There may be times when you have to take your hamster out of the house on short trips and need something to carry them in. While we don’t recommend taking your pet on long vacations, a travel cage is ideal for when you need to take them to the vet, are moving to a new house, or want to take them on a short road trip out of town.
Traveling with your hamster can be difficult, burdensome, and often unsettling for everyone involved. By being well prepared and using a travel cage, you can ensure that your hamster is safe and happy while on the move.
Below, we give our top tips for travelling with hamsters, discuss the benefits of using a travel cage and recommend some of our best hamster travel cages.
Tips on preparing your hamster for travelling
It is a good idea to schedule a veterinary appointment for your hamster before you travel, especially if you are going on a long trip. This way, you can ensure that your hamster is ready to go.
A good travel cage is something you will undoubtedly need to invest in. This should ideally have a handle to make it easier to transport.
It is important to use some of your hamster’s bedding from its current cage when preparing your travel cage for your hamster. Their scent will already be on it, making them feel more at ease while in their portable carrier.
You should also include a plastic hut and a food bowl so that your little friend can hide, rest, sleep, and snack while on the road. Stick to lightweight materials because ceramic huts and bowls can injure your hamster if they start rolling around in the vehicle.
You must also ensure that your hamster is properly hydrated. We recommend cutting up cucumber pieces as a substitute for water for short journeys because it contains plenty of fluid and also gives them something to gnaw on. If you are going on a long road trip, however, it is important that they have a well-secured water bottle with them. Just be on the lookout for spills and leaks.
It is important that you do not overheat your hamster while in transit. Heat can be dangerous, so try to keep your hamster away from heaters and direct sunlight.
Finally, whilst in the vehicle, you should make sure that you strap your hamster’s travel cage in with a seat belt or have someone holding the cage tightly when in transit. This will prevent them from moving around too much and becoming sick or disorientated.
If the rare event that you may have to travel with your hamster on an aeroplane, you should try to keep your hamster with you whilst you are flying. Make sure that you research the rules and regulations regarding travelling with animals from your airline before the start your trip. If you must put your hamster in cargo, then try to find out what it will be placed with, and make sure you put a luggage label with your name and number clearly stated on the hamster cage. You should also check how you will hand over and collect your hamster pre and post journey.
5 best hamster travel cages
When traveling with your hamster, your first priority should be to keep them safe. As a result, whether your hamster is traveling for a short distance or a longer distance, you should look for a travel cage that is sturdy, secure, and comfortable.
You should avoid cardboard hamster carriers because they are only suitable for short-term use, such as bringing your hamster home for the first time. Whatever they appear to be, your hamster is likely to make quick work of getting out.
Below I give an honest review of what I consider to be the top 5 travel cages currently available to buy.
- Habitat OVO Transport Unit – Best value for money travel cage
This portable cage is perfect for dwarf or smaller sized hamsters, but I would only ever advise you to use this travel cage for short trips as the space inside is limited. That said, there is plenty of ventilation available thanks to the holes situated at the top. What I particularly like about this transporter, is that it has a nice big handle making it easy to carry around.
There is also a retractable roof for easy access and the see-through material allows you to monitor your hamster whilst on the move. For those who already have a Habitat cage, you can attach this on to the side permanently to make your cage bigger or to encourage your hamster to hop in when it’s time to go.
On the downside, this hamster cage does not come with a water bottle attachment which you have to purchase and affix separately.
Pros:
- Retractable roof
- Can be used as part of a cage
- Handle for lifting
- See-through material
Cons:
- Only suitable for dwarf or small Syrian hamsters
- Extra accessories such as water bottles have to purchased separately
- Kaytee CritterTrail Carry and Go – Best travel cage for dwarf hamsters
This travel cage offers the perfect solution for letting your hamster explore the world outside. Although this travel cage is one of the roomier versions, if you are using it for a Syrian hamster, we would recommend using it for short journeys as the space inside is limited.
Similar looking to a full hamster size, however, one of the benefits of this travel version is that it comes with the essentials as standard, including a water bottle and food bowl. Both of which are locked in place to ensure they do not slide around when on the move.
The handle on the top makes moving your hamster from place to place effortless and the bars allow at the front give your hamster something to climb on and chew (as opposed to the plastic sides). The Kaytee CritterTrail can also be fixed to other habitats when you are not travelling, making it great value for money.
Pros:
- Can be used as part of a cage
- Handle for lifting
- See-through material
- Accessories come as standard
Cons:
- Only suitable for short journeys
- IRIS Critter Carrier – Best travel cage for Syrians or longer journeys
There aren’t many travel cages that actually fit Syrian hamsters, and this is certainly the best of the bunch.
Available in a variety of colors this cage has a see-through top, good ventilation and is easy to open and access.
Although this standalone travel cage is simple, it does come with a water bottle included and there is plenty of space to include other essential items. It also has a handy travel handle making it easy to lift and carry around.
Pros:
- Handle for lifting
- See-through material
- Accessories come as standard
- Large enough for Syrian hamsters
Cons:
- Expensive
- Kaytee Off to School – Best looking travel cage
When it comes to style over substance this is the pinnacle of travel cages. Designed to look like a mini school bus, this cage may look cute but is, unfortunately, only suitable for dwarf hamsters due to its size.
If you do have a small hamster however, this cage provides all you could require including a water bottle and food dish. It also has plenty of ventilation, a flip-up handle and can be connected to larger cages for additional space.
In terms of sturdiness, again this travel cage comes up a little short in comparison to the competition and the water bottle cannot be affixed.
Pros:
- Fun design
- Can be used as part of a cage
- Handle for lifting
- See-through material
- Accessories come as standard
Cons:
- Only suitable for short journeys
- Water bottle does not affix
- Material not particularly sturdy
- GNB Pet Petite Habitat – Best travel cage for accessories
This portable hamster cage is incredibly sturdy as it is made from white powder-coated metal. Designed over two floors this travel cage comes with no build in mind, leaving you to make a space specifically suited to your hamster’s needs.
It also comes with a house, wheel (although this is very small and suitable for everyday use), water bottle, a food bowl and even a slide. It even comes in a choice of four different colors.
The base is also detachable, which makes it’s incredibly easy to clean and install and the travel handle makes carrying your hamster from place to place a breeze.
Pros:
- Bespoke setup
- Plenty of accessories which come as standard
- Handle for lifting
- Detachable base for cleaning
Cons:
- Only suitable dwarf hamsters
- Wheel not suitable
- Expensive
Conclusion
As you can see, a travel cage is an essential item for transporting your hamster from place to place. But as these habitats are built for short term use only, space within them is often limited. We would, therefore, recommend that you restrict the amount of time your hamster travel in these and keep it a minimum.
If you do want to take your hamster on a longer vacation with you, then we would advise you to take their full-size cage to house them in once you arrive at your destination. And keep in mind, that hamsters are creatures of habit, so make sure you include lots of familiar treats, scents and toys.
If you want more helpful advice on looking after your hamster, including tips on food, toys, accessories and accommodation, add a comment below to let us know!
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