Flying with a Pet Rabbit from Bulgaria to New York

Every pet rabbit owner knows that pet rabbits do not like to travel much. Rabbits are creatures of routine and peace. They enjoy consistency in their lifestyle, home, and diet. Most importantly, they cherish the closeness of their owner(s) and family. Hence, pet rabbits make great and loyal pets and friends.

This is the rabbit Robbie, and she would like to share her story with you. Robbie believes her story can help other bunnies when it comes to traveling.

Robbie's Journey: A Rabbit's Perspective on Travel

Robbie's life is a tale of resilience and adventure. She is six years old now and resides in the U.S. However, her journey began far away in Bulgaria. At six months old, she was abandoned by her first owner and left homeless on the streets. An elderly man found her and helped with her broken front paw.

This compassionate man owned a small neighborhood zoo shop. He put Robbie up for sale after nursing her back to health. She lived in a small cage in that store for three months until she finally found her forever home. The woman who adopted her initially entered the shop to buy an aquarium and a few fish. But Robbie, at that time just nine months old, caught her eye. It was love at first sight!

A Pet Rabbit's Adventures

At the zoo store, the man mistakenly told her that Robbie was a male bunny. So, the new owner named her Robert. However, after several vet visits, it was confirmed that Robbie was actually female, and now proudly goes by Roberta.

Robbie quickly adjusted to her new permanent home. Her owner, inexperienced with rabbits, embark on a learning journey. They experimented with different types of hay, rabbit food, and cages, eventually upgrading to a nice playpen. It was a process filled with joy and some trial and error.

When Robbie turned two years old, she faced a health scare. She suddenly started to pee blood. Fortunately, this led to the discovery of her true gender and a serious medical issue. Robbie had tumors on her ovaries that required emergency surgery and a hysterectomy. Miraculously, she survived and recovered, thanks to the experienced and caring staff at Novet Veterinary Clinic in Plovdiv, Bulgaria.

Robbie's Trips

Robbie's life took another turn when her owner had to leave for months at a time. Finding a sitter for Robbie was challenging. At first, she stayed with family members for 3-4 months. Then she lived with a friend for five months. Eventually, she spent three months at a Pet Bunny Hotel offered by Novet Veterinary Clinic.

Being apart was emotionally tough for both Robbie and her owner. New environments stressed Robbie out. After many separations, her owner decided to test Robbie's traveling skills. They transported her on a bus to Greece, an 8-hour trip one way. Though stressed, Robbie adjusted well to the new surroundings.

Travel Tip: It is often more stressful for a pet rabbit to be away from its owner than the act of traveling itself.

If the trip is well-planned and all travel documents are in order, a pet rabbit should be able to travel as easily as cats or small dogs.

In Robbie's case, she had all her vaccinations, a microchip, internal and external parasite treatments, and a EU passport documenting her surgery and immunizations. Additionally, she traveled with a comfortable travel cage, enough hay, and water for the journey. Although she hardly ate or drank during the bus ride, it’s common for rabbits to skip meals while traveling.

Rabbits can typically go without food or water for 6-8 hours if they are healthy. There are veterinary medications available that can assist with intestinal movement, helping prevent gastrointestinal stasis, which is a serious condition rabbits may face while traveling.

A few months later, Robbie traveled back to Bulgaria by bus for another 10-hour journey. While this trip was a bit more stressful, she bounced back quickly upon her return home.

In 2025, at the age of six, Robbie had another exciting trip. Her owner planned for her to travel to the U.S. Airlines often have strict policies regarding pet rabbits in-cabin, but Robbie's owner was fortunate! ITA Airways allowed pet rabbits to travel in-cabin within the EU and to the U.S.

Robbie traveled with ITA from Bulgaria to Rome. She spent a few delightful days in Rome to regroup and rest after the flight. To lower her stress level, this layover was essential, and who wouldn’t enjoy a few extra days in the beautiful city of Rome?

One important aspect to remember is that if the trip includes multiple legs, a new health certificate will be necessary from the new country of origin. In Robbie's case, her journey began with a health certificate from Bulgaria, and upon arrival in Italy, she obtained another from an Italian exotic vet at PoliVet Clinic. It’s a good idea to contact them via Whatsapp since they have English-speaking staff.

The final leg of Robbie's journey involved a 10-hour flight from Rome to JFK. After a two-hour layover and a two-hour transit to the hotel, this turned out to be the most stressful part of the trip. The plane was crowded, and space was tight. Nevertheless, Robbie proved to be a trooper once again! She managed to eat throughout the trip and consistently drank water every two hours. Along with her regular hay, she also enjoyed Bunny Nature's granola, which helped maintain her digestive balance.

When they finally arrived at the hotel, Robbie was exhausted but immediately ate and drank more water, then fell asleep. Within 24 hours, she was fully recovered and resumed her curious explorations around the new place.

Robbie’s final flight was with Spirit Airlines. This marked her third flight in one week, adding another 8 hours of travel. She was thrilled to arrive safely and healthy, thankful to both airlines for permitting pet rabbits in-cabin. Both airport and in-flight staff were kind and welcoming, winning over about 100 new hearts throughout the journey!

A Rabbit's Advice on Traveling

Traveling with a pet rabbit is feasible with proper preparation. With careful planning, it’s entirely possible for pet rabbits to travel long distances. They can comfortably settle in-cabin on flights without causing disruption. Unlike dogs and cats, rabbits are quiet and do not have strong odors (using puppy training pads with coal in their travel cage helps maintain cleanliness).

Ultimately, the most important aspect for a pet rabbit is being with their owner. The emotional bond that a rabbit forms with their owner is stronger than that between cats or dogs. This bond makes all the difference when it comes to traveling together.

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Remember: Always prioritize your rabbit's comfort and emotional well-being when traveling. Not only will this create a more enjoyable experience for both of you, but it can also ease the stress associated with new environments and situations.