Whether you take your chinchilla on vacation or to the veterinarian, travel carriers make the trip more manageable. A few easy steps can make your chinchilla’s travel experience a good one.

1. Find A Good Travel Carrier
The travel carrier must be easy to carry, well-ventilated, and escape-proof. Small dog or cat travel carriers work well.

2. Make It Comfortable
Put some sort of bedding material on the bottom of the carrier. I put a layer of clay cat litter in mine. I also add some shredded paper,” said chinchilla owner Susan Hootens.

You can also add a hiding space, like a box, to your travel carrier. This gives the chinchilla a place to go to if it gets scared.

3. Supply Food & Water
Give your chinchilla food and water during the trip. Attach a water bottle to the carrier and put a food dish inside. You might want to bring along some treats, too.

4. Protect Your Chinchilla
Bring along a light sheet or piece of thin fabric to cover the carrier. This will protect your chinchilla from overheating and loud noise. Make sure to remove the sheet from time to time to increase ventilation in the carrier.

If you are traveling in the car, avoid extreme temperatures by using the air conditioner or heater. In the summer, put a bottle of frozen water in the carrier to keep temperatures down. In the winter, put something in the carrier that your chinchilla can snuggle up to for warmth. Never leave your chinchilla alone in the car.