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Forum HOUSE RABBIT Q & A Flying with Cinnabun!

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    • Noodles
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      43 posts Send Private Message

        Hey everybun! I currently live in MA and have an internship this summer in California. I’ll be in Cali for about 3 months and will be bringing Cinnabun with me. I am actually flying out next Saturday, the 26th, and I’ve anticipated this moment since last November when I received the job offer for my internship. I’m pretty nervous, since Cinnabun is a rescue bun and she is pretty skittish. 

        She will be flying with me in the cabin so I’ll always have an eye on her. My flight leaves at 7AM which means that I’ll be leaving the house around 4AM, I’m a bit worried about how this will affect her eating schedule. I thought it would be a good idea for her to eat right before we leave, since I know she doesn’t really eat while traveling. The total time that she will be in her carrier, I believe, will be about 11-12 hours. This includes flight time and travel time to and from the airport. 

        My parents will be coming with me as well, and they will be staying with me for the first week in Cali in an Airbnb until my summer lease starts on June 1st. Our Airbnb host was lovely enough to allow me to have Cinnabun with me. Although I’m a bit worried about this as well, since I’ll constantly be changing environments within the first couple of weeks in Cali. 

        I’ve heard of using Rescue Remedy, so I think I’m going to pick up a bottle of that this week, to help calm Cinnabun’s nerves. I’m going to be checking in an extra luggage of all her stuff (litter box, some hay, etc.) just so I can get her setup as soon as I get there. Does anyone have any experience with flying with their bun? I’ve read some posts on here from awhile ago but nothing recent, and I’d love to get some insight on the full experience. Or if anyone has any advice they could provide that could help alleviate my own nerves, that would be much appreciated. I think the longest Cinnabun has been in her carrier was about 5 hours, so this will definitely be a much longer time than usual. Thank you!  


      • pinknfwuffy
        Participant
        660 posts Send Private Message

          I’ve never flown with a rabbit but others here have so hopefully they will have better advice.

          I think you’ve done a lot of research and tried to map out the best option for your and Cinnabun. I would definitely double-check everything with the airline in terms of their rules and regulations, just to be 110% sure that everything you do/bring will be accepted and there are no hiccups day-of. No one wants to get the airport and have issues at security or the gate.

          That said, I think it is smart to feed her before you leave so she has a full tummy while you travel (in case she doesn’t eat). I would put hay in her carrier so she may be tempted to nibble and bring some pellets or healthy treats to see if she’ll snack. Does she drink out of a bottle or bowl? I would try to offer water as much as possible when you have a chance. I don’t know if you can take greens with you but it might be worth buying an undressed salad at the airport to offer her some veggies. If she won’t drink, the veg might offer some hydration.

          In terms of changing places/environments, try to bring some familiar smells. Does she have a favorite blanket, cushion, or toy? Definitely bring them along. When you settle in, try to keep her space small for the first 24 hours or so. If she’s just let loose in a big, new space it might be overwhelming and stressful.

          Maybe try to get her used to the carrier this week, too. Leave it out in her space so she will explore and maybe put her meals inside (with the door open) so she can eat while getting used to being inside. It might make her more comfortable knowing it’s a safe place where she gets yummy things. Good luck and safe travels!


        • tannr
          Participant
          27 posts Send Private Message

            Hi! I did a similar thing, flying from DC to California a few years go. It was originally a vacation but turned into a move about 2 months prior, so we flew to my sister’s house in NorCal and then a week later drove down to SoCal where we currently live. My bun has always been very chill for a rabbit so it wasn’t too stressful for him but here are some tips and things I learned!

            -if possible, take her on a bus ride or two to see how she deals with it, since a bus is more similar to a plane than a car where you can control noise and movement more. give her her favorite greens and treats to try to help her calm down. 

            -for the flight, put down a puppy pad in your rabbit’s carrier along with like a large handful of hay (and bring an extra plastic baggie of hay in case you need more). i wouldn’t put too much because your bunny probably won’t eat a lot on the trip because she’ll be stressed out, but buns do eat during take off and landing–somehow they know that that’ll help with the pressure change in their ears, it’s wild

            -definitely try to start out your travel day with the same routine and feed her as normal. pack some fresh greens and treats if you can and try to feed those while you’re at the airport and if you have a layover, since greens are more enticing than hay or pellets. pack some critical care and a syringe just in case she doesn’t resume eating when you get to your final destination, although she may surprise you.

            -i would recommend packing a canvas playpen like this one and setting her up in there for your entire time at your air bnb and the first week or two at your long term place (with supervised playtime outside of it, of course). too much space too quickly is definitely stressful, especially in a new environment, and if she’s used to the playpen when you move, it’ll be like the same space when you set it up in the longterm apartment. 

            -one of the flights i was on told me that i had to put him under the seat during take off and landing unless he was an emotional support animal but my second flight didn’t care if i kept him on my lap. i honestly think he was calmer when he was under the seat because he didn’t feel my movement and it was darker and probably quieter so just know that whatever you choose to or need to do is going to be okay for your bunny. 

            overall i was really surprised by how well my bunny did, considering he hadn’t been in a kennel for more than an hour maybe before that. your bun is going to be fine, i think in a lot of ways the build up is more stressful for us than the actual event is for them, but if you have any other questions i’d be happy to give my input!


          • Noodles
            Participant
            43 posts Send Private Message

              pinknfwuffy – Hi! Thanks for your post! She drinks from a bowl. Do you think it would be beneficial to put a few drops of apple juice in her water to encourage her to drink right before leaving? I will definitely be bringing veggies. The carrier idea sounds good, too, I’ll leave it open for the rest of the week! I will also pack her favorite stuffy and bring it along with me. Thank you!

              tannr – That’s great to hear that your flight went well! Thank you for the link to the playpen as well, I will definitely be purchasing something similar and bringing this with me! She’s free roam with me at home and a bit cage aggressive so do you think restricting her for a little bit will still be better? Also, how did your bun handle the timezone change?


            • pinknfwuffy
              Participant
              660 posts Send Private Message

                Hi Noodles! If you’ve tried the apple juice trick before and she enjoys it, it may help. If it’s a new idea I’d think it would be better to just keep it plain and make sure she eats some fresh veggies before you leave. Washing the veggies and leaving them with some water droplets on the leaves will help get some extra hydration into her, too.

                You mentioned that she is free roam and a little cage aggressive. I think that is fine at home but in a new place she might be overwhelmed right off the bat. A lot of rabbits are cage feisty because it is their territory. A new place will smell new and she won’t have the same claim to it, so I think it is better to be safe and keep her restricted for a while until you are settled into a long-term space. She can come out for supervised play but I think it’s better to start small and work up to her being free-roam when you are firmly settled. As long as there is routine she will adapt.

                Good luck!

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            Forum HOUSE RABBIT Q & A Flying with Cinnabun!