Adoption Process

Our Recommendation

At this time, we do not ship or fly hamsters to adopters. Air travel can be stressful for a hamster, and there are still many unknowns regarding how different individual hamsters respond to flying.

Whenever possible, we recommend avoiding air travel with a hamster unless it is absolutely necessary.

That said, we have had two adopters successfully fly home with their hamsters in the cabin, showing that it can be done safely with careful planning.

Success Stories

We have had the following successful experiences:

• An adopter flew from South Carolina to Alaska with their newly adopted hamster.
• An adopter flew from South Carolina to Texas with their newly adopted hamster.

Both reported that their hamsters arrived safely and adjusted well after the trip.

Airline Experience

In both successful cases, the adopters flew with Frontier Airlines.

One adopter shared their TSA experience:

"They took the pet carrier so I could go through the metal detector, and then we had to go into a private room so I could take the baby out of her carrier (not a happy camper) while they put the carrier through the X-ray machine. Once everything checked out, we were good to go."

Keep in mind that TSA procedures and airline policies can change, and experiences may vary by airport. Always contact your airline before booking to confirm that hamsters are permitted in the cabin and to learn their current pet travel requirements.

What to Bring

To help make the trip as comfortable as possible, we recommend packing:

• Plenty of bedding so your hamster can burrow and feel secure.
• A slice of cucumber for hydration during travel (avoid water bottles if they are likely to leak).
• Your hamster's regular food mix, especially if traveling overnight or on a long travel day.
• Lightweight hides such as toilet paper rolls, wicker or seagrass hides, or a coconut shell hide
• Optional: a favorite chew or forage mix to provide enrichment and encourage natural behaviors during the trip.

Important Considerations

• Try to keep your hamster's travel environment as quiet and stable as possible.
• Avoid unnecessary handling during travel except when required by TSA or airport security.
• Once you arrive, set up your hamster's permanent enclosure as soon as possible so they can settle in and rest.

International Travel

International travel is significantly more complicated than domestic travel.

Many countries require additional documentation, such as:

• Health or "Fit to Fly" certificates
• Import permits
• Quarantine or customs paperwork

Because requirements vary widely by country, we do not currently have any successful international flight experiences to share. If you're located outside the United States, we'd be happy to help connect you with a reputable breeder closer to your home whenever possible.

Hawaii

Please note that hamsters are prohibited in Hawaii, so we are unable to place hamsters with adopters traveling there.

Disclaimer

The experiences shared above are individual success stories and should be viewed as exceptions rather than the rule. Every hamster is different, and air travel always carries some level of risk and stress.

If flying is unavoidable, careful planning, researching your airline's current policies, and minimizing travel time can help give your hamster the best possible experience.