Tavo Maeve Pet Car Seat Review

There are so many features and devices designed to keep you and your family safe in the car—but what about your pets? Many pet car seats are only designed to keep animals restrained, not protect them in the event of an accident, and if you travel frequently with your pet, it’s worth investing in a system to keep them safe and secure while riding. That’s where the Tavo Maeve Pet Car Seat (available at Nordstrom) comes in.

This pet car seat, which includes a carefully engineered base similar to a child’s car seat, is a secure, convenient and luxurious option for traveling with your pets. However, it doesn’t come cheap, and we wanted to see if it’s truly worth the premium price. Here’s what we found when we tested it out for ourselves.

Tavo Maeve Pet Car Seat

$600

The Tavo Maeve Pet Car Seat keeps cats secure while they travel.

BUY NOW

at Nordstrom

About the Maeve Pet Car Seat

• Outer dimensions: L 24.6 x W 16 x H 18.25 inches
• Inner dimensions: L 19 x W 11.5 x H 14 inches
• Weight: 7.8 pounds
• Capacity: Up to 20 pounds

The Maeve Pet Car Seat has two parts: a pet carrier and a vehicle base. The carrier is available in three sizes and five colors, and the largest size is suitable for animals up to 30 pounds. It has mesh windows on each side for better visibility and breathability, and the canopy fabric offers UPF 50+ protection, as well. The sides snap shut with easy-to-use magnetic buckles, and the carrier comes with a variety of different liners and leashes that you can swap in, depending on your pet’s preferences.

The second part of the system is the vehicle base. Similar to a child’s car seat, it connects to the vehicle’s latch anchor bars, and it has a stability leg that extends from the front of the base to the vehicle floor. The system is designed using the guidelines set by the United Nations ECE child restraint standard (R129), and it’s undergone both side and front impact testing for safety.

What we like

The carrier is stylish and comfortable for your pet

I tried out the Maeve Pet Car Seat with the help of my cat, Piper, and she was more than happy to jump right into the carrier. We got the small version, and she had plenty of room to stand up, turn around and lay down comfortably.

The carrier comes with two liners—one that’s plain fabric and another that’s a cozy sherpa—as well as two “mattress pads” for the bottom. It has a removable cover that lets you block off one window, if needed, the accessories are all made from well-constructed, heavy duty materials and were easy to install and remove.

There’s a tether inside the carrier that clips to your pet’s collar if you want to secure them even further, but once the magnetic buckles were snapped shut, Piper wasn’t able to get out (and she’s a surprisingly adept escape artist). I used the carrier to bring Piper out to the car, and it was comfortable to carry using the top handle. There’s also a longer shoulder strap, if you prefer to carry it that way. Overall, I think this pet carrier is significantly more comfortable and stylish than your average plastic carrier, and it’s easier to operate, too.

The base is surprisingly easy to install and remove

I was concerned that it would be complicated and time-consuming to install the vehicle base, but I was totally wrong! While it looks a little intimidating, the system is surprisingly easy to set up in your car. Installation is just a matter of latching the base to the anchor bars behind the seat and then propping the support bar, which is height-adjustable, on the floor in front of the seat. There are little indicators on every component that turn green to let you know they’re installed properly.

Once the base is installed, it’s just a matter of placing the carrier on top of it, and the bars snap into place to keep your pet secure. When you need to remove the carrier, there’s a button that you press to release it—it’s easy to do, but I did find that you need to lift the carrier straight up, otherwise one side can get stuck on the base.

The vehicle base is easy to remove from your car, as well. I was able to pull it out in less than a minute, so you don’t have to leave it installed unless you want to. However, I will say that it’s a bit bulky to store, as the support leg is unwieldy and doesn’t stay folded up.

It offers heavy-duty protection in case of an accident

When I drive Piper to the vet (or anywhere else), I place her carrier in the back seat, but I’m always worried about it sliding around. If we ever got in an accident, the carrier would likely get jolted around or potentially even thrown off the seat. Because these worries are always in the back of my head, I love the peace of mind that the Maeve Pet Car Seat offers.

When the carrier is locked into the base, it’s extremely secure, so I can brake quickly and take turns without worrying about it sliding around. It makes me feel so much better that the product is crash tested, and even if your car ended up rolling over, the carrier would stay locked to the anchor bars to keep your pet safe.

What we don’t like

It’s quite expensive

The biggest downside of this pet car seat is its price. The small version of the Maeve Pet Car Seat costs a cool $600, and the medium version is $700. Considering that many pet carriers and car seats retail for less than $100, the Maeve is a big investment and, frankly, probably not worth the expense if you only ride with your pet occasionally. However, if you’re someone who regularly drives long distances with a pet, it may be worth investing in the system for added security and comfort for your furry friend.

It’s only suitable for pets under 30 pounds

The other major limitation of this system is that it’s only suitable for small animals. The small carrier size can accommodate up to 25 pounds, and the medium version can hold up to 30 pounds. This is perfect for cats and small dogs, but if you have a larger pet—like my two 50-pound Golden Retrievers—this carrier system won’t work for you.

Should you buy the Maeve Pet Car Seat?

Maybe, if you travel frequently with your pet.

In an ideal world, I think everyone should have a system like the Tavo Maeve Pet Car Seat to keep their pets safe in the car, but not everyone can swing $600-$700 for a pet car seat. I’ll be the first to admit that as much as I love the system, I probably wouldn’t invest in it myself because I don’t take my cat in the car very often. At most, we go in the car a few times per year, so I can’t justify that price for such infrequent use.

However, if you travel with your pet several times a week or go on long drives, this car seat system may be worth the splurge. It’s comfortable and secure for small dogs and cats, and it’s surprisingly easy to use, as well. (Not to mention stylish!) The design is impeccably engineered to keep your pet safe in the car, and it provides peace of mind that your pet will be protected if you ever get in an accident.

Tavo Maeve Pet Car Seat

$600

The Tavo Maeve Pet Car Seat keeps cats secure while they travel.

BUY NOW

at Nordstrom