People with single rabbits: what's the best thing about it?

:wave: I have kept rabbits since 2008 and have always kept a pair. Sadly, my original male Norris passed away during the night last night. He was between 9-10 and hadn't had the best start in life.

His partner is 9 and a cancer survivor and I am not planning to get another rabbit for the time being so she will be a single house rabbit.

In some ways, I am quite looking forward to this new phase of rabbit ownership. I'm thinking, movie nights, spa parties, nail art etc :lol:

For those of you who have single rabbits, what is the best part of keeping rabbits this way? I have already given Nutmeg some nose rubs: something Norris would never have allowed on a regular basis.

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I'm so sorry you lost Norris If you're not ready for another rabbit then lots of extra attention, toys, and maybe a soft toy to cuddle with will help Nutmeg xx

I'm so sorry for your loss.

I've had two singles, one after the other, and I plan to get a friend for my third/current bun in a while. So I don't know about a pair, but I do love all that attention focused on you. You are their entire universe- so you better be interesting! You are the outlet for all their love and attention, so it's pretty amazing, though it can be a bit demanding and clingy. They almost always want something to do with you. Be sure to give her a lot of love and attention right now, make her as happy as you can.

Im sorry for your loss poor bun i only have Shooter, one is enough for me. shooter gets loads of attention pretty much the whole day and half of the night. he and my cat get along but its really funny because if im petting Fifi and shooter is by he will grunt and lunge at her till she leaves to get pats from me.. its kinda weird because every other time they get along its just when im petting fifi. spoilt bun:roll:

sorry about ur bun again

So sorry for your loss I agree that you have their undivided attention & affection as a single


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Sorry to hear about Norris I would get a little brush and groom her with little massages. Binx loves grooming, especially if I brush his fur the opposite way and really get all the tugs out. Now he has Belle so im pretty redundant just now :lol: I do sneak him the odd massage.... im sure Belle hid his brush :roll::lol:

Sorry for your loss. Doughnut is a single rabbit. I didn't know a lot about rabbits when I got her and since I've learnt a lot along the way, I couldn't afford another rabbit and also would worry if they didn't bond and not enough space for another single one and if they fought while I'm at work.

She seems really happy and will nudge my leg if she wants attention. She is very spoilt and I sit down with her a lot and kiss and stroke her. I can't say if she would like company but when I spoke to my specialist he said she looks at me as her friend and may be dominated by another one so I'm happy to keep her on her own. She free ranges all day and has toys but seems to entertain herself.

She has a soft toy rabbit who she grooms some times.

Very sorry about the passing of your bun - very sad.

We have 2 pairs - one pair ignores us completely - and the other pair only pay us attention if they want food - but love watching them though.

We also have 2 single females (hoping to bond when we gather up the courage) - and we have a great interaction with them - most of our time is spent crawling around the lounge floor with them and many an hour spent grooming and stroking them. It is lovely - for us humans and hopefully for the buns too but it will be better for them to bonded with each other. It is sad we will probably loose our bonds with them - but we will get the joy of seeing 2 happy buns together.

But I totally get why you are keeping yours single - and as long as you pay plenty of attention - you will surely get it back.

:wave:

Thanks for all of your advice, everyone. Twice in the past when Norris lost his partner I have adopted another rabbit from a rescue, but right now I have a lot else going on my life and don't want to commit to another rabbit.

I like the idea of grooming Nutmeg. I think she will need my company much more now Norris has gone. I do have a brush, so that is something to look forward to. I wish we could both have Norris back, though!

Hi Pollie :wave: It's nice to see you again.

I'm so sorry to hear that you've lost Norris.

I have a single houserabbit, Wallace. He is single due to severe health issues. To cut a very long story short, he was my foster bunny for 7 months, then he fell ill with pasteurellosis which affected his lungs. We got him through the initial illness, but it has left him with very damaged lungs. He has had to stay with us permanently as he cannot tolerate any stress (it causes mouth breathing). He can't cope with journeys, he can't cope with any change of environment and the stress of bonding with another rabbit would probably be the end of him.

I try and give him as much attention as I can. Wally loves being stroked...he's a Rex so his fur is lovely and very strokable. I lie down so I am on his level and groom around his head with my fingers to try and immitate how another bunny would do it. He closes his eyes and tooth purrs, so I think I must be doing a fairly good job. He gives me a very disapproving look when I stop. :lol: I also whisper to him, which he really likes. I make his environment as interesting as I can, with hidey holes and toys, but I have to be careful as he treats anything new with suspicion and can easily get upset. He lives in our dining room, but when we are in the living room I will leave the door open so that he can wander in and sit with us if he wants to. After 5 months he has only recently plucked up courage to come through the doorway into the living room, but then retreats back into his familiar environment. Being out of his comfort zone causes stress, which then causes mouth breathing, so progress with him is slow but we are getting there. I try and spoil him as much as I can. Because of his illness, I have no idea how long lived he will be, it could be months, it could be years, so I try and make every day count for him.

There are a number of very spoilt single bunnies on here, Susiebun's Spenser immediately springs to mind.

I have to confess that I absolutely love having just one indoor bunny. I mean, I've never had two indoor bunnies, but that would probably be great too.

I just think, you can focus all your attention on them, and because you're always around, they get used to you quicker. Both of the bunnies that I had as indoor single bunnies for a while, grew to be very attention loving and loved having a stroke.

After I'd had my operation, I got Daisy, and she kept me company while I was off work for two weeks. She very quickly learned to jump up on the sofa and lie across me while I was resting. In fact, I had to practically stand up to get her to move off me, she was not for moving! And this is a giant conti we are talking about, not easy to move! She even let me put the duvet around her. She was in it for the strokes. :lol: I only had her for a month sadly, but before living with me, she came from a breeder and I understand that she didn't really get much attention despite wanting it. Within about two weeks, she was begging for strokes and licking us and resting her head on our legs. She really grew very quickly. I think Rupert would be similar if he was an indoor bun

I love having Lola as a single bun too - its like you are the bonded pair :lol:

Most of my free time is spent sat on the kitchen floor with Lola tucked in my dressing gown, exchanging 'grooms'

I am the centre of her world. She flopped in my arms the other night and I truly believe she loves me as much as I love her. As soon as I open the baby gate and call her she comes running, if you don't pick her up so she can lick your face, she nips your leg to show disapproval :roll::lol:

When I'm stood making food, she DBF's on my feet.

Can you tell I love her much? :lol:

awwww so sorry about the loss of your bunny.

I have two indoor single buns - and I can only say its like having two children around the house.

In our case they are very much integrated with our lives and are very adored and probably very spoilt lol. For Health reasons of our boy bun they cannot be together completely but do have time outdoors to meet and greet each other, things I love about both of them.........

Girlie Bun; 3.5 years old - Loves fuss, cuddles next to me, loves walking all over my back if I lie down, leg nudges all the time in the morning when I'm doing her tray, giving bunny eye and nose kisses, brushing her, watching Corrie with her, trying to read a book and her getting annoyed that she is not getting sufficient attention, drying my hair in the morning with her at my side, playing and wrapping her in the duvet and playing in her play tunnels with her........... knowing she is a real pal I can sit and chat with at the end of a rubbish day and she will make it all feel better

Boy Bun; 8 years old - His greeting me in the morning and him doing a binky the minute I say his name, how he knows the very moment the fridge door opens and exactly what time tea time is, he absolutely knows his routine and the exact time he is due to go outside for playtime. How much he loves to be brushed and nose nudges me when I stop. He is praps a typical lad and doesn't show his affection all the time but at the Vets he will get very clingy and I definitely know how much he loves me and I'm his mum.

It can be exhausting meeting their individual needs but I am sure I have two very happy bunnies, I have yet to practice my binky technique so I can greet them bunny style in the mornings lol.

chloeturner said:

I love having Lola as a single bun too - its like you are the bonded pair :lol:

Most of my free time is spent sat on the kitchen floor with Lola tucked in my dressing gown, exchanging 'grooms'

I am the centre of her world. She flopped in my arms the other night and I truly believe she loves me as much as I love her. As soon as I open the baby gate and call her she comes running, if you don't pick her up so she can lick your face, she nips your leg to show disapproval :roll::lol:

When I'm stood making food, she DBF's on my feet.

Can you tell I love her much? :lol:

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Lol - I know how you feel - these bunny bonds are so special