Bunny Travels

[lunavenus]

Hi Guys, 
I’m going to be finishing my 2nd year of college soon and that means I’m going to be flying home, which is like THOUSANDS of miles away. I’ve been arranging things with the quarantine vet so I can get a special permit for my rabbits appealed to higher authorities so I can bring them home with me. I REALLY HOPE IT GETS APPROVED  
ANYWAYS, 
What kind of carrier should I use for them? I want something big and roomy so they are comfy, but easy to carry around AND has to be airline approved because they will be flying in cabin with me. I have this soft carrier that is kind of small so I was thinking of getting a bigger one now that they have grown a lil bit. I was going to get the same carrier but in a slightly bigger size BUT whenever they pee and poo, it like soaks into the bedding that is part of the carrier and of course its going to stink …. I want a hard carrier but it’s actually really difficult for me to lug around the airport especially since I have a bad back….. please give me some pros and cons about soft and hard carriers and what you guys think is the best one to use for long distance over seas travel!! 

[Bam]

You can put puppy-peepads in the bottom of the carrier and cover with a cheap fleece that you can throw away when your done travelling.
I have a hard carrier for my Yohio after he ate parts of a soft one, but Bam is fine with a soft carrier. I always put in extra fleece blankies, scrunched up, so the bunny can feel secure even if the carrier swings back and forth a little while you carry it. Bunnies obviously don’t like to slide around uncontrollably in a carrier =)

They will need water and depending on where you are flying you can’t bring your own water but have to buy bottled water on board, but remember to bring a bowl or a bottle (depending on type of carrier of course). A bit of favorite fresh herbs + hay would be nice for them to nibble on. How long do you expect the flight to be?

[lunavenus]

I’m flying about 16-18 hours (with 1 layover) depending on how severe the winds are and the delays caused by it. I’ll be having a lay over in Japan for most likely two hours. I’m almost done arranging everything so my bunnies could fly with me. I just need the approval of higher authorities, which can be tricky but the quarantine vet told me he would appeal on my behalf so I’m going to HOPE that they will be approved. My bunnies are my emotional support buns so they NEED to come with me.

I have those collapsable bowls I bought at the pet store so I could use it for traveling and I probably would have to throw away the hay right before arrival so I don’t get held up for having plants products….. (They prob would just throw them out and “confiscate” the plants anyways so it doesn’t really matter haha)

My bunnies don’t eat their soft carrier, but they do dig at it so the puppy pee-pads kind of gets pushed to the side sometimes….
I’ll try buying a different type of soft carrier because the one I have now it the type that you can open the side and it “expands.”
I really liked the soft carrier I have now because it had a thing that you could hook onto a carry on luggage bag. I thought it was a pouch at first then realized that you just slide it into the handle of a luggage bag and it stays put.
How do you keep the puppy pad in place? Should I like tape it at the bottom or something??

[blubudgie]

Talk to your airline and get the dimensions of the size of the carrier they allow you to take onto the plane.
If it is a soft sided carrier make sure your rabbit doesn’t chew on it. Mine likes to chew on the mesh part.
I think a hard carrier would be better because of this and also it’ll be easier to clean since the urine won’t soak into it. Line the bottom of the carrier with pee pads and bring a few extra in case u need to replace them before the flight. You could try taping them down but be careful since some rabbits like to eat tape (mine does lol).

I traveled across the country, not internationally, with a plant. They had to hand check my luggage since I guess they thought it might be weed or something lol. But they realized it wasn’t and let it go. If you have questions about what plants/food they let you bring you could always call the airline and ask. For food I would say bring hay and pellets. Maybe some veggies like romaine lettuce since they can keep your bunny hydrated.

When I brought my birds on the airline I offered them a bowl of water every once in a while. You could do that or somehow attach a waterbottle to the side of the carrier?

[Author]

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