Transport box for rabbits: safe and calm on the road

Even if you rarely go anywhere with your rabbit, every home should have a transport box. Sometimes a rabbit needs to get to the vet quickly, and then you don't want to be hunting for a cardboard box first. You also use a box when moving house, when your rabbit goes to a boarding facility during the holidays, or when bonding it with a new companion. A rabbit is a prey animal that startles easily. In a sturdy, well-ventilated box it is sheltered and cannot jump away or hurt itself.

In this category you will find transport boxes from Trixie in three sizes, a shape-retaining carry bag and a spacious travel basket from Beeztees. Always take a handful of Zooply hay with you for the journey: familiar food in the box helps your rabbit stay calm.

In short

• ✓ Your rabbit must be able to sit normally in the box, turn around and sit upright without its ears touching the roof.
• ✓ Put a towel or a layer of bedding on the floor for grip, with some hay as well.
• ✓ Secure the box in the car so it cannot slide or tip over.
• ✓ Never leave your rabbit in a box in the sun or in a hot car.
• ✓ A box is for transport, not for living in: keep journeys as short as possible.

What will you find in the Transport boxes category?

Trixie transport boxes in three sizes

The grey plastic transport boxes from Trixie come in three sizes. The box of 32 × 31 × 48 cm suits a dwarf rabbit or a small rabbit. The box of 37 × 34 × 55 cm is roomier and suitable for a medium-sized rabbit or a well-matched pair of small rabbits. According to the product information, the box of 40 × 38 × 61 cm is intended for large rabbits. Plastic is sturdy and easy to clean with warm water after a journey.

Trixie Vicky carry bag

The Vicky carry bag from Trixie measures 40 × 27 × 28 cm and holds its shape, so it doesn't sag while you carry it. According to the product information, the bag has several openings. A bag is light and comfortable to take along, for example on public transport or when you have to walk some distance. With a height of 28 cm it is mainly suitable for a small rabbit. A large rabbit would be too cramped in it.

Beeztees Luxe travel basket

The Luxe travel basket from Beeztees measures 51 × 38 × 33 cm and is available in anthracite, white and light blue. It is a sturdy travel basket that, according to the product information, is suitable for rabbits, guinea pigs and ferrets. Thanks to its length of 51 cm, a medium-sized rabbit has plenty of room to lie down and turn around.

Which size transport box suits your rabbit?

The most important question is whether your rabbit can sit in it normally. It must be able to turn around, stretch out fully and raise its head without its ears touching the roof. A box that is too small causes stress, and your rabbit can't brace itself properly. A box that is far too big also has a drawback: your rabbit will then slide through the box at every bend.

As a guideline: a dwarf rabbit fits in the smallest Trixie box or the carry bag, a medium-sized rabbit in the middle box or the Beeztees travel basket, and a large breed in the largest Trixie box. If you are in doubt between two sizes, choose the roomier one. Rabbits often grow bigger than you would expect from a young animal.

Transporting two rabbits together?

Rabbits live at least in pairs, and a well-bonded pair often finds it reassuring to travel together. That is fine, as long as the box is big enough for both and they genuinely already get on well with each other. If there is tension between the two, if one of the rabbits is going to the vet for a procedure, or if they are still being bonded, transport them separately. In a small space, a fight can quickly get out of hand.

Setting up the box for a journey

A bare, smooth floor is unpleasant: your rabbit slides around on it. Put a towel, a piece of non-slip mat or a layer of bedding in the box. Add a generous handful of hay. That provides grip, absorbs any urine, and gives your rabbit something familiar to nibble on. For a longer journey you can add a piece of fresh greens for some moisture. A water bottle in the box often leaks while driving; it is better to offer water during a stop.

Put a cloth that smells of its own enclosure in the box. A familiar scent gives a sense of calm. For a nervous rabbit, cover part of the box with a light cloth so there are fewer stimuli. Do always leave enough ventilation free.

Safe in the car

Place the transport box securely, for example in the footwell behind the front seat or on the back seat with the seatbelt around it. The box must not be able to slide or tip over when braking or cornering. Drive calmly and keep the radio low.

Rabbits cope badly with heat. Never leave your rabbit in the box in a parked car and don't put the box in full sun, not even behind a window. In summer, preferably travel at the coolest time of day. In winter, don't take your rabbit straight from a warm living room to a cold car and back again without it being sheltered; a blanket over part of the box helps against draughts.

Getting your rabbit used to the transport box

Many rabbits only know the box from an exciting visit to the vet. Then the box itself becomes something scary. You can prevent that by now and then leaving the box open in the run at home, with some hay or a tasty herb inside. Your rabbit will then go in out of curiosity and experience the box as an ordinary hiding place. On the day you really have to go out, getting in is then much less stressful.

Cleaning after use

After every journey, take out the hay and the towel and rinse the box with warm water. Don't use strongly scented cleaning products; rabbits have a sensitive nose. Let the box dry thoroughly before you put it away. If you have been to the vet with a sick rabbit, clean the box extra thoroughly.

Handy combinations

With a few standard items you are always prepared for a trip with your rabbit:

• Hay: a handful of Zooply hay in the box for grip, absorbing moisture and something familiar to eat.
• Bedding: a layer of low-dust, absorbent bedding on the floor of the box.
• Health: care products you want to have at hand at home.
• Snacks: a small reward to help your rabbit get used to the box.

Frequently asked questions about transport boxes for rabbits

Can I use a cardboard box instead of a transport box?

In an emergency that is better than nothing, but a rabbit will often gnaw its way through cardboard, and a wet box loses its strength. Ventilation is usually poor too. A proper transport box closes securely, has enough air holes and can be cleaned. That is why we recommend always having one at home.

How do I get my rabbit into the box calmly?

Put the box on the floor and place some hay inside. If possible, let your rabbit walk in by itself. If that doesn't work, lift your rabbit calmly, with one hand under the chest and the other under the hindquarters, and put it into the box rear end first. Then close the box calmly but straight away. Practise at home by leaving the box open more often.

How long can a rabbit stay in a transport box?

As short a time as possible. For a trip to the vet or a few hours on the road, a box with hay, grip and ventilation is fine. On a longer journey, plan breaks, offer water and check whether your rabbit is eating. A box is never a substitute for an enclosure.

My rabbit wees in the box. Is that a problem?

No, that often happens because of the stress. A towel with a layer of bedding and hay absorbs the moisture. On a longer journey, take an extra towel so you can change it along the way. Clean the box thoroughly afterwards and let it dry.

Is a carry bag or a hard box better for a rabbit?

That depends on your rabbit and on how you travel. A hard plastic box is the sturdiest, offers the best protection if something bumps into it and is the easiest to clean after an accident. A shape-retaining bag such as Vicky is lighter and more comfortable to carry, but has less space. For a small rabbit and short trips on foot a bag is handy; for a larger rabbit and car journeys, it is better to choose a roomy box or travel basket.

When should I take my rabbit to the vet immediately?

If your rabbit isn't eating, is producing fewer or no droppings, is sitting still in a corner, is grinding its teeth or has a bloated belly. Then it is an emergency and every hour counts. Call a vet with rabbit experience and transport your rabbit straight away in a transport box with some hay and a warm cloth.

Buying transport boxes at Knaagplaza

At Knaagplaza, the webshop of 't Knaagplein, you choose a transport box that suits the size of your rabbit. Put a towel and a handful of Zooply hay inside – our own premium brand that we use every day for our own rabbits – and you are prepared for every trip to the vet, the boarding facility or a new home.