I feel a little dumb asking this- bonding Q

[Smudge]

Hi, if you read my intro: I was planning on getting another bunny from another very good caretaker who lost her job, an unspayed female, this is no longer happening. I have an un-neutered (not for long, little bunny heheheheh) boy between 4-5 months old. I am trying to find a vet who will work out a payment plan, I am very low-income and assumed (I know, I know, when you assume…..) that I would qualify for our state’s low-income spay and neuter vouchers or clinics. Apparently rabbits don’t count as domesticated animals, just cats and dogs. 

I’d like them to come to my house and tell me he’s not a domesticated bunny (king of the castle!!!) So the point of all this is, I cannot afford to get him altered right away unless I can work out a payment plan. I hadn’t realized how important companion buns really are, I had assumed so, but also thought that, like many animals, with enough human attention he would be fine. Will Smudge be ok as an only bun for the better part of a year?

Also, does he HAVE to have another bun? He fought hard with the other male at the store from a baby age. I assume he would get along better with a female, but I can’t have two c&c cages in my apartment and the time for two buns to get out enough separately. Smudge would be HORRIFIED if he was shut in and another bun was getting some exercise, he gets run of the house while I am home working on starting a business and finishing grad school which is pretty much all the time since I do online classes. 

As a bit of a test, I bought one of those stuffies for dogs that are covered in fake sherpa and shaped like a mini-human or a star which ever one you think. Anyway, first I put I just put it on the floor away from him but where he could still see it. He would NOT come out. I removed it eventually and he came out. The next time I put it closer to the door, he turned his back on it and would not come out or look at me. I moved it where he can’t see it and he’s still mad at me, won’t play with me, and often sleeps as far away from me in a room as he can with his butt to me. I certainly didn’t mean to offend him, but I have learned that buns are like cats, grudges!

Does he need a companion? Does the above test and the info from the store mean anything? I.e. please make me feel ok about not being able to get Smudge a friend right now.

[Sarita]

Moving to Bonding.

[unknownphoenix]

Its so unfortunate that rabbits aren’t recognized as house pets. Maybe one day they will be considered a common pet like cats an dogs *crosses fingers*

I am no expert on rabbits and someone with more experience can probably answer this better, but from what I have researched and heard, no its not necessary to have another rabbit. There are many people on here that only have a single rabbit and their bunnies are perfectly happy and healthy. Your rabbit will be fine without a companion, in fact with enough interaction from you, you will be all he ever needs. Of course bonded rabbits are adorable and it can be beneficial for them if you can bond. But it is in no way detrimental to their health or personalities/happiness if for some reason you cant get another bunny.

[Kbana]

Hi again,

I agree, there is no reason he can’t be perfectly happy as an only bun. And, if he doesn’t exhibit negative hormonal behaviors, you could hold off on altering him for a little longer as there are no health risks to waiting with males. This could buy you time to save up. Just make sure that he is indeed male. I only say this because mine was a girl at the petshop and then became a boy at the vet! LOL. Females should be spayed as soon as it is an appropriate age due to the high cancer risk.
As far as bonding, think of it this way- What is a better quality of life: two buns who are bonded but have limited interaction with you because you have had to stretch financially just to afford them, which is exhausting. Whose ultimate care could be less than what you ideally want because you are so stretched with two buns. Or, one single bun who you can afford to spoil and can truly enjoy the best of bunny life?
I won’t be able to ever get another bun since we can’t smartly afford it without compromising our ideal quality of life. So I give my Albert the best I can and he bonds to me and my husband. Yes, rabbits thrive with the company of another rabbit but you need to weigh the pros and cons of your specific situation.

The hardest part of this is not wanting to scoop up every rabbit you see. They are like tattoos or potato chips…people rarely ever want just one! LOL

[Smudge]

Posted By Kbana on 02/10/2014 11:58 AM

Hi again,

As far as bonding, think of it this way- What is a better quality of life: two buns who are bonded but have limited interaction with you because you have had to stretch financially just to afford them, which is exhausting. Whose ultimate care could be less than what you ideally want because you are so stretched with two buns. Or, one single bun who you can afford to spoil and can truly enjoy the best of bunny life?
I won’t be able to ever get another bun since we can’t smartly afford it without compromising our ideal quality of life. So I give my Albert the best I can and he bonds to me and my husband. Yes, rabbits thrive with the company of another rabbit but you need to weigh the pros and cons of your specific situation. 

Thank you, I totally wouldn’t be able to afford it but I wasn’t thinking about it that way, I was only thinking of Smudge, not my wallet  

The hardest part of this is not wanting to scoop up every rabbit you see. They are like tattoos or potato chips…people rarely ever want just one! LOL

Perfect description. He is the most entertaining pet I have ever had. Least physically interactive, but most playful and silly! Plus everytime i look at my tattoos I want another one….. hmmm bunny… tattoo….lol 

[manic_muncher]

Some other things to think about: Look for rabbit advocacy groups that will assist with costs. I am not sure where you are, but for example, after googling “low cost rabbit neuter” I eventually came across “Friends of Rabbits & House Rabbit Sanctuary”. They cover residents of MD, DC, VA and WV. They offer a $25 rebate and extra help if qualified. My neuter ended up costing around $40 after it was all said and done.

What I really wanted to touch base with you on is the bonding thing. Considering your plans for bunny therapy, I think you will find it much more rewarding if you kept Smudge as a single bun. That way, he will bond to you, instead of another rabbit. I think that will make it easier for you to work with him, at least initially.

Tattoos: yes, completely agree!
When I started playing our old online game again after getting Bumpy, the first thing I did was buy a new mount, a giant bunny!

[Kbana]

After re-reading my post it seems that I meant MY quality of life…but I did truly mean the bun’s. I would think it would be better if you could spend more time with one bun and give him everything he needs than stretch yourself with two. But I suppose you could look at it both ways really.
And…bunny tattoo??!! Oh my that might have to be my next tattoo!

[Smudge]

Posted By manic_muncher on 02/10/2014 01:15 PM

Some other things to think about: Look for rabbit advocacy groups that will assist with costs. I am not sure where you are, but for example, after googling “low cost rabbit neuter” I eventually came across “Friends of Rabbits & House Rabbit Sanctuary”. They cover residents of MD, DC, VA and WV. They offer a $25 rebate and extra help if qualified. My neuter ended up costing around $40 after it was all said and done.

What I really wanted to touch base with you on is the bonding thing. Considering your plans for bunny therapy, I think you will find it much more rewarding if you kept Smudge as a single bun. That way, he will bond to you, instead of another rabbit. I think that will make it easier for you to work with him, at least initially.

Tattoos: yes, completely agree!
When I started playing our old online game again after getting Bumpy, the first thing I did was buy a new mount, a giant bunny!

Bummer I’m not in that region but I will keep searching! That’s a good point about him as a therapy rabbit and bonding to humans, although I suppose if I had a heavily bonded pair down the road I could just work with them both together, but for now, I’ll start with one thanks to the advice I’ve gotten on this forum!

[Beka27]

I know you’ve decided to stick with one for now, but something else that came to mind… When rabbits are bonded, they should not be split up. Even separating them for a short vet visit can cause the bond to weaken and may result in fighting. If Smudge is going to be going different places in “his line of work”, everytime he comes back home, there is that potential that his mate won’t accept him back because he could “smell different”.

I do think you’re making the right decision keeping with one for now!

[BunnyLady1989]

There’s a lot of great advice here! The only thing I wonder is does the particular vet have a payment plan? Mine in particular allows you to do a split payment, as does several others in my area. I would find that out too

[Beka27]

It certainly doesn’t hurt to ask about a payment plan, or maybe they would let you do half upfront and the other half the following month?

I think you had another thread in Q&A about finding a vet (you’re the one in VT/NH area, right?) Any luck with that yet?

[Author]

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