Hamsters are tiny animals, and you might believe that traveling with them would be a piece of cake. However, every pet is special and needs proper care during traveling, so even if a hamster is accustomed to staying in a cage, they might get uncomfortable when they are on the move. So, how long can you keep a hamster in a travel cage, and what should you include inside to keep your pet calm?
Generally, hamsters are good travelers and they can adapt to their travel cage really quickly and feel quite comfortable in it. You can keep your hamster in a travel cage even for a whole day, as long as they have everything needed inside of it, such as proper bedding, water, and some food.
If you are concerned about traveling with your hamster and keeping them in the travel cage for a long time, you should know that you are not the only one. That is why you have to read this article and learn everything about traveling with hamsters. You will learn how to keep your pet cozy and safe in their travel cage, and what amount of time is considered okay for them to be inside of it.
What Should I Put In My Hamster’s Travel Cage?
This is the first thing you need to take into consideration because the travel cage is the place in which your hamster will spend a certain amount of time. In order to keep them safe and comfortable, you should carefully prepare the cage, so they would not feel the change of environment so gravely. You would not want your pet to get stressed during the travel, so make sure that you make a special effort in setting up the travel cage properly.
Firstly, you will have to think about the bedding that you will put inside the cage. The bedding impacts the comfort of your hamster, so you should be aware of what you are doing. It is recommended that you put brand new bedding, so your hamster would feel comfortable, but you should also mix something from their home bedding, so they would feel like they are on familiar ground.
In addition, make sure that the bedding is clean, so the trip would be smooth for you as well. You do not want any soil in it, but a few droppings would be okay, so your hamster would be able to recognize the cage as their own. It is important that they accept the cage quickly, so they can stay calm during the trip.
Furthermore, you should think about water and food. It is obvious that you will need to put water and food inside the cage, however, it should not be any type of food. You need the type of food that will keep your hamster away from the ribs of the cage, i.e. they will not start gnawing on it because they are anxious.
Therefore, include some grains or other treats that will last for a longer period of time, and keep your pet distracted. Also, you should place some slices of cucumber to keep your hamster hydrated during the trip. Cucumber is a better option since water can spill all over the cage due to sudden movements, meaning it could get your hamster wet, and probably ill later on.
How Long Can You Keep A Hamster In A Travel Cage?
Generally, hamsters can last a long time in a travel cage without any issues. If they have everything they need in the cage, they will not mind the new environment. A hamster can stay in a travel cage for a whole day if they have their essentials for survival.
However, you should bear in mind that the trip might have made them anxious, so they would need a little bit of the owner’s presence and affection in order to be sure that they are on safe ground, and they are with a familiar person. Therefore, make sure that you check on your hamster regularly while they are in a travel cage.
If your hamster has food and water inside the cage, they can adapt to the environment quickly. To make their experience better and to ease up the change a little bit, you should include a toilet paper roll, so they would have a place to hide. Hamsters need to hide when they feel scared, so this way you will provide everything for them.
Can Hamsters Survive Long Car Rides?
Whether your hamster will behave well on a long car ride depends on their personality. For instance, some hamsters do not mind going on long rides, and they do not show any special changes in their behavior. On the other hand, there are hamsters that get quite anxious and stressed even during a short car ride, so you will need to check your pet’s behavior before you set on a long trip.
However, if it is inevitable to take your hamster on a long car ride, you would like to make them comfortable. Therefore, you will need to establish good traveling conditions, so they would not get anxious really quickly. For this purpose, it might be wiser to use the regular cage of your pet instead of the travel one.
Wire cages are more suitable for providing better ventilation, and they enable you to check on your hamster easily during the trip. So, if you intend to take your hamster on a long car ride, opt for a wire cage, and stock it with food and water. This way, you will make sure that your pet will feel comfortable in the temporary environment.
In conclusion, hamsters are generally good travelers and they can stand being in a travel cage for longer periods of time. Just make sure that you have everything stocked properly for them to feel comfortable, and you will be all set for your trip.
