Is a rabbit right for me?

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katee.gartner

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I am a college student and I travel back and fourth from school to my hometown which is about 4 1/2 hours. I have read many blogs/forums/info pages on how to travel with a bunny, but my question is, should I even get a bunny because I know I travel back and forth at least once a month sometimes more... will this cause a bunny to much stress? I was looking at rescuing an older bunny from a shelter, would it maybe be better to consider a younger bunny? any advice appreciated.
 
It's a hard question to answer. Some bunnies will travel better than others, regardless of their age. My suggestion would be to hold off till you have a little more permanence in your life as bunnies seem to thrive best with a set routine and do live to ten or more and require way more care and interaction than a cat or dog.
 
Thanks yes I have considered that, waiting... I am in my 4th year of 9, or 12, so it just seems like a really long time to wait for a new furlove. I've considered other pets but other than the traveling a bunny seems like the best suited pet for me. Such a toss up. My fear is that I decide to adopt a bunny and after a few travels bunny doesn't adapt and I make bunny sick or worse.
 
How long do you stay away when traveling? If it is only for a few days you could always find a reliable bunny sitter to come and check on bunny while you are away. Then you wouldn't have to upset him or her with traveling.

I've read that bunnies require more attention than a cat or dog but I believe you have to put it in perspective - plenty of bunnies thrive in a breeders barn where they are one of many and don't get the individualized attention a house bunny would. Our bun typically gets about 2-3 hours a day out of his xpen but there are certainly days when we can't get him out at all due to hectic schedules. He doesn't seem worse for wear. A bun would probably be content hopping around and exploring while you do your school work. I find that their daily maintenance (cleaning pen, feeding, etc) requires very little time. Maybe my opinion is in the minority but I think a bunny would make a nice pet provided you have funds to provide medical care if needed, and you anticipate your life still having "room" for bun after graduation. Good luck!


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Show bunnies travel just as often even farther to stranger more stressful places where they are left in carriers with strangers walking by all day before driving the same distance home. A rabbit should be fine with 2 quiet comfortable homes and a short drive like that between them. This is Iowa anything under 4hrs to get somewhere is a short drive. Why I don't make it to many shows. Too much gas money and have to get up too early to make it by registration.
 
Bunnies require far less attention than my dogs. I have 30-50 at any given time out at the horse stable and spend about 1 hour taking care of them daily and a few hours on weekends handling them. My house rabbits have a hutch with ramp to animal proofed room. I just open the ramp in the morning and close it at night. They don't want walks, petted, to sleep with me, or to be part of a pack. They just want some run time, the occasional treat, and some toys. Even when I bring them to the bedroom and watch a movie they mostly do their own thing and Enki actually hates to be interrupted by attention. He will come lick your hand or foot occasionally while running around but you are not allowed to touch him. My other one usually picks a spot on a spare pillow or the end of the bed and settles in to wait until she goes back to her hutch.
 
It's a hard question to answer. Some bunnies will travel better than others, regardless of their age. My suggestion would be to hold off till you have a little more permanence in your life as bunnies seem to thrive best with a set routine and do live to ten or more and require way more care and interaction than a cat or dog.

I second this advice.
 
I disagree that rabbits don't want or need as much attention as dogs. My rabbits are house pets and cuddle, follow me around, hang out with me and my family all the time. In fact one of my rabbits is flopped out on my husbands lap at this very moment. Most of the rabbits I've met enjoy companionship.

Like most things in life you get back what you put into it.
 
The issue isn't time for the rabbit, I have the time, I spend most of my time laying on the floor studying and reading anyways which is why I think a bunny and I would be so compatible. The issue is the traveling once a month back home, sometimes it's a short visit, 2, 3, 4 days, Christmas break is a 3 week trip, spring break, summer break.. etc..
 
Would you be able to find a bunny sitter for the shorter visits? Maybe a reliable roommate or friend? I know a lot of college students that have rabbits and they take them with them on the longer trips (spring break, summer, christmas) and their rabbits do alright with it. It's the short monthly visits that might prove the most distressing as they wouldn't have time to get comfortable, etc...

ETA: I would also check with your parents or wherever you'd be staying and make sure they'd be okay with you keeping your rabbit with you while you visit.
 
It really depends on the rabbit. Some handle travel better than others. You would have to balance how long you will be away with the drive, if you will only be gone a day or so, probably better to leave the rabbit at home and have someone come check on the rabbit. If it will be a full weekend or longer, then taking the rabbit can be a good option. If the rabbit really stresses, best leave it at home unless it is an extended stay (over a longer break or the summer).

Rabbits can get used to travel. Many do get stressed at first, but as they get used to it, they relax more. Getting them used to the carrier helps a lot.

I have 5 rabbits that I regularly do agility with. 4 of them travel really well and are not too stressed with it. I do have one who is more stressed, so I do limit overnight trips with her, but still take her to other events.
 
Some rabbits may show that level of attention but they don't need it to be happy. They even live alone quite happily with something to do. Dogs need a pack.

Like I said traveling is not really an issue. Show rabbits do it several times a month all season long. They fall asleep in their carriers after the first few times. We take our house rabbits on trips to petstores, my husband's parents45mins away, his friend in Chicago4hrs away...

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Yes for short weekends I could possibly find a sitter, although maybe not because most everyone I know also returns home for the same holiday weekends I would be, and yes I have already approved the bunny with my parents, its my family cats I am worried about not approving of a new family member. The cats love me and when I am home they love to sleep in my room and spend their time around me, but I don't think another animal will go over well with them... so my other option is bringing bunny to my boyfriends house, but that means less freedom to roam freely because I don't think his roommates would approve (still finding out about that).

Thanks everyone for the comments, I really appreciate it, but I still feel so up in the air about it. Although I am much more on the side of getting a bunny now because of the positive comments towards traveling.
 
Some rabbits may show that level of attention but they don't need it to be happy. They even live alone quite happily with something to do. Dogs need a pack.

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Both domestic dogs and rabbits descend from wild counterparts that live in groups with a social structure. I think my rabbits need social interaction as much as my dogs do. I'm not really looking for debate. Agree to disagree.
 
I feel like the answer to your question is that it really depends on the rabbit. Some will likely not be ok with car rides at all, and some will be fine with it. Bandit didn't like them much as first, but I feel like as he's been on more, he has settled down a lot. It's a matter of positive conditioning. If you get a rabbit with enough time before your next trip, you could get it used to its carrier, then carry it out to the car in the carrier and sit in there for a few minutes (car off), then the next step is to turn the car on to get used to the noise (lots of pets and rewards) and then start off with really short drives. It shouldn't take long for a bunny with the right training to get used to something like that. As for the matter with your cats, you would definitely need an indoor hutch at your parents house that you could put your bunny in, because even if the cats are fine (though they will certainly be curious) you never know when something might happen.
 
I can't tell you what's right for you, but I think in your position I'd probably go for a cat instead. For me, it would be worth the peace of mind of knowing I could leave for a day or two without having to worry so much about my pet's health and happiness. But like I said, that would just be how I'd handle it. Not necessarily the only right decision.
 
Again I really think it depends on the rabbit you pick. Pretty much any animal can be trained a certain way. I'm military and the rabbits have no choice but to travel. We've done it so much that they're just use to it. They also have their own cages and set ups at my parents' house which is where we always travel too. They also seem to know when we're going on a trip and when we're going to the vet. Dont ask me how they know since it's the same travel cage set up but they all stress when we go to the vets.
 
Some rabbits may show that level of attention but they don't need it to be happy. They even live alone quite happily with something to do. Dogs need a pack.

Like I said traveling is not really an issue. Show rabbits do it several times a month all season long. They fall asleep in their carriers after the first few times. We take our house rabbits on trips to petstores, my husband's parents45mins away, his friend in Chicago4hrs away...

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I have to agree with you. My dog also needs more attention then my 2 rabbits. My 5 month old rabbit( Brownie) Kicks you , scratches when you try to hold him. He hates it. He loves to be left alone and do his own thing. DJ My 2 year old rabbit loves to cuddle sometimes but only on his own time. Where my basset hound is the biggest baby ever. He has to have attention 24/7. And if you don't give him attention he howls and cries like a little child:). And yes that is because dog's need to be part of the pack. Brownie and DJ love each other's company, they are bestest friends and they like to cuddle together:).
 
I say start small. Get a young rabbit and keep the carrier in the cage with the door open and let him get used to it (Harper lays in hers all the time). Then take short 5-10 min rides every week or so and slowly up the time. They should be fine and adjust quickly. Animals were built to adapt and that's what they will do.

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I feel like the answer to your question is that it really depends on the rabbit. Some will likely not be ok with car rides at all, and some will be fine with it. Bandit didn't like them much as first, but I feel like as he's been on more, he has settled down a lot. It's a matter of positive conditioning. If you get a rabbit with enough time before your next trip, you could get it used to its carrier, then carry it out to the car in the carrier and sit in there for a few minutes (car off), then the next step is to turn the car on to get used to the noise (lots of pets and rewards) and then start off with really short drives. It shouldn't take long for a bunny with the right training to get used to something like that. As for the matter with your cats, you would definitely need an indoor hutch at your parents house that you could put your bunny in, because even if the cats are fine (though they will certainly be curious) you never know when something might happen.
I have 4 cats, a Basset Hound and a sun conure, and 2 bunnies. They all get along together. My cats love the bunnies and dog...lol. I took things slow with all my babies. But over a few weeks after getting any of my pets they all got used to each other. Even my basset Hound which is a hunting dog loves the bunnies and cats and even loves the bird. He is such a big baby But defiantly not a hunting dog like in his breed:). But of coarse I still always chaperone all my pets when they all play together. And most of the time we go somewhere my dog comes with us, except when we just run little errands like the store!!. But then we put the bunnies in there cage, we also made our whole basement into the cats house and the basement door has a kitty door. So they can get away if need to!!. Our dog is not aloud in there home in the basement only the kitties:). this way everyone is safe. Our dog has the runoff the house and bed, couch...lol. He is just not aloud in the bunnies cage and in the basement which is the cats house, and safe Haven.
 

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