Questions from a novice

[Karla]

Hi everyone,

I’m new to the forum, so bear with me

I have had my rabbit for 3 months now (she is 8 months, got her from a shelter), and I have been hooked from the very beginning on getting her a friend. But reading all the info about bonding, I am starting to think that perhaps it isn’t such a good idea. All the fighting during the bonding process does indicate to me that perhaps rabbitts are meant to live together?

My boyfriend and I are away all day from 7am to 4 pm, so I do feel sorry for her. Especially because she isn’t particularly keen on playing with toys, so she just SITS. Her only two passions are: humping her stuffed animal and eating cardboard. Both seem to make her very happy though. Inspired by the many ideas to homemade toys I have tried to create a few entertainment boxes for her, which she seems to enjoy mostly because she can hump her stuffed animal inside the boxes as well.

She runs around freely in our apartment and is not put in her cage at any time.  So she does go for some great runs some times, but not many really. Sometimes we also let her out in our garden, which she enjoys.

We are having her neutered next month – because we do want to keep our options open regarding getting her a friend. But is it really always such a joy for a rabbit to get a friend?

And secondly, it may sound stupid, but my great concern regarding getting her neutered is – will we then take away her greatest passion in life (humping her stuffed animal)?? I mean, will she just sit and be utterly bored for the rest of her life  Anyone knows?

Sorry for asking such silly questions…

 

[Adalaide]

I’ve heard that personality can change quite a bit when a bun is spayed. She may just be doing that because she’s super hormonal. Keep in mind that most buns who aren’t spayed will get cancer, you could be doubling her life. I’m sure she’ll find a way to amuse herself. I hear that a bored bun gets destructive rather than laying around. Freya spends most of her day (when I can be home) curled up in a tiny space under my husband’s desk drawer. She sometimes stays there for hours at a time. Hey, if she’s happy laying around doing nothing, I’m happy. At least she isn’t causing trouble.

[Karla]

She just used to just lick the stuffed animal and cuddle up next to it, but suddenly she just jumped on him and hasn’t stopped for a month now. And when she isn’t humping him, she is running around making humming noises…so, yes she is super hormonal I haven’t really thought of it as a “burden” for her to be this ehmm…lusty all the time, but maybe it is! You just made me think.

Well, she will get spayed next month then. I know of the cancer factor, and that is of course important.

It comforts me when you say that if your rabbit is happy laying around doing nothing, then you are happy. I just wish I could find her a great toy – some days she runs behind us constantly like a little magnet, and I feel I should entertain her in some way, but I don’t know how- except getting her humping toy! Which won’t be fun next month then…

[jerseygirl]

Welcome Karla!

Rabbits are actually very social and normally live with companions (be it human, another pet or one of it’s kind.) The bonding forums probably won’t give you a true picture. It’s sort of a support forum for people bonding their bunnies. It’s not always an arduous task. Some bunnies will bond instantly. Alot of it has to do with the rabbit picking out it’s own friend – they have preferances. Once you have your bunny fixed and she’s well recovered, you can actually introduce her to different bunnies at shelters to see how they get on. Some shelters even provide a bonding service.

The aggressive behaviours you can see between 2 bunnies is usually territorial and dominance related. Natural things that they need to work out between them. Once this is done, the companionship you can see between them is wonderful.

As to your other question (lol) fixing her should calm her down. The humping is likely hormone driven frustration. She’ll find something else to do once she’s fixed. Don’t worry, you won’t be taking away her entertainment – you’ll actually be giving her a better chance of survival.

[Karla]

Thank you for the answer – the bonding forum here did really scare me off.

Well, so if I managed to convince a local shelter here about bunny dating (not a phenomenon known here), and my rabbit seems to get on really well with one of the rabbits, we should be able to take the new one home with us and have at least only minor bonding problems in the very early beginning?

If Karla selects her own friend and they get on well, will the new one require a cage of its own or can they share? As it is, Karla only uses her cage to go to the toilet and to eat. Sometimes she may sit inside it, but not very often, so she doesn’t really need it. Will it ruin her litter training if she shares cage and toilet with another rabbit?

I have booked an appointment for Karla next Thursday. Poor little thing has to spend the night at the vet, but at least I know she is taken well care of then. I am thinking of giving her the stuffed animal with her for company – is that a bad idea? I’m thinking it would be nice for her, but then again I worry, she might try to hump it after the surgery.

[jerseygirl]

Certainly them picking their own friend does help but it’s not foolproof – they may have scuffles but this is normal. I would not put them in the same cage straight away. They can only really be together for long periods of time after they are bonded. Plus Karla may get very territorial all of a sudden about the cage. What you could do is take out her cage and just leave her litterbox, food bowls etc in the same place. Then use the cage for the potential new bunny. Perhaps leave Karla cage as is though while she recovers from the spay as she may find it a comfort.
((((Vibes for Karla)))) for a speedy recovery!

[BinkyBunny]

I can see why the bonding forum would scare you off as it’s like Jerseygirl says – it’s about supporting during bonding and so you will see all the anxiousness that can go on! I’ve done five bondings – well this current is the sixth, and four of those bondings went well – all bonded within a month.

Once they are bonded they can share a cage, but you will have to keep them separated until they are bonded. And you may have to deal with “poop” wars. It may seem like she has lost her litterbox habits, but I can tell you that both Jack and Vivian are very good with the litterbox habits in general, but during bonding, you will find more territorial marking but that should subside once they are bonded.

So, though yes, bonding itself can be challenging, the end result of a bonded pair is wonderful.

One thing to note though – you said you felt guilty because you were gone from 7am – 4pm. This kind of schedule is actually perfect for rabbits as they are most active at dusk and dawn. Many are lounging throughout the day, and become more active in the evenings. (though most rabbits will change their schedules to their humans)

As far as toys go, check out the “Toy Test Section” under Bunny Info for some great innovative home-made toys that members have tried out. Also some boxes and tubes are great for bunnies that love to explore. Many times free roaming house bunnies enjoy those most because it is in their natural instinct to investigate anything new in their territory (even if they thump at it first) HHAHA!

[Author]

Messages