Best soft cat carrier - looking for recommendations

[TheGirlOnTheLanding]

I'm fed up of the plastic cat carrier doors - they're fiddly and often break - so I've been looking at the soft carriers with zips instead. We never have to transport BiteyCat far (5 mins in the car to the vet) but he's a big hefty lad so it needs to be robust enough to take his weight and give him room to wriggle/turn himself around. Any recommendations?

I'd never have a soft carrier. I want some protection In the event of a crash. Got fed up of having to take my baskets apart to extract the girls at the vets. So I got the curver picnic basket style baskets they are amazing!

They are generally not considered as safe. I know of cats who have managed to undo the zips with their claws!

Have a look at the top opening metal wire carriers, the best known brands in the UK are Metalcote and MDC. They are extremely safe and secure, and the top opening is much easier to put a cat in. I cover ours with a blanket or towel when taking it anywhere so my cats feel secure and not exposed with the wire top.

My cat baskets, about 30 years old and still going strong.
Never failed us yet. (Although there is something rather poignant about the tags on the handles recording long deceased cats)

I've still got Maia's tags on her basket. Don't want to take it off.

We invested in one of these - very pricey but has withstood two cats now and several years of train and car journeys of 2hours as we were working in different cities. We wanted a secure, comfortable carrier.

Rigid base section so has some protection against bumps and can double as bed for travel/cattery. Fully reversible and washable lining (furry/cool material) and several zipped bits in lid and side for getting them in and out. Two big pockets on the side for treats/wipes/gloves. Netting top so he can see out, big padded handle and long shoulder strap. Easy to secure with car seat belts. Also has clip for collar for further security.

Current cat regular Houdini so do need to ensure zips closed tight and end flap tucked inside so he can't open it, but this the cat who figured out how to lift the door on his crate to escape....

www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0116HV7FM/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_image?psc=1&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&ie=UTF8

I have one (not from Amazon, although they do something similar) which has wheels and an extendible handle so you can pull it; also straps so that you can wear it as a back-pack. (We don't have a car, so I have to use the bus)

Mia is quite heavy (6.5kg) and I live 5 mins away from my vet so I have a basket to transport her in that I can very easily attach to my bike. Plus my vet loves the basket because it is very easy to put Mia in and take her out. And yes, I have taken her out on bike rides ☺️