Buying a Carrier, or not?

[Tim&Alfie]

Hey all!!!

Since next week will be my buns first vet visit as well as their neuter surgeries, I realize that I need to buy them carriers for transporting them (now and in the future). I found a reasonably priced cat carrier, and I am ready to order two. However, my mom is convinced that it is a complete waste of money and will not allow me to buy them, even though I would be using my own money. She says we should just take them in a possum trap (we have one in our garage), a cardboard box, or my cat’s carrier. I have thoroughly explained why none of these are sufficient, but she refuses to budge.  I am really desperate here, but I’m hoping she may listen to the opinions of others so she doesn’t think I am just making this up.  So I am just asking anyone to share stories of what happened to their bun when they used improper transportation, or when their carrier has saved their life, etc.  Or if you have a good argument, please share! Thanks!

[Mikey]

A cat carrier is much more comforting than an animal trap, even to a bunny. Especially after surgery, you want your bunnies to be as comfortable as possible. If youre going to use a nonkill trap, upgrade it. Put fleece all over on the inside and outisde with a few holes around the top to encourage air flow, maybe some foam for flooring under the fleece, replace the door with pet carrier door, ect. Basically, if youre going to use a trap, make it not look or feel like a trap. Itll likely end up costing more money to upgrade a trap than buying two new carriers, but if your mom prefers that itll be worth the compromise for now.

Pet carrier door:
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Petmate-Replacement-Door-For-500-Ultra-Vari-and-21534-21554-21574-X-Large-Ultra-Kennel/43494055?wmlspartner=wlpa&selectedSellerId=335&adid=22222222227031377290&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=c&wl3=67401490929&wl4=pla-120048563289&wl5=9021615&wl6=&wl7=&wl8=&wl9=pla&wl10=111830463&wl11=online&wl12=43494055&wl13=&veh=sem

[12345ABCDE]

Wow, your Mum won’t even allow you to buy something for safely transporting your rabbit around? That’s pretty shocking. Carriers aren’t even expensive and tbh one of the necessities of owning a rabbit…what does she expect if you need to get the rabbits out of your house asap for an emergency?

[Deleted User]

I agree with Mikey, a trap won’t be comfortable and it will likely end up costing you more to “upgrade” it. Originally, I had purchased a small animal carrier from a pet store, and while it said it could be used for rabbits, it was TINY. She could hardly turn around in it. So since I needed to bring her to the vet that day, I borrowed a neighbors cat carrier. I cleaned it out thoroughly. I went outside with a bucket of hot water/vinegar mixture and srubbed it down with an old toothbrush. You’ll want to rinse it out well after that to get some of that vinegar smell out. But perhaps you could clean your current cat carrier and only purchase one additional carrier. Would she allow that? It really would be best for them. Additional stress can add to complications of a neuter. Refusal to eat because they are stressed will be the biggest problem, so try to reason with your mom. If she won’t let you get the carrier, she may end up spending even more money to go back to the vet if one of them becomes ill. Also has that trap been used to catch possums recently? They carry some pretty gnarly diseases and I wouldn’t put my rabbit in contact with something used to trap them. (Possibly another point you could bring up to her if the traps have been used).

[Tim&Alfie]

@ BunNoob
We have not actually used the trap for possums for several years. When we first brought them home, we actually used the trap to transport them and as a temporary cage while I set up their home (of course, I had a towel in the bottom). I am not so worried about disease as I am about comfort, and, like you said, stressing them out. I did think about using my cat’s carrier for one of them, but I was worried they would be stressed out from the smell, even if I did clean it. Also, the last time we used that carrier was when my cat had to go to the vet after being attacked by a possum (hence, the trap). Is it possible that there could be germs left in the carrier from this?

@sarahthegemini
The thing is, she doesn’t expect there to be an emergency. She thinks this will be the only time we have to take them somewhere (which, obviously, is far from the truth).

[Deleted User]

Ok gotcha. I thought it was in use recently or currently. My rabbit wasn’t bothered by the cat carrier, and ultimately I think it would be better than using the trap. You could use a diluted bleach solution on the cat carrier you have, just to be safe. Did the cat contract any disease from the encounter with the possum? There probably isn’t anything lingering, but you could do it as a precaution. I think if you use a very dilute solution and rinse very well with hot water and let it sit for several days there shouldn’t be a problem. You obviously want to rinse it really, really well and let it air out for several days.

[Wick & Fable]

Although extra expenses is something everyone would like to minimize, especially when you’re in charge of expenses, it’s important to realize that the rabbit budget, in order to be a proper owner, needs to have the room to cover all bases, including emergencies. It’s important to let your mom know you’ve weighed the options before spending your money. It’s your money, but she’s responsible for teaching you respectable spending behaviors, including reviewing what you already have vs. buying a brand new item.

It would require work to repurpose either re-used carrier options, so buying a carrier would be the simplest, fastest, and most efficient way; however, if your mom understands the importance of and lets you renovate the other carrier options so your rabbit is safe, those are still possibilities. Car rides and transportation can be very stressful for rabbits, so it’s important they have a consistent carrier for these trips, as well as one that’s comfortable and makes them feel safe.

The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.

[Tim&Alfie]

@BunNoob
No, my cat did not get sick from the possum. She did, however, have to have her eye removed. I don’t want to gross anyone out, so I will just say that her eye was injured during the fight. (she is one heck of a feisty cat ?) All is well now. Thanks for your input, that truly helps.

@Wick
I understand, of course. Maybe reason is the best way to go about this.

[Deleted User]

Oh man!!!! I’m glad she’s ok! That explains the need for a trap!! Nasty little things…. *shudder*

[Vienna Blue in France]

Hi TandA…..
I have 2 cat carriers which i use for my 2 cats and 2 bunnies (not all at same time… lol) – i don’t clean them out between journeys (!!) unless someone has weed in it. Neither carrier is unique for a certain animal. They get put in whichever one comes first…..

You say you already have a cat carrier…. so unless you are going to need to transport cat and bun at same time…. why not just use cat carrier for your bun.

Unless I’m missing something….

[Vienna Blue in France]

Hi TandA…..
I have 2 cat carriers which i use for my 2 cats and 2 bunnies (not all at same time… lol) – i don’t clean them out between journeys (!!) unless someone has weed in it. Neither carrier is unique for a certain animal. They get put in whichever one comes first…..

You say you already have a cat carrier…. so unless you are going to need to transport cat and bun at same time…. why not just use cat carrier for your bun.

Unless I’m missing something….

[Tim&Alfie]

@BunNoob
Yes it was quite scary. We had a possum problem before, so we trapped it and released it far, far away. However, it turned out to be a mom who left her babies behind. ☹️ Sad a first, till they grew up! We think it was one of the babies that injured our cat, all grown up of course.
@ViennaBlue
Haha, no you are not missing anything. I have two buns, brothers, but not yet neutered or bonded. The problem is not the one cage, it’s that I need two, because as of right now, it would be dangerous to transport them together.

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