Talk to me about House Rabbits...
Discussion
dibbers006 said:
I want a dog, but working long days and living in a Flat would be really unfair so I am swaying towards a House Rabbit.
Apparently from my learning (in the last week) rabbits actually really enjoy living inside as it is safe, secure, dry and draft free.
They also are most lively at dusk and dawn and are happy to sleep during the day.
Any tips, opinion or advice?
Or even where I actually obtain my pack of house rabbits from to roam my home!
What are you going to get out of it?Apparently from my learning (in the last week) rabbits actually really enjoy living inside as it is safe, secure, dry and draft free.
They also are most lively at dusk and dawn and are happy to sleep during the day.
Any tips, opinion or advice?
Or even where I actually obtain my pack of house rabbits from to roam my home!
Chapppers said:
Every rabbit i've ever seen has been a mindless creature, only interested in eating grass and that doesn't acknowledge your existence. I can't see what anyone other than an 8 year old girl (omg so cuuute!1!1!) would get from them.
ThisA cat would be a much better option.
I had rabbits when I was younger, but they all lived outside in hutches. However, one of them was on medication for quite a while and came inside very often. He was quite easy to litter train, and didn't chew anything while he was inside. When you sat down he'd come and lie by your feet (sometimes). The only problem is trying not to stand on them when you're walking around as they tend to get in the way!
Chapppers said:
Every rabbit i've ever seen has been a mindless creature, only interested in eating grass and that doesn't acknowledge your existence. I can't see what anyone other than an 8 year old girl (omg so cuuute!1!1!) would get from them.
This is so wrong! They have lovely little personalities, are very crafty and a lot of good fun.They usually sleep from about 11am to about 5pm and active until about midnight and from about 6am.
Cracking little things! They can chew, but give them lots of things to chew on (fruit wood branches, cardboard boxes etc) and they will likely leave things alone.
They need to be in pairs to keep themselves amused and stop them getting lonely and love human interaction.
Best place to start is to look on rabbitrehome.org to find a little critter.
I know someone who has a house rabbit which has its own bedroom. Cracking little thing.
It's trained to go in a litter tray, something to do with moving the crap there at first and then it learns that the tray is its toilet or something. It does make a mess with hay but that is cleaned up easily enough.
Also better than a cat which may well just p
s off for long periods of time.
It's trained to go in a litter tray, something to do with moving the crap there at first and then it learns that the tray is its toilet or something. It does make a mess with hay but that is cleaned up easily enough.
Also better than a cat which may well just p
s off for long periods of time. dibbers006 said:
TEKNOPUG said:
What are you going to get out of it?
Well in about a years time when I have fattened them up...I have always had pets and I am allergic to cats, cant devote to a dog, don't have a garden and can't afford the high start up of fish... which kind of leaves stick insects, mice or rabbits!
Quite a lot of people I know (proper grown up men, women, family people) have kept rabbits and they are great fun.
I have nothing of value to chew or gnaw and the only concern is wires which I should be able to overcome.
http://lh6.ggpht.com/Blueztulip/R_Ml-8FH24I/AAAAAA...
Myself and my wife were looking to get a pet to keep at home. As we wanted something of a reasonable size (i.e. not in a cage or tank) the options appeared to be:
- dog
- cat
- rabbit
We knew that we would be out to work in the day, so too cruel to get a dog. That left cat vs rabbit. It it was going to be a rabbit then we'd want an indoor one, so we could see it and play with it more.
However having looked into it a bit more, and having spoken to other people, it seemed that a rabbit wouldn't 'give back' as much as a cat would. The rabbit will be well behaved, but if you pick it up, it will just sit there and not do too much. I expect there will be owners who disagree, but this is what I was told - basically they are so docile they could almost be stuffed (sorry).
A cat on the other hand would be more rewarding, as it would CHOOSE to come and sit with you on the sofa etc and is a bit more active (when not sleeping!). Although my cat does still like chewing wires.
I also did my own 'sense check'. Who typically owns rabbits? Answer is kids (although there are exceptions of course). And why? Because they are docile probably. Who typically owns cats? Answer is people (grown ups) who work. And why? Because cats don't mind looking after themselves while I'm out.
Even if I've got the 'why' bit wrong, I still generally believe in the wisdom of crowds in this type of situation. No, I'm not a sheep, but if 'everyone else' gets a cat, there must be a reason why they are more suitable than a dog or a rabbit - even if I don't understand the reasons fully, there must be reasons. (Don't call me naiive, as there are exceptions, but the general principal is sound in this case.)
So, Cat vs Rabbit? I'd go for the cat, and did go for the cat. I do understand that you have an allergy, though, which would make this kind of difficult. But as I ummed and ahhed about it for so long, I reckon that house rabbits will be a suitable alternative to a cat (more suitable than a dog).
PS - check you're not allergic to rabbits, too, though!!
- dog
- cat
- rabbit
We knew that we would be out to work in the day, so too cruel to get a dog. That left cat vs rabbit. It it was going to be a rabbit then we'd want an indoor one, so we could see it and play with it more.
However having looked into it a bit more, and having spoken to other people, it seemed that a rabbit wouldn't 'give back' as much as a cat would. The rabbit will be well behaved, but if you pick it up, it will just sit there and not do too much. I expect there will be owners who disagree, but this is what I was told - basically they are so docile they could almost be stuffed (sorry).
A cat on the other hand would be more rewarding, as it would CHOOSE to come and sit with you on the sofa etc and is a bit more active (when not sleeping!). Although my cat does still like chewing wires.
I also did my own 'sense check'. Who typically owns rabbits? Answer is kids (although there are exceptions of course). And why? Because they are docile probably. Who typically owns cats? Answer is people (grown ups) who work. And why? Because cats don't mind looking after themselves while I'm out.
Even if I've got the 'why' bit wrong, I still generally believe in the wisdom of crowds in this type of situation. No, I'm not a sheep, but if 'everyone else' gets a cat, there must be a reason why they are more suitable than a dog or a rabbit - even if I don't understand the reasons fully, there must be reasons. (Don't call me naiive, as there are exceptions, but the general principal is sound in this case.)
So, Cat vs Rabbit? I'd go for the cat, and did go for the cat. I do understand that you have an allergy, though, which would make this kind of difficult. But as I ummed and ahhed about it for so long, I reckon that house rabbits will be a suitable alternative to a cat (more suitable than a dog).
PS - check you're not allergic to rabbits, too, though!!
Ahhh Moneypenny said:
They are Rabbits that live in the house, st every where and chew all the wires in the house.
HTH
Rubbish. Mine has never been to the toilet anywhere but his litter tray or hutch. The first day we got him he hopped into his new tray and did his business.t every where and chew all the wires in the house.HTH
He does chew some wires though, but with a bit of planning you can sort that out easily.
They are incredibly funny animals and after you've had one in the house for a few weeks you'll feel pretty sorry for the ones stuck in hutches!
ETA: ours comes when he is called now and knows when his dinner is (and reminds us if we are more than a few minutes late).
Ours likes being played with - not picked up and cuddled, but chased! He'll rund around headbutting your feet, then if you move towards him he'll jump in to the air and run away, stopping to see if you are chasing him then repeat.
Very funny little things, and definitely not the docile sad old things you see in hutches forgotten about in the garden!
Edited by Maxf on Tuesday 2nd February 12:02
Rabbits aren't very docile and will only sit and do nothing when picked up because they are scared. It makes them freeze. Some rabbits like being picked up but on the whole their OMG I'm about to be eaten reflex kicks in they freeze.
If they want petting - they'll come to you, nudge you (and bite if you don't respond) and have a tickle under the chin. If they are flopped out they will let you give them a good stroke and ear pull (listen for soft grinding of teeth or little gurgling noises - it shows their approval) Let them come to you rather than trying to force yourself on them. They'll let you know if they don't want a cuddle.
They are much better just to be left to do their thing - if they want to come and sit with you on the sofa, they will. If
they want to sleep on top of the tv, they will.
Ours know their own names and will come when you call them. They like order and dislike routine being interrupted (just this morning when we overslept, the rabbits expressed their displeasure of a late breakfast by throwing their sticks and food bowl around) If the male wakes up near supper time, he'll go and sleep next to his food bowl so he doesn't miss supper arriving. They know when 10pm comes, it's veggie time and will mill around harassing you in case you forget.
If they want petting - they'll come to you, nudge you (and bite if you don't respond) and have a tickle under the chin. If they are flopped out they will let you give them a good stroke and ear pull (listen for soft grinding of teeth or little gurgling noises - it shows their approval) Let them come to you rather than trying to force yourself on them. They'll let you know if they don't want a cuddle.
They are much better just to be left to do their thing - if they want to come and sit with you on the sofa, they will. If
they want to sleep on top of the tv, they will.
Ours know their own names and will come when you call them. They like order and dislike routine being interrupted (just this morning when we overslept, the rabbits expressed their displeasure of a late breakfast by throwing their sticks and food bowl around) If the male wakes up near supper time, he'll go and sleep next to his food bowl so he doesn't miss supper arriving. They know when 10pm comes, it's veggie time and will mill around harassing you in case you forget.
Edited by littlegreenfairy on Tuesday 2nd February 12:05
Maxf said:
Ahhh Moneypenny said:
They are Rabbits that live in the house, st every where and chew all the wires in the house.
HTH
Rubbish. Mine has never been to the toilet anywhere but his litter tray or hutch. The first day we got him he hopped into his new tray and did his business.t every where and chew all the wires in the house.HTH
He does chew some wires though, but with a bit of planning you can sort that out easily.
They are incredibly funny animals and after you've had one in the house for a few weeks you'll feel pretty sorry for the ones stuck in hutches!
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