Silly Mannerisms

[Lydia]

Hi! I’ve wrote about my rabbit Toasty before. And this is more of a simple question than what felt more like a problem (but really wasn’t) for me beforehand. Anyways, onto my question.

Toasty is a singular bunny, I don’t own any other rabbits. He stays in one room in our house and we make sure he’s never exposed to our dog, Niner, who would probably kill him if he was able to. But Niner is still able to observe Toasty through the pen bars when he is allowed into the room where Toasty lives. Toasty loves Niner’s company and thinks he is a friend, possibly even a fellow rabbit (Niner is a pretty small dog, not much bigger than Toasty). But one time, when I let Toasty free roam in the room (Closing the door so Niner couldn’t get in, of course) he found some pillows and began to groom them. I’d pet him, and then when I was done he’d groom the pillows. When he’s around other interesting objects he either ignores them or chews on them. He doesn’t chew on the pillows, though. The pillows are pretty thin and square-shaped. They’re for decorative purposes. But they also kind of belong to Toasty now, too, as he is grooming the pillows next to me as I type.

I don’t know if he thinks the pillows are also rabbits, or if they’re an extension of myself (hence the grooming the pillows after I pet him). Maybe he’s just very determined to mark them territorial-wise? I don’t know. It’s not really an urgent question; I just find it interesting. Thanks!

[DanaNM]

He might think they are bunny friends. 🙂 My bunnies will often groom the floor after I pet them as well. He might like to have a “stuffy”, a stuffed animal that resembles a bunny (or some other similar sized stuffy) that can be his friend. Since he doesn’t chew the pillows he would prob be fine with a stuffy.

. . . 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.  

[Lydia]

Aww, that’s adorable! He does have a polar bear stuffie but he doesn’t look quite like a rabbit. Maybe I’ll find him one 🙂

[Author]

Messages