, so I used a luggage belt to keep things together. Just in case. Ideally, there would be a few bolts or clips to reinforce the tab connectors keeping the pieces together. (Note: I use a belt for our top-loading carrier too, because I don't trust that the lid won't randomly pop open when the carrier is being lifted. I may have cat carrier trust issues not specific to this purchase. But seriously, who wants to try to catch a terrified cat in a busy parking lot after it crashed to the ground in a busted carrier?)The spring-loaded bars that fasten the drawer closed are tricky to align with the base, every time. This is where the extremely flexible sides were an advantage I guess. Fortunately, I am able to get the drawer mostly closed before spending time fussing with the closure.I would love to have a door that's designed to be removed easily (this one is tough to snap into place and I wouldn't recommend doing it regularly as that would stress the plastic channels) so I could leave the drawer slid into the base and use the carrier as a cozy cat cave when not needed for transport.Bottom line: if you have a cat that is calm in a carrier, and doesn't panic when being placed in a carrier, and you don't mind not using the handle to carry, then this one will probably work fine. If your cat is spicy about being loaded, you may not be able to slide the drawer into place fast enough to prevent escape or injury to you or them. Spicy cats might also be able to escape a closed carrier, which is possibly why the product information says it's not recommended for "aggressive" animals.

I deliberated on getting this carrier because a few reviewers thought it was flimsy and wouldn't hold up. NOT the case at all. Yes, it is a bit thinner plastic than another carrier I had, but it is fine - no issues. The great option with this carrier, that other ones do not have, is the pull out door. Period. I have a cat that does not go to the vet. The one vet said he could handle her, and after a lot of cat screaming and growling the vet and 2 nurses gave up and said get her out of here. Now she gets a tranquilizer first before going to the new vet, but even with that she is not coming out of that cage without a major battle. Now all I have to do is pull out the drawer and the vet can check her. She's (relatively) happy and no one is getting hurt as she lays in her bed. Super design and easy to put together if you have any skills and read the instructions.

I think this carrier will work well but it was a pain in the butt to assemble. The front screw holes don’t line up at all so the screws don’t fit. I jammed one screw in part way and zip tied the other side. I thought about returning it but I need this carrier next week. The back screws lined up great and it’s solid. Still…$70?!?

I will be moving soon and will take my cats with me. Some of my cats are tame and can be handled easily. Some are gentle creatures that simply do not want to be touched. This carrier (I purchased the large size) should make the process of confining the cats for travel less stressful for both the cats and me. I did try the carrier out when I received it and it seems to work as described by the manufacturer. I agree with a reviewer who commented that the carrier is not as sturdy as it could be. But I think it will hold up just fine. My indoor cats are not aggressive. Could a frightened feral damage the carrier? Possibly. But I won’t be using this carrier for that type of cat, nor would I recommend it for an adult cat bent on escaping.,I will be ordering several more large carriers. I do have kittens that will fit in the smaller size carrier but the large ones are more useful since they accommodate all size cats.