Bowtie’s road trip adventure!

[snickers]

Some of you may ask why I drove my rabbit over 4,600 miles, in the past 7 weeks. I’ll tell you, so the families could meet their ‘grand-bunny’, which THEY have dubbed him. From Thanksgiving Day to Jan 10, (with 10 days break at home) we spent traveling across the country, in a dodge stratus. Tight conditions for 2 adults, a bunny, and xmas gifts.

How I Did It:
It all started with 2 ‘practice’ trips a few weeks apart. One drive was 7 hours and the other was 6 hours. At first, Bowtie sat terrified in his litter box, but after an hour on the interstate he calmed down. By the end of our ENTIRE road trip he was flopped in the back munching on some hay.

Rabbits like familiarity, so the only option was to have him stay in his cage the entire time, which meant little to no room in the back seat. Next, I bought a small collaspable carrying case for when I transport him to and from the car. This was an ideal investment, because its not too polite to bring in a 2×3 cage when you greet relatives you haven’t seen for a year. Plus it freaks rabbits out when you swing a cage while they’re inside, not sure why… :o)  I always made sure he had hay, a treat, and some water. And fresh litter was important so I could see how much he was pooping. I also sewed a slip cover for his cage, this way he would feel secure enough to hop out of this litterbox.

This bunny has traveled over mountain ranges, across icy rivers, past vast farm land to be greeted with treats and love. For over a week he sat nestled under a coffee table infront of the fireplace, where there seemed to be a rotating shift of people who would lay down on the floor with him and pet him. warm fire+ constant petting= one happy bunny.

After this harrowing experience, I now consider myself and my bunny expert travelers. ;o) 

 

[Sage Cat]

Wow!
sounds like y’all had quite and adventure.

[Chilly's Mom]

Happy to hear of a Bowtie’s good experience.

I travel with Chilly a lot. Considering that when I adopted her at 6 months she was 2 hours away from my home (she was from Monterey and I lived near San Francisco). Against better judgement I kept her on my lap for the duration of the ride instead of the carrier the shelter provided. She loved the car ride. She rested on my lap then would hop into the car door storage compartment to stretch. Back and forth. As she got older she didn’t fit in the compartment so now she rides on the passenger floor. I often take her to work (20minutes away), to friends’ houses or the park.

Granted I don’t take her on really long trips as you had, but when I do travel she has a travel buddy, Dusty (my other bunny), and all the bunny essentials needed–food, water, treats, litter box. On long road trips I keep Dusty and Chilly together in a medium sized carrier. It’s not much space (enough to stretch and turn around), but it gives them less of a chance to soil their bedding. After a few hours I would give them a potty break. Seriously, I would set up their litter box with grass and let them hop about. They’re really trained to go only in their box. I tried putting food and water in their carrier, but they wouldn’t eat or drink while the car was moving, hence the potty break is mandatory.

Happy to hear that your family got to meet the grand-bunny. Hopefully this will encourage people to travel with their bunnies instead of leaving them behind with the bunny-sitter.

[Elrohwen]

Wow, what an adventure! That’s great that he was so comfortable with the whole thing. I think buns are much more adaptable than we give them credit for sometimes 😉

[babybunsmum]

that’s awesome! so cool that the grandbunny got to visit with all her peeps (my mom calls my bun her grandbunny too)

[LittlePuffyTail]

I think if I traveled that far with my bunnies I would be a nervous wreck!!! You’re braver than me!

[wendyzski]

It al; depends on the bunny – some skaredybuns woudln’t handle it well, and some like my fierce little princess will never like it but will learnt to tolerate it.  Pepper hates the actual travel part but LOVES exploring new places.  She’s gotten to the point where she mostly naps in the car (judging by the fact that she’s bouncing around the hotel room all night).

[Author]

Messages