Help?

Prizm · Apr 24, 2005

Hi, I first posted here the day I took home "Dusty" a cat-sized grayfloppy eared bunny. We originally got him as a friend for our catLianid, who we felt needed a furry creature to snuggle since our othercat passed away. It worked! In less than a week the two were snuggledtogether, grooming eachother and playing. Lianid pounces Dusty, andDusty in turn chases the cat (after a confused pause).

A problem is, Lianid no longer wants to play with Dusty and now theRABBIT is LONELY! My mother and I both work full time jobs, and we feelwe don't have enough time to give Dusty enough attention. He isn'texactly a "lover," but he is very sweet (and litter trained) and activeas well as intelligent. We give him free roam of the hallway and he'llplay tug-o-war withyou, and chase your feetandgrunt as if to intimidate you into letting him into the room you'reentering.

Heheh, okay, I'm fond of him. And so is my mother (I'm sure of thisbecause she just came in the room and asked ME, the daughter (lol) if Ireally want to give him away. I replied, I don't want to give him away,but I think he needs a friend. I asked if she really wants anotherrabbit for him to play with. She replied "No! I think you should get inhere so he can play with you!" That is the problemin a nutshell. I play with him as much as I can, but it isn't enough. (I evenmade a harness to walk him around outside with) But the fact is, heacts happy and in good psychological health only when Lianid hangs outwith him in his cage. (Also, when I'm holding him, his musclesphysically loosen when the cat joins us on the couch.) When Lianid isnot around, hemood swings between sulking anddoingthings like....Sigh, he is currently trying to dig under my closedbedroom door. I'm sure he'll only freeze if I approach him, so I thinkhe needs a furry friend he can relate to.

Sooooo, dare we bring in another bunbun? If so, do you have anyrecomendations as to the type of rabbit--male or female, big, small orof comperable size? Other advice is welcome too! I've owned cats, dogs,mice and birds throughout my life, but never a rabbit. As anotherthought, are rabbits and guinea pigs compatable cage mates? They'resmall and furry, and of different species so I reason there might notbe need for a territorial battle.

lovrabs · Apr 24, 2005

Hi Prizm,

If you're sure Dusty is a boy, I'd suggest getting a spayed female for him.

Guinea pigs and rabbits can sometimes be friends, but you mentionedthat Dusty is "cat-sized", so I wouldn't cage him with a guineapig. He might accidentally hurt the piggie by kickinghim. Those back legs are powerful.

Buck Jones · Apr 24, 2005

Proper advice, it seems to me. You mayneed to provide yourself with some information regarding the bonding ofbunnies because it does not always occur naturally or quickly.

Click on a Cheat Sheet for Rabbit Care on the contents page and scroll down to recommended links for bonding rabbits.

Buck

Prizm · Apr 24, 2005

Yes, thank you

I've been researching on theinternet for the past few hours and I'm finding tons of usefulinformation (How did people live without the net?

)

For a nuetral place, I could introduce the two in my garage!

Do you know anyone who breeds rabbits in Colorado or has any that needhomes? (Besides the animal shelter

for they are run more like abusiness than a non profit organization.)

LoveMyBunnies · Apr 24, 2005

http://www.petfinder.org/pet.cgi?ac...4103-app1&display=&preview=&row=0&tmpl=&stat=

this is the only young female I could find in colorado (but I live in virginia, so you might have better luck than I did! lol)