Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Other animals

The best small pets for frequent travelers

PawTracks
By

Going out of town means planning an itinerary with hotel reservations, restaurant recommendations, and museum tickets. If you have small pets at home, it also means booking pet sitters to feed your companion and make sure they’re safe. Luckily, many small pets fit your lifestyle if you travel a lot. There are also pets that do well even when left alone for days. Either way, here are some pocket pets you might want to welcome into your life of constant travel.

dog travel bag
nadisja/Shutterstock

Pets that travel well

Some pets travel well whether it’s by air, car, or train. However, make sure your designated airline or transportation company accommodates pets before taking your friend with you. Keep in mind that some cat and dog breeds may not do so well during air travel, and in this case, it’s best to keep them home or consult your vet for any precautions you should take.

  • Cats and dogs are frequent travelers. In most cases, they’ll need to stay in an airline- or company-approved crate. On planes, contact the staff beforehand if your pet can stay in the cabin with you. You might have to pay extra fees, but the long trip will be less stressful compared to being alone in a separate part of the plane. Dogs tend to travel better in cars than cats do, so if you’re going on a long road trip, consider leaving your pet at home in the care of a friend or family member.
  • Rats are an unusual pet that are good company for travelers who explore by car. They’re low-maintenance, curious, and often well-behaved. Consider adopting a pair to satisfy their socialization needs. Rats are incredibly intelligent and can feel sad when they are alone.
  • Rabbits are also one of the more common animals you might see on planes and in cars. Though rabbits have a reputation for getting easily spooked, they can be great travel buddies. Before tucking them away in their crate in the backseat of your car, make sure they’re comfortable with their carrier and being inside your vehicle. Let them explore their crate to minimize stress on the first day of your road trip.
Recommended Videos

Pets you can leave at home for days

Tamara Gore/Unsplash

These pets are travel friendly in a different way. While you satiate your wanderlust across the seas, they’ll be home and happy waiting for your return.

  • Hermit crabs may not be the first thing to come to mind when you think of small pets, but they are great pets for travel lovers or folks who travel for business on a regular basis. They just need a terrarium placed in a shady area, some bedding, and crushed food pellets. Keep some plants in their terrarium and spray with water.
  • Hamsters are convenient pets for frequent travelers. Make sure their automatic feeder and water bottle are in good working condition before you leave. Clean and replace their bedding if necessary, and make sure the room temperature is amiable. Leave a new rolling toy, maze, or chew toy before you leave to keep them entertained until you get back.
  • Tarantulas eat very infrequently. Before a long weekend, feed them until they’re full — live crickets, pre-killed crickets, mealworms, grasshoppers, etc. Leave water for them to drink, though they’re unlikely to need it since they get most of their water content from food and the environment.
  • Betta fish just need a bowl or tank and food and they’re good to go. As long as you’re not gone long enough for the water to get too dirty, they will be just fine. Keep in mind that male betta fish do not get along with other males, so keep them separate if you plan on adopting more than one.
  • Snakes, like tarantulas, also eat very infrequently. Younger snakes may need to eat at least twice a week, though adult snakes can go up to two weeks without a single meal. It varies between species, but your small snake will likely need a controlled temperature terrarium through installed heat lights.

Traveling frequently is seamless when you’re solo, but when you have small pets, your preparations might need to be more elaborate. Fortunately, there are many pocket pets that travel well by different modes of transportation. Beyond that, there are even more pets that actually don’t mind being left alone for days or weeks while you’re away. We hope this article helps end your search for the best travel buddy or at-home companion, and safe travels!

If you want to know more about any type of pet you might get, PawTracks got you covered

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
PawTracks
PawTracks
Is your fish tank for bettas too small? Here’s are the do’s and don’ts of betta care
Care tips to keep your new betta fish happy in the right size tank
A betta swims with plants in its tank

While the betta craze may have died down a little, you still see many of these beautiful blue fish in homes and in stores. It's true that they make great pets, even for a novice aquarist, since they don't require an overly extensive tank setup and often prefer to be alone. But just because they work well for a newbie doesn't mean you can dive in without any research. We're here with what you need to know about betta fish care and fish tanks for bettas. Here are the do's and don'ts for bettas.

What do I need to know about taking care of my betta fish?
Do research fish breeders
It all starts with the betta egg, and even the mom and dad. Just like with a puppy, you want to ensure your fishy has had a good life from hatching. There are tons of ethical breeders out there, but you can find some shady ones, too. In general, you want to avoid stores that have them crammed into tiny containers and cycled in and out every day. Do your research about local pet fish stores in your area or check out some of the more reputable ones online.

Read more
5 fantastic ways pets in a classroom benefit kids (and the best pets to get)
Learn which are the best pets for classrooms
Leopard gecko with smiling face

Gus, Copper, and Oliver-Clyde live busy lives at the Beck International Academy in Greenville, SC. When they aren’t playing in their enclosure the guinea pigs are hanging out with students at their desks or visiting other classrooms. In addition to spreading joy, middle school teacher Alexandra Jackson says that the guinea pigs have been an incredible source of growth and learning for her students.

Jackson acquired two of her school guinea pigs with help from The Pet Care Trust’s Pets in the Classroom grant program. These grants provide financial support to teachers for the adoption or purchase and maintenance of small animals in Pre-K through Grade 9 classes. Since its inception in 2010, the program has impacted more than 8.1 million students across the U.S. and Canada.

Read more
Best reptile pets: These are the 5 most affectionate reptiles you can welcome into your home
Looking for a reptile pet? These friendly kinds are worth a good look
Basking Chinese water dragon

Reptiles aren't often known for their cuddly nature, but there are certain types of reptiles that enjoy being handled. Whether you're looking for a new buddy for yourself or for your lizard-obsessed kid, there's a reptile pet out there. With proper socialization, these reptiles can learn to be handled daily, and some are even good choices for families with children. If you're looking for a new pet that enjoys human company, consider one of these most affectionate reptiles -- they're the best reptilian pets for handling.

Best reptile pets
Bearded dragon
Typically known for being friendly and even enjoying being handled, bearded dragons can become close companions with their humans. As they get to know you, they'll often learn to climb on your body and even ride around on your shoulders.

Read more