FAQ: Carriers & Crates for small pets

Most rodents and rabbits settle within a few hours of getting back to familiar surroundings. On the first day let them rest, do not handle them unnecessarily, and watch that they eat and drink normally.

For many animals the owner’s familiar voice, speaking softly and calmly, helps them settle. The most important things are still smooth driving, quiet surroundings and a carrier where the animal can hide.

A frightened or poorly handled chinchilla can release a patch of fur, which is a natural defence response. The fur will grow back, but it is a sign of stress, so lift a chinchilla gently, do not squeeze it and never grab its fur.

Chewing the bars in a carrier usually signals stress and a wish to get out. Cover the carrier, add hay or a twig to chew, check that it is not too hot, and let the animal back into its usual home as soon as you return.

Throw out the bedding and hay, take the carrier apart and wash it with warm water and a mild, unscented detergent, then rinse well and dry. Pay special attention to the corners and around the bars, where urine scale builds up.

Warm water with a mild washing-up liquid, or cleaners made for pet equipment used according to the label, are fine. Avoid strongly scented products and anything containing bleach or phenol, and always rinse the carrier well.

Diluted vinegar dissolves urine scale well: leave it for a few minutes, scrub with a brush and rinse thoroughly with water. Cleaning after every trip stops the scale from hardening.

Remove the liners and, if the label allows, machine-wash the bag with an unscented detergent. Dry it thoroughly before using it again and check that the fabric has not been chewed.

Wash the carrier first, then use a disinfectant suitable for pet equipment according to the label, leaving it for the stated contact time. Rinse and dry it well afterwards, and if the animal had something contagious, ask the vet which product is suitable.

Keep the clean, dry carrier somewhere easy to reach so you do not have to hunt for it in an emergency. If there is room, it can live in the pen as a hideout so the animal gets used to it.

It is time for a new one when the latches or door no longer lock reliably, the plastic is cracked, there are chewed or sharp spots, or the animal has outgrown it. A soaked-in smell that will not wash out is also a reason to replace it.

Yes, as long as it is the right size and the bar spacing is safe for the smaller animal. Wash it thoroughly first, because the smell of a dog, cat or ferret causes rodents severe stress.

Lifting by the ears or scruff hurts a rabbit, makes it kick and can injure its spine. Lift it by supporting the chest and the hindquarters so its whole weight is held.

A rabbit’s back legs are very strong and its spine is fragile, so a sudden kick in a tight space can injure its back. A carrier of the right size, a non-slip floor and calm carrying reduce the risk.

Put the carrier or a cardboard tunnel by its hideout and gently guide the guinea pig inside, then move it together with the tunnel. This avoids chasing, which is very stressful for guinea pigs.

Hamsters sleep during the day, so a daytime journey wakes them and can make them grumpy. If possible, travel calmly, do not grab a sleeping hamster, and give it a deep layer of bedding so it can keep resting.

Dwarf hamsters are tiny and squeeze through narrow gaps, so a tight plastic box with a locking lid and small vents suits them. Check that the lid does not pop open if knocked.

Choose a carrier that is not too tall and has no sharp or protruding parts, and give it a thick layer of bedding. A covered carrier helps the chinchilla calm down, so it jumps less.

Degus are powerful chewers, so only carriers of thick, hard plastic or metal with no fabric or mesh suit them. Give twigs or hay to gnaw on during the trip and check the carrier’s edges regularly.

The skin on a degu’s or gerbil’s tail can slip off if pulled, causing permanent damage to the tail. When moving them into a carrier, scoop them up from below with your hands or let them walk in.