Does my bunny want a friend?

[BunnyMuffin]

Yesterday I put this puppet dog I have on the floor for my bunny and she curled up with it ALL day!  She left it a couple times to go eat some hay, but would go straight back over to cuddle up with Spunky (the fake dog).  Is this a sign that she would possibly benefit from a bunny friend to be bonded with?  Or maybe she was just feeling particularly cuddly yesterday?

http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn42/saker0118/Noelle/IMG_2120.jpg

http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn42/saker0118/Noelle/IMG_2125.jpg

 

 

 

 

[MimzMum]

Oh how sweet! ^_^ I don’t know if cuddling with a stuffed animal really denotes need for a companion on your bunny’s part. I used a stuffed bunny as a ‘stunt bunny’ for one of my rabbits to get used to having a companion and she wound up giving it a good bite on the cheek. (Fortunately she hasn’t bit my other bunny.)
Does she seem otherwise sad or listless? I think there are some specific signs you can look for that would indicate a desire on her part for companionship, and also one needs to consider the responsibility of having more than one bunny. But I’ve had a few members agree that some bunnies live longer and are happier with a friend.
(Looks around for other more knowledgeable members to comment.) ^_^

Your bunny is adorable, by the way. How cute that she loves her plushie!

[MooBunnay]

Awww – thats so sweet that she was cuddling! I think that in general, most bunnies benefit from having a companion, since by nature, rabbits are more social animals and live in colonies, I think that they are verysuited to living with a friend. The benefits of a rabbit companion is that bunnies can provide companionship for each other than humans cannot, for example, they groom each other, play together as bunnies, and can snuggle all day. That being said, each bunny has a different personality, and what kind of bunny they get along with, or whether or not they want a friend really just depends on their personality.

If you want to get your bun a companion, I recommend that you take your bunny on several “dates” to meet other bunnies and see how she does. Bonding can be a long process, so don’t be discouraged if she doesn’t bond immediately to another bunny. Stuffed dogs are easier to bond to because they let the bunny be the dominant one!

[RabbitPam]

I think you have already done her a favor by giving her a new stuffed friend. Clearly she’s saying “thanks Mom. I love it!” Whether you decide to get another bunny or not – a significant undertaking – you can know that you have done something she’s really enjoying already.

[Alicia Conklin]

Tucker has stuffies too that she loves.  She also enjoys being around the cats.  Even when the cats aren’t near her (if she’s in her pen) she’ll just lay near the wall that they’re laying by. I find that the cats lay by her pen just as much too so I think they enjoy her company too.  I think that this gives her enough companionship right now.  She’s not yet spayed and even if she was I’m not sure that I myself am ready for another rabbit yet.  I plan on getting her a friend this winter, she’ll have been spayed for a few months by that time and I’ll have a few more months to get usd to having ONE rabbit and I hope to be ready for a second by then! 

 

[BunnyMuffin]

Thanks for all your input! I think I would eventually like to get her a bunny buddy, but I’m going to wait for a little bit. I’ll be graduating and moving in May, and I’ll be working long hours in public accounting – so once that time comes she’ll need more companionship. Right now I’m home a lot every day, so I don’t think she’s too lonely. Plus where I currently live I can’t find a lot of bunny dating options. My boyfriend has a thing for rexes, so we’re hoping she’ll find a rex that she likes in Minneapolis when we get there. 🙂

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