I'm moving to a new flat in a few weeks time. I have four rats who are getting on a bit now, they've always lived in the same place and I want to make sure they have minimum distress when we move.

If anyone has experience of this, I'd be glad of suggestions.

My plan is to put them into a smaller cage and take them to a nearby friend's house for a couple of days whilst everything's being moved so they're not upset by banging and crashing and generally having their tiny lives turned upside down, then moving them to their new home and back to their normla cage once things are settled.

Just wondering, will they be more stressed going from here to a friend and then to the new flat, or would they be best just taken straight there? I'm worse than a mother hen with these beasties.

I would say it's probably best to let them go to your friend for a couple of days. I did the same when I moved with my guinea pigs, (they live indoors) and my friend had them until everything was ship-shape in my new place. I'm sure your rats will be happier in a more stable and peaceful environment.

Thanks. I just needed reassurance, I bet they'll still glare at me when it's all over.