meeting before fixing

[KiwiMama]

 Hi everyone! Well here is my situation:

I have a male bunny named Kiwi who’s about 8 months old and he has not been neutered yet. A friend’s girlfriend had a rabbit about the same age and was not properly taking care of it (supposedly they left it outside in a bird cage overnight in the Florida rain and heat!!) and I agreed to take it because they clearly didn’t do their research… they were feeding it ICEBERG LETTUCE with carrots and absolutely NO hay or pellets. Anyway I brought it home and named it Mango, and when I checked it’s parts it looks to me like it is a girl.

The issue I have is that I am planning to neuter and spay them soon and then try to bond them, but I live with my parents and I have to have both of them in my room (in separate cages of course). They are right next to each other and if I let Kiwi out he will circle Mango’s cage and Mango will sometimes lunge at him through the cage but for the most part they seem okay and will even flop in front of each other. They can’t hurt each other because the cages are mesh instead of wire.

I’m just worried that being near each other before being neutered/spayed will affect the bonding process afterwards. Has anyone else had this sort of situation and if so how did it work out for you?

[Monkeybun]

If they are opposite genders DO NOT introduce them. babies will occur!!! And make sure they can’t reach each other through cages at all.

[PuddleJumper]

Posted By Monkeybun on 08/25/2011 05:52 PM
If they are opposite genders DO NOT introduce them. babies will occur!!! And make sure they can’t reach each other through cages at all.

 

LOL   Agreed!!

[LoveChaCha]

Ditto Monkeybun and Puddle Jumper. Also, if they are next to each other, put the cages a few inches apart. Rabbits can and will get naughty between the bars if both cages are situated right next to each other.

[KiwiMama]

Yes I know not to introduce them of course, and I also mentioned how their cages are mesh and therefore they can’t hurt each other through them at all.
I was wondering if being near each other and smelling each other will affect their bonding later on. He is hormonal and I don’t want to frustrate him…

[Tate]

I don’t think it will have too much of an affect. Their scents change considerably after a neuter or spay. Generally, you have to go through some process of reintroducing them after spays/neuters.

[Tate]

Here is a really thorough bonding guide: http://www.saveabunny.org/rabbitcare/bonding-guide
It doesn’t really go into the phase your in right now- waiting for the neuters- but it will give you a good idea of what to expect. I’m sure you’ve read a few bonding guides, but I’ve found this one particularly worthwhile.

[Sarita]

I wouldn’t worry about it in this case just make sure they are totally secured in their cages when you are not there – you DO NOT want them to get together for even one minute as that will result in an unintended pregnancy. So just make double and triple sure that you have them secure in their cages.

I would also consider doing the spay first rather than the neuter as once she is spayed there is no possibility of pregnancy. The male can still produce sperm up to approximately 20 to 30 days after his neuter so there would still be an opportunity for that unintended pregnancy if your female is not spayed.

[Author]

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