Traveling with a rabbit

Travel by Car
A rabbit can travel quite comfortably in a car, but you will need to work a little bit to keep them happy and cool.

With a Carrier
By far the easiest way to travel in a car with your rabbit is with an animal carrier. An animal carrier sized for multiple cats or a small dog will work best, although extremely large and small rabbits will require different sizes. You can fit a litterbox and foodbowl inside, and either place a water bowl inside or secure a bottle to the door. Most carriers have a metal grate style door which is simple to hang a water bottle on. One of the nice things about a carrier is that it is dark and cavelike (for a bunny sense of security) and usually has adequate holes in the side for airflow. You will want to place a towel or blanket on the bottom to prevent sliding, for padding, or to soak up urine if you don't have a litter box in it. You can change the towel at pit stops if the bun soils it.

Some considerations in choosing a proper carrier include the following:
 * Ventilation: It is important to have adequate ventilation in the carrier because rabbits can easily overheat in a warm environment.
 * Ease to Clean: Your rabbit will most likely potty in the carrier, so you will want a carrier than can easily be taken apart and wiped down. Plastic carriers are much easier to clean than soft fabric ones.
 * Ease of Access: You will need to be able to easily get the rabbit in and out of the carrier. As a result, you may wish to invest in a carrier that you can take the top off and lift him out through. A side door is useful to get the rabbit to hop in on his own.
 * Sturdiness: Carriers need to be made of a material that is chew-proof such as wire and hard plastic. You would not want your rabbit to escape. Carriers should also be sturdy and securely latched to not fall apart in the midst of transporting.
 * Carrying Handle/Strap: The handle should be securely attached and able to handle your rabbit's weight. Check to see that all hinges are robust. You may wish to invest in a carrier with a strap to help with extra weight if you have multiple rabbits or a large bunny.
 * Size: Choose a carrier so that your rabbit(s) have enough room to stretch out and sit upright comfortably but not enough room to slide around in the case you brake suddenly. You can fit more than one rabbit in a carrier but make sure that it is comfortable for both of them.

Some carrier types we do not recommend for one reason or the other are the following:
 * Wire Pet Carrier: While these carriers are chew-proof, rabbits may get their legs stuck in the holes, and the open sides may make them feel unsecure. If you use one of these, cover the bottom with a solid surface like a plastic sheet or a towel, and lightly cover the carrier with a bed sheet while continuing to give sufficient ventilation.
 * Soft Fabric Carrier: These carriers are easy to store because they fold but are only suitable for extremely short trips. Rabbits can easily chew through the material and escape if they set their mind to it. However, these can be used if you don't want to advertise the fact that you have a pet and hidden as a gym bag. Throw a towel over it, and no one will know what is underneath it.
 * Wicker Pet Basket: Similar to the soft fabric carrier, rabbits can easily chew through the side in minutes.
 * Cardboard Carrier: Like the most of other unsuitable materials, these can be easily chewed through in minutes. Additionally, you will need to make sure they get adequate ventilation through holes punched in the side. These are also not easy to clean if the rabbit soils the bottom.

Without a Carrier
If you cannot afford or do not want to buy an animal carrier you can also make do with other containers. Of course, this is much less secure and safe for your rabbit than a carrier made for travel purposes. Use this alternative at your own risk.

One option is to use a cardboard box. First lay a towel or blanket on the bottom so your rabbit will not slide around. Place your rabbit's litterbox and foodbowl inside, and punch a hole in the side for a water bottle. You can hang the water bottle by simply punching holes in the cardboard to run a piece of wire around (be careful to eliminate sharp ends that your rabbit might injure itself on). It will make for a less-messy ride (and car) if you situate the water bottle such that the drinking tube is above where you've placed the litterbox. You can also use a water bowl, but it tends to spill and then make a mess of the cardboard.

You can either punch holes in the side for airflow and close the top or, if you have a very bold bunny, just leave the top fully or half open. It is vital that you punch enough holes for adequate airflow especially in warm weather as rabbits will easily overheat. You will also need to be careful that your rabbit does not chew his way through the cardboard and escape. Be warned that these cardboard boxes will generally be unable to reused in the case that the rabbit soils it, which is not uncommon.

Another option with a similar setup is a plastic laundry basket with holes in the side. These will provide enough ventilation in the case of warm weather, and you can cover it with a sheet or other light material to discourage an escape by jumping. This is a better alternative as the plastic is much sturdier than cardboard and cannot be easily chewed through.

Some unacceptable ways to travel with your bunny are free-roaming or on a halter and leash. It is important to secure your rabbit in the case of sudden starts and stops. A halter and leash do not provide enough security in the case of an accident.

General Tips
There are two things it is a good idea to keep in mind when travelling with your rabbit in the car. One is the rabbit's stress level, and the other is the temperature inside the car.

The car is an unfamiliar environment for a bunny and is filled with strange noises and weird smells. The rabbit has no idea why all of a sudden he has been taken out of his normal environment and subjected to a moving vehicle. It is a good idea to give your rabbit a cavelike setting, if possible. Generally pairs of rabbits do very well in the car as they have another bunny to cuddle with and take comfort in. Try to drive such that you minimize the jostling of the bunny (no sudden stops, jerky acceleration, or sudden lane changes) if you can. Keep the volume on the radio moderate, and the windows mostly closed. It is also a good idea to be conscious of the temperature in the car. Rabbits can be sensitive to temperature, so if you're travelling in the summer, keep that A/C on, and in the winter, keep the heat running. It might be a good idea to turn the car on 15 minutes before you head out so it can either heat up or cool down.

Also, make sure that your rabbit has access to food (hay, vegetables, pellets) and water for the duration of the car ride. If you feel it might be too messy, you can also just keep cold wet vegetables with the bunnies. Check up on your bunny every time you pull over to make sure they are not overheating and to swap out their towels and bedding if it has been soiled.

Travel by Airplane
Although a less common method of travel, rabbits can be transported across the country by air. Most United States airlines do not allow rabbits to fly in the cabin and classify them as livestock. However, the following do allow rabbits:
 * Frontier Airlines allow rabbits to fly in cabin and charge $75 each way.
 * United Airlines allows rabbits in the cabin and charges $125 each way.
 * Alaska Airlines allows rabbits in the cabin for $100 each way.
 * WestJet allows rabbits in the cabin for $50 each way.

Check out PetFriendly Travel.com for more information about other pet-friendly international airlines.

It is not recommended to fly a rabbit in cargo because they can be easily stressed, and it is safer for you to be able to keep an eye on him. If you must fly your rabbits in cargo during hot weather, arrange the flight so that they will be loaded at the coolest part of the day. Rabbits can easily overheat and suffer from heat-stroke if left on the tarmac. Delta Airlines allows rabbits to be transported as checked baggage for $200 each way.

Traveling by air is extremely stressful for a rabbit and extreme care should be taken. When possible, choose a direct flight which will not only reduce overall travel time but will also reduce pressure changes.

Here are some useful general links with more information about air travel.


 * Pettravel.com, Pet Travel: Traveling by Air With Rabbits, Guinea Pigs, Rats, Turtles, and Other Exotic Animals
 * Dana Krempels, Ph.D., Fly with Your Companion Rabbit
 * The Humane Society of the United States, Pets and Air Travel

Packing for Airplane Travel
Traveling with a rabbit by air takes some more planning than an ordinary flight. An airline approved carrier should contain the following:


 * Towels or puppy pee pads for accidents
 * Hay, pellets, and vegetables

The following should be packed in either the side pocket of the carrier if it has one or in another carry-on bag:


 * Additional food
 * Critical care package and feeding syringe
 * Extra towels or puppy pee pads

It is also wise to check a bag with additional supplies for when you land. This bag should contain the following:


 * Hay, pellets, and other non-perishable food items
 * Water bottle or bowl
 * Food bowl
 * Litter box and substrates

Experiences
Some experiences of fellow rabbit owners who have transported their pets by air are listed below.
 * Baltimore House Rabbit Society, Nan Gibson, Hurdling through Space and Time with Two Pet Rabbits
 * Jennie Langdon, Tips on Air Travel with Rabbits
 * Agi Kiss, An American Rabbit in Africa