Hi, 

  Okay, I have been reading the pages and relevant posts but I thought I would post in case someone might have some further advice for me. 

  The situation: 

  I have a female bunny, Arlo, who is neutered and will be a year in November. We lost her partner Bertrand very suddenly. He wasn’t eating right Thursday night and I took him to the vet Friday morning… he was in there until Sunday and we thought he was getting better, we were going to bring him home, but when the vet was talking to us about to give him back he just.. it was so sudden.. the vet said we did everything we should have – but it was so shocking – we were so close. He was my bunny – I think he could have been a single bunny – he just followed me everywhere. His partner though, Arlo, she needs another bunny I think.. or so my mum thought who was visiting and got us a three month old male bunny on Monday. It’s all so sudden and I’m not quite sure what to do. 

 I do worry about Arlo, my girl, being lonely – I know the female is usually the dominant one, but I think my male was – and since he has been gone, Arlo has been getting a lot more affectionate, though I think she is lonely too. I don’t want her to get depressed – she didn’t see the body – I read that they should – but it was all too quick. I have this wee boy now too – Gus. He is a very nice natured wee  bunny but I am reading about how difficult this introduction may be and I don’t want to cause any unwanted stress. At the same time though I think Arlo is missing someone to lie beside – other than me – and someone to clean her ears.

 Arlo is free range in my flat – but for now I have the wee boy Gus in a cage – he is so small the cage gives him a lot of room and I let him run around the kitchen every few hours for extra exercise. When he is in his cage I let Arlo in the same room as him – she has been sniffing him and chinning him through the bars – she seems very interested and doesn’t seem aggressive. She is a very sturdy bunny though – she isn’t fat – but she isn’t thin –  I think she is quite muscular.. she digs a lot. I am unsure if I should try to properly introduce them and see how it goes. They were together without the age very briefly and the little guy just made a B line right for her – but she looked shocked by his presence and startled and I was afraid she might hurt him so I took him away very quickly. 

I don’t know if I should just let them try and see if maybe they do get on – since they are interested and Arlo is lonely – or well I think missing a companion – or it is all too sudden and she will be okay being lonely and grieving.. I don’t want her to get sad… but I don’t want her to hurt wee Gus.. I’m very confused. I think the only think I know is that it’s good if he is in the cage that she can go and check him out when she likes – not knowing where he was but smelling him seemed to be distressing. 

Any advice appreciated!