Rattitude

It is unavoidable for any pet owner.  Sooner or later you’re going to have to go somewhere, and for some reason you’re going to have to take your beloved fur-baby with you.  This is true for owners of cats and dogs, and its true of small pet owners as well.

With some small pets, such as dwarf hamsters and mice are usually kept in cages small enough that if you have to travel with them you can just grab up the whole cage and go. An example of a basic cage might be:

However, when you have something like a bunny, a guinea pig, or a pair of wonderful ratties (or three) then you are going to have a much larger cage, and its not so easy to toss it in the car and go.

An example of a basic rat cage might be:

You might be wondering, why would I need to take my rats anywhere to begin with?

Well, for one thing, they have to go to the vet sometimes.  And, if you are like me and your normal pet sitter is disgusted and freaked out by your ratties and refuses to feed them they’ll have to go with you if you’re gone more than a day or two.  (You can give them enough food and water to last a day or two, but no longer)  Or, worse yet, there could be some emergancy, like a house fire, and you need to get your little ones out okay.

A lot of places that people commonly get pet rats will give them a sturdy “live animal” box to take them home in.  That might work for a couple of trips to the vet, but in the long run it will become icky with poop and pee, and is not good.

So, I do recommend buying a sturdy travel cage for your little ones.  One large enough for them to move around in, and to hold a small water bottle and food bowl for them as well.

A good example would be the cage that I was given to bring Francis home in:

It is small enough to be carried easily, but big enough for her to move around.  If she were to spend a few days in there I could hang a water bottle for her, there is room for a hide box for her to sleep in, and a food bowl for her.

For a SHORT period of time I could even have her and one of her sisters in here (but no more than 2 rats).  The more rats you have, the more travel cages you need to have on hand!

Here are a few things from that you can use as travel cages for you rats:

Or even a small cat or dog carrier can work.

Whatever you choose to use to carry your beloved ones, keep in mind that they can chew out of cardboard easily, and even out of hard plastic cages given enough time and effort.

So, I do recommend all metal cages, like the two I now have for my own girls.