Moving

[Patrick]

I may be moving back to Ohio from Arizona, I don’t have alot of stuff but i’m worried about patrick in the move, since he will be cage bound for 3 days on top of he hates riding in the truck, I’m worried about him already… would a buddy help him in the travel? If so i’ll start looking. what would I need to get him before the travel of 1,800 miles?

[LBJ10]

A buddy would certainly help if he was already bonded to another bunny. I don’t think it would be fair to get a second bunny, attempt to bond them to Patrick, and then take them on a 3 day road trip. Bonding can be a slow process and the new bunny would need time to adjust to its new home before the bonding process can begin.

Is there anything that brings Patrick comfort? A special stuffed toy, blanket, music, anything? I would think that making him as comfortable as possible for the trip will be your best bet at this point. Do you have a secure carrier to transport him in? Perhaps you can make it into a little safe haven for him.

[Patrick]

Ok, I figured a buddy for him might help. i’m not 100% sure i’ll be moving yet so I have some time. Patrick has all the comfort items he would needs blankets, music, stuffed bunnies and his box, he has a hollowed out log I put his food in I could give him but on long trips he usually sleeps most of the time but that for a 2-3 hour trip. and i’ve dont that once with him, otherwise he tries to climb all over me. I hear I should get some bunny bac for the trip, i’d stay in a hotel in the evenings so he can get out, but I tend not to sleep long on this trips.

I just don’t want to lose him in the move, stressed buns are no fun.

[Eepster]

A buddy would need to travel in a separate cage anyway for safety, two bunnies in one cage is like two people sharing one seatbelt. I would also avoid giving him a log, it could slam into him on sharp turns or when breaking. Inside the cage when you travel there should only be soft things and a snack of greens.

Stopping more often than you normally would is a good idea. Make sure pets are OK when you book your room, you don’t want to end up stuck. I would not let him loose in the hotel room though. Hotels use tons and tons of pesticides. Also, I have found pills and stuff under hotel room furniture. Bring a larger collapsible cage or pen for him to relax in when you get there. Also, litter training is sometimes home specific, so have a mat of some kind under him.

[RabbitPam]

I just want to clarify – by buddy you mean a new, live bunny? If so, it’s not a good idea until after he’s in your new home for a while and adjusted to the change. But the BB store sells a “Bunny Buddy” which is a stuffed toy, really a puppet, that’s real bunny size. If you think a soft toy would make him more comfortable to snuggle against, you could try one of those. Wear it against yourself for a few hours to get your scent, then he will have it smell like you and that may make him feel better also.
A pile of hay that you can clean out easily will give him food along the way and if he poops or pees it will absorb what the litter pan doesn’t. Just bring a large bag of it as well as plenty of garbage bags so you can clean and dispose of his litter etc. daily at the hotel or rest stops.
A travel carrier with a soft bed in it will make it easier to carry him around with you into rest stops and the hotel when coming and going. He’ll feel safe in one, and you won’t have to worry about the heat in the truck while you stop.

[Patrick]

I would have some time for them to get acquainted before I move, but I was thinking of 2 cages for them to travel in, but i’ll wait till I get to my new home, I never thought of the hotel, thanks for the heads up. 

Patrick has a bunny buddy hes had since I got him, its about his size and he used to “wrestle” with it before I got him fixed, he still sleeps with it on occasion but not lately. 

Thanks for the help.

[Bam]

Best of luck to you with the move!

[Author]

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