traveling with my rabbit

Question
QUESTION: I have a young lionhead dwarf bunny (8 months) and I need to travel by car in December for 12 hours. I have the option of leaving the rabbit at home but he will not get a lot of attention. Would it be better to bring him for the drive both ways than leave him somewhere that he won't get the kind of stimulation he is used to? What tips could you give me so that he will stay comfortable and as un-stressed as possible? Please let me know, thank you.

ANSWER: Hi,

it depends.  It depends if you have someone to look after your rabbit if you are gone a couple days. It depends on if he has problems with car rides or he doesn't mind them (ie stress).  Rabbits can handle not having people around.  If people are around they tend to prefer ones they know to be around rather than strangers, unless your rabbit's personality is a very outgoing one.  They can handle alone time better than a high stress environment with strange people and animals.  Further the carrier will get messy and he may be sitting in it for awhile, which may not be good for him.

The thing you have to consider is how long you are gone, whether you will need to have someone come in and give him pellets or hay and fresh water.  You could really stuff the cage for a day but if it's more than that, you need someone to come in and give them more food and water.

My suggestion would be to keep him home in a comfortable environment.  If it's for a day and no more, you can give him extra hay and a full water supply and he should be okay.  If it's more you need someone to refresh his food and water.  

Lee

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Let me clarify, I will be taking the 12 hour drive to NY and staying there for 1 month. Do you still think it would be better to keep him where he is with less attention? He has never been in the car for more than 20 minutes (i have no idea whether he gets stressed or not). Please tell me what would be in his best interest.

Thanks again!

Answer
Hi,

well, there are still a couple factors.  Can you give him a safe environment (and I mean as safe as he is in now) to live in? No other predator pets that could hurt him, or other folks that could injure him.  (Trust me people who don't know rabbits can be idiots and hurt or kill a rabbit.)  Would you be bringing his regular house/cage along so that you could secure him and keep him safe?  Will you be able to bunny-proof the place you are staying in?  If so, then I'd say take him with you.  A month is a LONG time to be apart from your rabbit.  He is bonded with you.  I'd put him in his carrier up in the front seat with you so he can see you and you can talk to him and keep him calm.  I normally put a towel over the top of the carrier to block direct sun hitting him.  Place a small water bottle on the carrier door so he can drink, and bring pellets and hay along and put the hay in the carrier.  Give pellets at your normal times.  Even bring some treats to help him if he's a little nervous.

But you will need to bring his regular cage/house along with him if you take him.  He needs a place of his own to feel safe, put a hidey box in with him.  He may take a little time to get used to the noises there.  especially if there are loud noises where you are.  As long as you can keep where he is as quiet as possible (like now) he will do okay.

Do a thorough cleaning of the place you're staying to get rid of any animal smells or strange smells.  Use the cleaning products you normally use that he is used to having to smell.

for a month, he'll be better off with you if you can give him a safe, quiet, clean environment with his own cage/house.  His carrier will be too small to be his house.  If you're going to be moving around like this more often, I would suggest getting a decent sized dog cage that is collapsible (that can travel easily).  we have one of our guys in one, and we just built a partial second floor for him so he has multi-levels to rest and stretch out on.  It's good because a lot of real estate gets taken up by the litterpan.

Lee