30 Days of June

[AprilPearl]

So is Lord James going on holiday with you? That should be fun!

Love how when he stops running he swings with the wheel for a bit. Funny little dude.

[Fluffagrams]

Originally Posted by Thin Lizzy

Kind of like should I go for a spin, decisions, decisions lol!
I so love James, got a soft spot for him, lucky James going with you. Where you going?

Last year he went to North Wales, this year we're going to Kent. He travels well and always has done but I think he found it strange not having any other hamsters around.

Originally Posted by AprilPearl

So is Lord James going on holiday with you? That should be fun!.

I wish I could take them all but there'd be no space in the car for everyone's cages plus the luggage so I had to weigh up who was best to go where. As James is my oldest and the most laid back, I decided he would come with us.

As we go on holiday tomorrow, I thought I'd talk about travelling with hamsters.

As most of you will know, I regularly show my hamsters and consequently they're pretty used to travelling via various methods of transport.

Normally on a show day, they travel in their show pens which sit in a special carrier that holds four pens and allows for ventilation of all four pens. Because my hamsters are used to their show pens, and I get them used to being in them before they're ever taken to a show, they usually fall asleep. In the show pens I'll always put a dog biscuit, which are always the type that the clubs use so I can leave it in the pen all day if need be and a chunk of cucumber. I'll always bring spare cucumber in case it dries out before benching or the journey home.

On other occasions such as transport to the vet and going on holiday, they'll usually travel in some kind of carrier. My favourite carrier is the Ferplast Aladino which costs about £14-£20. However I've used things like craft/ice cream tubs with holes punched in the roof before.

I feel that this is safer for them as there is less space for them to be flung around in if you need to brake suddenly and so that there are no toys that can fall over to hurt them.
I'll always try to keep back some of their used substrate to go in the carriers to help them feel more settled and as with the show pens, will always give them cucumber as a source of moisture on the journey.
A tip that was given to me is to bring along a fabric bag for life that is big enough for your hamster's carrier, that way you can pop your hamster in the carrier and they are safe from nosey eyes as well as allowing you to take them into places like service stations easier (avoiding the need to leave them in the car).

Here's James in his carrier just before last year's holiday...

[AprilPearl]

I hope you and Lord James have a lovely holiday does he have a special travel cage to stay in for when you arrive, or do you take his normal cage. I also have the Ferplast Aladino carry case - Quigley traveled home in it!

[Fluffagrams]

Originally Posted by AprilPearl

I hope you and Lord James have a lovely holiday does he have a special travel cage to stay in for when you arrive, or do you take his normal cage. I also have the Ferplast Aladino carry case - Quigley traveled home in it!

He stays in his normal cage as it's not that big so that helps him feel as settled as possible. He's happier in a smaller cage anyway.

[Pebbles82]

James looks very sweet in his carrier I have a coconut in Newtie's as well.

[AprilPearl]

Originally Posted by Fluffagrams

He stays in his normal cage as it's not that big so that helps him feel as settled as possible. He's happier in a smaller cage anyway.

I’m wondering if it might be possible to take Quigley on holiday some time. His savic plaza might be a bit big to take, as it is 100cm X 50cm X 50cm. I think the main problem woukd be finding a place to stay that allows animals. Is that difficult?

[Fluffagrams]

Originally Posted by AprilPearl

I’m wondering if it might be possible to take Quigley on holiday some time. His savic plaza might be a bit big to take, as it is 100cm X 50cm X 50cm. I think the main problem woukd be finding a place to stay that allows animals. Is that difficult?

I tend to find that self-catering places are more open to pets than most hotels and B&B's are althogh I have stayed in a few hotels that are fine with me bringing the hamsters.

In some places I've paid a small surcharge to be able to bring pets but this is often cheaper than what you'd pay a pet sitter. I've found that a couple of other places have been concerned about escapes so like to see a photo of their accommodation, which can also help reassure the owners that mess will be kept to a minimum if you're bringing an enclosed cage. Saying that though, I always bring one of the pet blankets (you can get them from the dog section of Poundland) to put down underneath the cage so that it doesn't scratch any units when you put it down. I'm also very careful when cleaning that I have left no trace of substrate on the floors or surfaces (my own hamster room is usually less tidy).

Since we're on the subject of holidays, here's James just before we set off this morning...



There was a few hold-ups along the way but James was as good as gold. He snoozed away in his carrier most of the way.

[dreamtree1234]

Fluffagrams, I am just catching up on your lovely thread. It is all very interesting and I love all of your wonderful pictures of your gorgeous and handsome Chineseys. Thanks for sharing how you created all of their magnificent names, too. I really appreciate you sharing it with us.

I also loved your summary of how the hamster shows are conducted, how each hammy is graded, etc. This was extremely interesting, and I would love to attend one in the future. Congrats on all of the lovely Rosettes that you have acquired. You must be so very proud of all of you well-deserved hammies.

LOL - Matthew running in his wheel full of substrate is totally hilarious. I have never seen a hammy running with such ease with all of that fluffy stuff trailing behind him. I thought that Eros was quite silly having a few pieces of treats, etc. banging around in her wheel as she runs, but Matthew has definitely taken it to the limit.

I hope that James's tooth heals well, he enjoys his retirement thoroughly, and his pairing goes exceedingly well for him and your hamstery. I know that he will have the loveliest and sweetest of pups to carry on his wonderful reputation.

Have fun on your vacation, and I hope that the weather is lovely for you and all of your hammies.

[Thin Lizzy]

Wishing you and Mr Handsome James a lovely holiday!
James looks mighty handsome in his carrier.

[AprilPearl]

James sounds as though he behaved himself very well! I hope you both enjoy your holiday

Maybe I could find a place in the Lake District which would allow Quigley to stay with us. I love going on holiday there. Don't think we could quite take him hiking up mountains with us though!