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You can buy Sleepypod carriers, beds, and accessories on Amazon. In a hurry? We’ll add a table below with links to key products. These are Affiliate links, so we may make a small commission, at no cost to you, if you use them.
| Sleepypod Mobile Pet Bed (Crash Tested) | Car travel and everyday use | Up to 15 pounds / 7 kg | Check Price on Amazon US |
| Sleepypod Air In-Cabin Pet Carrier | Flying with larger cats | Up to 18 pounds / 8 kg | Check Price on Amazon US Check Price on Amazon UK |
| Sleepypod Mini | Car travel and everyday use for smaller cats | Up to 7 pounds / 3.2 kg | Check Price on Amazon US |
| Sleepypod Atom | Flying/general travel with smaller cats | Up to 12 pounds / 5.5 kg | Check Price on Amazon US Check Price on Amazon UK |
What is a Sleepypod?
The Sleepypod is three products in one: a mobile pet bed, a pet carrier, and a car seat. It’s also a very attractive product that will complement your luggage when you’re travelling. It’s not like the other, more functional plastic carriers you may have seen before and looks more like a stylish bag.
They’re made from luggage-grade material.
Remove the dome, and you have a cat bed.
Zip it back on, attach the shoulder strap, and it’s a carrier.
If you’re travelling with a cat in the car, pass the seatbelt around its base and then under the carry handle, and it’s a car seat.
One of the things that we really like about the Sleepod is that your cat can use it as a bed before traveling. This helps them get used to it and can help them remain calm when the time comes to use it.
But there’s more to this carrier than just its attractive design.
Sleepypod’s crash-tested carriers have been independently tested by the Center for Pet Safety. The Mobile Pet Bed is certified for pets up to 15 pounds, the Air up to 18 pounds and the Atom up to 12 pounds.
Sleepypod says its design is intended to reduce movement and help protect pets during a collision. It can be tempting to let cats free-roam inside the car when you’re traveling, but it’s much safer for both the cat and passengers for them to be in a carrier.
If you’re worried that a fabric carrier might not be secure enough for your cat, then there are other hard and soft carriers you can buy.
The Sleepypod comes in a wide range of colours available: pink, brown, strawberry and black, among others. It’s straightforward to keep clean, too, you just give it a quick touch with the vacuum or put it on a gentle cycle in the washing machine.
The super-soft bedding inside is easy to remove, and it’s machine-washable, too. The round shape allows your cat to lie in a more natural pose than can sometimes be the case with more rectangular boxes.
There’s no assembly required, either.
Which Sleepypod Should I Buy?
| Sleepypod | Best for | Weight rating | Main feature |
| Mobile Cat Bed | Car travel and everyday use | Up to 15 pounds | Bed, carrier and cat seat |
| Sleepypod Air | Air travel | up to 18 pounds, 8 kg | Compresses under airline seats |
| Atom | Smaller cats and general travel | Up to 12 pounds, 5.5 kg | Smaller, more compact carrier, and designed for in-cabin air travel. |
| Mini | Very small cats | Up to 7 pounds, 3 kg | Smaller version of the mobile cat bed. |
What’s the Difference Between the Sleepypod Air and Atom?
| Sleepypod Air | Sleepypod Atom | |
|---|---|---|
| Main purpose | Air travel + general travel | General travel + air travel |
| Weight limit | Up to 18 lb / 8 kg | Up to 12 lb / 5.5 kg |
| Shape | Long, rectangular soft carrier | More compact, structured carrier |
| Airline use | Designed specifically to maximise under-seat space | Fits under many airline seats |
| Compression | Yes — expands and contracts in length | Doesn’t have the same expandable-length design |
| Car use | Crash-tested car seat | Crash-tested car seat |
| Bed/den | Yes | Yes |
| Luggage trolley sleeve | Yes | Yes |
Is the Sleepypod Air Good for Flying?
The Sleepypod Air is described as ‘airline-approved,’ but always double-check with the airline before flying, as there’s no universal rule when it comes to in-cabin carriers. There are different rules entirely if you’re planning on putting your cat in the aircraft’s hold. We have an article about carriers for traveling by plane that you might find useful.
The Sleepypod Air is specifically designed for in-cabin air travel. Its length can contract from 22 inches to 16 inches, allowing it to adapt to different under-seat spaces.
Is a Sleepypod Worth the Money?
There’s no doubt that the Sleepypod is more expensive than your average pet carrier, but it does offer a range of benefits that you won’t find in many other carriers.
We love the fact that it’s three products in one and that it looks so stylish.
What’s most important about the Sleepypod, however, is that it’s been crash-tested. This will be a huge selling point for any owner who regularly travels with cats or small dogs. You can even watch the Sleepypod crash-test video on YouTube.
It has washable, comfortable bedding inside and can be used inside your house as a bed. This can be a great way to expose your cat to its carrier more often, reducing stress and anxiety during travel.
Sleepypod also sells replacement bedding, safety tethers, etc, so if you’re looking for a long-term option (over a cheaper but less durable carrier), then this is a good choice.
But there are several potential downsides to them.
They cost more than other carriers and may not be a great investment if you only use them to visit the vet once or twice a year.
They’re not suitable for large breed cats
Alternatives to the Sleepypod
Sleepypod is unique product compared to other carriers on the market. While there aren’t any other like-for-like alternatives, there are a lot of other great options, especially if you’re on a budget or if you’re looking for a carrier that’s hard-sided.
If you’re looking for something a little cheaper, or a hard-sided carrier, or maybe even just to get an idea of what else is on the market. Here are examples of other carriers you can buy.
| Crash-tested Car Seat, Bed, and Carrier | Best for: Those who like the Sleepypod’s features but are on a tighter budget | Cats up to 20 pounds. There’s also lifetime crash replacement, so if you’re in an accident, you can get a brand-new replacement. | Check Price on Amazon US |
| Soft-Sided TSA-Approved Carrier | Best for: Everyday use or in-cabin plane travel | Cats up to 15 pounds Compresses down easily for easy storage when not in use. | Check Price on Amazon US |
| Basic Hard-Sided Carrier | Best for: Occasional use to and from the vets or for anxious or nervous cats, prone to biting or clawing carriers. | Cats up to 11 pounds Easy to wipe clean and more durable than a soft-sided carrier. | Basic two-door hard carrier on Amazon US Basic two-door hard carrier on Amazon UK |
| Budget Soft-Sided Carrier | Best for: Calmer cats and generally acceptable for airline travel (although always double-check). | Cats up to 16 pounds This is a comfortable carrier and includes a foldable bowl. | Soft-sided carrier on Amazon US Soft-sided carrier on Amazon UK |
FAQs
- Which Sleepypod is best for a cat?
It depends on what you’re using it for.
The Sleepypod Mobile Pet Bed is a great all-around day-to-day product. The fact that it’s a mobile pet bed rather than just a carrier makes it more comfortable for your cat and more stylish for you to carry. It’s great for car journeys and vet visits, and can be used in the home to acclimate your cat to feeling comfortable around carriers and car journeys.
For air travel, the Sleepypod Air is the best option for in-cabin travel.
The Atom is a smaller carrier for in-cabin travel (but can also be used for general use)
The Mini is best for general use for smaller cats. - Is Sleepypod worth the money?
Yes, we think so, especially as it’s been crash-tested. However, if you are looking for something a little cheaper, there are plenty of other great options available. - Is Sleepypod safe in the car?
The mobile bed has been crash-tested and comes with restraints to secure it safely to the car. - Is the Sleepypod Air airline-approved?
There is no universal rule for in-cabin carriers. It’s best to check current regulations for the route you’re taking and the airlines you’re using. The Sleepypod Air and Atom, however, are ‘airline compliant’, which means they can compress down under an aircraft’s seat.