When traveling with your rats to move
to a new home, go on vacation, head to the park, or just transport
for a friend, the most important thing to remember is the safety and
comfort of your rats! The first and most fundamental thing to consider
is your transport cage.
When considering what type of cage to use, you have to keep in mind
the length of your trip, the number of rats that will be traveling,
and what their destination is. Road trips can be a lot of fun for
you and your rats if done the right way. Planning ahead is the only
way to ensure that you have everything you need to keep your rats
safe and happy no matter where you’re headed.
You need to consider the weather conditions during your travels.
Extreme temperatures expose your rats to stress and illness. For the
most part, it is just a matter of starting your car ahead of time
and setting a suitable temperature before loading up the rats. In
cold weather, cover cages with a towel or use containers that are
not open to the elements. There are some excellent ideas on the web
for making transport cages out of Rubbermaid containers by simply
modifying the top with wire. Two such sites to check are www.petratscanada.com
and www.dapper.com.au. If you would just like to purchase a travel
cage at your local pet shop, the type you choose will also depend
on the length and purpose of your trip. Also, if you would like to
be able to use the cage for other things like quarantine or hospital
housing, you need to consider space and adaptability when choosing
the right one.
I use the cage in the photo above for traveling longer distances and
it also works ideally for temporary or semi permanent housing for
a small number of rats. This one is the Terenziani made for Super
Pet. There are many cat and small dog carriers that are suitable for
travel too. Just be sure to check the size of the bar openings to
make sure that your rats can’t slip through or get stuck. One
I've found to work great is seen in the lower left corner of the page.
It's made by Nylabone and is completely collapsable for easy storage.
For shorter trips, powder coated wire hamster cages work well too.
If you choose to use these, you just need to keep in mind the number
of rats that will be in a cage. Obviously, the greater the number
of rats, the more space required. You should have room in any cage
for a snuggly place to sleep, like a hammock, sack or old T-shirt,
and a place to put food. Water is not always easy to provide when
using ball bearing water bottles, but offering fresh fruit and vegetables
on the trip will give your rats their necessary moisture on short
trips. For long trips, you will need to stop periodically to offer
water or purchase an Edstrom Water Buddy to attach (they don’t
leak, believe it or not). Under no circumstances should a rat be transported
in a poorly ventilated, small plastic container or in a well-ventilated,
even smaller container like those seen below.
These rats were actually forced into these conditions at a past event
I attended in the middle of the summer. There is no excuse for such
types of transport! Also notice that food and water are in the tiny
cages where towels are used as bedding, so the rats also have to lay
in the moist bedding. These are good examples of what NOT to transport
any rat in!
The placement of your travel cage within your vehicle is also important.
It should be the last thing in before you leave and the first thing
out when you arrive at your destination. In between, the carrier should
be in an area where you can monitor a constant temperature. Check
your rats’ tails periodically to make sure that they are not
too cold or too hot. Remember, they regulate temperature through the
tail, so it is a good indicator of whether they are comfortable or
not. Even in warm weather, you need to be careful. Keep the rats out
of direct sunlight and if you have to make any quick stops, be sure
to crack the windows and park in the shade.
And, of course, when choosing a cage, it really does come down to
your plans. If you are just transporting and the rat will only be
in the cage a short time, the carrier need only be comfortable and
practical. However, if your trips are more than a couple hours or
the rat will be spending a few days in the travel cage, you will need
considerably more space and expandability. Another thing to remember
is that if your travels take you to motels or hotels, you will need
to call ahead and find out what chains allow small animals. Overall,
traveling with rats can be an enjoyable experience if you are prepared
and always keep in mind what is in the best interest for your pets!
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