Moving with a bunny

[carlthelop]

I am in a long distance relationship and I am highly considering moving from IL to Michigan to live with my boyfriend. The move is roughly a 5 hour drive. I am committed to moving but the one thing holding me back is how to go about this with my 2 year old bunny, Carl. He really hates being in a car so much he cannot stand a 15 minute drive to the vet. I do not want to make him that anxious for 5 hours straight, but I feel this move is what is best for me and my life at this time.

I have moved with him twice before (out of my parents’ house to live with a friend, and then back into my parents’ house due to unfortunate circumstances.) but that move was only a 25 minute drive and he did just fine. He even seemed to adjust to the move and the new house okay (despite introducing him to my roommate’s cat.)

So with all of that in mind, my main questions are:
1. Has anybody moved this far with a rabbit in a car before? Is it doable? Am I overthinking it?
2. Is it irrational to move this far without first introducing Carl to the apartment we will be living in?

I would love to introduce him to the place before moving but unfortunately, it is 5 hours away ? I would hate to put him in a car for 5 hours just to drive back. I’m hoping I can skip this part if possible!

If anyone has experience or tips that can help me out I would GREATLY appreciate it very much! It’s stressing me out and causing a lot of anxiety for me that my bunny is holding me back from making this big move that I am so ready for in all other aspects of my life. I just really care about Carl and under no circumstances do I want to do anything to harm him, stress him out, or to traumatize him? I just want to do everything right for him when I move.

Thank you in advance for any help, and my apologies for the long post!

[Sirius&Luna]

It’s good that you’re being so considerate of him. Of course it’s not ideal to cause a bunny stress, but sometimes it needs to be done. A one time 5 hour trip shouldn’t cause him any long term damage. There are some steps you can take to make him more comfortable though:
– give him a familiar smelling blanket
– secure the carrier so it doesn’t jolt around
– stop in the middle of the journey and offer him water and fresh veg dipped in water

Some people on here have done 20+ hour journeys and been fine. Don’t stress too much!

I would also suggest having his area in the new place set up and ready to go if possible, with some of his old belongings, so he can settle in as soon as you arrive. I would also make sure you know where the closest rabbit specialist vet is, just in case he does get stasis or other problems from the stress of the journey (I don’t think this is likely at all! But it’s good to be prepared). My girl bunny absolutely hates the car, but after a while she does get used to it. We took them on a two hour journey to a rabbit bonder, and while she wasn’t happy, she was fine.

[Dface]

I recently moved 12 hours with my two.
Now I was lucky that my rabbits had each other as a comfort.
My girl is a nervous traveller. The times I haf to travel alone with her I left her stuffed animal friend in her carrier so she could cuddle into it.

For me the plan was to make sure the buns ate before we left, I always try to get them to eat greens that have been soaked in water – this way i know theyve eaten, and have had water.

My guys have done the five hours trip plenty of times. For us I always give them a break at about the halfway point, where I offer them their favourite treats and a bowl of water. I usually look for a quiet grassy area that is safe, and I let my buns out to stretch their legs, nibble the grass and maybe eat.
Because its only a five hour trip, it is not vital for your bunny to eat on the trip.

I usually make sure their set up is ready before I get it there. If you cant organise that, be sure to bring all his normal food (I even bring a large bottle of water from home so that doesnt taste different)

Blankets that smell of home, favourite hides etc can help a rabbit to feel more at ease.

I always put a blanket on the enclosure so that they cant see too much of their new home and therefore cannot stress.

Keep an eye out for signs of shock, have a list of possible vets you can get a hold of as you travel, and have a little stache of critical care on hand in case your rabbit is struggling to settle.

I was also prescribed a natural calmer, called nutra calm. Perfectly safe for bunnies and just takes the edge off of fear.

For a once off journey, this isn’t that huge, though it is unpleasant for him, they do settle well, my two were completely over their ordeal after a day of napping and eating.
Good luck!

[carlthelop]

Great tips! I didn’t even think to bring him blankies that smell of home but I will definitely be sure to do that. Also will make sure my boyfriend has his area set up ready for us. Great idea, I want him to be comfortable as I unpack a great deal of my belongings. These types of things haven’t crossed my mind yet because I am so stressed about the drive. Thank you so much for the helpful advice! MUCH appreciated I am feeling much better knowing others have travelled 20+ hours in a car with their buns so hopefully Carl will do fine ❣️ Now I will be on the search for a rabbit specialist in the area in case anything is to worry me. You guys are great !

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