Bunny might have to go

[Serenity]

I got Serenity in January and he was great except he tried to hump my leg all the time. He’s 2 and he had never been taken for vaccinations so I took him for those and had him spayed. After he was spayed he started digging carpets. I lost part of my deposit at my previous apartment and now he’s doing it again but worse. I’ve replaced an electric toothbrush, 2 chargers and he’s chewed my hoover cable and my electric heating cable. So bye bye deposit again. I’ve bought cable protectors but I hadn’t covered the heating cables yet and he chewed them. I’ve spent a fortune on toys and chewing things and a chew mat. He has a nom of that for a minute but then it’s back to the carpet or destroying his litter tray. He’s a rabbit and he needs to dig and I dont want to shut him in the bathroom while I’m at work because he’s used to being free. If I do that he might get upset and destroy the carpet when I let him out. I love him so much and I keep spending money finding ways to accomodate his nature but I feel I am fighting a losing battle. I can’t imagine shutting him in a cage even if it is a big one. Rabbits need to run and jump and dig and play.

Can anyone suggest anything I could do as I’d like to try anything possible to keep him.

[Roberta]

Hi Serenity, I have 6 buns all of whom would happily destroy the house if left out unattended. They have their cages for day time and they are fine with that. Even when I am home and the cages open they prefer to stay in there and sleep all day coming out for games in the morning and evening. Possibly resetting some boundaries may help with training him also. It takes at least a full month for the hormones to settle after spaying too. You might consider putting up a good sized Xpen with a base for his daytime enclosure or one of the NIC custom rabbitats. Clicker training is another thing you can try to start developing some positive behavior. Next you have to accept that if you leave tempting things in harms way he will get to them, set aside some time and rabbit proof the whole house.
But mean while, he will not be concerned with daily confinement, if his cage or enclosure is tidy and comfy you will probably struggle to get him to come out sometimes.

[Beka27]

Your post is very contradictory. You explain how he is destroying “xyz”, but then you say you “can’t imagine” caging him.

Simply put, not all rabbits can be free range.

This does not mean they cannot have a full and enriching “penned” experience, along with adequate, SUPERVISED exercise time.

He has been allowed to run amok to this point, so I firmly believe this is not his fault at all. It seems as if the expectations placed on him are unreasonable. He’s just being a bunny.

If you’re unable (or unwilling) to make the concessions he needs to be safe, I agree that finding a more suitable home that will provide what he needs is the best thing to do.

[Serenity]

I was only asking for advice. Not for rudeness. I am not a rabbit expert and that is why I ask for help. I have spent hours reading up about rabbits and I have tried my utmost best to look after my rabbit to the best of my ability and in the best way possible. Perhaps you should direct your anger at people who dump rabbits they dont know what to do with. Nowhere in my post have I put any blame on my rabbit. I know he is being a bunny and so I am trying to adjust my life to suit his needs. When I got him he was fine outside of his cage. I am trying my best to allow him to be a bunny and a happy one so if you don’t have anything nice to say or positive to contribute then please don’t reply.

[Serenity]

I contacted my local RSPCA and have been advised that it is not ideal for a rabbit to be housed in a cage and that a rabbit needs to be able to run and jump and dig freely. I have put Serenity on the list to be rehomed by them. He will be paired and then rehomed and I feel this is the best thing to do for Serenity even though my heart is broken.

[Hazel]

Nobody is trying to be rude. People here are very concerned about proper rabbit care, as all too often they are mistreated and misunderstood. Please don’t take it negatively. In a situation like yours it takes no time at all for the rabbit to become harmed due to being unsupervised, that’s why people are trying to be direct with their advice. Most of us have made mistakes with their first bunny, you learn as you go. It’s great that you’re trying to educate yourself and do right by him, and I understand that you don’t want to cage him because you care for him.
As Roberta and Beka have said, he needs to be caged or supervised at all times, otherwise he will destroy things and/or harm himself. If you offer him a suitable enclosure, he will be fine in there. If he’s really into digging the carpet, maybe you could put a cheap/old piece of carpet into his pen that he can dig all he wants. That way he can get it out of his system without damaging your good carpet.

[Hazel]

They might have been referring to the cages you get at the pet store, which certainly aren’t suitable. Having a rabbit totally free and uncontrolled in your house is not really feasible though. Very rarely is a rabbit so well behaved that total free roam is possible. Did they seriously tell you that they adopt to homes where the rabbit is not caged whatsoever? I assume the rabbits in their care aren’t running wild through the building? If someone actually gave you advice like that, they don’t know what they’re talking about.

[Serenity]

Thank you Hazel, i totally understand. There are nice ways of saying things and you have stated the facts respectfully. Bunny is going to be rehomed by the RSPCA and they will pair him as he is currently alone. I work full time and I’m a single Mom. I can’t supervise Serenity. Thank you again for your kind words.

[Serenity]

http://www.westdorsetrspca.org/bunnies_in_need_of_homes.htm

[Bam]

I think it’s great of you to ask for advice and try to do what’s best for Serenity. So many people just don’t bother when they face trouble, they just let the rabbit out and tell themselves they’ve done a good thing by “setting (the bun) free”.

You seem to be a good, responsible person. All one really can do is to try one’s best. Some bunnies are more difficult than others, just as some dogs, and as a full-time working, single mum you can’t really fit your whole life around a rabbit,

Best of luck with the rehoming!

[Elrohwen]

Honestly, I think it is far far better for him to stay with you than to be rehomed. Who is to say that a new owner will give him better care than you can? It sounds like you give him a wonderful life, but he does need to be contained. One of mine would destroy the house if she was left out, so instead she had a 4’x8′ pen that she is confined to while I’m gone. No one is saying that you have to put your bunny in a small cage and never let him out – we’re saying that he’s just a bunny and what he is doing is completely normal behavior.

[missmelissa]

I agree with everyone where, I think he should be caged while you are not there. I had the same issue with my little bunny. She was fine when I was watching her, but if I left her alone she destroyed everything in her path. Ultimately, you have to cage them if they do this. Not only are you spending too much money, ect ect but if they chew on electrical wires, and other wires, they can get be electrocuted and that will lead them to be seriously hurt, or worse. As long as you are letting your rabbit out when you are at home and you are watching them, it’s okay to him in the cage while you are not there. Just make sure they have enough food, water, bedding, litter ect in the cage for the time you are away.

[Stickerbunny]

Posted By Serenity on 04/26/2013 07:43 AM
I contacted my local RSPCA and have been advised that it is not ideal for a rabbit to be housed in a cage and that a rabbit needs to be able to run and jump and dig freely. I have put Serenity on the list to be rehomed by them. He will be paired and then rehomed and I feel this is the best thing to do for Serenity even though my heart is broken.

 

From the RSPCA’s housing care guide on rabbits: As examples, the living

enclosure could be a traditional exercise ‘run’ outside, an

indoor pen or a ‘rabbit proofed’ room within the owners’ home.

 

They do not recommend CAGES because the commercial cages are so tiny, no rabbit should live in one. They do however recommend exercise pen enclosures. They are not saying a rabbit should be free run 24/7 if the rabbit is destroying the home. In fact, both the main RSPCA and the branch you listed recommend a cage environment so most likely he will be caged when he is rehomed. This is something to keep in mind. Once he is adopted out, this is beyond your control and the RSPCA has no resources to make sure the new home is keeping up with the care agreement. Many, many rabbits that are adopted end up being given back to a shelter, or put outside, or into a cage. Rescues try to give the best homes possible, but it’s impossible for them to know if someone isn’t living up to their end of the contract, no one has the resources to keep up with home visits.

 

A x-pen is what most rabbit owners use (recommended by shelters and rescues the world over as well), attached to a condo or cage where food, water and litter boxes are housed. The cage should remain open the majority of the time, exceptions are when strangers are over and the bunny needs protected from them, etc.

 

Now, if you feel you cannot give him supervised run time of a few hours a day, it may be best to go through with the rehome. But, if you are simply not wanting him to be restricted, this is an unrealistic expectation from a new home or your own. The RSPCA recommends the x-pens and likely that is what he will be housed in at his new home, given his chewing habits. It is not against the rabbits interests to house them in such, it gives them room to run, dig and stretch out in a way cages and hutches cannot.

 

Whatever you decide, it is your decision. Please do not base it on the feeling he needs to have full run of the entire house though, as his new owners likely won’t give him that either. In the end, it’s what is best for the bunny and only you can decide that. But, if you have the time and the space for a condo/x-pen setup with supervised outside run time, a home where he is used to the people and loved is a pretty good life for a bunny. I know it’s not an easy decision and I wish you luck in whichever way you go.

 

[Eucalyptus]

Most of the time, a cage is referring to the horrifically small cages you fin d at a pet store. A pen generally is a roofless exercise pen, where everything is all inside of a gated area on the floor. A hutch is an enclosure made for outdoor use, and is usually too small, like a cage. A condo is usually something that is built with more space vertically – so multiple floors. So when they say cage-free, they mean that a bunny’s enclosure should be very roomy so that they can move around freely and even binky (maybe) while inside. It’s so they aren’t stuck in the same spot all day while you can’t supervise them.

I personally bought the largest hutch I could find and use it inside. We used to have an x-pen for our bun, but it was very messy and a bit difficult to clean because we’d have to completely take it all down and move everything, so we’d put Java into the bathroom with hay and his box so that he wouldn’t try messing around where the pen used to be. The hutch has worked beautifully for us, but I think a lot of people don’t like the idea just because it’s a hutch. I call it a house since it’s indoors and honestly looks like a really nice bunny house.

As others have already said, not every bunny can be free ranged. There are some bunnies that will flip out if they’re in any type of enclosure, but once they’re free, do absolutely no damage to the house. These rare bunnies just naturally take to being free range and always use their box and never damage anything. Again, rare bunnies. Others can be trained, while others can have lots of free time, but still need to be in an enclosure when nobody is home. This is like Java. He’s only actually locked in his house when we’re gone, or for a few hours when we sleep. After I wake up early in the morning and feed him, all of his doors are open for him to come out. The only reason he isn’t free range is because he likes to make sure that we know that all of our possessions, especially our bed and pillows, are his. And this means marking them. It’s not often, but I wouldn’t like to wake up with my head in pee. If he didn’t do that, we’d most likely leave him out all day unless we were gone. But my point is, even a very well-behaved bunny like ours can’t even be free range.

My best advice for you would be to get him a roomy enclosure (not a cage), and to give him as much supervised time around the house when you’re home. On top of that, bunny proofing your place is obviously necessary. Cord covers are important, and keeping anything that can’t be bunny proofed out of reach is essential. We didn’t cover our phone charger, but it’s hidden behind our bedside table, and there’s no way for Java to get to it, so we don’t have to worry about it. After bunny proofing, you should supervise your bunny closely while out to see if he can show you any other trouble he might get in that you didn’t realize.

If you aren’t willing or cannot provide this, then a new home might be necessary. However, you have no idea what the new home will provide him – if it’ll be worse – and I would recommend doing your best to keep your bunny.

[LittlePuffyTail]

I have to agree with most of the replies. Bunnies that are caged in roomy condos or pens and let out for supervised play are perfectly happy. My two buns live in condos and come out in the morning and evening for supervised play time.

Pet store cages are definitely not ideal for bunnies.

I think if you love your bunny, you should keep him. It’s not expensive or hard to build an NIC condo and your bunny would be perfectly happy in a place of his own.

[Eucalyptus]

I agree with LPT. We only got Java’s hutch (really expensive) because my grandma was more than happy to buy it for us. She took quite the liking to Java, and wanted to get him a nice home. Either way, we all love it. But it’s much more expensive than making something from scratch.

You could easily invest 100$ into a condo and make something extraordinary. There are tons of Youtube videos that give you full walkthroughs and other websites (even on here) that could give you ideas on designs.

[Caroline22]

Yeah, I agree with what everyone else has said. If you really do want to keep him, have him in a NIC condo that you can build yourself or an x pen, and then let him out when you’re home. I can’t even imagine having my bun being free range all the time, she would eat my entire house.

[jackieblue]

Posted By Beka27 on 04/26/2013 06:33 AM

Your post is very contradictory. You explain how he is destroying “xyz”, but then you say you “can’t imagine” caging him.

Simply put, not all rabbits can be free range.

This does not mean they cannot have a full and enriching “penned” experience, along with adequate, SUPERVISED exercise time.

He has been allowed to run amok to this point, so I firmly believe this is not his fault at all. It seems as if the expectations placed on him are unreasonable. He’s just being a bunny.

If you’re unable (or unwilling) to make the concessions he needs to be safe, I agree that finding a more suitable home that will provide what he needs is the best thing to do.

 

 

I’m not even a long time bun owner and I highly agree with this. I was thinking all thru reading OP complaints “good grief, it’s called a cage!”

I used to have a VERY cherished dog, rode on my motorcycle with me, etc. Mostly indoor dog etc for the obvious times during which I didn’t want her chained (thought it was cruel). She did real well staying right close since she ws such a mama’s girl but dammit if the one time she decided to go check some other territory that she didn’t get hit my a car, dead and gone forever.  I was about 20 then and am 44 now and STILL hate myself for letting that happen!! 

Serenity could eat the wrong thing just one time and is gone forever, via electricution or other reason. Caging him would save his life and allow you to continue to have him….if you want to continue to have him that is.

JMHO.

 

 

[hannaroo]

I let my bunnies out before and after work and when I have the day off they get free range all day and throughout the afternoon they’re flopped out and sleepy! Don’t worry too much about putting her in a suitable space during the day, plenty of toys a nice bed and a treat ball usually keeps my buns entertained until you get home!

[tanlover14]

I agree – if you truly love your bun bun and want him to be in a suitable home – you should keep him and give him that home. Bunnies are PERFECTLY fine penned up during the day (as they are usually sleeping anyways) as long as you give him out time while you’re home. Out of my five bunnies only ONE would not destroy the house if left unattended. It’s perfectly common for rabbits to need to be penned up while you’re not home – not just for your own sanity but for their safety. I think you should consider keeping your little boy and giving him a 2nd chance in an area suitable to his behavior!

[LBJ10]

I remember this post. I was hoping there was an update. I hope you decided to keep Serenity. He sounds like he just needs a little more structure in his environment.

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