I'm picking up my 10 month old girls in a few weeks, and they'll be coming to me with their old cage and toys. I'm going to be getting them a new cage because the one they're in now is too small, and they don't have a lot or the best quality of toys and bedding, but I was planning to keep their old things for a while so they have a familiar scent and feel less stressed as they're getting used to me.

I have a question about that bonding process though. During specific bonding times, should I put them in a new pouch that has specifically my scent on it or should I use their old pouch that they're used to? I would put the new one in their cage beforehand so they could sniff it and get used to it. I don't want to stress them by introducing too many new things at once, but at the same time I want them to learn me so that I'm not the thing that's stressing them out!

On a related note, I've seen varying opinions about driving with your gliders in a pouch on you. I worry about the air bag should something happen, but at the same time I worry about them bouncing around in a travel cage and hurting themselves. Which is safest?

i drove with a bonding pouch. they were crabbing up a storm whenever i didn't have a hand holding them against me. as far as the safety goes my thinking is if i'm in an accident where the airbags deploy wherever the cage was when i was driving it will most likely be on the opposite side of the car, possibly open/broken.

For the bonding pouch use a fresh clean one. You want the gliders to bond to you and if the pouch smells like their old home, it could take longer for them to bond. For the sleeping pouch you should buy strips of fleece and put in inside the pouch. Don't back off from giving them toys. More toys will make them happier. The happier they are the more they trust you and the more they bond. Congrats on your sugar babies.

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Originally posted by Bossihamham

For the bonding pouch use a fresh clean one. You want the gliders to bond to you and if the pouch smells like their old home, it could take longer for them to bond. For the sleeping pouch you should buy strips of fleece and put in inside the pouch. Don't back off from giving them toys. More toys will make them happier. The happier they are the more they trust you and the more they bond. Congrats on your sugar babies.

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Thank you! That was a concern I had as well, that they might pine for home. I'm making their new things myself while I'm waiting to pick them up, so I know they'll smell plenty like me! Just so long as my babies are happy, I'll do whatever I have to.

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Originally posted by dave.klatz

i drove with a bonding pouch. they were crabbing up a storm whenever i didn't have a hand holding them against me. as far as the safety goes my thinking is if i'm in an accident where the airbags deploy wherever the cage was when i was driving it will most likely be on the opposite side of the car, possibly open/broken.

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I usually keep any cage I have seatbelted in, but it's not like they can brace themselves if I have to slam on the brakes. I plan to keep a cage in the car anyway for emergencies, even if in the end I do keep them on me.

I used to drive with my babies in a pouch around my neck, but I kept thinking, if I had to stop suddenly they would get crushed on the steering wheel. Now I put their pouch in a plastic critter carrier and strap it in on the passenger seat.

You can use their familiar scented toys and sleeping pouch in the cage, but use a you-scented bonding bag.

I would suggest cutting small glider sized blankets (4x4") out of fleece, then sleep with those blankets tucked into your pillow case until you get your babies. You can add one or two blankets to their familiar pouch for sleeping in. It'll help with bonding.

After they've settled in, give them a couple days then put a fresh you-scented pouch in their cage and once they're using it, swap it out for washing.

And yes, the safest way to travel is with your gliders in thir bonding bag, inside a small travel cage or cat carrier. Buckled in, of course! You could also buckle the bonding bag in if you don't have a travel cage. But wearing it on you is the most dangerous of all, in case of an accident.