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Post by shinkikker on Jun 19, 2012 19:23:32 GMT -5
I'm honestly not sure if this is the right place to post this or if there has been a thread about this already (the search option isn't working in my browser right now), but I had a few questions about travelling with my future pet!
Since I'm a college student whose school is about 4 hours from home, I will have to travel with my ferret a few times during the school year for fall break, winter break, and spring break. I have a cage for her that will fit comfortably in my backseat, but I don't think it will allow me to pack that much else in my car. I'm considering buying a smaller travel cage, but how small of a space can she be in for 4 hours without there being adverse effects?
My other question was about taking my ferret on walks, because I do plan on bringing her to my boyfriend's house (2 min walk away) a few times a week.
Would it be alright to just have a harness and leash and carry her over? What about during the winter? Would it be good to buy her a ferret sweater or something so she would be warm on the way over? Should I buy a small soft-sided carrier that a blanket could go in, or what?
Also, does anyone have any recommendations of good, durable, and reliable harnesses that are difficult for ferrets to escape from?
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Post by Deleted on Jun 19, 2012 20:09:18 GMT -5
for 4 hours I would think they would sleep the whole time, so I suppose a small hard sided cat/dog carrier would be okay. Bring a least and harness unless she has to go to the bathroom so you can get out and walk her. An H-style harness is best, the one by marshall works well. Apparently it gets rally ht and humid in IL so i wouldn't walk her over to his house during summer I suppose if it's only 2 min you can carry her but others will have better advice.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 19, 2012 20:16:39 GMT -5
I did a four hour trip with Remus just a couple weeks ago and he did okay in a hardsided carrier. he got a little antsy around the 3 hour mark but nothing too bad. It varies from ferret to ferret though.
As far as carrying her over, if it's only a 2 minute walk she should be okay, especially if you plan on carrying her. I'd be more worried about the heat than the cold, though.
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Post by Sherry on Jun 19, 2012 20:43:46 GMT -5
Personally I'd get a hard sided carrier big enough to fit a small litter box. I know mine wouldn't "hold" it for that long  For a two minute walk, a halter and leash would be fine, as long as you've tried it for fit etc ahead of time. Good way to leash train as well. In the winter if he/she is too chilly to walk, just pick them up and stash them in your jacket. Oh- and just so you are aware? That "two" minute walk will be more like 10 or so  ;D |
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Post by Heather on Jun 19, 2012 21:02:41 GMT -5
I agree with Sherry. A carrier for that length of time needs to be geared toward the ferret's comfort. My guys travel and have no problems but my carrier has a litter box, bedding and a hammy. They just hang out. I've had a couple of them actually sit in the hammy and watch the scenery out the window. The walk should be fine. On hot days make sure you carry as chances are the sidewalk or pavement would be too hot for the wee one's feet. Sherry does make a good point about walking....a ferret walks and arrives on it's own time and it's rarely when you choose it to happen. They have their own idea as to what direction they should be going in. As far as winter.... if there's no salt down and you're just walking in the snow, let your little one meander and search out the different smells. If the wee one gets cold, you can always stuff it in your jacket.     ciao |
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Post by shinkikker on Jun 19, 2012 21:35:10 GMT -5
Awesome advice, guys! Good to know about the heat, too. I won't be walking her until the fall and in Bloomington, where I go to school, it's usually cooled off by the time we get there. But if there are hot days I will be sure to just carry her over!
Heather -- how do you hang a hammock in your carrier? Is it hard-sided or is more like a cage carrier? Also, I loved the pics of your ferrets, they are so stinkin' cute!
Another question: how do you go about providing food and water in a carrier when travelling on longer trips in the car? If I were to get a hard-sided carrier, that is? I mean, I suppose you could hang a water bottle on the cage door, right? I just don't want to give her a bowl of water and have it spill without me knowing, then she'd go without water for a while and I don't want that!
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Post by Deleted on Jun 19, 2012 21:55:25 GMT -5
I have coop cups that I attached to the door of the carrier, it works pretty well until he gets antsy and then he pokes them up out of their holder.  I just put a tiny bit of water in the bottom so it doesn't slosh all over. |
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Post by Sherry on Jun 19, 2012 23:17:41 GMT -5
If I have to use a carrier, that's about the only time I actually use a water bottle. Problem is they do tend to leak. And for four hours? I'd not worry too much about food. Unless they are eating kibble, of course. That makes a difference. Just put a very small dish with the kibble on the floor of the carrier, I'd guess.
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Post by shinkikker on Jun 20, 2012 0:15:16 GMT -5
I suppose I could hook a water bottle on the cage door and then a coop cup underneath to catch the drips!
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Post by Heather on Jun 20, 2012 2:28:35 GMT -5
I have a cage carrier.
ciao
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Post by kaivin on Jun 20, 2012 2:34:52 GMT -5
I will be doing very similar trips with my ferrets when I get them, and I found all these tips very helpful, thank you! Their first trip, though, will be significantly longer. It's an 11hr drive from the breeder back to my home in NJ.  I would like to ask if there would be anything different that should be done for long trips. I plan on getting harnesses and walking them a bit at rest areas every few hours- but what if they can't handle highway noise or don't like harnesses? |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 20, 2012 8:03:55 GMT -5
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Post by Heather on Jun 20, 2012 13:46:58 GMT -5
Make sure your car is working and the A/C is been seen to. Other than making sure you're rested, don't sweat it. Use the breaks for yourself. I would not be introducing walks, harnesses or anything like that on a return trip from picking up new fuzzies. Make sure that they have access to water, that's the only major concern. If they're still babies make sure they have some food to chew on and make a mess with. You do not want to give them the opportunity to escape, get lost or injured (rest stops are scary places for pets...many dogs get lost at these stops or worse). Your little ones won't know to trust you yet....no, leave them be in their cage until you get home. Both Tico and Lady Morgain came out of their crate like they had springs and they were all teeth. Within 24 hrs, a good meal and a peaceful rest they were into being social. I was tempted to take them out to check them at the airport (actually a small park by the airport) but put temptation away and left them to their own devices. They weren't happy and did a bit of cage rattling but I'm happy I left them alone. They settled after we got on the major highway and they realized that no one was going to let them out. I occasionally saw a little black nose and some dark eyes but that was it. They had water and they got a huge meal of rabbit when they got home.
ciao
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