Taking my Bunny to Parents House

[BunnyMommy96]

Good morning everyone! I have had my bunny for about 2 months now and she stays with me in my dorm on my college campus. She has a 40 inch cage for her food and water but I leave it open at all times and she runs around my room freely 24/7. (It is bunny proofed) However when I go home on breaks my mother is not as in love with her as I am and has said she is not allowed to roam free at all and her cage must go downstairs in the entryway. My break is 4 days long and she will have to be in the cage for a long period of the day. I will be sure to take her up to my room once a day for at least a few hours to let her run but I wanted to make sure this wasn’t cruel because I have no other choice. I will make sure she has plenty of food water lighting and heat when she is down there but it is not what she is used to. Help a worried bunny mother!

[Bunny House]

Is there a bathroom no one uses that she could stay in? Very little damage can be done to a bathroom and gives her plenty of space to run around. You can even get a baby gate and put it in the door way so she can still see out but not feel so claustrophobic in there. It will also provide her away to not be directly where all the action is so she can hide but still be visible.

[Wick & Fable]

This isn’t a short term solution, but it may be good to purchase a quick xpen or something so the space is less constricted than a cage. My parents are very particular about their home because they have vases from their home country on the floor and furniture that they cannot move. They were very “ahhhhh” when I mentioned bringing down Wick for a holiday. They imagined just turning the house into chaos and just flinging of poop, litter, and hay everywhere, so the thought is confine it to as little space as possible.

I was gifted something similar to this: http://www.chewy.com/elitefield-2-door-soft-sided-dog-cat/

… And it made everyone more happy. It keeps everything inside, it’s larger than a cage, it doesn’t scratch stuff since it’s fabric, it’s easy to carry and move, and it’s easy to grab Wick in and out of it as well. It makes the whole ordeal slightly better for all.

Do you have anything similar that could help expand the space for your rabbit some?

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.

[Wick & Fable]

Oop sorry bad link. This one: http://www.chewy.com/elitefield-2-door-soft-sided-dog-cat/dp/157543?

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.

[joea64]

I’m taking Panda and Fernando down to North Carolina on Wednesday for their second Thanksgiving at my parents’ home. I’ll be loading up with their X-pen, sisal rug, pellets, hay, treats, toys and hidey box (as well as, of course, their carrier/litterbox). They’ll be staying in my bedroom.

[sarahthegemini]

If you’re going to be able let her run around your room for a few hours, could you not put her cage in there too? I think that might be better/less stressful for her?

[mimimomo]

Everyone’s given some great suggestions, but I just want to add – no, you are not being cruel, particularly because you say you don’t have a choice. Four days is a relatively short time, and I think keeping your bunny’s world small when she’s in a new environment might be comforting to her, at least at first. She’ll probably be bored, but especially if you’re able to bring her to your room for a little exercise every day, I think that situation is nothing to feel guilty about.

After major surgeries, vets often suggest keeping bunnies in their cage for a few days so they don’t harm their incision by hopping around too wildly. Cage rest is not fun, but it’s not cruel or harmful as long as it’s short term.

Have a good break!

[Author]

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