travel

Travel & Transport
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 the 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.
What to consider...
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. One such site to check are http://www.petratscanada.com/travel/travel.htm. 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 at left for traveling longer distances and it also works ideally for temporary or semi-permanent housing for a small number of rats. It is a 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 at the top right 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 in the picture to the left and the one below. These rats were actually forced into these conditions at a past event I attended in the summer of 2004. 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 are also having to lay in the moist bedding. These are good examples of what NOT to transport any rat in.
Weather conditions matter...
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 to cold or too hot. Remember, the tail helps regulate temperature, 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.
Bottom line...
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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