Objective To explore the feasibility of transauricular arterial access for hepatic artery catheterization in rabbits. Methods Thirty healthy New Zealand White rabbits were randomly divided into 5 groups (n=6 in each group):transauricular vein injection group, transarterial infusion group, transarterial lipiodol group, transarterial gelfoam group and transhepatic puncture group. Every rabbit was prescribed elemene (20 mg/kg) via different access in 6 minutes. All the rabbits of hepatic artery catheterization were divided into two groups according to their serial number:transauricular arterial access group (odd, n=9) and transfemoral arterial access group (even, n=9). The arterial access could be changed each other due to the failure of one technique. The catheterization time, success rate and survival rate were compared between the two groups. Venous blood collection via auricular vein or jugular vein for pharmacokinetics was performed in each rabbit. Results Technical success rates of hepatic artery catheterization were 0% (0/9) and 88.9% (16/18) for transauricular and transfemoral arterial access, respectively. The time duration of transauricular and transfemoral access groups was 28.4±13.6 and 33.9±19.6 minutes, respectively (P>0.05). The survival rates of the transauricular and transfemoral access groups were 100% (9/9) and 88.9% (16/18), respectively. Blood samples were collected via auricular vein in 4 and jugular vein in 23 rabbits. Conclusions Hepatic artery catheterization via transauricular arterial access is technically not feasible, while transfemoral access is simple and suitable in rabbits. Blood collection via the jugular vein may be a more reliable and valuable method for pharmacokinetic studies in rabbits.