Making a Travel Cage

I needed to make a travel cage for Sophia, that would keep her safe and comfortable on a long car ride.  She has a small travel cage that I used to bring her home from the breeder, but it was small without a lot of room for Sophia to move around.  I wanted her to have room to play and move around comfortably, and I knew she would need food and water during the trip.

 

I had a small cat-sized plastic airline carrier that I thought could work.  I cut a small hole in the bottom half of the carrier, just big enough to put a perch attachment through.  I made sure the perch would be low enough that Sophia would not be hurt if she got bumped off it during transit, but I knew she needed a perch to sit on and feel comfortable and stable in the moving car.  I chose a foraging perch to give her extra fun things to chew on during the trip. 

See screw/perch placement

 

Lots of millet remains after the trip!

 

 The bottom, I lined with paper towels.  There was plenty of room left for lots of foot toys, her favorite ball, and two small ceramic crock bowls which would not tip. 

 

I wanted to introduce Sophia to the carrier with as little stress as possible.  I wanted her to know it was a safe and fun place to be.  I started by just setting it near her cage where she could watch it and see that it wasn't a threat.  I left it there for a few days until she started to investigate it on her own when she was out playing.  I left the door of the carrier propped open so she could go inside without the door closing and trapping her in.  I wanted her to be able to get out whenever she wanted to. 

I put pieces of millet inside - a special treat that she only gets during training sessions - and that enticed her to venture inside and check it out.  I also put new and exciting toys inside in the hope that she would linger inside longer to play with them.  I added a little bit of water to one of the crocks inside the carrier.

 

Over the next few days I began to close the door of the carrier for a few minutes at a time while she was busying herself with the millet and toys.  Slowly, I kept the door closed for longer periods of time, keeping the carrier right next to me so she would not feel scared or alone. 

 

As she became comfortable in the carrier, I left her in there for several hours to play and eat, with me moving around the room and then leaving the room.  It was important before the trip for me to know that Sophia was eating and drinking and playing inside the carrier.  This meant she was content and not stressed.

 

During the trip, Sophia's carrier was strapped into the car for safety so it could not slide around.  I gave her some water in her crock, and a larger crock of fruits and veggies, along with sprouted seed to try to make sure she got enough fluids.  The trip was going to be over 12 hours in the car, and I didn't want to risk opening the carrier during that time and have Sophia get out. 

 

Sophia did great during the trip!  I could hear her munching away on her veggies and millet.  Sometimes I heard her bell jingling around.  The only time she squawked a bit was at dusk as the sun was going down, but once it was dark, she was quiet again.