Take Your Bunny With You

Read the full article here on how to make a portable travel pen.

• Look for ones that accept pets.
• Ask for a room on the ground floor of motels in the back if you are not sure of pet policy.
• Keep the rabbit in their carrier or traveling cage except for exercise in the bathroom.
• Hang the “Do Not Disturb” sign on the door at all times.
• It may be risky leaving the rabbit in the motel while sightseeing due to staff reaction and stress of being alone in an unfamiliar place.

• Explain your rabbit’s living conditions before you visit. Will they mind an indoor rabbit? Will there be space for exercising?
• Ask if they have allergies to animals or grass hay. People who are allergic to cats may or may not be allergic to rabbits. Even if they are not allergic to animals, your host might be allergic to timothy hay.
• Be diligent about cleaning up after your rabbit.

Rabbits cannot tolerate warm weather or heat.

• If the ambient temperature is above 75 degrees, place wet towels over the carrier or travel cage and provide access to a breeze.
• If you have no air conditioning or the weather is warm, set a frozen water bottle or container with ice where your rabbit can lie near or against it.
• If it is really warm, you can wet your rabbit’s ears. Again, do not let a damp rabbit lie near a frozen bottle.
• Do not leave your rabbit in a parked car. You may need to get food-to-go, take food along and stop in shaded rest areas, or wait until early morning and late evening to stop to eat.

Rabbits do not like drafts

• Carriers should not be placed where AC/Heat blows directly on them.

Water bottles often leak out all their water

• Rabbits tend to not drink much while traveling.
• However water should be offered at all stops.
• Add infant rehydration solution such as Pedialyte to combat dehydration. Be sure the rabbit will drink it before the trip. (They come in several flavors).
• You can also offer wet leafy vegetables to supplement hydration.

Rabbits may also not eat while traveling

• Offer favorite vegetables, pellets, and hay at all stops. Remember that the fresh produce can be wet.
• Provide fresh hay in the carrier while traveling.
• Offer food on rest breaks.

Create routines where you can try to establish consistent routines each day

• length of time in the car
• stopping times
• feeding and exercise times

Strap the carrier in place in the car, so that it does not slide in sudden stops.

“Imagine being a small animal inside a roaring, quivering airplane for several hours. Your ears may pop, probably for the first time in your life. The air on the floor where your box sits is hot and stuffy, or maybe quite cold. When finally let out, you’re in a totally unfamiliar place. Ask yourself, is this an experience your rabbit really needs?”

–B. Woolbright, House Rabbit Journal, Vol.2, #12

• The answer may be yes if this is the only way to get your rabbit to your new home or if you have an outgoing, calm rabbit who doesn’t mind new experiences.
• Information on which airlines currently accept rabbits in the cabin is available here.
• The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has information on air travel and pets here.

Additional Factors to Consider

• Rabbits who are nervous, fear the vacuum cleaner, tremble in the car, or who are older or have health problems will most likely find a plane trip too stressful.
• Rabbits who are calm and not bothered by car rides and new places will cope better but may still find planes weird and scary.
• A one-to-two hour plane trip may be better than a 10-hour car ride. However, four days in a car may be less stressful than an all-day trip with multiple take-offs and landing, changing planes, or traveling to and from airports.

If you choose to fly with your rabbit, you will need to make these preparations

• Make a reservation well in advance. There will be a fee for your rabbit to fly, regardless of whether your rabbit is in cargo or under your seat.
• Shop around for an airline that will allow you to bring your rabbit into the cabin. Some allow pets in the cabin, but not rabbits. Most allow only one animal in the cabin per flight.
• Contact the airline to find out what type of carrier you will need:
  • Under-the-seat carriers cannot be any larger than 8″ x 17″ x 12, which is too small for most large rabbits.
  • The type with a top-opening door allows you better access to your rabbit.
  • Line the carrier with paper towels, puppy pads, or newspapers and hay. Do not take your rabbit out of the carrier in-flight. If multiple rabbits over time escape their carriers and run free through the cabin, the airline may ban rabbits from the cabin in the future.
  • Bring fresh vegetables, pellets, hay, treats, and bottles of water in your carry-on bag to offer on layovers.
• Also bring medical supplies and other supplies listed above.
• Check with the airline on their requirements for a health certificate. You may need to visit an unfamiliar veterinarian before your return flight home.
• Acustom your rabbit to travel ahead of the trip. You can take them in their carrier on car rides regularly at least one month prior to the plane trip. If possible, work up to car rides of an hour or more.

Cargo Realities

Not all airlines will allow you to have your rabbit with you in the cabin or you may find airlines that allow rabbits in the cabin too expensive. Many airlines will only allow them to be in the cargo. If so, be sure your rabbit and the airline are prepared for it. Airlines also seem to regularly change their policies with regard to rabbits.

• Carriers are loaded from baggage carts while engines are idling. People wear earmuffs; rabbits don’t.
• Cargo is pressurized and has limited temperature control, but these are not activated on the ground.
• Animals cannot be boarded if ground temperature on the tarmac at departure or destination is too hot or cold, so the possibility exists that your rabbit might not get on the same flight as you.
• Adjusting your travel time to earlier or later in the day according to the temperatures may help.
• A generous tip to a sky-cap may get your rabbit hand-delivered.
• Try to get your rabbit hand-delivered to you and to the plane rather than letting them be put on a conveyor belt or baggage cart.