Best Pet Stroller for Dogs and Cats: Light, Travel and Jogger Picks
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A pet stroller lets a cat or a small to medium dog come along on walks, errands and trips without walking the whole way. We did not test these strollers ourselves. The hands-on test results on this page come from Cats.com, whose reviewer tried five strollers with their own cats on pavement, grass and dirt. Expert picks for dogs come from NBC Select, which interviewed a veterinarian, dog trainers and a behavior consultant rather than testing strollers itself. Weight limits and features come from the maker’s own pages and manuals.
The short answer: for cats and small dogs up to 45 pounds, Cats.com’s top pick is the Pet Gear View 360, whose carrier also clicks onto a car booster frame. For a lighter stroller for pets up to 25 pounds, its pick is the Pet Gear Happy Trails Lite. For one bigger dog, up to 75 pounds, NBC Select’s experts picked the Pet Gear No-Zip NV.
How we chose: a product gets a page in our catalog only if it is current on the maker’s own site and we can match it to the version a review site covered. We name some other picks from the same reviews without a link. We did not test anything ourselves, and we do not list prices or star ratings.
A stroller is not a replacement for walks
The experts NBC Select spoke to say a stroller should not take the place of a healthy dog’s daily walks and exercise. They suggest strollers for senior dogs with mobility problems, pets recovering from surgery and small dogs in places that are risky on foot, such as busy transit or hot pavement. A certified behavior consultant also told NBC Select that if a healthy dog suddenly refuses to walk or tires quickly, there may be an underlying problem, such as pain, to deal with first.
So if your dog or cat is slowing down, limping, recovering from surgery or has a joint or heart problem, ask your vet first. Your vet can tell you how much walking suits your pet and whether a stroller makes sense. A stroller is a way to get around, not a treatment. Some pets also find busy places stressful, and the same vet told NBC Select that a stroller can add to that stress for a fearful dog.
What to look for
- Weight limit: check the maker’s limit, not just the listing. Pet Gear’s manuals give 25 pounds for the Happy Trails Lite, 45 for the View 360, 75 for the NV and 150 for the Expedition, and warn that overloading can make a stroller unstable.
- Room to stand and turn: NBC Select’s experts say your dog should be able to stand up and turn around, with a bed a little longer than your dog. Measure your pet and compare with the interior size.
- Interior tether: a short tether inside the stroller clips to your pet’s harness, not the collar. Our guides to cat harnesses and measuring a dog for a harness can help.
- Ventilation and shade: mesh panels and a canopy that opens and closes. NBC Select’s vet advises against using a stroller in extreme heat.
- Brakes: rear brakes you can lock with a foot. Pet Gear’s manuals say to apply them whenever you park.
- Wheels: small wheels suit sidewalks; larger or air-free tires and a front wheel that locks straight help on rough paths and for jogging.
- Fold size and weight: light strollers weigh around 15 pounds; bigger joggers can weigh over 30. Check that it fits your car trunk and that you can lift it.
The picks
Best overall for cats and small dogs: Pet Gear View 360
The Pet Gear View 360 Stroller, Booster and Carrier Travel System is three products in one: a carrier, a car booster seat frame and a stroller frame. The carrier has push-button entry on both sides instead of zippers, mesh all the way around, an interior tether and a removable, washable fleece liner. The interior is 19 by 13 by 20 inches and the system weighs 20.5 pounds (Pet Gear). The manual gives a maximum pet weight of 45 pounds and 6 pounds for the basket (Pet Gear manual).
It was Cats.com‘s favorite of the strollers its reviewer tried. It glided over pavement, turned easily and worked fairly well on grass and dirt, with a bumpier ride. The reviewer had worried the push-button lid might leave gaps, but found the frame sturdy and the lid closed tightly. The low cup holder spins and spills if something bumps it.
Best lightweight: Pet Gear Happy Trails Lite NO-ZIP
The Pet Gear Happy Trails Lite NO-ZIP Pet Stroller has a zipperless locking lid, a panoramic window, an elevated paw rest, an interior tether, a removable waterproof liner, rear brakes and front shock absorbers. The interior is 22 by 11 by 17 inches (Pet Gear), and the manual gives a maximum pet weight of 25 pounds (Pet Gear manual).
Cats.com‘s reviewer found it fast to assemble and easy to fold, and smooth on sidewalks, but not suited to off-trail use. The lid clasp was not secure enough for a cat that scratches at it, and it has one tether, so it carries one pet. The carrier does not come off the frame.
For one bigger dog: Pet Gear No-Zip NV
The Pet Gear No-Zip NV Pet Stroller is a jogger-style stroller with 12 inch quick-release, no-flat gel tires, a front wheel that locks straight for rough ground, rear brakes and shock absorbers, a one-hand fold, a weather cover and an interior tether. It weighs 32 pounds (Pet Gear). The manual gives a maximum pet weight of 75 pounds and says it is designed for one pet only and should be folded and carried on stairs and escalators (Pet Gear manual).
NBC Select named it the best overall dog stroller based on its experts’ picks, not its own testing. The veterinarian it interviewed liked the canopy that latches closed, the light, foldable design and the mesh for airflow, and a dog trainer said it has the best wheels for going off-road.
Other picks from the same reviews
For larger dogs, NBC Select’s trainer picked the Pet Gear NO-ZIP Expedition, which Pet Gear rates for pets up to 150 pounds, with front and rear doors so a dog can walk in and out without turning around and two interior tethers (Pet Gear, manual). We could not match an Amazon listing to it from a review page, so it is not in our catalog yet. Cats.com’s best off-road pick was the HPZ Pet Rover, which its reviewer found durable with large wheels but hard to assemble, with a wooden carrier base that should not get wet; we could not confirm a maker page for it. Its budget pick, the Frisco Collapsible Stroller, is a Chewy brand. NBC Select’s experts also picked strollers from Ibiyaya and Monibloom.
How to get your pet used to a stroller
- Park the stroller at home with the brakes on and let your pet sniff it. Reward calm interest with praise (NBC Select).
- Place your pet inside with the lid open, clip the tether to their harness and reward them.
- Close the lid for a few seconds at a time, then longer.
- Roll the stroller slowly around your home before you go outside.
- Start with short, quiet outings. Never leave your pet alone in the stroller: Cats.com’s reviewer found cats can squirm out over the side even with the tether shortened, and Pet Gear’s manuals say not to leave a pet unattended.
Many cats link carriers with the vet, so a stroller is not for every cat. For more on that, see how to get a cat into a carrier.
If you would rather bring your dog along on a bike, see our guide to choosing a dog bike basket or trailer.
FAQ
Are pet strollers good for dogs?
They can help dogs that cannot walk far, according to the experts NBC Select interviewed, but should not replace a healthy dog’s walks and exercise. If your dog is slowing down or in pain, see your vet first.
Can you use a pet stroller for a cat?
Yes. NBC Select’s vet says most pet strollers work for cats who feel secure in them. Cats.com’s reviewer warns that cats are agile enough to wriggle out even when tethered, so supervise every trip.
What weight limit do I need?
Choose a stroller whose maker-stated limit is above your pet’s weight, and check that your pet can stand and turn around inside. Weight limits vary from 25 pounds for light strollers to 150 pounds for the largest Pet Gear model.
Can I use a baby stroller for my dog?
The vet NBC Select interviewed advises against it: pet strollers have features such as closing lids, tethers and flat beds that baby strollers do not.
Can a stroller carry two pets?
Only if the maker says so. Pet Gear says the NV is for one pet, while the View 360 has two tethers, per Cats.com, and the Expedition has two.
For more, read the dog leash, harness and carrier buying guide, our best cat carrier and dog ramp and pet stairs picks, and how to travel with a dog in the car.