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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 THE LOUNGE I need advice…

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    • MissKris&Koji
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        I have a dilemma.

        Do any of you work crazy work weeks on the regular. I mean, 60 hours a week on average, 80-90 on a bad one? If so, how does your bunny get cared for?

        Do you all think it’s possible for a rabbit to be happy if his physical needs are taken care of, but he doesn’t really get much interaction with his human? What about if that rabbit has a bonded friend?

        I was…. rather surprised today, and my relationship ended. We were supposed to move in together very shortly, so I now have to find a roommate who wants a rabbit around (1 bedrooms are like 1600 around here, I can’t afford but half of that on my own). Which shouldn’t be the end of the world. But I realized that I was relying on having someone home who works half as much as me to spend time with Koji. He’s so…. lovey. I’m concerned if he will be happy with 7 am food and 10 pm food and cage cleaning and a brief pet, and maybe 2 hours per day on the weekend, depending on if I have to work weekends too/errands and chores. Hell, I’m concerned if I will even be able to feed him twice a day at reasonably the same time many weeks, it is far from unheard of to not leave the office until midnigh sometimest. I very very much want to keep him, and that was the plan in case this should happen. But – I don’t want him unhappy, either. He has been okay lately on days when I’m busy studying and can’t spend time with him much, but a day or two here and there is different from every day, or at least I feel like it would be.

        So I’m left pondering: offer him to bf, who has more time? Give him back to shelter? Keep him and try to make it work? I’m not sure how easy or hard it will be to find roommates willing to live with a rabbit, and bf may have the same problem. I could stay living with my parents, and I’m sure my mom would help me out with him, but the commute to work would be brutal, especially with the already grueling hours. Should I start bonding now, so that come tax season he will have another rabbit to keep him loved and occupied? I guess if I try that route, I should find a roommate accepting a rabbit first, otherwise I’ll have 2 rabbits to try to rehome rather than 1.

        FML. My whole life plan got destroyed today. I don’t want Koji’s life to get destroyed with it.


      • Sarita
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          Miss K&K – I hope you are okay and I am sending you strength vibes about the ending of your relationship.

          I think you should keep him – I know you are concerned about his care, but you will adjust and he will too. While it’s not ideal, he’s still loved and cared for and that means a heck of alot. Please keep him and make it work, I can tell you love him. I say, hold off on bonding – you don’t have the time to worry about this now.

          There is alot to say for trying your best and loving and caring for him. He will get alot less care at a shelter. I know your life is hectic now, but I’m sure it won’t always be this way.

          Hugs to you.


        • MissKris&Koji
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            Definitely not okay, I don’t think things ending when there is a mutual agreement of “forever” is ever easy, but life has a way of working out somehow.

            Okay. The plan is 2 years of this job, and then finding something a little less crazy. Do you think he can handle amusing himself for that long? He is still young, so it’s not like I’m condemning him for the rest of his life…. I just hate to think of him being unhappy. Mom said I can stay here for as long as I need to, and she will try to help me with him. The commute is just going to be brutal – I guess I will start posting online to see if I can find someone to live with a little closer who likes animals. Heck, maybe even someone who has pets already – I caught Koji grooming one of the cats ears the other day – twice! And we know he likes small dogs. I hope maybe someone who already has pets might be more open to me having one running about, too.

            I think I’m going to see about getting transferred to somewhere with a lower cost of living next summer, Austin maybe, or back to Kentucky. That way I could get a one bedroom and he could have all the space he needs, and I wouldn’t have to worry about roommates – either objecting to him, or having to deal with their crap (god I hate living with roommates – not looking forward to this again). I don’t think I can get transferred before my start date next month, so the next year would just have to be what it is.


          • Sarita
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              Miss K&K, he will be fine. Being with you is a blessing for him no matter what the circumstances. It sounds like you will have some options eventually too and your Mom’s support.

              You take care of yourself first and foremost though. Is that Austin, Texas that you mention or another Austin.

              You sound like a strong person and I know you will be fine once the shock and hurt diminishes.


            • MissKris&Koji
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                Austin, TX…. 750 for a 1 bedroom is way better than 1600! And I’m tired of these winters. Lord, I hate the cold.


              • Sarita
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                  I live in Dallas and I can tell you that Austin is supposed to be a very great place to live for young people (and old people) and if you can move there I think you would be happy. It’s our state capital and overall, from what I’ve heard, it’s such a wonderful place to live. I think you would like it there. It’s a very progressive city.

                  Where are you now?


                • MissKris&Koji
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                    Just outside NYC in NJ. My brother lived in Austin for like 6 years, I visited him there a couple times (he’s a UT grad, went there and never left). I really liked it when I visited, I don’t think I could do anywhere else in Texas, though Dallas was alright when I visited last year. But Austin seems to be slightly less muggy in the summers, and a lot of young professionals, and progressive probably suits me pretty well although I don’t really get down with the hippies element…. and still some nearish country if I ever want to go ride horses or something. My aunt also lives in Austin, and I have other family in Texas (Houston & Katy) – weird, we are all Canadian originally. Which is another option, I am a Canadian citizen, but re: cold. Also, my CPA won’t do me much good in Canada right now. And I have worked so hard and spent so much to get the stupid thing.

                    I have previously lived in Louisville, KY and Baton Rouge, LA, and liked both better than here. But here is a good place to start a career – highest salaries in the country, and statistically starting high only helps later in life. But, despite the higher salaries, it’s just darn hard to afford to live here. Cost of living is proportionately so much higher. No state income tax sounds nice!

                    Yuck, I think finishing school and starting work is a hard/stressful enough time, this is just… making matters worse. I’m an obsessive planner and finding myself without a plan right now is really upsetting. I like to have something to be working towards and know where I’m going.


                  • bunnytowne
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                      What comes to mind is how many people get buns for their children or themselves and they end up stuck n ignored in a hutch in the back yard or even in the home.   Living a life without any love.

                      While you are concerned with your bunny getting enuf time from you.   Seems ironic. 

                      Keep him when things are less hectic for you,  you will be glad you kept him.  Least thats my opinion.   It is not like you are not caring for and about him.    If  you didn’t care you wouldn’t be considering parting with him.   That doesn’t mean you should part with him.  Things will work out.   Just hang in there with him. 


                    • jerseygirl
                      Moderator
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                        Hey MissKris, I’m sorry to hear of this sudden upheaval. Hugs to you.
                        Just to quote you…

                        Also, my CPA won’t do me much good in Canada right now. And I have worked so hard and spent so much to get the stupid thing.

                        All the more reason to focus on quality of life now. Even if ithey’re are student debts that need to be cleared, is working for high salary in high cost of living area really worth it, going to clear any debt faster?

                        Temporarily, could you base yourself at your parents and just stay in the city during the weekdays? If you’re working long hours, you’re not going to see alot of where your living anyway. Then on weekends you could spend the down time in nicer surrounds with family and furbabies.  Would your parents be open to being the main care givers to pets during the week?

                         

                        I don’t think I can get transferred before my start date next month, so the next year would just have to be what it is.

                        Worth asking?

                        I hope you can get some clarity on all this soon and with that, a sense of stability again. Rest and take care of yourself. No need to solve all problems today.


                      • Beka27
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                          Hugs to you. Sorry to hear about this upset in your life. :o(

                          I agree with everything that’s been said… the truth is your life will change so much in the next decade, and that’s how long he’ll be with you, if not longer! You never know what is going to happen, but if people “got rid of” pets every time their life took a turn, for better OR worse, no one would ever have a pet longer than a year. You can do it. Rabbits are not as demanding as dogs in terms of required interaction. You will learn to fit him in when you can and he will get what he needs from you. And if anything, I think he’ll be a great comfort and source of joy for you.


                        • Elrohwen
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                            I’m sorry to hear about your relationship and your crazy job! I’m sure Koji is fine without you – like Sarita said, he gets much more interaction with you than he would at a shelter. Jobs aren’t forever, and in a few years things might be totally different and you may be able to devote all of your time to him. One of the reasons I love rabbits as pets is that they are pretty flexible – unlike dogs who need lots of walking, my bunnies are always at home waiting for me, no matter when I get home. He’ll be ok and he’ll be ready and waiting to hang out with you when you do get to come home and spend time with him. Getting a second might be a good option in the future, but bonding is very time consuming, so definitely don’t do it now – you won’t have the time to actually bond them and it will just be more stressful to have two unbonded. But when things settle down it could be a great option.

                            I hope you can move to Austin soon! I’m also outside the NYC area (though in CT) and I know firsthand how expensive it is. It’s really limiting! My sister-in-law moved to Austin last year and I went to visit her – such a great, fun city (though a little hot for me). I think you’ll really enjoy it there!


                          • MissKris&Koji
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                              Well, they are working thru fosters right now, so it’s not like he’d be ignored or anything, he would be in a home. And I know he’d be rehomed quickly, when we met him they told us to decide ASAP because they had 3 emails come in after ours about him that were on hold… and I check their petfinder some when I’m bored, I know they seem to move young and friendly rabbits quickly. I still just don’t want to get rid of him though, he’s such a good bunny and I agree that you don’t give a pet up just because of a bump in the road (even if he did take a chunk out of my expensive purse yesterday, bad bunneh!!). I will try as you all suggest, and just see how it goes. I guess if he shows me that he is not adjusting we can make that decision then. I wonder though, how do you look for depression or loneliness in rabbits? Would it be like people, acting cranky, changed appetite, etc? On that note, on the days I haven’t spent time with him lately, he has been chewing my stuff, which is an entirely new behavior. I guess if I’m going to do this I’m going to have to very carefully bunnyproof.

                              I think for his sake I will stay at home as long as I can manage, which is probably til New Years. That would allow me to pay down some extra loans too to make a pay cut more bearable so I can relocate (current monthly payments of 600, owwww). I don’t think they would let me leave him here and take over his caretaking full-time while I am moved out. And I will be working 7 days a week for the first 4 months of the year, so coming back on the weekends is not really an option. I guess if I can’t find an apartment that allows pets and roommate(s) who say yes also, I could ask her, but it would involve me not seeing him at all for months at a time, and I really don’t think they would be too thrilled.

                              I do have 4 weeks now and time to bond in that period…. so it could be done. But the consensus seems to be that it’s not the best idea. While it could offset the time I can’t spend with him, I can understand more commitment could backfire in such a situation.

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                          Forum THE LOUNGE I need advice…