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Forum BONDING Bun-Sitting: should I introduce them?

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    • bunz714
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        So, the girl I plan on living with next year also has a bunny. Right now, we don’t live together, but she is going out of town so I agreed to watch her bunny while she is gone. My bun is neutered, but hers is not spayed (although she is very tiny and doesn’t seem like she would be aggressive, but I guess I wouldn’t know until the time came). 

        My question is, should I introduce them for the week that she will be staying with me? I don’t want them to end up liking each other (wishful thinking, I know), and then have to be separated so soon.

        I’m also curious if I should introduce them when we start living together. I’m really scared to because I know we will only be roommates for 1 year max (we will both be moving for grad school) so I don’t want them to be heartbroken if torn apart after that long.


      • Kokaneeandkahlua
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          I wouldn’t honestly. They could easily get each other sick, rabbits often carry illness or are born with them and they can pass them on; stress can make illnesses crop up. Rabbits really take some work to get along in almost all cases, it’s not like letting two dogs meet where probably things will go Ok. I think the infection control aspect and stress potential are not worth it-especially if you aren’t bonding.

          In fact I’d actually be careful to wash hands after handling one before handling the other. They will smell each and may bite you.

          I know-bunny play dates seem like they’d be amazing.

           But they really don’t get along easily and it’s risky-I wouldn’t ever put rabbits together unless I was planning on bonding for the long haul  


        • Love4Bunny
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            Kokaneeandkahlua is right. I think it is not worth the risk, and is really stressful (and expensive in the long run if your rabbit gets ill). Also, bunnies look sweet (even the cranky ones are sweet deep down inside), but a sweet-natured bunny can turn into the bunny from hell, or even worse, get attacked and injured. You won’t need the stress, especially since you will be adjusting yourself: to someone else’s kitchen routine, sleeping (and awake!) schedule, house-cleaning habits, and personality traits, and any friction between the rabbits will likely cause friction between you and the new girl (even if you guys know each other well). Housemate situations tend to bring to light everyone’s “deficiencies”. You also don’t want rabbit “turf-wars” (which, essentially, is why we go through so much effort to bond rabbits in the first place), and I’d second the handwashing thing. But the bonus is you have a rabbit sitter you probably trust, which is a really beneficial thing for you.


          • bunz714
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              Thank you for the advice! I really appreciate it because I have no knowledge of bonding/behavior with other buns. I will not introduce them, or let them get too close!

              Although, will it be a problem if they are in the same room for the week? They each have their own cage and would never be out at the same time. I live in the US so I’m not sure if the risk of disease in rabbits is slightly lower or not. It’s just difficult to keep them in separate rooms because my current roommate has a cat (which is quiet aggressive), so I keep my bun in my room and do not let the cat around my rabbit.


            • Love4Bunny
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                I don’t see why not. I’d make sure neither could escape, though. They can bite through bars if one decides they don’t like the other, and I’ve heard of (and watched) nasty, but brief rabbit injuries. If you do decide to bond a second rabbit in the far-off future, it can be really rewarding, and is really special to watch them play and love on each other once they are friends, haha.


              • bunz714
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                  Hahah, yes, I plan on getting my bun a friend in the future. Just waiting until mid-summer when I have real time to spend bonding them.

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              Forum BONDING Bun-Sitting: should I introduce them?