Petsitting

[Moonlight_Wolf]

Hi I was going to petsit a bunny and I have a couple questions about it.

The peoples bunny is not neutered and I was wondering if it would cause him to spray if we were to put him in the room next to Fern’s room, even though Fern is spayed?

Also we are goig to petsit a rat and we were wondering if we could put the rats in the same room as the unneutered bunny (In seperate cages of corse.)

Could I feed the Bunny hay even though he has never eaten hay in his life? Will it upset his stomach? (I know that you think it is bad that this bunny has never eaten hay but he is 6 years old and healthy. He was actually saved from someone who bread bunnies for food, the guy thought this bunny was too cute to eat.)

Another thing I was thinking of letting this new rabbit out on the grass so he could have some fun (in a pen of corse) and I was wondering if it would be safe considering that our grass was fertilized a month ago. I would always be watching him of coarse.

Also what do you do to stop a rabbit from biting? I have never had a biting problem with my bunny so I am clueless on what to do with one that bites. I think he bites becuse he is scared or he wants to be let alone.

Thanks guys!

By the way do you spell coarse when saying ‘of coarse’ : “coarse” “corse”  or a different way.

[TARM]

first…it’s “of course”

There, that was the easy part.

In my experience…unneutered male bunnies spray just for the sake of spraying. They will pee for distance! Digger hit me from across the room!

I don’t think the rat being in the room will make any difference.

I would not put him in the grass, I’m paranoid about chemicals…I used to work for a landscape company and I’ve seen the guys who mix that stuff.

I would imagine that hay would be good for him, especially if he’s never had it. Do you think his family would continue giving it to him if you started?

[skunklionshow]

I ditto T&R’s mom.

I had 2 unneutered males at one point.  One never sprayed until I kept him for a week @ my house w/ my spayed girl.  He sprayed all over the corner of my livingroom.  So be prepared for the sprinkler!

I would start some hay and encourage his parents to give him hay regularly.  I remember that my rabbits growing up never got hay.  This was bad and a regret I have.  We had no idea how to take care of these rabbits.  So encourage some education & hay eating.  Does he get veggies?

I live in Philly and it’s been pretty cold out here.  I couldn’t imagine bringing any of my buns out in this weather.  Isn’t it chilly in NY?

[Beka27]

I agree to try and encourage his owners to give him hay! I would feel so bad offering it while he was with you, if I knew he was never going to get it again. Most buns who don’t have hay for a long time, once they get it, they LOVE it, so really try and get them to give him some everyday!

[BinkyBunny]

I ditto what people are saying. I just wanted to add that I wouldn’t take the bunny outside also to prevent fleas. Normally with your own bunnies you can treat, but if the bunny did get fleas and then when the owner came back, that could be a problem if s/he finds there are fleas on her/his bunny.

[Moonlight_Wolf]

Hi thanks for the quick answers. apparently the bunny (angel) was given hay a couple of times but the owners did not continue their hay giving.

Also I really want to educate the owners about proper bunny care but I don’t want to sound mean or like a know it all… The person I am sitting is a really nice person and I would not want to hurt her feelings or make her feel like a bad owner. How would I steer them in the right direction without being mean. I am amazed that their bunny has lived so long on no so great care.

[BinkyBunny]

I would just say…”I noticed hay wasn’t part of your bunny’s diet….is any particular reason it’s not?” They may say they didn’t think their bunny needed it. The other common answer is their bunny just doesn’t eat it. From there, once you know why, you can just give your thoughts about the importance of hay. How old is this bunny? Just let them know for long-term health it is essential, especially during a molt. If it’s that their bunny won’t eat it, then you can suggest different types of hay, as well as suggestions to cut back on pellets in order to encourage hay consumption.

[Moonlight_Wolf]

The bunny is six years old and still looking healthy!

The rabbit and rats just arrived and they are all SOO cute!! I cannot wait till the weekend to play with them, I have this extra pen and yea… you know what comes next!
*Sigh* I love animals too much for my own good.
Does anyone know if rats can be litter trained (thinking about the future)

[BinkyBunny]

Some rabbits just have stomachs of steel! Does she get a lot of greens?

Don’t know anything about rats, but I bet you can google it. I’d be interested to know to.

[flippersmom]

Yes, my son had a pet rat and he litter trained fairly easy!! When we first got him (he was about 6 months old and found dumped in a bird cage at a small pet store that did not sell animals!!), he seemed to always do his business in one corner of his cage, so we simple put a little litter box there and that was that!! Never went when he was out of his cage!! Rats are actually very intelligent and personable – my son, who was 9-10 at the time taught him to run through mazes and carried him around on his shoulder all the time!! If only they didn’t have those creepy tales, I may have allowed more!!!!!!

[Moonlight_Wolf]

Thanks guys, and I have Another question… Do rats get into things and chew things the way bunnies do?

And so is putting the bunny on the grass that was fertilized a month ago a no no?

[Beka27]

I wouldn’t take the bun outside. Like BB said, he could pick up fleas. Worst case scenario he could escape or get injured… I wouldn’t take the risk.

[flippersmom]

Our rat was not really destructive, except when it came to bowls!! He seemd to gnaw on every type we gave him except ceramic – and those he would tip over and make a mess!!! It was funny, he never seemed to be very active when in his cage, but leave for 15 min and he’d have all his bedding mounded up into a perfect nest!!!!! Guess he liked to work in private!! He also required a water bottle to drink from and a water bowl to wash his food in – apparently we didn’t do a good enough job!!! We would make toilet paper tube toys, similar to those we now make for the buns, that he enjoyed, but they lasted way longer than the buns’ do!!!!

[KatnipCrzy]

I would not let a rabbit on a yard that has been treated with fertliizer- even if it was a month ago.  Even if the product states it is safe for pets after a certain amount of time I am sure they are not assuming the animal is going to eat the grass/plants.  It is too much of  a risk- especially if it is not your bunny.  I am sure the owners would not pay for a vet bill if the bunny were to get sick.

 

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