Travel Cat The Navigator Cat Backpack Review (Updated 2023)

If you’re looking for the best cat backpack, chances are you’ve come across The Navigator Backpack from the brand Travel Cat. This is one of the few pet backpacks designed with cats in mind, marketed towards hikers and outdoor lovers. However, it does come with a premium price tag. In this review, we will go over the good and the bad, and whether I recommend this for you.

This review has been updated as of Nov 2023, as Travel Cat has made some improvements to the backpack. Detailed comparisons are included at the bottom of the post.

Where to buy

The Navigator backpack is available directly from the TravelCat website and they ship internationally. They are also available on Amazon Canada and Amazon USA.

Please note that as an Amazon Associate I may earn a commission from qualifying purchases. This will not affect the price of your purchases.

Features

Features include:

• Holds up to 25 lbs of cat
• Breathable & sturdy mesh windows on all three sides
• Water reservoir pocket, zippered pocket with 3 inside pockets, two flexible side pockets for water bottles and supplies
• Two interior tethers inside to attach harnesses or leashes
• Zipper clips on all zippers
• Can be used as a backpack or “traditional” carrier
• Detachable shoulder strap
• Airline Compliance: TravelCat designed this backpack to be airline compliant, and this backpack fits on most airlines in the US, except for JetBlue. In Canada, this backpack will fit on Air Canada if compressed slightly, but not Westjet. If you’re travelling by plane, make sure to find out the size restriction of the pet carrier!

Pros

• Size: This backpack is one of the largest you will find on the market. This is good if you have a cat on the larger side, or if you have two smaller cats you want to carry together. The larger size gives your cat more space to move around, if they are inside for longer periods of time. My 13 lb cat is able to curl up inside the backpack and look very comfy, and he can get in and out with ease as well.
• Storage Pockets: The storage pockets is what sold me and why I use this backpack as my main cat backpack. There are two bottle holders (which I use to carry items such as water bottles, tripods, snacks, extra leashes and clothing), and a closed zipper space for storing more valuable items (such as a phone, wallet, or keys). Although it is nowhere near enough for bringing everything I would usually bring while hiking, for short walks the pockets are the best.
• Quality: The construction of this backpack feels very sturdy. The materials used for the mesh and fabric feel high quality and does not show any signs of wear and tear even after using it for two years. If you are concerned about your cat’s claws ripping through the mesh, you should not have any issues with this backpack.
• Boxy design: Most pet backpacks seem to be a form of a box on shoulder straps, and this backpack is also inspired by the boxy design. The boxy-ness allows the backpack to hold its shape, which means getting in and out, and moving around inside, is easy for your cat. If your cat likes to ride on your shoulder or the top of a backpack, this is a good choice for them.

Cons

• Weight of backpack: Due to the high quality materials used and the extra features of this backpack, it does feel heavier compared to the other more basic backpacks.
• Price: This backpack has a premium price tag and it might be difficult to justify.

Do I recommend this backpack?

I would recommend this backpack to anyone looking for a good quality everyday backpack with a full list of features. This is one of the best backpacks for general walks with your cat, light hikes, occasional plane travel, and everyday use. The only times I would not recommend this backpack is if you’re looking for a backpack primarily for hiking (as the storage space will hold you back on more serious hikes), or if you are looking primarily for a plane travel backpack, and may have to take a flight on JetBlue or WestJet, as these airlines have smaller size restrictions.

This is actually my favourite as an everyday / everywhere type of backpack. I find this backpack to be comfortable enough for my cat and myself, but the many pocket spaces is what sets this backpack apart from the rest. I tend to need to carry a lot of items with me, and I find the double bottle holders and zippered pockets to be extremely helpful, although not quite enough for a longer hike. I find the quality of materials to be exceptionally sturdy, and even after years of using it, there does not appear to be any damage. I also appreciate that the company Travel Cat makes improvements to their design based on customer feedback!

The main hesitation I have with this backpack is the price. It is a lot more expensive than other options, which may not be within the budget of some people. However, if you use a cat backpack regularly and plan to for several years, I do think it is worth it to invest in a higher quality product that will last you for years. If you are new to cat adventures and are unsure if your cat will even use it, I would perhaps suggest getting a cheaper option to test it out.

If you’re looking for a cheaper alternative with a similar design, check out the Petsfit Backpack Review.

And if you’re looking for a different style altogether, have a look through 12 other backpack options reviewed by various cat adventurers – 12 Cat Backpack Reviews

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Detailed comparison with the old backpack

If you’re wondering what the differences between the two versions are, I’ve taken pictures of everything and documented them below.

Side by side comparison – old (left), new (right):

The new version is about 2″ taller, 1″ wider, and 1″ less deep. The new size fits perfectly on most airlines including Air Canada. This means more space for your cat, but also a little bulkier to carry. The shoulder straps have a sliding adjustment instead of the old loops. The pockets are exactly the same in design.

Detailed comparison:

Pic 1 & 2 – different strap design to keep the front flap open. I actually prefer the placement of the old one, as it is easier to hook up, but it still works.

Pic 3 & 4 – the new one has a spot to stow the strap, so its not dangling in front of your cat all the time. Its a nice feature but I don’t find myself using it often, because it takes more time to undo it.

Pic 5 & 6, 7 & 8 – the inner sides have been improved so there are metal rods and straps giving the backpack more structure. Definitely an improvement! Removing the padded sides also makes it much easier to fold up and store flat.

Pic 9 & 10 – the interior tethers are much longer! This was one of my complaints of the old one. It is now adjustable and long enough for a cat to lay down while being tethered, although I don’t personally use these tether straps.

The most important improvement is shown below. You can see that the new one is far better in terms of not sloping downwards!! This was my main complaint about the old version and its great to see how much better it is now. The old version would dig into the curved part of my back, and the new one hits below my tailbone which is much better.

In conclusion: If you have the old version and are wondering whether you should replace it with the new one, I would say that the differences are minor enough to not have to replace it. But if you’re buying it new, you’ll be happy to know its a much better version than before!

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