Single bunnies possible?

Do people keep single bunnies?

Since Leo passing on Monday I can't see us getting another bunny. I would NEVER want to replace him.

Jemima is now single, she doesn't appear phased, she never did give him much love in his last year

I do not want to rehome her, and I do not want to bring another bunny into our lives

Is this feeling normal?

I have a single bunny, but he has never had a partner. Most rabbits are happier with company, but depending on individual circumstances this isn't always necessary or possible.

I'm sorry you lost Leo.

Yes, it's normal. Perfectly normal. You're grieving for a much-loved bunny, and all sense of normality or rationality goes out the window. Don't worry.

Some bunnies cope well with the loss of a partner, others not so much. It depends on the strength of the bond, as well. When one of my original pair died we didn't get another partner, Dee was a single bunny and it is only now, at the age of 7, we're attempting re-bonding. She was visibly fine. I know we can never know what they truly feel, but she was not depressed or moping around. Some bunnies lose their spark upon the death of a partner, and others act as if nothing happened. Dee was the latter.

Over time, your mind may change. Just take each day as it comes, for now. If Jemima withdraws, becomes lethargic or depressed - you know when your own bunny is upset - then it may be time to reevaluate the situation, but for now, don't stress. See how she goes.

If you do decide to get another bunny (and I'm not saying you will, or it might be in a few years), don't see it as replacing Leo. Something that creates such an impact can never, ever be 'replaced'. Leo will always be Leo, not the next bunny that comes along. You're not erasing his memory, or his presence, just taking a step in a new direction.

susie bun said:

I have a single bunny, but he has never had a partner. Most rabbits are happier with company, but depending on individual circumstances this isn't always necessary or possible.

I'm sorry you lost Leo.

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Same here, Ludo is a single bun. Given his very delicate constitution I think it's turned out for the better that way.

So sorry for your loss, I think you should just do whatever you feel is best for you and Jemima, time will show you what's best.

I also have a single house-bun who's fine alone but he has lots of fuss and attention from me throughout the day and is rarely far from my ankles or knee.

Outside I have several groups who live in pairs or threesomes who play together free-range in the garden.

Personally, I wouldn't want to keep a single bun outdoors in the garden.

Re Jemima, she will probably let you know whether or not she needs a friend but with lots of fuss and TLC from you I'm sure she'll be fine.

I think keeping single House Rabbits can work very well for some Rabbits. It really depends on the individual Rabbit

I would not want to keep a single Rabbit as an outdoor Rabbit

I agree with the above really. I think you know when they are bothered by being on their own. When Perdy died, ig started to withdraw and hide a lot. He was sleeping more too and just seemed flat. He was alone during the day and we made the decision to get Betty because he was obviously lonely. Ig was a lone rabbit for the first year of his life though and it never seemed to bother him

Our old vet (who was good) had a single bunny and I have a friend with a very happy single bunny too.

Sorry for your loss and I think you know your rabbit the best and whatever decision you make for her will be the right one.

Jack's-Jane said:

I think keeping single House Rabbits can work very well for some Rabbits. It really depends on the individual Rabbit

I would not want to keep a single Rabbit as an outdoor Rabbit

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I agree with Jane. I have a single house rabbit, Molly. She lost her original partner 2 years ago and was not depressed by his loss and has not been unhappy on her own. She gets lots of company and love because we can be around her all the time. We very recently tried bonding her again but it didn't work and she seems to have made it pretty clear she was happier on her own. She is 7.

However, I could not keep a single bun outside.

I agree it depends on the bun and whether they appear to be suffering from the loss of a partner. When Bugsy lost his first partner, he really stuggled to bond with Chloe at first, but she was persistant. He was with Chloe for 5 years, and when she died suddenly last year he really pined. He started biting my feet which was really unusual for him, and then he stopped eating. As soon as I introduced him to Violet he was obviously much happier and stopped biting me instantly. Unfortunately with Violet being PTS yesterday unexpectedly, Bugsy is once again alone and I am worried he will stop eating like he did before, but as they had only been together 8 months he might not miss her as much.

I also agree that getting a new bun isn't replacing the one you lost as you will always remember them (I still have Pebbles' photo and box of ashes on display over a year later) but your heart just grows bigger to accept another bun that need a good & loving home.

I think you just need to give yourself time to grieve for your loss, and then rethink about what you feel is best for Jemima.

Oscar is an only bun, he didn't want to be paired up. However he is a house bunn and there is nearly always someone around for him to cuddle with if he wants to, actually sometimes he will go into a room just to be on his own, I think sometimes he just wants peace & quiet and there's not much of that in our house lol. It depends on the individual bunn they are all different. If he was outside though, I think he would have probably accepted a partner, who knows!

Jack's-Jane said:

I think keeping single House Rabbits can work very well for some Rabbits. It really depends on the individual Rabbit

I would not want to keep a single Rabbit as an outdoor Rabbit

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I agree with this too :wave:

Sorry for your loss. If your bunny isn't grieving and is quite happy then I don't see why you can't keep it as a single bunny. Doughnut is a single indoor bunny and when I spoke to my specialist about should I get another one, although I can't afford it or don't have the space to keep two separate, he said she thinks as me as her friend! She does follow me everywhere and he said he would worry that she may be dominated.

I do sometimes think when I'm at work is she lonely as she does love company. If I sit in the conservatory she comes to sit with me, if I'm in the lounge she sit nearby there too. She is very friendly but the worry of a bond breaking down when I'm at work and also the financial aspect, I know I will keep her on her own.

I always feel sorry for people with two bunnies when one dies and the other grieves, they get another one for them and sometimes they don't really want to.

II am so sorry for your loss Binky free Leo.

Jack's-Jane said:

I think keeping single House Rabbits can work very well for some Rabbits. It really depends on the individual Rabbit

I would not want to keep a single Rabbit as an outdoor Rabbit

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This really. I have three singletons, one is very very old and won't take on a partner since his wife died and the other two are widowed grumpy girls who seem to hate one another and everyone else except humans. They do seem very happy as they are. I have tried bonding them all numerous times and have only had success with one who seems to prefer her partners when they are terminally ill and too weak to pose a threat to her dominance. Otherwise she prefers humans. Its very strange for me as I have always had pairs or trios and am used to bunnies being with bunnies. And while it is what I prefer I have learned not all bunnies are like this. I have three happy pairs as well

Thank you all for your kind words and advice.

They were both house rabbits, but in the last year Leo was unable to go up and down the stairs so spent his time upstairs unless I carried him down. Jemima would go wherever she thought food would be and would spend hours away from him at a time. In the last year, he did not want to be near her, and she would only go to him to make sure he had no food.

Going back over a year ago they used to follow each other, lie next to one another, flop against each other and groom each other. It is as if they grew apart when Leo had his second bought of EC. The last 2 weeks for Leo we separated them completely but let them have supervised visitation, which wasn't beneficial so we stopped that. The only time they were then together was vet visits (when we took Leo to be PTS).

So she hasn't changed in the slightest. She has the whole house and goes where she wants to go.

I work from home so am home pretty much all day during the week.

I remember it taking a lot of effort to bond her with another rabbit, she just doesn't seem to like them (growls and lunges) and finally took to Leo (well, tolerated him)

I am taking her to the vets today to discuss her problems - possible arthritis, sore hocks, ear infection, unidentified lump removal. I feel I am doing a bad job, she is 5 years old (French lop), Leo was only 4 years old (Nethie)

I had single house bunny until about 3 weeks ago when we got binky. He was always happy as a lonesome rabbit, but now seems to love having a friend to run around with. Binky is a bad inuence on rocket though and they do get into a lot of trouble.

UsagiYojimbo said:

I am taking her to the vets today to discuss her problems - possible arthritis, sore hocks, ear infection, unidentified lump removal. I feel I am doing a bad job, she is 5 years old (French lop), Leo was only 4 years old (Nethie)

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Somebody said to me once, if you think you aren't good enough, you almost certainly are. If you care enough to be beating yourself up about it, chances are you are doing a good job. Don't be so hard on your self ((((hugs))))