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Best Cat Baskets UK: Basket Beds and Basket Carriers
To sleep in, the best cat basket is a round wicker basket with a washable cushion, such as Aumüller's 50cm basket at about £35 from Zooplus. To carry a cat to the vet, a top-opening plastic carrier such as the Catit Cabrio (about £43) beats a wicker basket.
Prices checked 28 September 2026.
How we research this: we have not lab-tested these products. The picks come from manufacturer specifications, UK retailer listings and customer reviews in aggregate.
Is a cat basket a bed or a carrier?
Both: in the UK "cat basket" can mean a wicker bed with a cushion or the thing you carry the cat to the vet in, a habit left over from when carriers really were wicker hampers.
The shops mix the two up, so this guide splits them.
- A basket to sleep in: a round wicker basket with a washable cushion costs about £35 at Zooplus. For a cat that likes to hide, a felt or fleece cave costs £9 to £48. For winter, a radiator bed costs £8 to £33. Jump to basket beds.
- A basket to carry the cat in: a traditional wicker carrier looks the part, but for vet trips a hard plastic carrier at about £23 to £60 is the better buy, for the reasons below. Jump to basket carriers.
How big should a cat basket be?
A bed basket should be at least as wide inside as your cat is long, and a carrier big enough for the cat to stand and turn round.
Measure the cat from nose to the base of the tail while it is lying down. An average adult domestic cat measures about 46cm; a large Maine Coon or Ragdoll can be 60cm or more.
| Basket | Sizing rule | Average cat (46cm) | Large breed (60cm) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed, cat curls up | Inside width at least the cat's length | 45 to 50cm | 60cm+ |
| Bed, cat stretches out | Inside width about 1.5 times the cat's length | 65 to 70cm | 90cm, or a mat instead |
| Carrier | Cat can stand and turn round; length at least 1.5 times the cat's length for long journeys | 50cm for vet trips, larger for travel | 60cm+ or an XL carrier |
Most listings give outside measurements. Wicker walls take 2 to 3cm off each side, and a thick cushion takes height off a carrier, so buy one size up if you are between two.
Cat basket beds
| Type | Price (Sept 2026) | Good for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Round wicker basket with cushion | About £35 (Aumüller 50cm, Zooplus) | Cats that like a raised rim to rest their chin on | Loose wicker ends; cats also scratch wicker, which frays it |
| Wicker den (covered basket) | £33 to £69 | Cats that sleep hidden | Hard to clean inside |
| Felt or wool cave | £9 to £48 | Nervous and rescue cats, cold houses | Cheap felt goes flat within months |
| Radiator basket | £8 to £33 | Older cats and short-haired breeds in winter | Needs a standard panel radiator, and the hooks must fit |
| Self-warming or microwavable pad in a basket | £5 to £16 | Adding warmth to any basket without a plug | Only works if the cat lies on it |
Prices at UK pet retailers including Zooplus, checked 28 September 2026.
1. Round wicker basket with cushion: the classic cat basket
This is the basket most people picture. A 55cm round basket fits most adult cats curled up, and the rim gives them something to lean on. Check that the cushion cover comes off for washing, and run a hand round the inside before the cat does: cheaper baskets can have sharp cut ends, a common complaint in retailer reviews.
2. MEOWFIA felt cave: best covered basket
A hand-felted wool cave that holds its shape, unlike thin polyester felt. It suits cats that sleep under the duvet or behind the sofa, and rescue cats often settle faster with somewhere enclosed to hide. Buy the large size for anything over 5kg.
3. Budget felt or fleece cave: try one before paying for wool
If you do not know whether your cat likes enclosed beds, a cheap felt cave answers the question. It will flatten within months, but it costs about the same as a bag of litter.
4. Trixie radiator bed: best winter basket
A fabric sling on a metal frame that hangs off the radiator, so the cat gets warmth from below and a view. They suit older cats with stiff joints and thin-coated breeds that go looking for heat. Measure the radiator's depth and check it will take the hooks; they do not fit column radiators or covers.
5. Self-warming pad: add warmth to any basket
A self-warming pad has a reflective layer inside that bounces the cat's own heat back; K&H is the best-known make. Drop one into a wicker basket in October and take it out in April. A microwavable pad such as the SnuggleSafe (about £15) gives more heat for a few hours. For a basket in a cold conservatory or utility room, a low-voltage electric heated pad is the stronger option.
For cave, donut, heated and window beds that are not baskets, see the best cat beds guide.
Should you use a wicker basket to carry a cat?
You can, but a top-opening plastic carrier is the better choice for vet trips, because wicker cannot be disinfected and most wicker carriers only open at the front.
Plenty of cats have travelled in a wicker basket for years. The problems are practical. Cats are often sick or soil the carrier on the way to the vet, and wicker cannot be cleaned properly afterwards. A front-only door means a frightened cat has to be dragged out. And a wicker frame does not protect the cat much if it slides off a car seat.
A carrier whose top comes off lets the vet examine the cat in the bottom half, which most cats find less stressful than being pulled out of a door. If you like the look of wicker, keep it as a bed and buy a plastic carrier for travel. The cat carrier guide covers soft, backpack and large-cat carriers.
Cat basket carriers
| Carrier | Price (Sept 2026) | Opens | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wicker carrier with grid door | Varies widely | Front door | Looks the part; harder to clean and to get a cat out of |
| Catit Cabrio | About £43 | Top opens 180° and lifts off | Best for vet visits |
| Trixie Capri | About £23 (Midi) to £60 (Capri 3 open top) | Front, top on some sizes | Cheapest decent option |
6. Wicker carrier with a grid door: best traditional basket carrier
If you want a wicker carrier, pick one with a metal grid door and a proper latch rather than a leather strap, and check the prices across sellers, which vary a lot. Put a washable liner or puppy pad in the bottom for vet trips.
7. Catit Cabrio: best carrier for the vet
The top half opens through 180 degrees and comes off completely, so the cat can stay in the base during an examination. It wipes clean. At 51cm long it suits an average adult cat; large breeds need an XL carrier.
8. Trixie Capri or Ferplast Atlas: best budget carrier
Both are plain hard carriers that last for years. The Trixie Midi-Capri (44cm) is about £23 but is rated for pets up to 5kg; the larger Capri 3 with an opening top is about £60. Choose a size with a top door if the range offers one, and go a size up for a large breed. At this price there is no reason to use a cardboard carrier from the vet.
Check the Trixie Capri on Amazon · Check the Ferplast Atlas on Amazon
Which cat baskets should you avoid?
Avoid a cheap combined bed-and-carrier wicker basket as your only carrier, any basket that closes with a string or strap, and anything sized for a kitten.
- A combined "bed and carrier" wicker basket with a wire door as your only carrier. They are cheaply made, and reviewers mention sharp ends and weak doors.
- Any basket with a string or strap closure for travel. A determined cat pushes through it.
- A basket sized for a kitten. Cats reach close to adult size by about a year old, and large breeds keep growing for three or four years.