Getting another rabbit

[anna01983]

Hey there,

Unfortunately I lost my last rabbit Kipper earlier this year and I am starting to look into getting another. I just wanted some advice on my options - Kipper lived alone as one of my previous rabbits passed away getting neutered, and he lived indoors where I had plenty of time to spend with him, however I am now at University and may not be able to take a rabbit so they might be cared for by my parents who couldn't give them the same level of attention during term time. This means I am reluctant to get a single bunny again.

Due to my previous bad experience getting rabbits neutered I really don't want to have it done again so I have considered either getting an already neutered pair from a rescue or trying to keep an unneutered same sex pair. If I adopted them from a shelter I would ideally want them to be as young as possible whilst still being neutered, however I'm concerned they may not be as tame if they are older/from a shelter as I had my previous rabbits from when they were 10 weeks old so they were all extremely tame pets and I'm hoping to be able to have that with any new rabbits. Most rabbits in my local shelters are also unbonded so I wondered how difficult it would be to bond 2 neutered older rabbits?

Also, if I kept two unneutered littermates together, would I have behavioural problems with them fighting etc? If possible this would be the best option to have 2 baby rabbits without having to get them neutered myself but I understand there is a risk that they don't get on.

My other option would be to get another single rabbit but I'm just concerned it may not be best for the rabbit when I am away at University. Please let me know your thoughts on this/any experiences you have that may help me make a decision.

Thanks so much for reading!

 

[Cinnabun14]

I'm sorry about Kipper. It's always hard to lose an animal friend.

If you get a same-sex pair, they will still fight. I have two sisters, not yet spayed, and they fight some. Not terrible, but some. I believe they don't fight too much because they've just started puberty, and they were in the same litter. Others might not work so well. Do NOT get two males unneutered. They will try to kill each other.

I would recommend adopting a pair of adult rabbits. It is more than likely that they will already be fixed, and it is possible to find a bonded pair as well. Older rabbits can be just as tame as younger ones--it's about handling and hormones, not exactly age. All new pets will take time getting used to an owner, especially prey animals like rabbits. There are tons of old threads about bonding rabbits here, you might want to take a look at them

Another thing to consider is maybe waiting until you're out of university before getting pets. I know it's hard, but if you can't take the animal, they might not bond very well to you. I see this with my family. We have two outside rabbits, and I see them every day, rain or shine. My younger sisters don't, so the rabbits are more wary of them. Not too much, but still. You might be better off considering another pet or just waiting.

Whatever you choose, good luck to you

 

[Shimmer]

My overall advice would be to wait until you have finished Uni and have somewhere more permanent to live that will accept pets - which really isn't an easy task to find. Otherwise, you are basically getting a pair of rabbits for your parents - which is fine if they actually want them, but that needs to be their decision rather than yours, as it will be a commitment for the next 10 years that they may not really want.

My girls really missed all the pets when they went to Uni / left home, but only the youngest of the three is now in a settled enough position in her own house to be able have any pets. I still send out regular photo updates of all the furries to them.

Having any pets in student accommodation is practically impossible. Most rentals for people who are in full time still work won't accept pets. It's not fair, but that's real life, I'm afraid. You also need to be prepared for the cost of keeping any pets, so annual vaccinations and other vet costs need to be fully considered by you as the owner, as well as the daily stuff. Setting up home is a tough enough experience without pets.

If you are in a position to rehome a pair of rabbits, getting a bonded pair from a rescue is the most reliable way. They should be neutered and properly bonded, which saves loads of hassle. You should get some additional information on their personalities as well. Decent rescues also do homechecks.

I would suggest that the best way to get a furry fix while you are at Uni is to volunteer at a local rescue, which also helps you with future job prospects (eg for references).

 

[Cinnabun14]

@Shimmer, yes! I agree with volunteer! I went without pets for five years, and I used to visit the shelter like it was a petting zoo. It was the only way I could stay sane, and although I missed having an animal with me 24/7, I always felt much better after getting to visit my favorite shelter dogs.

 

[Orenoko]

Tbh if you're looking for rabbits that you can bond with, it sounds like now is not a good time as you won't be around much to be with them and will be relying on others to do the work to make them tame. I agree with others that waiting until you've finished university might be a better idea. A single rabbit will be lonely, two unneutered rabbits are likely to fight at some point unless you get lucky, and you also leave yourself open to health issues getting unneutered rabbits. Lots of rescues do have bonded neutered pairs available, but again if you're not going to be home much they will take longer to build a relationship.

 

[Moonstone]

@Shimmer, yes! I agree with volunteer! I went without pets for five years, and I used to visit the shelter like it was a petting zoo. It was the only way I could stay sane, and although I missed having an animal with me 24/7, I always felt much better after getting to visit my favorite shelter dogs.

I love that. Using the shelter as if it's a petting zoo! When I couldn't have pets, I befriended wild creatures or random cats, sometimes they just seek you out. Last week I was trying out a bench in a garden centre and a cat randomly made use of my lap. I think the shelter idea is a great one.