Petmate All Purpose Kennel vs Soft Sided Kennel Cab Compared
By Petmate | Published: 2026-10-15
Category: Comparisons
A practical comparison of the Petmate All Purpose Kennel - Pet Porter and the Soft Sided Kennel Cab, covering durability, airline travel, car trips, and which pet parents should pick which.
Quick answer
Choose the Petmate All Purpose Kennel - Pet Porter if you want a hard-sided crate with a quick-latching system and built-in storage for treats, and you mostly travel by car or need a crate that holds its shape. Choose the Petmate Soft Sided Kennel Cab if you want a lighter, softer carrier with a two-door design, mesh walls, a shoulder strap, and a rear pocket, and you need something that works for general or in-cabin airline travel. The trade-off is rigidity and storage versus portability and easy loading.
What the Petmate All Purpose Kennel - Pet Porter is built for
The Petmate All Purpose Kennel - Pet Porter is a hard-sided kennel that focuses on safety and structure. It uses a quick-latching system to keep the door secure, and side vents promote healthy airflow. The 19-inch, 23-inch, 24-inch, and 26-inch sizes include built-in compartment covers, so you can store treats or other pet needs right on the kennel. That makes it a practical choice for car trips, vet visits, and everyday crate use where you want the kennel to stay put and keep its shape.
What the Petmate Soft Sided Kennel Cab is built for
The Petmate Soft Sided Kennel Cab is a softer, more portable carrier. It has a two-door design for both top and front loading, mesh walls to promote healthy airflow, a carrying handle, and a shoulder strap. The exterior rear pocket lets you bring your pet's essentials. It is made of a durable material with PVC backing. This design is aimed at general travel and in-cabin airline travel, where lighter weight and flexible access matter more than a rigid frame.
The trade-off: rigidity and storage vs portability and access
The Pet Porter gives you a hard-sided structure, a quick-latching system, and built-in storage compartments on select sizes. The Soft Sided Kennel Cab gives you a lighter carrier with top and front loading, mesh walls, a shoulder strap, and a rear pocket. Neither is universally better. If your pet is calm in a crate and you want something that holds its shape in the car, the Pet Porter is the more natural fit. If you need to carry your pet over your shoulder, load from the top, or travel in-cabin, the Soft Sided Kennel Cab is the more practical option.
How to choose based on your travel style
For car trips, the Pet Porter's hard sides and quick-latching system make it easy to secure and less likely to shift or collapse. For in-cabin airline travel, the Soft Sided Kennel Cab's softer body and shoulder strap make it easier to carry through an airport, and its two-door design helps you reach your pet without fully opening the carrier. If you need to check a kennel for air travel, the Petmate Kennel Airline Travel Kit adds a spill-resistant food and water cup, an absorbent kennel pad, Live Animals stickers, a temporary Pet ID tag, a shipping identification sticker, zip ties, bolts, washers, and nuts to help you prepare a kennel for shipping.
Trade-offs at a glance
- Structure and stability: The Pet Porter is hard-sided with a quick-latching system, so it holds its shape and stays secure in a car or crate setting. The Soft Sided Kennel Cab is softer and lighter, which makes it easier to carry but less rigid. Pick the Pet Porter if you want a kennel that keeps its form; pick the Soft Sided Kennel Cab if you want something lighter to carry.
- Loading and access: The Soft Sided Kennel Cab has a two-door design for top and front loading, which helps with pets that resist going in through a front door. The Pet Porter uses a single quick-latching door. If your pet is nervous about entering a crate, the top-loading option on the Soft Sided Kennel Cab can make a real difference.
- Travel and storage: The Soft Sided Kennel Cab has a shoulder strap and a rear pocket for essentials, and it is suited to general or in-cabin airline travel. The Pet Porter offers built-in compartment covers on 19-inch, 23-inch, 24-inch, and 26-inch sizes for treats and small items. Choose based on whether you need hands-free carrying or built-in storage on the kennel itself.
Product facts
- Petmate Soft Sided Kennel Cab: Two-door design for both top and front loading, mesh walls to promote healthy airflow, a carrying handle, a shoulder strap, and an exterior rear pocket. Made of a quality durable material with PVC backing. Perfect for general or in-cabin airline travel. Top and front loading make it easier to get a nervous pet in and out, while the shoulder strap and rear pocket help you carry the carrier and your pet's essentials hands-free.
- Petmate All Purpose Kennels- Pet Porter: Quick-latching system for your pet's safety and comfort. Fashion Pet Porters in sizes 19", 23", 24" and 26" offer built-in compartment covers for added storage of treats or other pet needs. Side vents promote a healthy airflow. The hard-sided shell and quick latch keep the kennel secure and stable, and the built-in compartments mean you can store treats or small items without a separate bag.
- Petmate Kennel Airline Travel Kit: Contains a spill-resistant food and water cup, an absorbent kennel pad, two Live Animals stickers, a temporary Pet ID tag, a shipping identification sticker, 12 zip ties, (12) 1 1/4 inch bolts, (5) 1 3/4 inch bolts, (5) 1 inch bolts, 12 washers, and 12 nuts. If you plan to ship or check a kennel, this kit supplies the labeling, bedding, and hardware that are often required, so you are not assembling those pieces separately.
Which Petmate carrier fits your situation
Best for
- Pet parents who want a hard-sided kennel with a quick-latching system and built-in storage for car trips and everyday crate use.
- Owners who need a kennel that holds its shape and stays stable in a vehicle.
- Those who want to add the Petmate Kennel Airline Travel Kit for shipping or checked air travel.
Not for
- Travelers who need a lightweight carrier they can carry over the shoulder through an airport, who should choose the Soft Sided Kennel Cab.
- Pets that do better with top loading, since the Pet Porter uses a front-loading door.
- Anyone who needs a soft-sided carrier for in-cabin airline travel.
