FAQ: Carriers & Crates for small pets

Mice are tiny and lose heat quickly, so in cold weather put plenty of nesting material such as paper bedding in the box, and carry mice that live together in one box so they can huddle. Outdoors, shield the box from the wind while leaving the vents clear.

Rats do well in a roomier carrier or travel cage with a water bottle, bedding and a small hideout or hammock. They are sensitive to heat and draughts, so keep a moderate temperature and stop to check how they are doing.

Not for a short trip; it is enough that the rabbit can sit without hunching and turn around. A long journey or a stay of several days needs a roomier cage where it can stand up and stretch out.

An older rabbit needs a soft, non-slip floor, such as a thick towel or fleece with hay, and enough room to lie down. Lift it very gently and choose a carrier with a top door.

Long fur heats up faster, so ventilation and cooling matter especially for these animals in warm weather. A clean pad and hay are better in the carrier than fine shavings, which get tangled in the coat.

On moving day keep the animal in a quiet room or with friends, so the noise and furniture being carried do not frighten it. Move it in a carrier and in the new home set up its cage with familiar items first.

It is usually easiest to move the animal once there is a quiet spot ready for it at the new home and the noisiest part of packing is over at the old one. The key is not to leave it in a carrier for hours while the move goes on.

Put the cage or pen somewhere quiet with no draughts or direct sun, arrange it as before and add some familiar bedding. Give the animal a few days to settle before handling it or letting it roam.

Take the pen or hutch apart, keep the small parts in a separate bag so they do not get lost, and wash everything before reassembling it at the new place. Meanwhile keep the rabbit in its carrier somewhere quiet, not among the boxes.

Yes, in a fire, a burst pipe or sudden illness a ready carrier lets you get the animal out quickly and safely. It is worth having one carrier for each animal or bonded pair.

Keep a few days’ supply of food and hay, a water bottle, bedding, a towel and a note with the vet’s contacts and the animal’s health information next to the carrier. Swap the food for fresh stock from time to time so it does not go out of date.

Come with your own carrier, bedding and hay, and ask the breeder or rescue for a handful of used bedding and some of the usual food. Drive straight home and have the cage ready beforehand so the animal can move in right away.

For a short trip of half an hour or so, a sturdy, well-ventilated cardboard box with bedding can do. Guinea pigs chew cardboard and urine softens it, so a longer journey and later vet visits need a hard carrier.

Yes, if you have a suitable cage or pen there and can keep a suitable temperature. Being driven back and forth every weekend stresses some animals, so watch how your pet copes with it.

Check in advance that animals are allowed and bring a travel cage, since a carrier is not a place to live for several days. Keep the cage away from radiators, air conditioning and other animals.

Common mistakes are a carrier that is too big or not secured, travelling in hot weather, leaving the animal in the car, bars too wide for small rodents and opening the carrier outside a closed room. Chasing the animal to catch it before the trip also causes a lot of stress.

A swinging animal loses its balance, bumps into the sides and becomes very frightened. Carry the carrier level and steady, set it down gently and do not lift it abruptly.

With a heavy rabbit the handle or its fixings may fail, or the halves of the carrier can come apart. Supporting it from below stops it swinging and keeps it from falling even if the handle breaks.

In sudden braking or a collision the animal cannot be held, and if frightened it may jump, bite or hide under the pedals. Even a calm animal should be in a closed, secured carrier in the car.

No, a carrier is only for travel and short stays, such as while the cage is cleaned. It has too little room to move and no proper place for water and food, so it cannot replace a cage or pen.