New house rabbit! Need some advice.

[Floppy]

Hello I have a baby rabbit (8-9weeks) called Casper. I have had him for 5 days. First three days he stayed in his cage, but yesterday when I opened his cage he hopped out and had a great time binkying and exploring. My bedroom is rabbit proof, had loads of rabbit toys, a catboard hidey box and a litter tray. I am trying to decide whether to let him have run of the room 24/7 or to keep him in his cage at night. It’s a 140 plaza cage.

Casper has so far been brilliant, has only peed in his litter tray areas and only 2 stray poops, his cage was open yesterday from 8am to midnight. He also seems to understand when I say “No” already, he’s possibly a genius! He objected to being put in the cage last night I felt terrible but maybe he will get used to the routine when he understands I will let him out again? I am happy for him to have the run of the room when I’m at work etc, it’s just night time I’m concerned about.

My bedroom has a wooden floor. I have a 2m long rug along one side of bed where he can run and binky, and a door mat next to cage so he can jump in and out easily. Casper seems to be fine hopping on the wooden floor. However I’m a top floor flat so I am worried about him being out all hours of night, will his hopping about disturb my neighbours?

I also have a Divan bed, which is on wheels. This sometimes moves a little when I’m sleeping. I am worried he gets his paw caught under a wheel. I have stuck cardboard to “pet pen gates” that were originally a hamster run (useless item), and put this around the corners of bed where the wheels are, and have tucked a valence sheet under neath the wheels. Hopefully this makes it impossible for Casper to be injured by this, but I’m still worried. Am I being over zealous?

Casper also makes a funny noise, I cannot describe it. He does it when he’s playing, eating a treat. He also sounds like he is snoring (quiet, humming sound) sometimes when he’s sleeping. For bedding I’m using Carefresh and 2 different t types of hay in litter. He’s a lion head cross, OH and he is scratching at his ears and neck frequently. It looks like he has a bald patch under his mane. I’m taking him to get his jags next week so I can ask about it then? I want to let him settle in before taking him to vet. It’s 30min drive each way.

[Luna]

Hi! Buns are crepuscular – most active around dawn and dusk – so I don’t think Casper will be hopping around a lot at night, and not enough to disturb your neighbors. I’m not sure I understand the setup you made around the bed’s wheels, but I agree it was a good idea to try to keep him away from those. As for the scratching and bald spot, mites maybe?

[Muchelle]

You can never be over zealous with rabbits, so keep being super attentive! Also keep an eye on him in case he decides to become a chewer and make a mess of your sheets and rugs No one will hear him hop about, don’t worry for the neighbors!

The bald spot might be mites, so yes definitely have him checked by the vet and keep track of the size of the bald spot until you make it to your appointment.

[Floppy]

Thanks everyone for the replies! Maybe I will try to let him stay out overnight tonight and see if he’s alright.

The other thing is I’m getting him neutered in June, afterwards I’m going to take him speed dating at the SPCA to see if he wants a friend- if he does is it really hard to bond them if Casper is cage free?

The other thing is I have some posters stuck to wall with blue tack, they are fine so long as he doesn’t learn to jump on the cage. Should I take them down as a precaution? I don’t want him eating blue tac.

Ah hopefully not mites, poor boy! I will ask the vet to have a look when I take him to the vet!

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[Edited by Forum Leader to add images]

[Muchelle]

Aw he’s such a cute ball of fluff <3

About the posters, if you’re afraid he might nip them, you could move them a bit upwards so that they’re out of reach or move the blue tack from the bottom corners to somewhere on the sides?

[BanditCamp]

Try letting you bunny bond with the space unless your absolutely adamant on having another bunny. Speed dating is a good option and sounds like your doing well. I let bandit be caged for the first 4-5 weeks to ensure he knew where litter boxes and had a routine. After that I let him roam around and he had only 1 accident on my pillow but I figured out it was his was his way of saying he loved me.

[Floppy]

Thanks everyone for your help. I have been keeping him in his cage at night when I’m in bed and he’s been fine since! Is the snoring anything to worry about! It’s so cute. He also makes a noise occasionally when awake, like a tiny quiet monkey noise?! I think it’s happy but hard to tell!

Today he learned how to jump on my bed! i don’t mind this and he seemed really happy, binkying about on it! I’m only worried in case he falls or jumps down onto the wooden floor and slips! Not much I can do about this except maybe put towels down until I can get another rug? There’s a blanket at the bottom of the bed, and a long rug on one side. Hopefully he just learns quickly it’s better to jump down onto the rug… I can’t stop him going on my bed because my bedroom is the most bunny proof room in my flat. My living room has loads of wires to cover it will be a big project, (and leather corner couch that I don’t trust him with yet!)

Loving my new bunny btw! He’s the best!

[BanditCamp]

You can order large sea grass mats for relatively cheap. This will prevent him slipping when he jumps down.

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