How to Prepare a Pet Sitter for Your Rabbit Before You Travel

Leaving your rabbit, even for a few days, takes more thought than people expect. Rabbits are sensitive, routine-driven animals who don’t handle stress the way a dog or cat might, so good care while you’re away isn’t just about logistics. It’s about keeping your rabbit safe, comfortable, and as close to their normal life as possible.

Whether you’re planning a weekend trip, a work conference, or a two-week vacation, this guide walks you through everything you need to set up successful care for your rabbit: what to look for in a sitter, what information they’ll need, how to handle special medical needs, and how to choose between in-home care and boarding.

What to Look for in a Rabbit-Savvy Pet Sitter

Not all pet sitters are created equal. Most are experienced with dogs and cats, but rabbits are exotic animals with very different needs. Here's what matters most:

Rabbit-specific experience with modern care standards — or a genuine willingness to learn. Ask directly: have they cared for a rabbit before? If yes, follow up: were those rabbits kept indoors, or outside in a hutch? Rabbit care has changed significantly, and someone whose experience is a decade or more old may be working from outdated information. Outdoor hutch-kept rabbits, rabbits fed mostly pellets with little hay, or rabbits who were rarely handled are not the same experience as caring for a house rabbit with modern husbandry standards. What matters most is whether they're open to a thorough walkthrough and a trial visit before you leave. A good sitter will welcome the education, not brush it off.

They understand that rabbits hide illness. This is one of the most important things a sitter needs to know. Rabbits are prey animals and instinctively mask signs of pain or sickness until they can no longer hide it. A sitter who knows what to watch for, such as a rabbit who hasn't eaten, hasn't produced droppings, or is sitting hunched and still, can be the difference between a rabbit who gets help in time and one who doesn't.

They take emergency protocols seriously. A sitter who shrugs off the idea of calling an emergency vet is not the right fit for a rabbit. Find someone who understands that GI stasis and other rabbit emergencies can become life-threatening within hours.

They're calm and quiet around animals. Rabbits startle easily and are stressed by loud noises, sudden movements, or chaotic environments. A sitter who moves slowly and speaks softly will help your rabbit feel safer.

They'll actually show up consistently. Rabbits should be checked on at least twice a day. Confirm your sitter's schedule before you commit, and make sure they understand that skipping a visit isn't an option.

Red flags to watch for:

• They've never heard of GI stasis

• They suggest the rabbit will be fine checked on once a day

• They seem rushed or uninterested during your walkthrough

What Your Sitter Needs to Know and Do

Before you leave, put together a care sheet your sitter can refer to at every visit. One important rule: do not introduce any new foods in the days before you go or while you're away. Stick to exactly what your rabbit normally eats. Travel and routine changes already stress the digestive system — diet changes on top of that can trigger GI issues. (We actually sell a [printable Pet Sitter's Guide](https://wellkeptrabbit.com/products/pet-sitters-guide) designed specifically for rabbit owners — it covers everything below in a format you can fill out and hand right to your sitter.) Here's what to include:

Feeding

• Hay: Available at all times, unlimited. Keep a bin or box stocked and accessible so your sitter can top it off easily at each visit. Note what kind you use and where it's stored.

• Fresh greens: If your trip is short (2–5 days), pre-wash and portion greens into daily servings before you leave and store them in the fridge — your sitter just grabs and serves. If you'll be gone longer and pre-prepped greens will go bad, write out exactly what to buy, where, how much to serve, and when. Link your sitter to the Well Kept Rabbit guide on how to wash rabbit greens so they know what to do. Note any greens your rabbit cannot have.

• Pellets: Pre-measure portions into daily bags or a labeled container, or write out the exact scoop and measurement. Specify how often (most adult rabbits get a small amount once or twice daily).

• Water: Note whether your rabbit drinks from a bowl or bottle. Specify if you use filtered water or if tap is safe. Explain how to wash the bowl or bottle (not just refill it) and how often. If you use a water filter pitcher, note when and how to refill.

• Supplements or herbal forages: List anything added to meals, how much, and when.

• Treats: Note what treats your rabbit gets and how much. A tip we love: offer a small treat in the morning and at night. It's a quick way to build a little routine your rabbit can anticipate — and if a rabbit who normally goes wild for treats suddenly isn't interested, that's an early sign something may be off.

Litter box

• Where it is and how often to clean it

• What to use for litter if a change-out is needed

• Why monitoring litter box output matters: how many droppings are normal for your rabbit, and what a worrying decrease or change in size looks like

A helpful chart showing different types of rabbit poop from VI Fluffle.

Exercise and enrichment

• When and how long your rabbit gets free-roam time if they are in an x-pen set-up

• Whether they're comfortable being handled or prefer not to be picked up (spoiler alert: most rabbits do not like being held!)

• Any toys, tunnels, or enrichment they enjoy

Signs to watch for and when to call.

Give your sitter a clear list of what should trigger an immediate call to you or the vet:

• Not eating hay or refusing food entirely

• No droppings for more than 4 hours, or very small/misshapen droppings

• Sitting hunched, teeth grinding, or pressing their belly to the floor

• Labored breathing or unusual posture

• Sudden lethargy or unresponsiveness

• Any injury, blood, or obvious sign of pain

  ⚠ GI Stasis Is a Medical Emergency

  No droppings for 4 hours is a warning sign — watch closely and encourage movement and hay. If your rabbit still hasn't eaten or produced droppings after 12 hours, do not wait to see if they improve. Contact a rabbit-savvy vet immediately. GI stasis can become fatal within hours.

Emergency contacts

Provide your vet's number, the nearest 24-hour emergency exotic vet, your own number, and a backup contact in case you can't be reached. Consider leaving a signed written authorization allowing your sitter to take your rabbit to the vet and approve treatment up to a set dollar amount without waiting to reach you. Some owners also leave a credit card on file with their vet for this reason. Make sure your sitter knows which vet to call after hours, and how to get there.

Special Considerations

Every rabbit is different, and some need extra attention while you’re away. Here’s what to keep in mind.

Rabbits on medications

If your rabbit takes daily medications, your sitter needs a clear, written schedule, not just a verbal rundown. Write out the medication name, the dose, how it's given (syringe, mixed in food, etc.), and the exact time of day. Do a demonstration before you leave and watch them do it back. If your rabbit is difficult about taking medication, give your sitter a few practice rounds before you go. Never assume a sitter will figure it out on their own, and never skip doses.

For critical medications (such as gut motility drugs, pain management, or cardiac medications), consider whether an extended absence is the right choice at this time. If it is, identify a rabbit-savvy vet tech or exotic animal vet in your area who could step in as an emergency backup sitter.

Special needs rabbits

Rabbits with mobility issues, dental disease, chronic health conditions, or disabilities require a higher level of sitter skill and attentiveness. Be specific about your rabbit's limitations: Can they move freely to their food and water, or do dishes need to be brought closer? Do they need bedding adjusted to prevent sores? Are there specific positioning or handling needs? The more detailed your notes, the safer your rabbit will be.

Senior rabbits

Older rabbits are more vulnerable to stress, temperature changes, and subtle shifts in their condition. Their appetites may be smaller, their mobility slower, and their resilience lower. Sitters caring for senior rabbits should check in more frequently, know the rabbit's baseline closely, and have a lower threshold for calling the vet if something seems off. A senior rabbit who goes off food even briefly needs attention faster than a young healthy adult would.

Bonded pairs

If you have bonded rabbits, keep them together. Separating bonded pairs causes significant stress for both animals. Make sure your sitter knows their dynamic, including which one tends to be more dominant, whether they groom each other, and what normal interaction looks like so they can spot anything unusual.

Boarding vs. In-Home Care

There's no single right answer here. The best choice depends on your rabbit's personality, health, and needs.

In-home care (a sitter comes to your house)

This is usually the lower-stress option for rabbits. Your rabbit stays in their own space, with their own smells, their own hiding spots, and their own routine. There's no transport, no unfamiliar environment, and no contact with other animals.

The main risk is consistency: you're relying on someone to show up reliably, give full attention at each visit, and catch problems early. It works best when you have a sitter you trust deeply, ideally someone who knows your rabbit already.

Boarding

Boarding doesn't always mean a commercial facility. Many experienced rabbit owners also offer boarding in their own homes, which can be a great middle ground: the supervision and rabbit-savvy care of a dedicated keeper, without the stress of a facility environment. These home boarders are often found through local rabbit communities, rescues, or word of mouth. A dedicated facility (especially one that specializes in exotic animals or small pets) can offer on-site staff and sometimes proximity to veterinary care, which can be a real advantage for rabbits with health conditions who need close monitoring.

The tradeoff is stress. New smells, sounds, and surroundings can be hard on rabbits, especially anxious or territorial ones. Ask boarding facilities:

• Do they house rabbits separately from predator animals like dogs and cats? (They absolutely should.)

• What is the staff-to-animal ratio?

• Are they experienced with exotic animals specifically, or primarily cats and dogs?

• What happens if a rabbit shows signs of illness?

• Can you bring your rabbit's own enclosure, hay, and food to minimize disruption?

• Do they require proof of current RHDV2 vaccination?

  ⚠ RHDV2 Vaccination Matters

  Any boarding facility that does not require proof of current RHDV2 vaccination is a biosecurity risk. RHDV2 is highly contagious, often fatal, and has been spreading across the United States. Make sure your own rabbit is up to date before boarding anywhere.

How to decide

Consider your individual rabbit. A confident, easygoing rabbit may do fine with a trusted in-home sitter who visits twice daily. A rabbit on daily medications or with a complex health history might be better placed with a facility that has exotic animal experience. A highly anxious rabbit might do better staying home even if the sitter is less experienced, simply because the familiar environment reduces stress.

If you're boarding, bring familiar items. A blanket or piece of fabric that smells like home, their favorite hiding house, a well-loved toy — these small things can significantly reduce stress in an unfamiliar environment. Also bring your own hay and pellets rather than relying on the facility's supply, since sudden food changes can trigger GI issues even in healthy rabbits.

Cameras and Check-In Protocols

A pet camera is one of the best investments you can make for peace of mind while you're away. Ask your sitter if they're comfortable with one being in place (most will be, especially if you frame it as a tool for your own reassurance rather than surveillance). A camera lets you check in on your rabbit between sitter visits, catch anything unusual early, and confirm your rabbit is eating, moving around, and behaving normally.

When choosing a camera, a few features make a real difference for rabbit monitoring:

• Night vision: Rabbits are most active at dawn and dusk, so a camera that switches to infrared automatically is worth it

• Viewing angle: Wide angle or pan-and-tilt lets you see the full enclosure and food area in one shot

• App access: Make sure you can view it easily from your phone

• Two-way audio: Useful for reassurance, though test it first — some rabbits find a disembodied voice startling rather than comforting

• Live sharing: Lets you share access with your sitter so they can check in remotely between visits (sometimes boarding facilities offer this for you as well)

Popular options like the Wyze Cam, Ring, or Eufy include two-way audio, which can be a comfort to some rabbits who recognize your voice, though it can also startle others, so use that feature thoughtfully.

Placement tips

• Aim the camera at the primary living area, where your rabbit spends most of their time

• Make sure the hay rack, food dish, and water are visible if possible

• Test the night vision before you leave so you can monitor overnight

Check-in protocol

Decide before you leave how often you want sitter updates and what form they should take. A photo or short video at each visit takes only a moment and gives you something concrete to assess. You might also agree on a check-in text after each visit with a basic status: eating, droppings normal, active.

Have a clear escalation plan: if the sitter can't reach you and something seems wrong, who do they call? Write the vet's number, the emergency exotic vet's number, and a backup contact (a friend, family member, or neighbor who knows your rabbit) directly on the care sheet.

A Few Final Thoughts

Leaving your rabbit is never easy, but a little preparation goes a long way. The rabbit owners who feel most at peace while traveling aren't the ones who worry less, they're the ones who planned more. A clear care sheet, a sitter who's been properly oriented, a camera to check in, and a vet's number on the fridge: that's the foundation.

Your rabbit can't tell you if something's wrong. But the right sitter, with the right information, can catch it for them.

At Well Kept Rabbit, we believe that good rabbit care doesn't stop when you walk out the door. If your rabbit tends toward stress or anxiety when their routine changes, our SecureBunny pheromone line is designed to help rabbits feel calmer and more settled in uncertain situations — worth having on hand before you leave. And if you're stocking up for the holiday stretch, our herbal forages make it easy to send your sitter with portioned, ready-to-serve blends that support digestion, calm, and overall wellbeing, no measuring or mixing required. Shop the blends and travel a little easier knowing your rabbit's care is covered.