I will be moving late this summer from Kansas City, Missouri to Garland, Texas. The trip should be about 8 hours, and the weather is sure to be hot. Jack, my 3-year-old ferret, and two cats will be coming with me. I need advice on what I should do when traveling with the ferret. What type of carriers would be useful, how to manage the heat, what type of supplies I might want to keep handy, etc. I've never traveled with him, and I need any advice possible. Thank you all in advance.

use a regular cat caddy and put rabbit wire over the door and any other openings that the ferret can get out of
have plenty of water keep in the shade no direct sun light it may be to hot for it
other than that drive safe and have a good trip
the most important thing is not to let it get lose while traveling
try the carrier before you leave to in sure it cant escape

happy trails and by the way we ppl in texas welcome you

I use a ferret box i made years ago, you can buy them in the UK, just take plenty of water, do you have a harness for your ferret? if you do put him on a leash so he can stretch his legs and have a drink.

One of my ferrets

Thank you both very much for your advice. Last night I ended up finding a great ferret website with tons of information. I think I'm going to buy a travel cage from them. He'll have a harness.
hetrodoxly- Your ferret is adorable.

Thanks, i'm not bad myself

I'd say just make sure he can get out of the direct sun... you don't want him to overheat even with AC on. You didn't mention if your car has AC or not. If it doesn't, maybe consider some blue ice wrapped in a towel for him to curl up around? Just thought. Good luck on your trip with your rolling menagerie!

Yes, we have AC. He'll be right up by the vents, and we'll have plenty of iced water bottles for him. I like your idea about the blue ice. I'll definitely try that. I'll also get baby shades for the windows to try to block out some of the sun.

Thank you

Have a very nice trip ...

That's great advice - with AC and the ice you won't have to worry about him at all.

I've traveled for 9 hours in a day with 5 ferrets in the back, and they were fine. And to be perfectly honest I wouldn't worry about getting a harness or anything to let him stretch - as long as he has food, water and a place to go to the bathroom you shouldn't stress yourself out about letting him have a romp, as long as he'll get a bit of a play when you get to your destination (even if it is just leaving him in the bathroom for a couple of hours). They're in a cage for 8+ hours while you're sleeping or at work anyway, so a car trip really isn't all that different.

That's EXACTLY what I thought about Jack being in his cage for the trip. I think there's no reason he shouldn't sleep the whole time either. If he wakes up I'm going to let him be so he'll fall back asleep. Cuddling will just rile him up, and it's safest for him to stay in the cage while in the car. I'm going to ferret proof the bathroom so he can romp once we get there. He can play in there while I set up his regular home, since that will be one of the first things I'll do.
I'll be buying and putting harnesses to use with the cats, though. Gabriel will probably need a tranquilizer for at least some of the trip, but Tobi-Wan Kenobi should be fine. I'm not worried about the cats, only the ferret over heating, and I've gotten some terrific advice.
I called around today and half the people didn't know what ferrets were, only 4 of the places I called would allow them, and the total pet deposit that I'm going to have to pay is $800. Some wanted $900. I nearly died.

Even if you don't use an harness during the journey it's not wasted money, everyone i know who keeps just one or two ferrets use them so they can safely let their ferret have a run and some fresh air in the garden, i don't use them because my ferrets live outside with a seven foot run, proper ferret boxes have just a small hole for breathing i.e. not letting much light in so they do generally sleep but not always and ferrets are extremely good escape-artist's i find hobs are more likely to sleep but jills are trouble.

He's getting a harness before we move. He hasn't had one yet because its too dangerous to let him play outside in my area. My redneck neighbors let their unruly dogs run the neighborhood.

Well Well. moving to Garland Texas,I live 2 minutes away from garland right on the border of Garland,Mesquite and Dallas.Ive read the advise that some have giving you and the all seem correct.It does get really hot here but the weather has been great so far not too hot not to rainy,just remember that when you stop on the ride over here not to leave them in the carrier inside the car at rest stops because it does get really hot in the cars this time of year all in all you should have a pretty good trip and the bad heat wont come untill June-August temp any where between 95-103 during these time of the year.If you need more info let me know Ill be here. Oh one more thing when you get here I can show you around White Rock Lake <Ever hear about the Lady of the lake ?About the woman that drowned at white Rock,I know the place fairly good.

I'd never ever leave my babes in the car. Someone will be with them nonstop, and they'll have constant AC. I hope the trip is nice. What do you think of Garland for the most part? Nice place to live?

That'd be cool. I don't know much about any stories or legends from the area. I'd love to know more about supposedly haunted locations. I'm definitely going to be in search of cemeteries. I'll miss the ones in KC.