another quesiton about Pepper

[katieh]

Hi Everyone,

For the most part Pepper has been doing really well. She had a visit to the vet for a check up. She said Pepper looked very healthy. This was on Friday. She had started coming out of her cage and hanging out with all of us more. Then yesterday she wouldn’t come out of her cage at all. She didn’t come out today either. I brought her out once to check her spay incision (which looks great). She is eating, pooping and peeing. She doesn’t appear to be in any pain, but she has no interest in coming out of the cage. She has never been much of a runner, mostly hopping and sniffing. She likes to hop on the kids beds and sleep under their table. But for about 48 hours now, none of it. Should I worry? Or could she just be lazy? I’m not sure what to think. What should I look for if she is possible sick?

[katieh]

Well, sure enough right after I posted she came out of her cage. She’s having a rip roaring time running around the boys room while they are sleeping ! I guess she just needed a day or two to rest. Also, she seems to really like my 9 year old and the times she wouldn’t come out were when he wasn’t home. Tonight she came out when he opened the cage.

[babybunsmum]

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

LOL great news!!

[katieh]

Okay, I found out that Pepper is not coming out of her cage after all. My son is bringing her out. I’ve seen him do it and he’s pretty gentle. He likes to put her on the bed and lay with her. She never seems to upset about it, but does hop away when I come in and ask him to let her go if she wants. Sometimes she shivers for a while after. Is she scared?

I keep asking him to stop, but we are having problems with him listening right now. (thats another forum!) Anyway, I’m trying to learn about rabbit body language. She is REALLY mellow. She seems to prefer to stay in her cage. She really likes to sit in her litter box, which is a corner on and kind of small. Any ideas, comments, suggestions? I want to make her happy.

[Deleted User]

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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[Scarlet_Rose]

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.

[Gravehearted]

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

[katieh]

Thanks for all the suggestions. The problem with my 9 year old is just part of a more global issue, but I don’t want Pepper to suffer from it. I left her cage door open all day today and she didn’t come out once. I felt so bad. I’m trying to figure out how I can redo the living room to make room for her there, although sometimes I think it is a more noisy room than the boys room. The coloring book is fabulous. I printed out the page about “What is my bunny thinking?” and put it on the refrigerator (after I made my son read it). I do have a box that we can use. I’ll bring it home from work tomorrow.

If anybody else had something to add– I love the help!

[Beka27]

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.

[Gravehearted]

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.

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