Older bun bonding

[CocoaPuff]

Hey guys!

I got a bunny with uterine cancer. So she’s a recently spayed, super sweet mini rex. She is affectionate, gets along with dogs, and is scared of peacocks. However she is 7 years old and has never met another bunny for any long amount of time. I put a stuffed bunny in her pen and she is constantly grooming it, so I thought maybe I’d get her a companion but I have a few questions.

Due to her getting spayed late in life, will she keep some hormonal tendencies and be a bad candidate for bonding?

My local shelter has under 1 year olds to 3/4 year old buns. There’s a significant age gap between her and potential bonding boys. Will this be a problem?

Her current living situation is a house 28″ x 28″ 2 levels (top level same dimension) with a 54″x42″ play area attached. Is this big enough for a bonded pair when they are not roaming the house (she’s pretty lazy and sleeps under the piano when she’s out and only gets 4 hours/day out)?

We have an unneutered male in the house(not mine) who shares neutral areas (but not at the same time). Other than territorial droppings is this going to cause a problem?

[DanaNM]

Hello, welcome!

I just bonded two 9 year old bunnies, so I think as long as the vet says she is healthy enough, go for it. During the process just be sure she isn’t getting overly stressed and go at her pace. Slow and steady for the senior buns. The space sounds large enough with the play area.

She should be fine with a younger bonded mate. It might take her a while to teach him good manners though! My nine year old girl was bonded to a 1 year old, and surprisingly the 1 year old passed away very suddenly, so you just never really know how long you have with them….

You’ll want to wait quite a while for her hormones to settle, it’s hard to find an exact amount of time, but I’ve read 6 weeks to several months.

I would suggest taking her on some dates at the shelter once her hormones are settled to see if anyone suits her fancy.

Since she is used to the other bunny in the house, I don’t think he would be a problem. Usually problems arise when you have a bonded pair and bring in a new bunny.

. . . The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.  

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