FAQ: Carriers & Crates for small pets

Send its cage or pen, the usual food, hay, bedding, hideout and clear notes on feeding, behaviour and the vet’s contact details. Familiar items help the animal settle faster in a new place.

No. Parcel services are not set up to carry animals, and a parcel has no ventilation, care or suitable temperature. A live animal should always be taken by a person who can look after it on the way.

Most rodents and rabbits are most comfortable at a moderate room temperature of about 16–22 °C. Above 25 °C there is a risk of overheating, especially for chinchillas, rabbits and guinea pigs, while in the cold they need extra warmth and shelter from wind.

If possible, travel early in the morning or in the evening, cool the car in advance and keep the carrier in shade. You can put a frozen water bottle wrapped in cloth in the carrier for the rabbit to lie against.

Chinchillas have extremely dense fur and can barely cool themselves, so they overheat when it only feels warm to a person. In summer transport them only at the coolest time of day, in a well-ventilated carrier with something to cool them.

A frozen water bottle wrapped in cloth, a cool ceramic or stone tile in one corner and a damp towel over the top, without covering all the vents, all help. The cooling item should take up only part of the carrier so the animal can move away from it.

An overheated animal breathes fast and shallow, may breathe through its mouth, becomes lethargic and stretches out, and a rabbit’s ears get hot and red. This is an emergency: cool the animal as soon as possible and contact a vet.

Move the animal straight away to a cool, shady place, dampen the ears or feet with cool but not icy water and offer a drink. Do not plunge it into cold water, and contact a vet as soon as possible even if it seems better.

Warm the car first, put plenty of hay or bedding in the carrier for the animal to burrow into, and cover the carrier with a blanket against the wind while carrying it. Keep it outdoors as briefly as possible and avoid big temperature swings.

Outdoors in cold weather a blanket protects against wind and cold, but it must not cover the vents completely. Once you are in a warm car or building, pull it back so the carrier does not overheat.

Do not put electric heat pads or chemical hand warmers directly in the carrier, as a rodent can chew them or get burnt. A bottle filled with warm, not hot, water, wrapped in a towel and fixed to one side is safer.

A chilled animal curls into a ball, shivers, has cold ears and feet and becomes sluggish. Move it to a warm room and warm it gradually, and if it is unresponsive or very lethargic, contact a vet.

Yes, if the carrier is protected from water, for example with a waterproof cover that leaves the vents open. A wet rodent or rabbit gets cold quickly, so if the fur got damp, gently towel it dry when you arrive.

In a closed carrier the animal cannot move away from the heat, so even a short time by a radiator or in a sunny window can cause overheating. While waiting, put the carrier somewhere cool and shady without draughts.

A rabbit that lives outside has a thick winter coat, so a sudden move into a very warm room is uncomfortable for it. A cool car is fine for the journey, and if the rabbit is going back outside, avoid keeping it in the warmth for long.

In summer the coolest times are early morning and late evening, so it is worth planning the trip then. Avoid travelling around midday and in the afternoon, when the car and carrier get hottest.

Yes, a chilled hamster can go into torpor, barely moving and breathing slowly. This is dangerous, so keep it warm when travelling in winter, and if it has gone torpid, warm it gradually and contact a vet.

A light, pale, breathable cloth over part of the carrier shades it from the sun and helps the animal feel calmer. Do not cover the whole carrier with a dark or thick fabric, as heat builds up underneath.

Yes, rodents and rabbits should eat as usual before a trip, especially hay. Do not skip meals or offer new or rich food, so that travel stress does not upset digestion.

Put plenty of fresh hay and some favourite herbs or leafy greens the rabbit normally eats in the carrier. Calm driving and a partly covered carrier help it relax, and a relaxed rabbit eats more readily.