Transport boxes for guinea pigs: safe and calm on the move

Guinea pigs do not like travelling. They are easily startled prey animals that feel safest in their own familiar enclosure. Even so, every guinea pig has to go out now and then: to the vet, to a sitter during the holidays or when you move house. A good transport box makes that a lot calmer. Your guinea pig is secure, cannot escape and has a sheltered spot where it can hide.

Make sure you already have the box at home before you need it. A guinea pig that is not eating has to see the vet quickly, and that is not the moment to start searching. Put a layer of bedding in it and a handful of Zooply hay, our own premium brand. The box then smells familiar and your guinea pig has something to nibble on during the journey.

At a glance

• ✓ Choose a box in which your guinea pig can stand, turn around and lie down.
• ✓ Put bedding and hay in the box; it gives grip and a sense of calm.
• ✓ Preferably transport a guinea pig together with a familiar companion.
• ✓ Never leave the box in the sun or in a warm car; guinea pigs cope poorly with heat.
• ✓ Secure the box in the car so it cannot slide or tip over.

What will you find in the Transport Boxes category?

Trixie Midi-Capri transport box

The Trixie Midi-Capri (40 × 22 × 30 cm, grey/green) is a compact carrier with a lid. According to the product information, it is intended for guinea pigs, dwarf rabbits and other small rodents. For one guinea pig this is a handy size for short trips, for example to the vet. Because the box opens from the top, you can calmly lower your guinea pig in and lift it out.

Trixie transport boxes in two sizes

Trixie also has larger transport boxes in grey, measuring 32 × 31 × 48 cm and 37 × 34 × 55 cm. These offer more space. The smaller of the two is suitable for one or two guinea pigs; the larger offers room for two guinea pigs with some hay and a small hiding spot.

Trixie Vicky carry bag

The Vicky carry bag (40 × 27 × 28 cm, grey/blue) is a rigid carry bag with several openings. A bag is light and easy to carry, for example if you go to the vet by bike or public transport. Bear in mind that a guinea pig can make a fabric bag wet; always put an absorbent layer on the bottom.

Beeztees travel basket

The Beeztees travel basket (51 × 38 × 33 cm) is the roomiest box in this category, in anthracite, white or light blue. It is intended for rabbits, guinea pigs and ferrets. For guinea pigs it is a good choice if you are transporting two or three animals together, or if you are making a longer journey, for example to a holiday address.

Choosing the right size

A transport box does not have to be large. Your guinea pig must be able to stand, turn around and lie down, but in a box that is too big it slides back and forth on every bend. For one guinea pig a compact carrier is fine. If you are transporting two guinea pigs together, choose a roomier box so they do not have to lie on top of each other.

Think about the opening too. A box that opens at the top is very practical for guinea pigs. Guinea pigs do not like walking into a dark box and often do not want to come out either. From above, you can calmly lift them in and out without having to pull them out of a corner. At the vet, the guinea pig can then stay in the box until it is its turn.

Travelling together

Guinea pigs are herd animals and feel safer with a familiar companion. If one guinea pig has to go to the vet, it can be calmer to take a buddy along in the same box. That works well, especially for a short visit. In the case of a contagious illness or an animal that needs to recover separately, check with the vet first.

If you are going to put a guinea pig back with the group after a few days, do not keep it apart for too long. The longer a guinea pig is away, the greater the chance that the pecking order has to be re-established.

How to set up the transport box

Put a layer of bedding on the bottom, so urine is absorbed and your guinea pig does not slip. Add a good handful of hay on top or in a corner. Guinea pigs that feel uneasy like to crawl under the hay. A small piece of vegetable with plenty of moisture, such as cucumber, is handy on a longer journey. A drinking bottle often does not work well in a moving car; offer water during breaks and make sure your guinea pigs can drink straight away on arrival.

A cloth draped halfway over the box gives extra calm, as long as there is enough ventilation. Guinea pigs are startled by sudden noises and movement; a darker box helps with that.

Safe in the car

Put the box on the floor of the car or secure it with the seat belt so it cannot slide. Never leave the box in the sun and never leave your guinea pig behind in a parked car. A car heats up quickly even in mild sunshine, and guinea pigs cope poorly with heat; above roughly 25 °C it soon becomes dangerous. In winter, keep the box out of draughts and take a blanket to put over it. Drive calmly and avoid loud music.

At the vet

Take a few things with you when you visit the vet. Know how much your guinea pig weighs and what it has eaten over the last few days, and mention any changes in its droppings or drinking. A photo of unusual droppings or a spot on the skin can also help. In the waiting room, put the box on your lap or on a chair, not on the floor next to dogs and cats. A cloth over the box keeps the surroundings calm.

After the visit, put your guinea pig back in its own enclosure with the group as soon as possible, with fresh hay and water. Keep an eye on it for the rest of the day: is it eating again and producing normal droppings?

To a sitter

If you are taking your guinea pigs to a sitter, send their own hay, pellets and a few familiar items along, such as a house or a tunnel. A sudden switch to different food is not good for guinea pigs. With their own Zooply Guinea Pig Food and hay, they simply keep eating in a new place too. Write down for the sitter how many pellets and vegetables they get per day, and when the sitter should call a vet.

Cleaning after use

After every trip, throw away the bedding and hay and clean the box with warm water. After a visit to the vet with a sick guinea pig, disinfect the box as well. Then let it dry thoroughly and keep it in a fixed place, ready for next time.

Useful combinations

These products complete the transport box:

• Bedding: an absorbent layer on the bottom of the box.
• Hay: Zooply hay to crawl into and nibble on during the journey.
• Health: nail clippers, a cooling plate and care products for between vet visits.
• Guinea pig food: Zooply Guinea Pig Food to send along to a sitter.
• Houses: a familiar hiding place in the enclosure to settle down in after the trip.

Frequently asked questions about transport boxes for guinea pigs

Can two guinea pigs go in one transport box?

Yes, if the box is big enough. Two guinea pigs that live together often feel calmer side by side. In that case choose a larger box or the travel basket, so they can lie next to each other. Do not put guinea pigs together that do not know each other; that causes stress and sometimes fights.

How do I get my guinea pig into the box calmly?

Put the box, open, in or next to the enclosure a day in advance, with some hay inside. Many guinea pigs will then go in by themselves for a while. If you have to put it in, lift your guinea pig with one hand under the chest and one hand under the hindquarters and lower it into the box from above. A box with an opening at the top makes that easier.

How long can a guinea pig stay in a transport box?

A journey of an hour or two is fine for most guinea pigs, provided they have hay, it is not hot and the box is well ventilated. On longer journeys, plan breaks to offer water and some fresh vegetables. Keep the journey as short as possible.

Can I use a cardboard box?

In an emergency it is possible, but it is not recommended. Cardboard gets wet from urine, guinea pigs chew through it and ventilation is often poor. A proper transport box is safer, drier and easier to clean.

My guinea pig is not eating after a trip. Is that normal?

Being a little quieter for a few hours after a journey can happen. If your guinea pig eats little or nothing for longer than half a day, produces fewer droppings or is lethargic, contact a vet with experience of guinea pigs. Guinea pigs must keep eating.

Transport boxes for guinea pigs at Knaagplaza

At Knaagplaza, the webshop of 't Knaagplein, you will find transport boxes for taking your guinea pigs safely to the vet or a sitter. Put in a layer of bedding and a handful of Zooply hay, our own premium brand that we use every day for our own guinea pigs. That way your guinea pig has something familiar on the way.