(Part 2) Reddit mentions: The best dog carriers

Your list looks pretty good so far!

EcoBedding has a couple of advantages over other beddings. It's very low dust and it won't really get kicked out of the cage. Its drawbacks are that it doesn't provide a good floor covering because it just kinda sits on top of the floor (I had to use sheets of paper under it) and it's not very absorbent so it doesn't do much to control odors. Its also very expensive for just being crinkle kraft paper. You can purchase gigantic boxes of crinkle-cut kraft paper from Staples for $20 (they don't keep it in stock, you have to pre-order it). I tried this as a primary bedding once but did not like it very much. I've been much happier with aspen shavings. They can be messier and would require a deep pan but they're better for controlling odors/ammonia.

I prefer water bottles to water bowls because bowls can get dirty with loose bedding, food bits, and even poop. Bottles are a sure-fire way to provide a constant supply of clean water. It can be a good idea to have two water bottles so if one malfunctions or stops releasing water, there's still a backup.

You can use a food bowl if you want but it's not necessary. You can also just scatter their food around the cage so they'll have to forage for it. Scatter feeding works best when mixed into a loose substrate like shavings or paper based beddings.

Hammocks are really easy to make yourself from old clothes or really any scraps of fabric. You'll want multiples because they need to be washed very often. When I used a Critter Nation, I used several hammocks and I had a few sets so I could quickly swap them out. I swap hammocks out every few days because they get stinky quickly. They can also get destroyed quickly so spending money on fancy store-bought hammocks might not be the best idea.

Some other items to consider;

Small Animal Carrier: I use a small hard-sided cat carrier for my boys. It's great for vet visits or general travel. The one I use has a door on the top and it makes it a lot easier to get timid rats out. Fabric/mesh carriers should be avoided because they may be chewed through.

Travel Cage: If you ever need to bring your rats with you on a trip or if you need someone to look after them for you, you may want a more portable cage for them. Something lightweight and/or collapsible is handy. You can sometimes find good deals on used cages on apps/sites like craigslist, marketplace, kijiji, etc. A bin cage would also work for this purpose and it can double as storage when not in use.

Various Cage Accessories: The cage is really the main expense to get started. After that, cage accessories can be dirt-cheap or free. For the most part, there's no reason to buy stuff besides bedding/litter from a pet store. The recycle bin, your basement/garage, thrift stores, and dollar stores are great sources for cage accessories. There are a few official pet items that I like, though. Space pods, lava ledges, and bendy rope perches are fantastic cage items.

Litter Box / Litter: Rats can be trained to poop in a litter box to some degree (they'll still pee all over). If you can train your rats somewhat, you can change the litter box every couple days and you wont need to clean the whole cage as much. A litter box should be big enough for your rats to fully step into. I use inexpensive corner ferret/rabbit litter trays with fragrance-free paper pellet cat litter.

You'll also want to consider how you're going to cover the shelf in the cage. The shallow pan doesn't hold bedding but it still should be covered with something. I made "mats" out of fleece with an inner layer of an absorbent material and it worked well on the cage shelves.

Aww, the poor pup. I hope this is a temporary situation and your dog recovers quickly.

When my dog lost strength in his back legs, I got a sling, basically a rectangle of sturdy fabric with handles. It had straps, but it was just easier to slip it under him for the minute it took to get him in the car. He could still walk. But with issues with both legs, I wonder if you might be better off using a pet stretcher with wheels, like this:

http://www.amazon.com/Animal-Stretcher-Mobile-Trolley-Capacity/dp/B005N8SEKC/ref=pd_sim_sbs_petsupplies_2?ie=UTF8&refRID=0JPYKRS1WD6EX5AB0SVP

Hi! I'm a day late but I have bonded buns and I use the Bergen Animal Comfort Carrier. The buns seem to love it. https://www.amazon.com/Bergan-Comfort-Carrier-Small-Taupe/dp/B00XHFTW4U/ref=sr_1_2?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1475200291&sr=1-2&keywords=bergan+pet+carrier

Some dogs like to go under things. It's a "denning" instinct. You could put a dog bed where he likes to go. I also have an enclosed crate that I took the door off, my dog loves to go in and curl up. She's old enough that we don't have to crate her anymore but she still likes to go in there.

This one here is good


I use that one for my boys, the only issue is you can't hang a bottle but I just take one with me and give them water every so often in case they're thirsty.


If you want one that you can hang a bottle from, this one seems like it has decent reviews


Also this depends on if you're in USA or in the UK/Ireland so I hope I could be of some help!

I bought these to transport my cats cross country, my biggest one is 16 lbs and it seemed to be comfy for her with room to spare! And she's a Maine Coone so she's large volumetrically as well as by weight, lol. They are very sturdy and fairly easy to put together and take apart!

Suncast PCS2417 Deluxe Pet Carrier https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001NIZ7D8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_7EdUBbXY2XM75

Since your pup is still at a young age I highly suggest looking into crate training her (ie getting her used to spending time in those doggy kennels for sleeping). A lot of dogs find the enclosed nature very comforting and when you get them used to it at an early age it really helps reduce separation anxiety when they get older.

http://www.amazon.com/Petmate-Kennel-Fashion-Carrier-Pounds/dp/B00063KG5U/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1346874325&sr=8-5&keywords=dog+kennel

Like that, with bedding in the bottom and size appropriate for your breed.

It isn't for all of them, but largely benefits some.

Honestly it'd be substantially cheaper to make it yourself. The materials for my build were pretty cheap:

• 3 cans of Krylon Fusion @ $12 each, $36
  
• Water bottle, $6
  
• Food bowl, $5
  
• Carpet sample, free (ask your local carpet store for an out-of-production sample of commercial-grade carpet)
  
• Baking racks, 2 @ $15 each, $30
  
• Sterilite box, $10
  
• LED drawer light: $1.50
  
• Zip ties and velcro strips, $3 maybe? Harbor Freight for cheapness.
  
  The carrier itself would be the most expensive single part; the one I used is probably about 15 years old, but the modern version costs about $50 shipped. PetSmart has similar and cheaper versions available (here, $33 and here, $26). So if you bought a new carrier locally and didn't paint it, your total materials cost would be somewhere around $85. For me to ship it to you would probably be another $30 or so more, and that doesn't include any proposed costs for my labor time. If I were to put it all together it probably took me about 2-3 hours of labor with the single biggest expenditure being the cutting of the baking racks for the loft floor. Although this project took me about nine or ten days overall, most of that was waiting for the paint to set up.
  
  If you don't have a Dremel and cutting wheel you can probably get away with a strong pair of wire cutters (for the thinner wires) and a hacksaw or bolt cutter (for the thicker wires). The only other tools needed would be a rasp (to smooth out any burrs on the cut ends of the metal), a utility knife (for cutting the carpet to size), and a metal can (for making the hole in the litter pan; I used one that held canned chicken breast). If you buy a new carrier you won't have to paint it, which means you won't have to sweat out the mold release agent which means you won't need a torch. And technically you don't even need the metal can if you're capable of cutting a smooth hole (I'm not).

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07DBXLYVT/

It's a pretty impressive design, made of soft materials, and it completely collapses into a flat package that can be easily stored

Hi all! Sorry for the delayed reply! I ended up getting this one - it's great! Bun can see out, but it's difficult to see in (no children begging to see her), many pockets for storage (used it to carry a small paperback book and my headphones for the plane). A really great bag all around. Doesn't even look like a carrier! More of a structured duffle bag. The base is very sturdy.

Link!

Crates are given away for free on craigslist alot. Amazon sells them for super cheap too ~minus the over sized bird cage, that shit set me back $250~ Worst case, the car is a crate if it is only 1 or 2 animals. Camping gear isn't even a requirement. It's not hard to sleep in a car for short term (I've over-nighted in my car before).

If they have no transportation, I can understand the problem they have, but most people have cars. I think this is where I don't understand it. They have a way to get them out, but choose not to. I haven't been able to think of a single instance where someone justifiably evacuates in their own car, but leaves a pet. No car, ok. I get it now, but how do they get the animal to the vet?

Ninja edit: thank you for trying to help me understand, but I still have questions....

It's a little taller than 7.5", but this one is 9" and has a wire top so you can see your bunny: http://www.amazon.com/PETMATE-290750-Traveler-Underseat-Carrier/dp/B001CQX3PA/

Or there's this one that's 8" but has a solid top: http://www.amazon.com/Dosckocil-Petmate-DDS21050-Kennel-Carrier/dp/B0002DHZIK/

I suspect that you won't run into anyone that will measure your carrier, but both should fit under the seat for most airlines.

I also have an all black pug who legitimately almost strangled himself on about 5 “car harnesses” for dogs. He HAD to be in either my lap or my husbands. I was very convinced there was no way to safety restrain him in the car.

However, there was a new story a few years back about a woman who was in a minor car accident and her dog escaped. She chased her all black pug (who looked a lot like mine, and yours) into the highway and both of them were struck and killed. Here is the news story. This woman and her dog lost their lives, and a driver has to live with the knowledge they struck and killed them both. I decided at that moment we needed some solution.

Here is an example of a soft dog crate that you can secure in the back seat via seat belts (you can buy seat belt clips separately). We put our pug in there for all car rides. The crate is collapsible/portable so it’s easy to move and he cannot harm himself while in there. He did/does whine a bit at the start of the trip, but it’s worth it knowing we are all safe. I would HIGHLY recommend.

It's the AmazonBasics pet crate. They have a bunch of sizes to choose from. We love them!:

https://smile.amazon.com/AmazonBasics-Premium-Folding-Portable-Crate/dp/B07GPQ462W/ref=sr_1_5?keywords=amazon+basics+cat+carrier&qid=1565749060&s=gateway&sr=8-5

We have the 26 inch for our Maine Coon (He'll grow into it). And our Ragdoll/Himi each have 21 inch crates.

We have this carrier and we've used it for all airlines. None of the airlines have commented on the carrier's size and it fits perfectly underneath. It also has clips on the side so you can put a seat belt through when you drive.

We line the bottom with a puppy pad just in case too!

Also would check with your airline about documentation for flying. A lot of airlines have changed their policies lately.

I personally like this carrier. Because it has bars on the side, I can attach food/water dishes (the ones it comes with aren't great) and perches. My vet loves it. It doesn't have a tray under it, so I put down a towel on the bottom in case water spills. It closes securely. I can wrap the lap part of the seat belt around it and it stays in place. I normally cover the half of the cage on the window side, not that it can see out, but to keep the light/heat off my bird. It can be difficult for my parrot to see out, though. I also have one of these which is great because it collapses. It's kind of big - I used to transport a pair of GCCs in it and it could serve as an overnight cage. It's kind of easy for the door to open, so I normally have a bit of velcro holding it shut at extra (it's never opened on me, I just worry about it when things are jostling around to/from car and buildings). This carrier does have a tray under it, so I line it with paper towels and if any water spills it isn't a big deal.

Having done lots of long drives with a couple different parrots, I think the most important thing is that the bird can see its person. I always have normal food, treats, and water in there for them.

I have two cages for my 'tiel. One for the main room we spend time in (office) and one for sleeping/travel. Tiels tend to have night terrors and are better off sleeping in a smaller, wider, sparsely decorated cage.

I ordered this one in large for him. Perfect for week long trips. He's stayed in a hotel for a couple days with us in that cage. Might work well for your living room cage.

I don't have experience with this but a friend of mine uses this for her rat terrier mix: http://smile.amazon.com/Petego-Marsupack-Carrier-Black-Label/dp/B000HVR9BA/ref=sr_1_16?ie=UTF8&qid=1427748341&sr=8-16&keywords=dog+carrier+backpack and likes it a lot!

Have you tried one of those plasticy ones? I'm not sure that would be any better, but maybe the fewer the gaps, the less chances to chew and escape.

I got it from Amazon for $25.

Edit: I agree with /u/gruvgreaves, you should be careful. I checked out the bar spacing and it's 3/4 of an inch. That's rated as not safe for my 'tiel either. I'm not worried for myself because my girl hasn't ever tried to get out of a cage. Source

I need a carrier for my cat. We take her places with us and she doesn't have one and she gets scared easily in the car. She has an appointment to get spayed and get her shots in a few weeks and she has to have a carrier for that.

I wasn't required to bring a health certificate. I took my 'tiel for a checkup the week before and brought the receipt from that just in case, but no one asked to see any paperwork. The carrier I used was this one: Hard Sided Under-Seat Pet Carrier