Taking Pikachu home for Xmas

[cee]

I'm planning on taking Pikachu home with me for Christmas and am worried about how to transport him as it may be likely that I'll be travelling on public transport. I don't really fancy the idea of lugging his cage to the train station with me but would anyone recommend a travel/portable cage or so that was small enough to travel in but big enough to live in temporarily for about 4 days or so?

Also has anyone ever travelled on train with hamsters before? would they let you travel with them or did you have to check in advance?

[haziebabie]

Aww its lovely that you are wanting to spend time with your friend over Christmas but wouldn't it be easier for you and less disrupting for him (new cage, travelling etc.) if you could leave him at home with someone to check on him or even have him stay with a friend. Sounds like a nightmare to me to be honest!! Its understand its hard to leave them, I realised last night we are going away overnight to a friends house next week and i'll have to leave Mavis and the pups here but that's only one night and I am sure they will be fine! I am just going to have someone check in on them (give them their porridge and check their water

Anyway, if you do HAVE to take them I am sure someone will recommend a good travel/temp cage, you will want something very sturdy as an escapee doesn't bear thinking about. Will you have a lot of bags to carry too? I have no idea if they will let you on either, hopefully someone here has done it before or you could email the train company.

[souffle]

I agree with haziebaby that it would be a lot less stressful for him if he could just stay in his own home over Christmas. Someone checking in every two days would be fine to feed and change water so you don't need an everyday visit. Some people will board hammies so have a look on the hamster holiday sitter list to see if anyone is near you.
Travel on a train at Christmas is a bit of a nightmare but if you really want to take him I would get a regular small pet carrier, fill with bedding, some food and a bit of cucumber for fluid. When you get home I would suggest you get your folks to have ready a deep plastic storage bin as a temporary home. They can get a small bag of shavings and he can use the bedding you bring in the carrier. Water in a small dish would do for a few days and they could save loo roll tubes and cardboard boxes as toys and houses for him. take a nibblestick or two and he will be fine. They travel well but try and keep him dark and still and don't keep poking him to see if he is OK on the train! It migt be best to reserve a seat so you don't have to stand all the way too.

[newtohamsters]

When collecting Rescues - both Hamsters and rats I have travelled on the train and the tube with travel cages - normally in a large shopping bag in case I got questioned. I never did, I think it is at the train company's discretion I know loads of people who have done it tho.

xx

[cee]

Originally Posted by haziebabie

Aww its lovely that you are wanting to spend time with your friend over Christmas but wouldn't it be easier for you and less disrupting for him (new cage, travelling etc.) if you could leave him at home with someone to check on him or even have him stay with a friend. Sounds like a nightmare to me to be honest!! Its understand its hard to leave them, I realised last night we are going away overnight to a friends house next week and i'll have to leave Mavis and the pups here but that's only one night and I am sure they will be fine! I am just going to have someone check in on them (give them their porridge and check their water

Anyway, if you do HAVE to take them I am sure someone will recommend a good travel/temp cage, you will want something very sturdy as an escapee doesn't bear thinking about. Will you have a lot of bags to carry too? I have no idea if they will let you on either, hopefully someone here has done it before or you could email the train company.

I've left him overnight before and I'd be happy to do that, its just i'll be back at home from 23rd till about the 28th and i'd rather he was with me so I can make sure he's ok. Unfortunately I live on my own so I'm not too happy about even giving my keys to a friend over xmas and pretty much all my friends will be away for xmas too..

Souffle - good idea about the plastic bin thing - there is a PAH near my house anyway so i can pick up a small bale of shavings from there - I will more than likely bring his toys along with him too in a seperate bag and his treats/food. Then if I do have to do it again for whatever reason I have a spare temp bin cage setup back home for him Plus I know my dad likes doing DIY so I'm sure drilling a few ventilation holes in a plastic box will make him happy

newtohamsters - Good idea about putting the travel cage in a carrier bag!! I've got one of those tesco green hemp bag for life things that I use a lot to take stuff home with so i can put him in there which I suppose will keep things dark and cosy(ish) for him too

[zara825]

Hi!

When I was at uni I had a hammy called Maizie and she once came on the train with me from Bangor to Rhyl, and once from Bangor to Stockport.

Arriva trains wales seem to allow hammy passengers, and changing at chester, i think it is first north western and they were ok with it too. The conductor was really interested in her!

Maizie was really nosy and interested in everything that was happening, but eventually went back to sleep.

I think it really depends on the temprament of the hammy in question, but I do agree, keep him warm, and leave him to his own devices

Definately reserve a seat, and as long as it is only a one off, he should be ok

My boys are having the house to themselves xmas eve as we are travelling to my parents back in Wales for the night

[cee]

I think I will check with East Midlands Trains before I travel..as they are the train company I'll be using. Pikachu tends to be quite relaxed but he should be OK travelling as what I intend to do is put his nest house in the travel case so he has some retreat with some shavings and a bit of cucumber as a moisture source.

AND! my Dad has a spare plastic bin I can use as a temporary house for him and has some spare chicken wire stuff I can use for a lid I intend on bringing some of his toys with him and treats so it'll be like a second home for him..I may have to get him a silent spinner early (my plan was to get him it for xmas) as my current hammy wheel is actually attached to the cage.