Firstrax Port-A-Crate E2 Indoor/Outdoor Pet Home

I just purchased 2 of these for my young cats so I would have something to take them to the vet in. They were delivered today and I can't believe the quality of this product. It is sturdy, well-designed and comes with step by step instructions protected in a plastic sleeve. The cats took to them right away. The designers thought of everything including a safety clip to ensure that the front flap stays zipped and Velcro patches so you can roll up the flap and keep it open so they can play in it. Our cats are 12 lbs and 13 lbs respectively, and they are just the right size for them.

We were skeptical of putting a teething yellow lab pup in a fabric crate, but when we saw this in a local store, we were impressed! Very sturdy and tight! Extemely well made.

We bought the E36, even though it was a little small for a full size labrador retriever, and we're glad we did. It's perfect for him now; he's 9 weeks old and he took to it like a den. He walks right in when he's tired. A few minor corrections about not mouthing it, along with a few great toys and rawhide chews, and he's been absolutely fine. He loves it.

It's surprisingly nice to be able to open the top as well. We can pick him right up and carry him outside after a nap.

I would recommend using a little softened bar soap on the zippers, because they're very tight. And of course, I can't recommend leaving a teething pup in it for long hours. Nor would you put an aggresive or vicious animal in this crate.

We keep it right in our bedroom and the zipper jingles when he scratches the door. We get up and lift him out and bring him to the door. Fabulous!

By the time he outgrows this crate, he probably won't need it, but I may have to buy him the larger one anyway just because he loves it!

Buy Firstrax Port-A-Crate E2 Indoor/Outdoor Pet Home Now

I had looked everywhere to find this crate in the older style model which the company changed about a year ago. The description when I ordered it said it had the stake tie down straps which is specifically what I wanted to secure crates on a rack in my van for travel to shows and the pictures showed the larger mesh window areas of the older model which provide better ventilation. What I got was the newer model which doesn't have tie down straps and has smaller mesh windows. The picture still shows the larger mesh window area and stake tie down straps, which is not what the newer model has. The description has now been changed to reflect the newer mode, but picture has not been changed. Amazon should make sure their pictures and description reflect exactly what they are selling!

This brand crate is well made and holds up well as I have three of the older model this size and two of a larger size model. I do not like the changes the company made to the newer version though being smaller mesh windows on sides and no tie down straps.

Read Best Reviews of Firstrax Port-A-Crate E2 Indoor/Outdoor Pet Home Here

I recently adopted a 5 month old female German Shepherd / Doberman puppy and needed a crate to carry in the car or keep at the office, etc... I've got one of the Midwest metal crates (42") that works great but it's tremendously heavy to move around frequently!

Insert the Firstrax Port-A-Crate (36"). I'd been considering the Noz2Noz crates but was afraid that she would tear the crate apart after seeing some of the pictures people had posted online. This crate was about half the cost of the N2N crate (I got this crate for $50 direct from Amazon) and seemed to fit the bill perfectly for a worthwhile "test" crate.

Pros:

-Light weight (couple lbs max)

-Great build / fabric quality

-Easy to put up / break down

-Sturdy buckles to keep folded / closed

-Excellent ventilation without being too open like a metal crate

-Top zips open for easy access for stubborn dogs / water bowls / etc...

-Definitely gives the dog that "den" feeling

Cons:

-Soft crate is easily destroyed by a determined / untrained dog

-No removable layer on the bottom makes it difficult to clean if there are any "accidents"

Unlike some of the other reviewers, I didn't experience any funky smells when I opened it up.

Combine the light weight with the cost and build quality and this crate is a definite winner! My roommate bought one for his dog; it's a LOT more convenient than breaking down the metal crate for portability.

I gave it the 4 star rating primarily because of the difficulty in cleaning it. It there was a removable layer in the bottom (I suppose a crate mat would help) that would make it 5 stars.

PS: The folded down crate makes a great impromptu barrier for dogs that want to go upstairs when they're not supposed to! :-)

Want Firstrax Port-A-Crate E2 Indoor/Outdoor Pet Home Discount?

I've purchased two of these so far. The original design from several years ago was navy with larger rectangular side windows, four short straps on the bottom corners with metal grommets, and it came with a shoulder strap in addition to the carrying handle. It's been used numerous times over the years to transport cats to/from the vet, take them to the kennel, etc, and for that purpose it's just about perfect. When we first got it, our vet was really impressed and wanted to know where we found it. The price was reasonable, and years later it still looks almost brand new (even though the cats it has been used to transport, one at a time of course, both have sharp front claws). We just fold the carrier up and pack it away when not being used.

I would rate the original design 5 stars, but strangely, the company decided to change the product a while back. The one I purchased more recently is beige and has small dog-bone-shaped side windows, no bottom straps, and doesn't come with the shoulder strap either. It seems just as sturdy and is far superior to the cheaper carrier (different brand) I bought in the meantime which basically fell apart after only a few uses, but I think the earlier revision was a little better. I don't think the cats are going to get a dog complex from the bone-shaped windows or anything, but it's still mildly annoying, and the shoulder strap and tie downs were kind of handy.

The other thing I find puzzling is the description of this item as a "pet home" which makes it sound like it's intended for continuous use. I wouldn't really recommend that for either cats or dogs, as the fabric construction and folding design wouldn't be of much benefit if it's just sitting in one place, and it's obviously not as durable or escape-resistant as a standard metal or plastic pet crate. I'd just call it a folding pet carrier and leave it at that. Great for transporting pets in town, or local travel, moves, etc.

If I could find the old version available somewhere, I'd prefer that, but the new version is still the best carrier I've found for my purposes and I'd definitely recommend it to anyone else with similar needs. The 20 inch model seems just the right size for our cats.

Save 68% Off