Taking Piggies On Holiday

[JaseChase]

Hey everyone

I'm going away for a week in early July and the plan is to bring the piggies with me, so I thought I'd check in and see if there are any tips I've missed to make it as smooth as possible. They've not been outside since I brought them home from the rescue (they were 4 months old then, now they're a year and a half) so I'm a little nervous about dominance issues etc.

I've got two boys in a 5x2 C&C cage. I'm planning to bring their normal cage and some old fleece that smells like them along with their usual tunnels and hideys. The journey is a couple of hours in a car, I've got a cat carrier to take them in but I'm a bit worried about keeping them hydrated in this heat - will giving them watery veggies like lettuce, cucumber etc be enough? Also, when we're in the new cottage is it better to cover their cage with blankets or will they be fine in a new environment? I'm staying with three friends, they've all met the piggies before but it will be new to have them around all the time and I don't want my boys feeling anxious all week.

Where we're going has lots of dog-free grass around so I'm hoping to be able to give them some for the first time in a while - they live in my flat with me so don't get to go outside normally. I won't be putting them out in a run or anything but if I'm bringing them clippings I believe I should go slow so they don't get upset tummies, right?

I've read through the travel guides and other threads on here and think I've got a good plan, but if I've missed anything obvious please let me know! I'm a bit nervous as it's my first time travelling with them and I don't want to spoil their bond or anything, we got through their teens fine so I'd hate to ruin it now

Here's Noodle and Tofu for piggie tax

 

[Zorro1]

I'm afraid I can't answer any of your questions, but may I say, Tofu and Noodle are beautiful!
Hopefully other members will reply soon and give you some advice.

 

[Piggies&buns]

it sound as like you have got a good plan.
You will most likely need to cover their cage as you are likely to find they will be rather skittish if they’ve never travelled before. A bit of going back to basics maybe but you will have to see how they fare.
Yes, cucumber will help keep them hydrated
And yes, handpick or use scissors to cut small amounts of grass given they aren’t used to it.
Do you have equipment for keeping them cool if the weather is hot when you are away - how to keep the room cool and empty bottles for freezing, etc

 

[Swissgreys]

Your boys are beautiful and it really does sound like you have covered everything.
Two hours isn't a particularly long journey so a bit of cucumber should do the trick.

And I agree about covering their cage at the cottage, just to give them time to settle in and get used to the new noises and smells.
I hope you all have a wonderful holiday.

 

[Merab]

We take ours on holiday, and we moved house with them.
You seem to have everything in hand.
I put the travel carrier in the footwell of the passenger seat to keep it shaded and secure.
Just keep the car at a comfortable temperature.
Have a lovely holiday.

 

[JaseChase]

Sounds great, thanks everyone! I'll bring their usual blankets to keep the cage covered while we're away so they've got somewhere to hide and feel secure. As for hot weather, I've got ice pods that I freeze and pop in the cage for them and I'll bring some water bottles to freeze as well. I keep the cage out of direct sunlight and a fan going to keep the room cool, their filtered water is kept in the fridge, and I've got the hot weather guide from this forum saved as well - it's a total life-saver when it gets hot like this

We take ours on holiday, and we moved house with them.
You seem to have everything in hand.
I put the travel carrier in the footwell of the passenger seat to keep it shaded and secure.
Just keep the car at a comfortable temperature.
Have a lovely holiday.

Good call for keeping the carrier in the footwell of the passenger seat - I hadn't thought about the best way to keep them secure in the car. That sounds like the best plan though and I'll be in the passenger seat so I can keep an eye on them

Thank you all very much, here is Noodle again enjoying the new carrot cottage