A trip stresses a rat for far longer than most owners realize, a Dutch study shows
Published by Planète Pets · managing editor: Clément Lacaille · how our guides are written
A car or plane trip doesn't wear off the moment a rat steps out of its carrier: a Dutch study measured effects still detectable weeks after arrival. Find our travel and safety guidance in the rodent travel and safety section.
A Dutch study on the lasting effects of transport
Arts, Kramer, Arndt, and Ohl published a study on the physiological and behavioral impact of transport in Wistar rats in the journal ILAR Journal in 2012 (see the study). After a 15-hour intercontinental trip combining car and plane travel, the researchers measured elevated plasma corticosterone persisting for up to 16 days, a lasting drop in blood pressure and heart rate, increased grooming, and reduced social interaction and locomotor activity in the weeks following arrival.
What this means when a new rat arrives
This study, designed to establish a sufficient acclimatization period before experiments, applies just as well to a rat that has just joined a household: the effects of a trip aren't limited to the first few hours — they can stay measurable for several weeks, even once the animal already seems settled on the surface.
- Plan for at least two calm weeks after arrival before any non-essential handling or a non-urgent vet visit.
- Don't judge a rat's lasting temperament by its first few days: reduced activity or excessive grooming can still be part of post-transport adjustment.
- Limit back-to-back trips (purchase, a house move, the vet) close together in time, since each one can potentially restart this physiological response.
This guidance rounds out the profile covered in the fancy rat profile and on the fancy rat travel and safety page. Our article on traveling by train or plane with your rodent covers what a longer trip requires.
Frequently asked questions
Does 16 days of elevated corticosterone mean permanent stress?
No, the study measures a gradual rise followed by a return to normal; it's the often-underestimated length of this phase that calls for patience, not a stress response that becomes permanent.
Does a short trip have the same effect as a 15-hour one?
The scale of the response likely depends on the trip's length and conditions; a single trip to the vet is nowhere near comparable, but the underlying principle of an adjustment period still applies.
Should all handling be avoided during those two weeks?
No, a minimum of gentle contact helps with habituation; the main point is to avoid prolonged handling or new trips that aren't essential. Find all our guides on the rodent hub.
In our shop, for this use: Double-layer plush hammock for rats, squirrels or ferrets (€18.90) · the whole shop
This guide is part of Planète Pets’s Rodents universe. Our advice is general in nature: for any health concern, your veterinarian remains the only reference.
