Bonding Tansy and Kiwi – BONDED

[Catalina]

 

[script removed]

 

So, I have a new bunny named Kiwi that I would like to bond to my existing bun Tansy.  If you want to read the whole adventure on how I got Kiwi here https://www.binkybunny.com/FORUM/tabid/54/a…fault.aspx

Kiwi is living in my basement in an x- pen home.  Tansy lives upstairs and can’t get into the basement.  I gave Kiwi a stuffed bunny that Tansy preloved and Kiwi licked it (groomed?).  I left another stuffed animal in the pen with Kiwi and plan on giving it to Tansy after it smells like Kiwi. 

Kiwi peed in the litter box right away, but pooed every where in the pen.  I picked up the poos and put them in the litter box.  I didn’t have to train Tansy to use his box, so I hope this works, because I don’t want an untrained bun peeing in my house! 

Tansy is free range and I would eventually like Kiwi to be bonded and free range too.  That’s the goal!

 

 

[MissKris&Koji]

My rabbit pooed all over his cage and my floor the first day he came home. I think it was new territory marking and nerves. Now 95% of the pellets end up in his box, and all of the pee does too. I read it’s common for most buns to not be 100% in the litter box with the poops, so I don’t worry about it too much and just sweep them into the box when I feed him twice a day. Really those are easy to clean up, so so long as he keeps peeing in the box I’d be happy!

Good luck with the bonding!

[Catalina]

Ah ha! That’s what territory marking looks like.

Kiwi is a little lover boy. He is so affectionate – loves getting pets and isn’t shy at all. I would be terrified if someone picked me out of one place and put me in a totally new one.
He did a little binky when I put him in his new pen (from out of the bath tub). So sweet!

[Catalina]

I forgot to mention that Kiwi was neutered on July 13th and they estimated his age at 2 years.

So should I wait for a month before I try bonding? To let the hormones die down?

[Monkeybun]

Definitely wait. Better to be safe than sorry The wait time will be good for you to bond with Kiwi anyway

[Catalina]

So here are the future bondees.  I’m waiting at least until the middle or end of next month.  What do you all think about taking them both to my parent’s house and bonding them there?  It would be nuetral territory for both buns.  Would it be easier to bond them like that? 

Kiwi

 

 

Tansy

 

 

And Catty and Tansy – Kiwi will have to get bonded to Catty too

[jerseygirl]

I saw catty and Tansy in your other thread. Such a comical pair!
For what it worth I say definately try bonding at your parents if you have the opportunity. Especially since Tansy is free range and could be a tad territorial about your place. It’s good to have extra hands on board also.

Here’s hopping to a smooth bond when the time comes!

[Beka27]

Ooooh…. I love REW buns! So cute!

[LoveChaCha]

Tansy is so big now! What a big boy

[Catalina]

Ok I couldn’t wait any longer.

So far this is what has happened:
I set up a space for them in one of my spare bed rooms. Tansy had never been allowed into this room, so it is neutral. 2 of everything – litter box, water, pile of fresh veggies, hay, phone book, stuffed toy, diggy towels, cardboard boxes.

Then I put both buns in a cardboard box with a cover. I shook them up, went outside, went inside, went into the garage, jogged in place, ect.
Then I dumped (gently) them both into the new room.
They sniffed each other. Hopped around a bit. Then they fought. Lost some fur. I didn’t stop them. Then they hopped around. Then they fought. Tansy hid in a box. Kiwi hid on the other side of the room. Then they fought. Lost some more fur. Then they went to different sides of the room and layed down. They took a 2 hour break where they didn’t do anything.
Kiwi got up and ate some hay and used the litter box.
Tansy hid in a box.
Kiwi ate.
Tansy ate.
Kiwi came over to sniff Tansy. Tansy thumped at Kiwi. Kiwi went away.
Kiwi came back – Tansy thumped. Repeat 50 times.
Kiwi chased Tansy – Tansy hid in a box and thumped.
Kiwi ate. Tansy ate.
Kiwi chased Tansy. Tansy thumped and hid in a box.
Then they chased/thumped/ate and are still doing that combination.

I check them over once for injuries, but other than that I haven’t touched them. So far it seems to be going pretty well.

[Catalina]

This is a photo time line of their interactions.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Catalina]

The poo wars have begun. I can deal with the poo, it’s the pee that is gross!

Kiwi was very frisky with the soccer ball for a while.
Now they are lying a few feet away from each other and just looking at each other.

[Monkeybun]

… I had to giggle at the personal injury ad on the phone book lol. How appropriate for a bonding session

Look at Kiwi flopped! Kiwi is adorable ANd poor Tansy… who is this strange bunny invading his house?

[jerseygirl]

That’s exactly right. It might be harder for Tansy to adjust to the change. Kiwi might be becoming an old pro at it. I wonder if he lived with other buns in the past.

Your bonding so far reminds me of what another member did. She cleared 3 days in her schedule and basically did a lock in with herself and the bondees. It worked too!

[Catalina]

This morning there weren’t any more poos outside the litter box. Tansy and Kiwi both took turns eating hay. There are 2 hay racks, but they seem to only like the bigger one.
Tansy let Kiwi get close to him a bunch of times.
Tansy asked for a groom and it looked like Kiwi gave him one lick. Then his body language scared Tansy and Tansy ran away.
Kiwi followed a little and then went over to the soccer ball instead.
That soccer ball is the best thing I have ever bought for them!

[Catalina]

Day 2 –

In this first pic Tansy was in the litter box eating hay and Kiwi was watching him.  When I took the pic Tansy jumped out of the litter box.

 

 

 

[MissKris&Koji]

Double flop! Nice work!

Also love that hay rack with the rows of holes – what is that??

[Karla]

That is from Ikea for plastic bags. I was just about to comment on it. I love how everybody here has Ikea-stuff.

I love your bunnies, Catalina! And it looks like your bonding is going really well. That is so great,

[LoveChaCha]

Aw, they look great together, Catalina

Where did you get that hay rack from? Its quite interesting

[Catalina]

Yup the hay rack is an Ikea plastic bag holder.

They seem to be bonding pretty well. Kiwi is still Mr. Humpy, but Tansy is like, “I don’t think so buster!” and runs away when Kiwi even gets close to Tansy’s rear end.

[Catalina]

Will Kiwi eventually stop trying to hump Tansy? I think they could be buddies if Kiwi would just knock it off!

[Lintini]

I loved your description here of their first meeting

Tansy hid in a box.
Kiwi ate.
Tansy ate.
Kiwi came over to sniff Tansy. Tansy thumped at Kiwi. Kiwi went away.
Kiwi came back – Tansy thumped. Repeat 50 times.
Kiwi chased Tansy – Tansy hid in a box and thumped.
Kiwi ate. Tansy ate.
Kiwi chased Tansy. Tansy thumped and hid in a box.
Then they chased/thumped/ate and are still doing that combination.

I cracked up!!! Life as a bunny right?

They are such a good pair and getting along so well already?!!? Nice work!

Kiwi is a doll, can’t believe you were scared of those eyes!!

[Deleted User]

IKEA has lots of things for rabbit (seriously)

Beautiful photos, Catalina! Bonding is going great. You are already getting flops, a good sign. Yes, the humping will get less. Keep at it!

[Catalina]

I’ve had Kiwi for a whole week! It feels like a lot longer.

Bonding Day 3 – The buns woke me up at 2 am this morning. Their room is right next to mine and they were dashing around and playing. Just normal bunny stuff.
This morning Kiwi and Tansy shared the litter box for a few seconds and ate some hay together. Then Tansy hopped out. Later Kiwi tried to hump Tansy’s head. >
Other than that they act very sweet to each other.

[mrmac]

They sound like they are doing great! The humping is normal, even mine do that every now and then just to make their dominance known. As long as the humping doesn’t bother Tansy it is a good thing!

[Catalina]

Kiwi and Tansy were sooooo sweet this morning! They were cuddling together. I have a cute pic of it that I will load later.

[Deleted User]

You are getting the easy bond… lucky you!

[Catalina]

Day 5: I think they are 100% bonded. They snuggle all the time and the humping has mostly quit. They are so sweet together!
For a while I was wondering why I had ever wanted to get Tansy a friend, but now when I see them together I know it was a good idea. Especially when I have to leave them during the day and go to work.
Today they were both curled up in one of their cardboard houses tail to nose – so cute!

[mrmac]

Congrats! They sound like they love eachother!

[Catalina]

They are still having issues with marking. Tansy will pee on the rug and then Kiwi will mark the spot with a few poos.
I keep cleaning it up and whenever I catch Tansy peeing on the rug I put him in the nearest litter box.
*whine* Will this ever end?!?!?

Otherwise things are perfect with the bonded boys.

[mrmac]

I dealt with my trio’s poo wars for MONTHS, they never seemed to go away. Kiwi and Tansy’s bond is still new so it will just take some time for them to understand that they no longer have to compete for territory.

[mocha200]

you can leave them alone together when you not home!

[mocha200]

ohhhh i have just read through you thread and i see now. silly me! ( btw your guys are doing great! it took my two, two months!)

[LoveChaCha]

Lovely Catalina! You had an easy bond!

Now is Kiwi bonded to Kitty?

[Deleted User]

Congrats! Ditto mrmac on the poowars but with pairs they usually do go away… plus, mrmac’s female rabbit is a bully and they tend to invite long-term stray droppings. (Sorry, mac… it’s Delilah’s fault, IMO)

[mrmac]

TOTALLY her fault. Dex and Dennis have been having more marking lately since their bond is still newer, but since Davey and Delilah have gone back to a pair now, their marking has decreased dramatically, only a few strays now and then.

[Catalina]

The boys are still doing great! They are 100% with their litter box. I’m gradually letting them get more and more territory – letting them run in the hallway and bathroom.
Today I bought them a treat dispenser that they can roll around. Kiwi figured it out right away! He is crazy about it! I used pellets as the treats and it’s not hard to see why he was a little chunker. He has slimmed down a lot – his little dew lap is almost gone.

[mrmac]

That is great Catalina! I am glad their potty habits returned! Those treat balls are great! I have one for mine also!

[Author]

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