ok, so I've already posted asking advice here but I seem to be in limbo and really am concerned that it's not good for Cookie.
Cookie has started to dig a lot more - especially around 2am. It wakes me up, I pick him up and put him on his cushion for a ten minute snuggle before heading to bed and he doesn't resume - so I know it's attention that he wants. He also seems to be trying to chew the floor (it's thin tile over concrete) - he has lots of chewing material that he is making good use of already but it is getting noisy and the downstairs neighbours are NOT impressed. The elderly lady who used to live there was lovely, said she could barely hear it and it didn't bother her, he only did it rarely then. These ones though, well, he is a known violent alcoholic with a criminal record and I am scared tbh.
It is a social housing estate and I have spoken to the housing manager who I know very well and he has been lovely about it, couldn't have hoped for better really. He thinks they make far more noise especially with the dog they shut outside to bark and he thinks a little bit more scratching is nothing to worry about but he is trying to move me to a downstairs flat if possible, so Cookie can then have a garden to dig in and digging the floor won't upset anyone but me! But it could take months if not years to get this.
I have been trying to find him a companion bunny and one rescue has said they would help bond, although they haven't responded to any of my recent messages but I know this will take weeks to find one suitable and bond and I am concerned about after the bonding. He has full run of the flat now and I'm not sure how much I can restrict the space down when they get back here to maintain the bond. I'm also concerned that I will then have two bunnies digging and making twice as much noise!
When he digs I pick him, give him a fuss, move him somewhere else and give him something to chew or take him to somewhere he can dig but he just runs straight back and carries on. I've tried blocking off his favourite digging spots but this just makes him angry and he digs around the obstacles. He has two large cardboard boxes to dig and chew, two tunnels, a large cushion, several dog matress type things and a wooden hay rack box he can jump on and chew but it's the digging of the hard floor he wants. I've considered getting some carpet cut offs for his preferred spots but I suspect he will just find new places without carpet.
Today he has been demanding my attention non-stop. I'm a self-employed bookkeeper and really need to sit down at the computer and get some work done but he's constantly wanted a cuddle and a fuss or he's been digging
I just worry that I cannot give him the attention that he needs, that things with the neighbours will escalate before I can move or find him a companion, that bonding the companion is going to be near impossible with the current situation ... I really couldn't bear to let him go but honestly, should I be thinking of it? He's five-ish and I don't want him to be miserable for the rest of his days at the same time I have a tricky situation trying to prevent war with the neighbours and I do need something of a life myself - I need to spend time with my boyfriend at his place, get out and meet clients, collect work, etc, etc.
I would feel terrible if I did find him a good home and then found out I was moving a few weeks later but the stress is making me ill, he isn't happy and I don't know what else to do.
Cookie has started to dig a lot more - especially around 2am. It wakes me up, I pick him up and put him on his cushion for a ten minute snuggle before heading to bed and he doesn't resume - so I know it's attention that he wants. He also seems to be trying to chew the floor (it's thin tile over concrete) - he has lots of chewing material that he is making good use of already but it is getting noisy and the downstairs neighbours are NOT impressed. The elderly lady who used to live there was lovely, said she could barely hear it and it didn't bother her, he only did it rarely then. These ones though, well, he is a known violent alcoholic with a criminal record and I am scared tbh.
It is a social housing estate and I have spoken to the housing manager who I know very well and he has been lovely about it, couldn't have hoped for better really. He thinks they make far more noise especially with the dog they shut outside to bark and he thinks a little bit more scratching is nothing to worry about but he is trying to move me to a downstairs flat if possible, so Cookie can then have a garden to dig in and digging the floor won't upset anyone but me! But it could take months if not years to get this.
I have been trying to find him a companion bunny and one rescue has said they would help bond, although they haven't responded to any of my recent messages but I know this will take weeks to find one suitable and bond and I am concerned about after the bonding. He has full run of the flat now and I'm not sure how much I can restrict the space down when they get back here to maintain the bond. I'm also concerned that I will then have two bunnies digging and making twice as much noise!
When he digs I pick him, give him a fuss, move him somewhere else and give him something to chew or take him to somewhere he can dig but he just runs straight back and carries on. I've tried blocking off his favourite digging spots but this just makes him angry and he digs around the obstacles. He has two large cardboard boxes to dig and chew, two tunnels, a large cushion, several dog matress type things and a wooden hay rack box he can jump on and chew but it's the digging of the hard floor he wants. I've considered getting some carpet cut offs for his preferred spots but I suspect he will just find new places without carpet.
Today he has been demanding my attention non-stop. I'm a self-employed bookkeeper and really need to sit down at the computer and get some work done but he's constantly wanted a cuddle and a fuss or he's been digging
I just worry that I cannot give him the attention that he needs, that things with the neighbours will escalate before I can move or find him a companion, that bonding the companion is going to be near impossible with the current situation ... I really couldn't bear to let him go but honestly, should I be thinking of it? He's five-ish and I don't want him to be miserable for the rest of his days at the same time I have a tricky situation trying to prevent war with the neighbours and I do need something of a life myself - I need to spend time with my boyfriend at his place, get out and meet clients, collect work, etc, etc.
I would feel terrible if I did find him a good home and then found out I was moving a few weeks later but the stress is making me ill, he isn't happy and I don't know what else to do.
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