Traveling with bun, stress

[Quittenton]

Hi, 2 questions! First: Any tips for car rides with buns? I have to take 45min long trips with my bun and his first trip seemed to be stressfull enough, so I don’t want his trip back in a few days to be as bad. He lives pretty free range, but loves his cage (the standard large 3foot bun cage) so he travels in that. I gave him his favorite veggies before we left, but he didn’t eat them, I assume due to fear of leaving my room. I have to say, he wasn’t THAT bad on the car ride and when we got to our destination, but he did seem pretty scared, and in my eyes, any fear I see in him just breaks my heart! So I want to diminish the stress as much as possible! Second: Speaking of moving him to new places, I just moved to a new place, and he only ever did his “business” in his litter box in his cage before. Now he, for some, reason has it in his head that my bed is his second litter box! He used to love to lounge on my bed with me, but now I’m very coucious of even letting him up there with me! He had NEVER peed on my bed before, only ever left like a dropping or two if he was up there too long. But now when I’m not looking, he leaves droppings like its no body’s business and hes peed up there 3 times! I turn my back for a second and the next thing I know I’m doing laundry all day! I don’t know how to keep him from going up there/from doing this! I have gates so that he can’t go under my bed, but on top of it is harder to block off!

[smalz]

Hi Quittenton.. First: What i did for my rabbits was every now and then I carried them on short runs and they started to feel less stressed.. Also they used to be on me and not inside a cage. Make sure if the place is too hot to put on the air conditioning. What i did also was put them on the floor in the car and they seem to just relax there.
Second: He isn’t comfortable with the place as yet and because he knows u are on the bed he probably thinks is his safe spot which is so cute.. Just spend some time with him on the floor and he will come around. Make sure to put hay in the potty or something that he likes, maybe that will help.

[RabbitPam]

Even a free range bunny will be very cautious of a new place. You might try keeping him in an xpen as a home base, and let him out to explore gradually, room by room, with the bedroom closed off for now. I once took my bunny’s carrier to an (empty) shop I managed that was open on Easter, with no customers. He left his carrier, made a small circle exploring and then went back. He did this over and over in ever-widening circles. Bunnies will check out new territory, then make sure all is well back at home before they go again. He may even feel that your bed is a second familiar place for him. He’s marking there.

45 minutes isn’t really all that long or bad for a car ride. Try to keep it level so he doesn’t get thrown around much or flung during stops. A nice fleece liner can be comfortable and give him traction. He may have been more afraid of the strange destination than the actual ride. I also talk calmly to my bunny as we ride, and sometimes play soft gentle music on the radio. A pile of treats, like pellets or hay, never hurts to have in the carrier with him.

[Quittenton]

Thanks for the tips! Ya, I talked to him the whole car ride long so that he would know I was there.. I probably looked like a crazy person talking to myself! Also put the A/C on as you said, black car seats = hot car = no good. His cage was also fully stocked with pellets, veggies, hay, his normal toys, everything during the ride.. I think its just a trial and error thing.. he’s been doing better than expecrted at my mom’s place and I hope the ride back goes just as smooth!
Thanks for the suggestion that maybe he just regards my bed as a safe place! Although I wish he would pee in another “safe place” lol. I think the getting most used ot the floor thing will help! As for letting him explore other rooms, my room is the only carpedted room in the appartment, and thats what he prefers to be out on so he won’t willingly go into the other rooms. He has my full permission to go out and explore, but he doesn’t, or will run right back to my bedroom if brought out of it.. guess that is his safer place too!

[Quittenton]

Thanks for the tips! Ya, I talked to him the whole car ride long so that he would know I was there.. I probably looked like a crazy person talking to myself! Also put the A/C on as you said, black car seats = hot car = no good. His cage was also fully stocked with pellets, veggies, hay, his normal toys, everything during the ride.. I think its just a trial and error thing.. he’s been doing better than expecrted at my mom’s place and I hope the ride back goes just as smooth!
Thanks for the suggestion that maybe he just regards my bed as a safe place! Although I wish he would pee in another “safe place” lol. I think the getting most used ot the floor thing will help! As for letting him explore other rooms, my room is the only carpedted room in the appartment, and thats what he prefers to be out on so he won’t willingly go into the other rooms. He has my full permission to go out and explore, but he doesn’t, or will run right back to my bedroom if brought out of it.. guess that is his safer place too!

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