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BUNNY 911 – If your rabbit hasn’t eaten or pooped in 12-24 hours, call a vet immediately!  Don’t have a vet? Check out VET RESOURCES 

The subject of intentional breeding or meat rabbits is prohibited. The answers provided on this board are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet.  It is your responsibility to assess the information being given and seek professional advice/second opinion from your veterinarian and/or qualified behaviorist.

BINKYBUNNY FORUMS

Forum RESCUE EFFORTS FOR SHELTERS I am running out of options. What do I do now?

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    • tikimel
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        I have been lurking here since December, when I rescued a 2-yr old Californian bun, ”Hippy”.  I am a long-time cat foster parent, this is my first bunny.  Hippy (now lovingly nicknamed ‘BunBun’), was living as the pet of a young, horrible little boy who allowed his dog to chase Bunbun around the yard.  The mom of the boy banished Bunbun to a cage in the backyard, until a common friend called me to ask if I would save him.  After a vet checkup and clean bill of health, I took him in. 

        After a brief battle with litter training, I got him neutered.  He still has the occasional pee accidents, but no longer drops territorial poos everywhere.  He became a great addition to my family — my cat, my roommate’s cat and Bun all played together.  He never took to being held, but will snuggle up to you on the floor and demand lots of nose and cheek rubs.  He LOVES to be brushed.

        Last month, I had to move to a new apartment, leaving behind my roommate’s cat.  My own cat has not adjusted well to the move, and has begun attacking Bunbun every time he is outside the cage to play — I don’t mean just PLAY attacking, but pinning him down and trying to chomp his neck.  As a result, I have to keep Bun in his pen most of the week and I feel horribly guilty about it.  I think I have to rehome him.  I know he is a good boy, who can be a good pet, but I don’t think I can provide the life he deserves. 

        You guys have been a lifesaver with litter training tips, post-neuter help and everything, and I don’t know where else to turn.  He has been through so much, and he has SO MUCH personality and love…  I don’t want to turn him in to the animal shelter, and I don’t want to put an ad on craigslist, because I don’t want him to become snake food or something.  I don’t know what to do… 

        Can you tell me where I can go to look for a foster home, or a potential forever-home for him? 

         


      • Monkeybun
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        10479 posts Send Private Message

          Are there any rabbit rescues in your area? I found mine online, totally by accident. You could try googlign for one. That would be my best suggestion if you were to rehome him.

          Another suggestion I have could potentially allow you to keep him. Give your kitty more time to adjust. Maybe keep kitty in another room with the door closed while BunBun is out playing. Its only been a month, your kitty is probably missing your old roommates cat, and doesn’t know how to deal. Maybe he needs more time. If it doesn’t get better then you could try the rehoming of BunBun.


        • jerseygirl
          Moderator
          22338 posts Send Private Message

            Moving can be stressful on everyone – Humans included! I agree, give it more time. The home you are giving BunBun is SO much better than what he previously knew so don’t be too hard on yourself.
            Here’s House Rabbit Society article on Cats&Rabbits. I hope it helps some. http://www.rabbit.org/journal/2-11/cats-and-rabbits.html   Also, perhaps get in touch with a shelter for advice on getting them to get along again. Rabbit rescue or even your Cat contacts who have some experience with this.


          • FluffyBunny
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              Is there any way you could keep the 2 pets in different rooms, or work it out so they’re never out together (like, move the cat to the bedroom or bathroom while the bun’s out)?


            • Sarita
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                I would give your cat a little more time to settle in and keep Bunbun in his cage for a little while – I know you feel guilty but he’s in a good home with you and you don’t know where he will end up.


              • tikimel
                Participant
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                  Thank you everyone for your suggestions. I have tried separating cat and rabbit during rabbit’s playtime. The only problem is, Bun only gets a few hours to play per week this way. He was out for 2-4 hours per day at my old place. He misses the freedom and thumps often when I feed him, but don’t open the cage door.

                  Another problem is that my cat is having serious ‘separation anxiety’ issues. He has never been the only cat/pet, even when he lived at the SPCA before I adopted him, he was in a cat colony with 4 other kitties. He is having a really difficult time adjusting to being the only one. My new roommate suggested I adopt a second cat, so my cat will no longer be alone, but I have a 2 pet limit at my apartment. I would think that having a rabbit in a cage isn’t really like having a cat or dog that is out all the time. Unfortunately, my landlord makes monthly visits for pest control (bugs and such), so I can’t exactly “hide” one of them.

                  Is a few hours per week enough exercise for a mid-size bunny ??? Will he ever stop thumping and accept that this is the way it’s gotta be??

                  ugh!!!


                • jerseygirl
                  Moderator
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                    So it’s not ideal for him but it may be only temporary. Is he in a cage, pen? Maybe giving him a bit more space where he spends most of his time might help some. He’s probably thumping because he misses the cat(s)! They need to kiss and make up I’m not trying to make light of you’re situation. Just want you to hang in there. I can see you have both pets interest at heart here.


                  • MirBear
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                      you could try talking to your landlord. two cats and 1 bunny isnt much different than 2 larger animals really.


                    • tikimel
                      Participant
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                        I think my battle is with the roommate, more than the landlord. Unfortunately, I am not on the lease, so I can’t deal with the landlord directly. I can only go on what my roommate says, which is that we have a two-pet limit. sigh.

                        Bun isn’t eating today. He pigged out on a ton of mixed greens and hay yesterday, and now is just disinterested in anything I put in front of him. Could he be stressed from the cat? He usually perks up when I come home from work and call his name. Tonight, he just laid there with his eyes half-closed.

                        I am sorry, but I feel so helpless and confused for him.


                      • Monkeybun
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                          Is he pooping at all? If not, there could be a stasis issue. Watch him closely, you may have to take him in if he doesn’t poop in a 24 hour period.


                        • tikimel
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                            he pooped two pellets tonight when I let him out to play. his tummy is growling so I’m guessing he is hungry?? he hopped about for a while, then kept insisting on nose rubs by headbutting my hand. I picked him up to put him in his cage and he actually let me hold him without a fight. he laid his chin in the bend of my elbow and closed his eyes a little. could he be sick? or just stressed/insecure?


                          • Monkeybun
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                              growling, or gurgling? tummy gurgles are likely gas bubbles.. get his some simethicone. Bunny tummys dont really growl like ours do when we’re hungry.. mostly because buns eat all the time when they’re healthy.


                            • Karla
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                                First of all, I read not so long ago that bunnies that are kept in cages often have problems with pooping et.c because they don’t get regular exercise. Just like us. Bus drivers and the likes often have stomach problems. So see if you can give him more time outside the cage.

                                Regarding the limit on two pets…I actually found out that in my country rabbits are not considered pets when it comes to housing laws. They are considered “cage animals” like guinea pigs, hamsters, birds, snakes and so on, so they actually don’t count when there is a pet limit, because they are not considered free roaming pets like cats and dogs. It might be like that in your country as well? You might as well read up on it and see.

                                 


                              • tikimel
                                Participant
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                                  It was a very loud ‘growling’ sound – similar to how mine sounds if I eat a late lunch. I could hear it from about a foot away from him. I gave him a tummy massage – which he REALLY resisted at first, but then he kept hopping back to me for more.

                                  I was terrified that I would wake up this morning and find him dead in the cage, but, around 5am, I heard him crunching on something, so I got up and he was eating a little timothy hay – but it doesn’t look like he’s eaten hardly anything. Usually a fistful of it is gone within an hour or two after I give it to him, and this little pile has been there since yesterday afternoon. He ate the tops off of some carrot greens, but not the stick part. I tried giving him pellets, but he only ate a bite or two.

                                  I am guessing this is an improvement, since he had ZERO appetite yesterday?? He doesn’t seem to be shedding much more than usual, and I haven’t changed his diet. I did notice a couple of days ago that he had a VORACIOUS appetite, and ate a LOT of mixed greens (baby arugula, spinach, etc – all organic). He eats those greens all the time (just maybe not so many of them). I usually give him a small amount, and make him eat hay for the rest of his meal. But that night, he kept climbing up my leg for more greens, and when I directed his attention back to his hay pile, he would run back for more greens — so I gave in, and let him have them (he was being SO cute and I couldn’t resist) ugh!! is this my fault???? Have I made him sick?!?!? I have left a message for the rabbit vet to see what I should do next. Thanks, everyone for your help so far.

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                              Forum RESCUE EFFORTS FOR SHELTERS I am running out of options. What do I do now?