How to Travel With Pet Rats

Traveling is a way of life for many, so chances are your pet may be traveling with you at some point. More people are choosing rats for pets due to their low maintenance and intelligence. Follow these steps if you cannot find someone to watch your pet while you travel.

Difficulty:

Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Rat carrier
• Food
• Water bottle
• Rat health-care booklet

1. Choose the type of carrier you will use to transport your rat. There are many to choose from including small, cloth carrier backpacks, carriers with handles or you can even use a cat carrier to transport your rat.

2. Put your inside the carrier the night before you leave and let him play in it to become familiar with the surroundings. If you are traveling by car, remove the rat from the carrier once you are in the car and put him in a cage. If you are traveling alone, place him on the seat next to you in the carrier or cage so you can keep a good eye on him.

3. Use the carrier to transport the rat to and from the car, especially in extreme weather. Rats are smaller and the weather affects them more quickly than humans.

4. Rats use theirs tail to regulate their body temperature. Check the temperature of your rat's tail when you are at room temperature so you can use that as a reference point. Check the tail during the trip to determine if he is too hot or cold.

5. Place some food in the carrier or cage with your rat. Give your pet water from a bottle at every two hours to make sure he does not dehydrate.

6. Pack enough clean bedding for your pet to make sure you can change the bedding every night.

Tips & Warnings

• Never leave your rat in the car unattended for longer than 10 minutes.

• Remove all heavy items from the cage if you are traveling with it in the car. Make sure the water bottle is removed or it will leak inside of the cage.

• Never leave your rat unattended in a cloth carrier, as the rat can chew through it and escape.