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Castles and cathedrals
What is the best carrier for rats?
A hard plastic carrier is the best choice for nearly every trip. Woodgreen recommends a hard plastic cat carrier, lined with a fleecy blanket, and says the gaps must be small enough that female or young rats can't escape. PetMD adds that the carrier must resist chewing, with gaps small enough to stop an escape, and that rats should never travel in cardboard.
Woodgreen also suggests keeping a carrier ready at all times, not just for vet visits. It is where your rats wait safely while you clean the cage, and it is the first thing you will reach for in an emergency.
What to look for in a rat carrier
- Hard plastic walls: chew-resistant, wipe-clean, and they hold their shape if knocked.
- Small air slits or a fine grille: about 1 cm (1/2 in), the bar spacing Woodgreen uses for cages. Many cat carrier grilles are wider, so check before buying.
- A top-opening lid: lifting a rat out from above is far easier than reaching into a front door.
- Air on several sides: slits on at least three sides keep air moving on a warm day.
- Secure clips or a lock: check they snap shut firmly; cheap clips can pop open.
- The right size: room for the rats to lie down and turn round together, but not so big that they slide around.
- A flat base: so it sits level on a car seat or in a footwell.
Rat carrier or travel cage?
| Trip | Use | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Vet visit, under an hour | Small hard carrier | Easy to carry, easy for the vet to lift rats out |
| Cage cleaning | Carrier or play pen | A safe holding spot while you work |
| Journey of a few hours | Larger hard carrier | Room to lie down, with food and watery veg |
| Moving house, holidays, long days | Small travel cage | Space for a bottle, bedding and a hide |
| Introductions | Carrier | The carrier method uses a small shared space; see our carrier method guide |
| Quarantine or a poorly rat | Small cage | A separate base for days or weeks; see our quarantine cage guide |
How to get rats used to their carrier
Rats that only ever see the carrier on vet days soon learn to dread it. A few minutes of practice turns it into just another hide.
- Leave it open. Put the open carrier in the play area or the cage with some bedding inside, so it smells familiar.
- Feed inside it. Drop a few favourite treats inside, a little further in each day.
- Close the door briefly. Once the rats walk in calmly, close it for a minute, then open it and give a treat.
- Pick it up. Lift and carry it around the room for a minute, then let them out.
- Take a short drive. Before the first real trip, try a five-minute drive and straight home.
What to pack for a vet trip
- A hard carrier lined with fleece or a layer of paper bedding.
- A cage mate, if the vet is happy, to keep the patient calm.
- A few nuggets and a piece of cucumber or other watery veg.
- A small towel to cover part of the carrier, for shade or warmth.
- Notes: weight, what you've seen, when it started, and what the rat eats.
- Photos of the cage and supplies, as PetMD suggests, if you want the vet's view on the setup.
- A sample of any odd droppings in a clean pot, if relevant.
Not sure if the trip is needed? Our is my rat sick guide runs through the warning signs.
Travelling with rats by car
Heat is the biggest risk on any journey. The MSD Veterinary Manual's safe range for rats is 18 to 26°C (64 to 79°F), and above 30°C (86°F) rats can get heat exhaustion, especially when crowded together, which is exactly what happens in a carrier. Rats can't sweat or pant, so a car in the sun heats them up quickly.
- Cool or warm the car first. Run the air conditioning or heater for a few minutes so the car is comfortable before the rats get in.
- Secure the carrier. Put it in a footwell or belt it onto a seat, so it can't slide or tip.
- Keep it out of the sun. Shade the windows on the sunny side, or drape a light towel over part of the carrier, leaving the air slits clear.
- Drive smoothly. Gentle braking and corners stop the rats sliding about.
- Check at stops. On longer trips, check the rats and offer food and water at every stop.
Never leave rats in a parked car, even for a few minutes and even on a mild day. A carrier in a closed car can pass 30°C (86°F) fast. If a rat is lying flat, drooling or weak after a journey, follow the heatstroke first aid in our rat temperature guide and ring a vet.
RSPCA Australia's heatstroke advice includes travelling to the vet with the air conditioning on and the rat kept damp and cool, so plan for that on hot days.
Long journeys and moving house
For a long day of travel, a small travel cage is kinder than a carrier. Use one with fine bars, a solid base and room for a small bottle, a layer of bedding and a hide. A compact rat cage around 80 x 50 x 70 cm (31.5 x 19.7 x 27.5 in) fits on a back seat in many cars and also makes a good spare for quarantine or recovery. Our guide to the best rat cages covers what to look for.
- Fix the water bottle firmly and check it isn't dripping onto the bedding.
- Add watery veg such as cucumber as a back-up.
- Use a deep layer of paper bedding to soak up spills; see our rat bedding guide.
- Give a hide so the rats can tuck away from noise and light.
- Set the cage up at the new home before anything else, in a quiet room.
Bring a handful of used, dry bedding and a hammock from the old cage. Familiar smells in the new setup help rats settle after a move.
Rat carriers we'd look at
We don't make carriers, so these are from other shops we'd look at. Check the gap sizes on any grille against your smallest rat before you buy.
TIAKI Cutsie small animal carrier
A compact top-opening carrier at 36 x 26 x 23 cm (14 x 10 x 9 in), in recycled plastic, with air slits round the roof and a clear flap to check on the rats without opening it. Good for a vet trip with two or three rats.
Trixie Midi-Capri carrier
A larger plastic carrier at 44 x 33 x 32 cm (17 x 13 x 13 in) with a lid that opens from the top and air slits on four sides and the top. Room for a small group or a longer drive. Reviewers mention clips that break, so check them each time.
Curver Transport Box
A roomy plastic box at 51 x 38 x 33 cm (20 x 15 x 13 in) with a large lockable lid flap and a textured surface that lets air through. A good holding box for cleaning days or a bigger group.
Catit Voyageur carrier
A plastic cat carrier at about 48 x 32 x 28 cm (19 x 13 x 11 in) with a metal grille door, a removable top and air holes on the sides and back. Suits adult bucks. Check the grille gaps before using it for does or young rats.
Savic Zeno 2 (as a travel cage)
An 80 x 50 x 70 cm (31.5 x 19.7 x 27.5 in) cage with 9.5 mm (3/8 in) bars and a deep base, which folds down for storage. A useful travel, quarantine or recovery cage for a pair.
For everything else about keeping rats, start at our pet rat care hub.
Questions owners ask
Can I use a cardboard box to carry my rat?
No, not even for a short trip. PetMD says never to transport rats in cardboard carriers, and Woodgreen warns that rats can chew through cardboard boxes. A determined rat can make a hole in minutes, and a loose rat in a car or a vet's waiting room is a real danger to itself.
What size carrier do rats need?
For a quick vet trip, a small carrier around 36 x 26 x 23 cm (14 x 10 x 9 in) holds two or three rats. For a larger group or a longer journey, use something closer to 44 x 33 x 32 cm (17 x 13 x 13 in). Big enough to turn round and lie down together, but small enough that nobody slides about.
Should I take all my rats to the vet together?
Usually it helps to take a cage mate along with the rat being seen. Rats are calmer with a friend, and it is one less rat coming home smelling different. Leave the rest of the group at home unless they all need checking. If the rat might be infectious, ask your vet first.
Can rats have water in a carrier?
Yes, they should have a way to drink. PetMD advises offering food and water inside the carrier. On short trips a piece of cucumber or other watery veg is easiest, because bottles often drip when jostled. On longer journeys, fix a small bottle to the side and check it at every stop.
How long can rats travel in a carrier?
A carrier is fine for a vet trip or a journey of a few hours with regular checks. For a long day of travel or moving house, a small travel cage with a bottle, bedding and a hide is kinder. Check the rats at every stop, offer food, and keep the car between 18 and 26°C (64 and 79°F).
Is a soft fabric carrier OK for rats?
We wouldn't use one. Fabric and mesh bags can be chewed through quickly, and they are hard to clean if the rats wee in them. A hard plastic carrier with small air slits or a fine grille is safer, wipes clean, and holds its shape if it gets knocked.
