Where People & Piggies Thrive

Newbie or Guinea Guru? Popcorn in!

Register for free to enjoy the full benefits.
Find out more about the NEW, drastically improved site and forum!

Register

I'm APPROVED!!!

Catahoula

Well-known Member
Cavy Slave
Joined
Oct 6, 2011
Messages
702
Yay, I'm so excited!!! :eek:

❤️ I just got approved by the adoption agency. I'm hoping that I can pick up my piggies Thanksgiving weekend, but I have to wait for confirmation from the Rescue that they will be available that weekend. (I will be very understanding if not, since it's the holiday weekend)

:?: The Rescue is about 3.5 hours south of me. Does anyone have any suggestions about how to reduce the stress of a 3+ hour ride home for the piggies? I have to large (cat) carriers, is that enough room to bring home 3 pigs or should I buy a 3rd carrier for the ride home?
 
when i got my piggy i made to have water and treats, i had a loud car so that was the only ssue
 
Congrats! If the pigs have been housed together they will probably feel safer if they are together. The cat carrier probably isn't big enough for all 3 but it's something to consider. Do you have anything they could all 3 be in? A large tote or something? You could secure it on the seat with the seatbelt or maybe behind the passenger seat on the floor.
Just be sure to be conscious of the temp you put the car at so they aren't too hot/cold.
Also be sure to put a hidey in each carrier and have plenty of hay. They can eat and hide in it.
Stopping for a snack of pepper or carrot every hour might be good too. Don't try to coax them out, just put the treat inside for them.
Water will just slosh around so you'll have to stop to offer water every hour in some fashion. Or offering snacks high in water will help like cucumber or a grape?
 
Congrats! If the pigs have been housed together they will probably feel safer if they are together. The cat carrier probably isn't big enough for all 3 but it's something to consider. Do you have anything they could all 3 be in? A large tote or something? You could secure it on the seat with the seatbelt or maybe behind the passenger seat on the floor.
Just be sure to be conscious of the temp you put the car at so they aren't too hot/cold.
Also be sure to put a hidey in each carrier and have plenty of hay. They can eat and hide in it.
Stopping for a snack of pepper or carrot every hour might be good too. Don't try to coax them out, just put the treat inside for them.
Water will just slosh around so you'll have to stop to offer water every hour in some fashion. Or offering snacks high in water will help like cucumber or a grape?

Thanks for the tips! I don't know for sure which pigs I get to bring home. The application asked if I had a preference from their adoptable pet list. I told them I was interested in a bonded pair of females +1, because I wanted 3 total. I just told them to pick another piggy the 2 girls would get along with.

I do have 2 cat carriers, so 2 could fit in one and the 3rd in the other one. But if it would be easier for them all to ride together for comfort, then I think I have a large rubbermaid tote that I could use, or I could buy one of those large plastic dog kennels. I'll look around and see what I have.

I also asked the rescue these questions, so I hope they have some tips for me too.
 
Congrats on being approved! :)
 
The big plastic tub idea works well, and they're way cheaper than the large dog carriers. But I have to say, our dog carrier, which we had before we got the piggies, has served us well several times with them. We use it when we're cleaning the cage and there are visiting children or dogs around or the bathrooms are being used, to separate one when we think one might be ill or we're trying to figure out which one has soft poops, and for traveling.
 
The big plastic tub idea works well, and they're way cheaper than the large dog carriers. But I have to say, our dog carrier, which we had before we got the piggies, has served us well several times with them. We use it when we're cleaning the cage and there are visiting children or dogs around or the bathrooms are being used, to separate one when we think one might be ill or we're trying to figure out which one has soft poops, and for traveling.

I had a large dog carrier at one point. My sister has 2 cats and I have one big dog. When she moved away, she was sneaky and took the large dog kennel for both cats and left me with the 2 cat carriers :mad:

Siblings!! You love them and you hate them.

Worst case scenario, the rubbermaid tote will work for the ride home and I can get a large kennel later on down the line.
 
Yay! Congratulations on being approved! I can't wait to see pictures of the little guys!
 
I am not an experienced owner by any means, and I am just learning, but what about a large cardboard box? Like one from a moving company? Then they could have the top open (cut it off) and they could all be together. I have a SUV, so I was thinking that it would work perfectly in the back area. I am not sure what kind of space you have in your car, but that was just my thoughs. Anyone else, feel free to chime in if it is a bad suggestion.
 
I am not an experienced owner by any means, and I am just learning, but what about a large cardboard box? Like one from a moving company? Then they could have the top open (cut it off) and they could all be together. I have a SUV, so I was thinking that it would work perfectly in the back area. I am not sure what kind of space you have in your car, but that was just my thoughs. Anyone else, feel free to chime in if it is a bad suggestion.

:sad: I drive a truck, without an extended cab. All I have is a 3 seat bench that goes across the front.

Maybe they could ride in the bed...LOL, I'm just kidding. But I bet they'd have a cool new hair-do by time I got them home after a 3 hour ride in the back. :D

I think a cardboard box would work just as well as a tote. AND, since I just got my shipment of oxbow hay delivered to my house I happen to have a nice, BIG box. I just worry about if they pee a lot it might soak through the cardboard.
 
Just put some thick towels down with hay on top. They'll likely be so traumatized by the whole process that they won't move much anyway.
 
It might soak through, but then again they don't pee that many times in a day. Mine never peed or pooped once when I brought her home and put the cage together (probably 1 1/2 hours). I'm not sure if that is typical or not? You could line it with towels or bedding?
 
Just put some thick towels down with hay on top. They'll likely be so traumatized by the whole process that they won't move much anyway.

LOL, ya they probably will! I can't imagine mine eating anything on the ride, that is for sure!
 
Maybe they could ride in the bed...LOL, I'm just kidding. But I bet they'd have a cool new hair-do by time I got them home after a 3 hour ride in the back. :D

LOL, now THAT would be tramatizing!
 
The tote that I'm thinking about, if I still have it, is clear. Should I drape a towel or sheet over it to make it darker and more secure feeling?
 
Yes, you should drape it, but for the main reason of keeping the sun off of them. They can get pretty hot in the sun -- all that hair, you know. But it will make them feel more secure. We hope.
 
Thanks for all the great info everybody! So helpful, as always. I'll keep you posted on my soon-to-be piggies and I will definitely be posting pictures when the come home!
 
So happy for you! I can't wait to see pictures. Hope you have a smooth trip home with them! I would cover your seat with a trash bag just in case the box leaks and this way the piggies can't get to it to eat it.
 
For the trip home(1.5 hours) we bought a 2.5 bushel laundry basket. Thats what the rescue told us to buy instead of carriers. All 3 were in it with polar fleece blanket and lots of hay and food. they squeek for a bit..but then get used to the car.
 
Status
This thread has been closed due to inactivity. You can create a new thread to discuss this topic.

Similar threads

T1ggerPigLuvur
Replies
1
Views
1K
T1ggerPigLuvur
T1ggerPigLuvur
Beatrix187
Replies
3
Views
2K
Beatrix187
Beatrix187
Talking Cavy
Replies
7
Views
1K
Talking Cavy
Talking Cavy
Kelly9
Replies
2
Views
920
Kelly9
Kelly9
Top