Traveling with pets can be an adventure, but Pet Travel Carriers, while essential for safety, often lack comfort. If you’re a pet parent who frequently hits the road with your furry friend, you’ve likely noticed those standard, hard plastic carriers aren’t exactly plush. That’s why I created this improv quilted pet travel carrier mat for my cat, Pips, to make his journeys more enjoyable.
Improv quilted pet travel carrier mat by Shannon Fraser Designs. Bring comfort to your pet
What Exactly is a Pet Travel Carrier Mat?
While it might not be a standard store item, the concept of a pet travel carrier mat is simple. It’s essentially a liner designed to fit inside your pet carrier, adding a layer of softness and comfort to the base. Back when I first started sewing, I envisioned creating a custom liner for Pips’ carrier to improve his travel experience.
My original pet travel carrier mat was quite basic – made from an old towel and some patterned fabric. The key innovation was adding Velcro tabs. These tabs securely attach the mat to the carrier’s base, preventing it from sliding around during transit. I’m happy to report this simple solution worked incredibly well!
Improv quilted pet travel carrier mat by Shannon Fraser Designs. Pull out your fabric scraps to bring comfort to your pet
When is a Pet Carrier Mat Useful?
This pet travel carrier mat is designed for constant use. It stays inside Pips’ carrier all the time, making us always ready for spontaneous trips to the lake or planned vet visits. With the mat already in place, along with a few favorite toys, we can easily and quickly get ready to travel.
The best part is the easy cleanup. Once we arrive at our destination, or after a vet visit, I simply remove the pet travel carrier mat and toss it in the washing machine for a quick clean.
Improv quilted pet travel carrier mat by Shannon Fraser Designs. Bring comfort to your pet
Addressing Design Flaws in the Original Pet Carrier Mat
My initial pet travel carrier mat design wasn’t perfect. I made the seam allowance too small when stitching it together. Over time, and after numerous washes, the top fabric started to tear. It took a while for the damage to become noticeable, but it was a valuable lesson. For future versions, I knew I needed to increase the seam allowance for better durability.
Improv quilted pet travel carrier mat by Shannon Fraser Designs. Bring comfort to your pet
The Real Reason Behind Making a Pet Carrier Mat
You might be thinking, “Do pets really need a mat in their carrier? Aren’t they fine with just the plastic bottom?” While it’s true that cats and dogs can sleep just about anywhere, comfort wasn’t the sole purpose of this pet travel carrier mat. My primary goal was practicality – having an absorbent layer readily available in case of any travel accidents.
The towel layer in the mat is incredibly helpful for quickly cleaning up any messes, whether it’s vomit or, in the rare case, urine (thankfully, we’ve avoided the latter!). Upon arrival, it’s incredibly convenient to just remove the mat and wash it, keeping the carrier itself clean.
Improv quilted pet travel carrier mat by Shannon Fraser Designs. Bring comfort to your pet
Evolving the Pet Travel Carrier Mat Design for Enhanced Comfort
Since creating the original design back in 2014 and making several more in 2015, I decided it was time for an upgrade. This latest version is truly version 2.0, incorporating improvements for even greater pet comfort.
The biggest change came from my husband’s suggestion: more cushioning for Pips! So, instead of a single towel layer, I opted for a layered approach: batting sandwiched between two layers of toweling. This updated pet travel carrier mat is significantly thicker and plusher. In fact, it was quite a challenge to fit the bulk under my sewing machine’s presser foot!
For the top fabric, I chose to piece together scraps rather than using a solid piece. Pips is a big fan of quilts – he’s my resident quality control expert for a reason! Every quilt I make gets “Pips-approved” at some stage. He loves claiming every quilt in the house, so a patchwork top for his pet travel carrier mat felt fitting.
The original mat was a bit too small, so I also increased the overall size of this new version. It now provides better coverage of the entire pet travel carrier floor. To ensure it stays put, I also added extra Velcro tabs – eight in total, up from the original six – to really prevent any shifting.
Finally, I finished the edges with a bound finish, because you know my love for striped binding!
Improv quilted pet travel carrier mat by Shannon Fraser Designs. Bring comfort to your pet
Improv quilted pet travel carrier mat by Shannon Fraser Designs. Bring comfort to your pet
Velcro tabs ensure the improv quilted pet travel carrier liner stays securely in place, preventing slipping and bunching.
Why Improv Quilting for a Pet Carrier Mat?
Improv quilting, what I call my ‘freedom sessions’, is my go-to for quilting therapy. Recently, Pips had to undergo some veterinary tests, and he was quite unsettled when he returned home. He didn’t sleep properly for days (very concerning for us), and when he finally did, his digestive system was off. Lots of tummy troubles and excessive sleeping put me on high alert.
Noticing him sniffing his pet travel carrier and then turning away, I realized the smells from the vet clinic were likely lingering in the carrier, even after washing the liner. A new, improved pet travel carrier mat seemed like the perfect solution.
Bonus: Channeling my worry into this productive project was incredibly calming for me too!
Materials for Your DIY Pet Travel Carrier Mat
One of the best things about making these pet travel carrier mats is that they don’t require many materials or tools. Here’s what I used for this upgraded version:
- Fabric scraps for the patchwork top
- Batting for the inner cushion
- Towel fabric (two layers) for absorbency
- Binding fabric
- Velcro tabs
- Basic sewing supplies (sewing machine, thread, scissors, etc.)
It’s always satisfying to create something useful with minimal supplies!
Improv quilted pet travel carrier mat by Shannon Fraser Designs. Bring comfort to your pet
Fabric scraps leftover from making the Jade Ombre quilted coat were repurposed for this pet travel carrier mat project.
Final Thoughts on Pet Travel Comfort
I’m thrilled with how this latest pet travel carrier mat turned out. It’s incredibly thick and plush, and the improv patchwork brings me joy every time I see it. I wouldn’t recommend making it any thicker, as quilting it would become too challenging under a home sewing machine.
Improv quilted pet travel carrier mat by Shannon Fraser Designs. Bring comfort to your pet
I hope this project inspires you to think about your pet’s comfort when traveling. A simple pet travel carrier mat can make a big difference in their journey!
Have you created anything similar for your pet? Share your experiences in the comments below!
Happy quilting and happy travels!
xo
Shannon
