Need help not getting my rabbit sent away…

[sniffablecow]

This morning my dad saw quite a bit of hay outside of Theo’s litter box and he considered it really messy. He started accusing me of not taking care of the rabbit and threatened to send her to the shelter. For a little more info, my parents make me clean all of her cage every three days. I didn’t get to doing it this week due to a lot of homework and there was hay outside of her litterbox and little bits touching her hide house, food bowl, etc. I still changed her litter box though so it wasn’t like I was totally neglecting her living area. I understand that they would be upset since i didn’t do exactly what they said, but is a little hay being outside of the litterbox really that bad? It is hard to keep the litterbox area perfectly clean anyway. He said if he saw a lot of hay outside again, she was being sent but I really don’t know if I can control this. Any tips?

[Deleted User]

To be honest, that’s a bit anal. You’re living with a bunny, and they aren’t the neatest of house pets. Both of my buns constantly dig the hay out of their hay rack. We clean the cages every 2-3 days, but it’s never 100% perfect. There’s always some loose hay or litter.

[Deleted User]

I know I’m going outside of your original post but do you think maybe there are more issues with you and your rabbit that is causing your parents to feel this way. You have a lot of posts on here regarding various issues you are having with your rabbit. Whilst I am not criticising you for posting and asking for advice because it’s great that you do, but maybe your parents are recognising your struggles and this is their way of telling you that the rabbit needs to be rehomed. It sounds a bit extreme to want to rehome a rabbit because of a bit of hay. Is it not just the fact that everything is becoming frustrating for them. I know one of your posts you mentioned becoming a better owner and that on occasions you didn’t see to your rabbit as often as you thought you should. Maybe your parents are just trying to make you keep up the better standards of care for your rabbit and are being this harsh so you don’t let things slip again. Scare tactics possibly? Try sitting down and discussing this with them and get any issues out in the open. You could try drawing up a rota or list of jobs that you do for your rabbit so that they can see how you do everything. Rather than them just thinking you don’t do it

[Fluffykins]

I was going to say something similar to the above too.

I’m sure this is more then some hay. It most likely comes down to responsibility. The number one reason “strict” parents say no to pet requests from kids is because they don’t trust them to be fully responsible and they know it’s only a matter of time before the kid fully loses interest and it becomes the parents pet.

Most parents don’t want this.

If you can recognise you are slacking in your pet ownership status – your parents are probably a heck of a lot more stressed over it then you realise. For you it was one week of being behind, due to exams, but to your parents it’s another needle in a proverbiably big haystack – all pulling up and getting higher with every little problem.

Why on earth are your parents having to remind you to clean out your pet?

When we live with our parents, as the kids, we have to realise it’s their house. Their rules. You chose to get a pet, hence responsibility should be all yours. Parents shouldn’t need to step in to make a cleaning schedule for you. And remember, whilst you might be able to stand a messy cage for a full week for example, your parents probably can’t. And they probably know how easily one week will turn to two then three and etc.

I guess I’m saying if parents are nagging – that means there’s something that needs nagging about. Sorry to say this next part – but it’s probably for your own good too. Speaking as a parent (but not a naggy one)!

[12345ABCDE]

Rehoming a rabbit because of a bit of stray hay is ridiculous. She is an animal. She does not understand human’s standards for being clean and tidy. It’s sad that your parents consider getting rid of her willy nilly. Is she not part of the family? What happens if she gets poorly and loses her litter box habits temporarily? What happens if she has a particularly messy toy? Is she supposed to live in a sterile manner at all times? If the threat of sending her away is going to be a constant thing because she dares make a bit of a mess, that’s no way to live.

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