LOL great news!!

Pepper is sitting in her cage and litter box because she feels safe there — it’s her own home, or retreat.  Its great that she’s mellow. That ‘ll help alot considering there’s children  around.  Aside from “my” bunnies over a period of 20+ years, buns don’t typically love to be handled much. This is according to the literature. My bunnies defyed this, in that not only did they love me to hold them, I  was bathed in kisses on the face, tip of nose, and sometimes on my  shoulder when lying in bed next to me. Go figure?  If I may make a suggestion re: your son — why don’t you set a time (whenever) once a day when the two of you, together, can cuddle with bunny. In this way, not only are you monitoring, but your son and he can become more and more familiar, plus with you there as well, I believe Pepper will feel safer and relaxed over time.  I’m certain I don’t need to mention this, but please remind your children that bunnies prefer very soft and gentle tones. hth

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Shana what a great picture and wonderful advice you have offered, thank you and I could not have put it better. She is shivering because she is scared and really, the picking her up and moving her around is making her feel very insecure so she is staying in what should be her safe place where no human goes. Can you and you son have fun say making a carboard box that is Pepper’s safe place? You can have fun making holes, and creating this place for her together.

I think young children can sometimes overwhelm bunnies unintentionally.   Rabbits often don’t like to be picked up, and yes the shivering indicates she’s scared.  Maybe use time with the bunny as a reward for him doing a good job listening?  You may encourage him to lay on the floor with her, since it is much less scary for bunnies.

this coloring book might be fun for your 4 year old

also – this site language of lagomorphs is a great place to learn about bunny body language

i think moving her to the living room may help her get used to everyone a bit quicker.  my rabbit has a very large NIC cube enclosure off of her cage, and i know you do not have the room for something big like that, i understand that… but the good thing about it is i’ve told my son (4 yo) that the big enclosure area is off-limits to him.  even if the grates are pushed outside while Meadow is running, he’s not allowed inside that boundary.  you may try getting a sisal mat or rug that is slightly larger than the cage so the kids have a visual boundary as to where they are not allowed to go.  my rabbit does not like my son, in recent months (post-spay!) she has started lunging at him and once she bit his finger (bad.)  i’m kind of at a loss myself, but i just keep telling him he needs to leave Meadow alone, only pet her when i’m there, etc.

i think the living room sounds like a great idea too. bunnies like to be part of the family and it might help to be in a place where you all are. Does she have a hidey hole or box in her house that she can retreat to? It may help her feel safer.