I mentioned at the end of the last post that we have a new pet! We welcomed a rescue bunny into the yurt. We had noticed a bunny in the yard and soon learned that someone had dumped several domestic rabbits in the neighborhood.
One little brown bunny seemed to have moved in under the hubby’s motorcycle palace, ie: his work shed. With all of the predators in the area we couldn’t in all good conscience leave that little bunny out there so we are now happily owned by a rescue rabbit.
ALL PURCHASE LINKS BELOW ARE AFFILIATE LINKS WHICH MEANS IF YOU BUY ANYTHING THROUGH THEM I WILL RECEIVE A SMALL COMMISSION (AT NO ADDITIONAL CHARGE TO YOU)
5 Tips for Welcoming a Rescue Rabbit into Your Home
Let’s just say we were not expecting to have a pet rabbit. We knew nothing about rabbits and had never considered having one as a pet. But sometimes life has other plans in mind for you.
So now we finds ourselves with a rescue bunny. Fortunately it took the hubby a little while to trap our new family member so we had some time to prepare for his entry into our home. If you are considering a rabbit as a pet I am happy to share what we have learned so far.
- Have a dedicated rabbit cage or small area where you can keep the new bunny contained, yet with a little room to move around. The bunny will need to adjust to its new environment. Having a hut or small house for the bunny is very welcome.
- Bunnies need to eat all the time to keep their digestive systems working properly so be sure you have appropriate food on hand before you bring your bunny in. Timothy hay is best (according to the vet we saw) but adding greens is good too – like kale, collards and lettuces.
- You can give some apple but not too much and you want to avoid anything with too much calcium.
- Bunnies and cats can get along just fine. After the bunny has adjusted to its new home you can start to introduce them to each other. As things stand here right now, the bunny is in charge. The cats are giving him a wide berth. There have been no fights other than a small bunny nip to Sherpa’s tail.
- We were told bunnies are relatively easy to litter train but that appears to be mostly for urine. I am really pretty fine with this as their poops are easy to sweep up. They are pellets like goats. You just need a small litter pan and bunny litter. If you get an eco friendly litter you can use bunny waste in the garden as fertilizer
- Bunnies can be tricky when it comes to trying to pick them up. They are prey animals and feel that anything picking them up is trying to eat them. Some bunnies will get over this with humans they trust but it takes time and patience to reach that point. We are not their yet with our new bunny. Hopefully one day. He does let us pet him – he loves to be pet.
- BONUS – find a vet that is knowledgeable about rabbits. We had to call 4 different offices to find a vet who knew bunnies and was taking new patients. They are very different from cats and dogs and it will be vital in your path as bunny owners.
Bunnies are A Lot of Fun
We are really enjoying having this bunny in our life but we fully realize we have made a huge commitment. Rabbits have a lifespan pretty similar to cats. We have made an appointment for him to get fixed in mid-January. We will make sure he has the right foods to eat and all that goes with being a good pet parent.
This little rescue bunny has also brought a lot of joy into our lives. He makes us laugh and we are now learning many things. After having cats for the entirety of our 36 year marriage we pretty much had them figured out.
Now we are starting from scratch with our new bunny. But that’s OK – we are enjoying the education. I also think our little bunny is enjoying being with us. He certainly seems relaxed. Oh and his name, it’s Cappuccino.
He’s Just a Little Bit Spoiled
Why yes, that is my husband hand feeding the bunny his apple treat. In all truth, this is my husband’s bunny. He saw it, he trapped it and he is doing most of the care. Don’t get me wrong I think the bunny is adorable but just as the cats are mine – this bunny is his. Any of you with pets know how this works. And that is ok.
I have to admit that I do smile when I see my husband sitting there brushing the bunny with the little bunny brush. Yes, bunnies like to be brushed. And their nails need to be clipped. I can’t wait for the first time we have to attempt that!
Do You Want a Rescue Rabbit?
So, do you think you might want a rescue bunny? If you do I would suggest doing a little research first to make sure you have everything you need and that your house is ready. Bunnies like to chew and you have to be prepared to give them some freedom while you can monitor them and be able to safely contain them when you are not there.
Apparently they see wires as “tasty vines” and that can lead to all manner of issues.
It’s a good idea to do some reading to know what you are getting into. There are any number of rabbit care books from which you can choose. All of that chewing is necessary to keep their teeth ground down.
But they don’t discriminate between your couch leg and and their bunny chew toys. It’s important to make sure they have enough to chew and that you are watching what they are doing.
So be sure to stay tuned. I suspect there will be bunny tails, erm tales to come!
There are a raft of Facebook Groups for Rescue Rabbits
