Does my bunny need a friend?

[MyBoyHarper]

I'm beginning to wonder if Harper needs a bunnyfriend... he seems happy enough, I guess. He spends his cage time justlounging around, playing with a few toys every now and then. He gets tocome about two or three times a day for an hour or so each time, plus Igive him nose rubs each time I pass his cage. In addition, he also hasmore toys in his cage than I did as a child, Lol.

I'm just scared he's lonely. I know if I were by myself all day,spending most of my time in a cage, I'd be depressed as can be.

My only concern is if I get another rabbit, I'll have to get a biggerset-up, and I don't have the extra cash for it, not to mention theextra cost of food and veggies, ect.

Any opinions on if he needs a friend?

Oh, by the way, what scared me is thatsomeone at my old jobtold me when I first got Harper, that single bunnies will die lonesomedeaths and die, on average, 3-4 years SOONER than a rabbit that ishoused with another rabbit. Is this true?

 

[MyBabyBunnies]

Not true, a single rabbit can live just as long alone as it can in a pair.

If you don't think you have the finances, I'd defintely say no toanother rabbit. If you don't have enough money for a bigger cage andfeed, how do you expect to pay for any unexpected vet care? Not tomention it may mean twice the work, some rabbits are simply happy asthe sole rabbit and hate other rabbits in their territory. Some willsimply not bond to another rabbit. So you may end up with twice thecleaning, twice the veggies, twice the trouble, and each rabbit willget less individual attention if they don't bond together.

He sounds like he's getting enough attention and time to run around soI would not be too concerned. Lots of rabbits are fine on their own andactually much happier. As is the case withe one of my bucks, Spice. Igave up ever trying to get him to get along with my doe, he can't evenbe within 10 feet of her or he gets angry, he is much happier with justmy attention.

Until you have a way to pay for any unexpected vet bills, I'd defintelysay stick to one rabbit. Sorry but that's my personal opinion.

 

[ilovetegocalderon]

Yea, dont make the same mistake i did.first i got my girl bunny Beans. She had her own bedroom withtoys, a cage that stayed open all the time, litter box, etc.But since I work all day i thought she would want a friend.so i got another girl bunny, Rice. Both are spayed.I love Rice to death and wouldn't give her up for the world, but herand Beans never bonded and now i have to split their free time in thebedroom, split the attention i give them, spend more money on food,water, etc, and not to mention the crazy vet bills when they do figureout a way to get at eachother and fight. If you do decide toget another bunny, you should take Harper with you and pick out his ownfriend. You don't want to be in my situation.

 

[maherwoman]

IMO, this could go either way.MuBunnyBoys is right that if you don't have the money for a possibleadditional vet bill, I wouldn't recommend it. I wanted asecond bunny to be a friend to Maisie quite badly...enough so that acouple days after I posted how badly I wanted a rescue bunny, I woundup finding Flower outside a neighbor's house, starving and dying (she'snow totally fine, no worries). I just wasn't ready for theextra expense, and we had to go without some things so we could buildher a cage and get her necessities (litterboxes, hay rack,etc.). But those were the initial things. If youbought them as you could afford them BEFORE bringing home anotherfriend, you would be alright, I think.

This last thought comes from the fact that now that we have twobunnies, we have the ability (eating amount-wise) to buy anapproximatley 40lb bale of hay for $20 that'll last us about a month,two weeks at least...this is as opposed to 1lb of Timothy hay everycouple days at $6 each! (I felt rediculous at the placebuying it, especially when they usually sell it for horses, and for twobunnies, and because we had to call a friend that has a truck becauseit was much larger than I thought and wouldn't fit in the car,lol...but now just the next day, seeing that they both ate so muchovernight, I had to refill everywhere I put it...it's definitely good!)

Anyway, what I'm saying is that yes, the initial expenses andeverything you do for a now two buns instead of one takes additionaltime and money, but if you buy the initial things gradually when youcan afford it, you'll be ok...and you'll be able to buy things in bulkfor much less...so you actually wind up saving money in theend.

Just wanted to share my thoughts!

P.S. Another thought on the vet bill, you could set aside money everyweek for a fund for "in case something happens", ya know?That's what we've started doing.

 

[LuvaBun]

JanA lot depends on the rabbit as well. Some bunnies actually preferhuman company, if that is what they have been used to. My first rabbit,Fudge, didn't think she was a rabbit at all, so she wouldn't haveanything to do with other rabbits, but loved humans (and also dogs :?).Perry and Pernod are definately in love with each other, and while theyare affectionate and love cuddles, they prefer being together.

If Harper is getting plenty of love and contact with you (and it soundslike he is) and has toys to keep him occupied and doesn't seem unhappy,then I would wait a while and see how things go.

Or, you could always send him to me, and I would cuddle him all day long

 

[bunnydude]

I would definitely agree that the success ofbonding depends on the individual rabbits. My situation is unique inthat Amber and Devon were already bonded before we brought them homefrom the shelter (they are mother and son). So my bunnies and I got thebenefit of a bonded pair without me actually having to do any work.Realize that at a minimum, they will need to be living separately forat least a couple of weeks, and like MyBunnyBoys said, they may refuseto bond.

Now please don't think that I am discouraging you from getting Harper afriend. Bonded bunnies can be a great thing. I am lucky enough towitness the benefits of having bonded bunnies on a daily basis; Itreally is a wonderful thing. It's great to know that my bunnies arenever alone. Once you can finacially afford it, I would reccomendlooking to a rabbit rescue to find Harper's friend. Many rescues willlet you bring in your current bunny so that you can matchpersonalities, and have a better chance for a succesful bond.

Matt

 

[Pet_Bunny]

I have alwayslamented with this thought about gettinganother bunny for Pebbles. Butshe is never lonely as she getsalot of attention from us bunny slaves.

We just got a new puppy, and the twoignore each other but both compete forout attention.

Rainbows!

 

[maherwoman]

I know what you mean, Pet_Bunny...our girlcat, Sunny, gets jealous when I spend time with Maisie, and Maisie getsjealous when I spend time with Flower...it's a circle ofjealousy!! LOL!!

Flower and our boy kitty Hobbes don't really care one way or the other with it...they're just happy for love.

Furbabies are so funny!!

Pet_Bunny wrote:

Ihave always lamented with thisthought about getting another bunny forPebbles. But sheis never lonely as she gets alot ofattention from us bunny slaves.

We just got a new puppy, and the twoignore each other but both compete forout attention.

Rainbows!

 

[MyBabyBunnies]

I didn't mean to totally discourage you seeingas how I have 3 rabbits, all of which are housed separately. But I alsohave $300 per rabbit set aside plus my parents are willing to help mewith vet bills.

A bonded pair is wonderful but I highly suggest taking your rabbit topick out it's friend or take him to one of these bunny 'dating' placeswhere they find an appropriate match and bond them for you. That way ifit doesn't work out, you can take Harper home without the worry ofhaving 2 rabbits that are not compatable.

Most rabbits will accept a baby without a problem because they are notseen as a territorial threat but some do and others are fine until theyreach maturity and then fighting can happen. This is why I generallysuggest an older rabbit if you are not prepared to keep them separate,because once they are bonded, the chances of there being a problem areslim.