Has anyone ever used one of those little dog purses for a rabbit?

[caudex]

Bear with me, it’s less obnoxious than you’re picturing! 

My Liam has always been more apt to be held or sit in a lap than his companions, and now that he’s alone, even more so. Maybe there’s some underlying health issue, maybe he’s just old and lonesome but these days he can sit unrestrained on my lap or chest for literally hours and barely move at all.. If he ISN’T super happy to be doing this, he needs to go back to Bun 101 and relearn “Expressing Disapproval to stupid Human.” We have a date twice daily.

Thing is, I do have a life and house and other beings in the house to manage. I carry him with me, but sometimes I need my hands, and I hate juggling him, and he hates me putting him down and picking him up repeatedly. Tried making a sling like you’d use for a baby, but it isn’t supportive enough.

ISO something with a supportive but comfortable bottom, not too bulky/rigid so he’s still close to my body, not closed like a carrier, (he only needs support, not restraint) and still gives him a little visibility. A rabbit in a dog purse would definitely cement my “crazy yuppie in a downhome town” status, but maybe that’s not what I’m after… any suggestions?

[Odette]

Liam, you sweet boy! Odette lets me hold her, but not carry her around.

I wonder if something designed for a ferret might work. I saw a family at PetSmart with a duffle/sling over the shoulder bag and a ferret popped out! You might look at Etsy for handmade ferret or dog carriers.

If you find something that is close, but not exactly right, contact the seller. Many are happy to do commissions. I think most prices are reasonable and I’ve always had good construction.

[Mikey]

My ESA Blue has his own bag. It was a cute open purse bag from walmart. Its very light and thin and has an open pocket i put his hay in for him. I line the bottom with two frozen water bottles wrapped in a towel. It adds about four inches to the bottom, and flattens it out. Its good in summer because it keeps him cool. We are going to be getting a puppy bag soon for fall since he wont need the frozen water bottles keeping him cool while we are out and about in the colder seasons As Odette mentioned, looking online for custom ones would definitely be better, and probly less expensive. You also wont have to worry about the bag being too big or too small, or the like

[Sonn]

With my first rabbit Pacey I used a small dog purse thing for him and also a dog ‘backpack’ since Pacey was my on the go rabbit and I took him quite a few places with me. I preferred the backpack to the dog purse. I’ve also seen packs that keep the animal on the front of you and has a kind of diagonal strap that goes across one shoulder. I can’t remember the name but I remember it reminded me of a kangaroo.

[BrunosMama]

What a brilliant idea! Our little Zane is a total love bug. He will sit on my chest/lap for hours. He gets so happy if one of the cats snuggles him too. We’ve been unsuccessful in bonding him, but he just seems to crave contact. How awesome would a pouch be. Have u thought about a hoodie with a front pocket for around the house?

[jerseygirl]

caudex, maybe something like this?  Since your dog already loves him.  

[kirstyol]

My friend used to carry her rabbit about in a handbag, she even used to take her to the pub! She literally had the friendliest rabbit in the world she would sit on peoples shoulders and genuinely loved humans. Neither of mine would be impressed if I tried this (and they are both too big) but this wee sweety actually seemed to like it and would hop in the bag herself if you left it open for her.

I rabbit sat for her while she was on holiday and the wee thing didn’t know what to do, it kept trying to get in my bag to go out with me and would jump up on us when we were sitting on the sofa which was not something I was used to at all with any rabbit I had ever had. she would jump on the sofa, climb onto the back of it then jump on to your shoulder and just sit there like it was the best place in the world. they also had a budgie (which was a noisy wee thing) and he would often fly over and sit on the bunnies head so sometimes you would have a rabbit and a budgie on your shoulder! it was completely surreal

[jerseygirl]

Lol! That’s a cute mental picture kirstyol! I would have loved to have looked after that little rabbit.

[caudex]

Posted By BrunosMama on 10/15/2016 7:46 PM 

What a brilliant idea! Our little Zane is a total love bug. He will sit on my chest/lap for hours. He gets so happy if one of the cats snuggles him too. We’ve been unsuccessful in bonding him, but he just seems to crave contact. How awesome would a pouch be. Have u thought about a hoodie with a front pocket for around the house?

A hoodie isn’t bad in theory, but won’t work. I am pretty little, and a me sized hoodie wouldn’t even have held my pipsqueak lops, much less a majestic 4lb wonder like Liam. Even my husband’s xl is tight.

It DID occur to me that I have a 3XL kicking around (a gift…long story) and I tried that. He fit, and it was snug enough that I think it felt more stable, even though I could see his little feet through the fabric.  It hangs to my knees though, so no good for moving around, and is also at optimum dog kiss height. I’d get nothing done. He foot flicked when I loosed him, I think he’d prefer less tight, more stable.

and lol Jerseygirl…the problem would be that Liam and Mowgli would both get dizzy and pass out from Mowgli spinning in constant circles trying to lick him! 

[jerseygirl]

and lol Jerseygirl…the problem would be that Liam and Mowgli would both get dizzy and pass out from Mowgli spinning in constant circles trying to lick him! 

[caudex]

I am talking to two etsy ladies whose pet slings had “rabbit” in the description. One had never actually sold to a rabbit owner, pointed me to more of a bag design, and is going to try one with mesh sides (it’s much too tall) as an experiment that I’m not obligated to buy. A giant purse isn’t really my thing, but might be best.

The other raises show rabbits and uses and sells them, says people are satisfied but she will play with the design to address my stability concerns. If they are similar in weight and stretch to the hoodie, I can see where a rabbit could get used to them, but I can’t imagine one that would love it immediately. Both are monstrously cute though. We’ll see what happens!

[jerseygirl]

What about an apron with a pocket? You could sew the ties on lower (more level with pocket) then bring bottom half of apron up a bit and tie at waist as usual. That way the pocket sit more in midsection.

[kirstyol]

It was super cute, but the budgie was also super annoying. It was the noisiest budgie I have ever encountered it kept wolf whistling at all hours of the day and night, when we let it out it would go on top of the curtains and refuse to come back down meaning we were to scared to open the windows or doors in case it flew out (this was the middle of summer). The bunny was more like a pet kitten or something it would come and rub up against us for pets and then jump on us if we weren’t paying it enough attention. She was a really well behaved free roam bun though, even with being in a different house and was super cute.

[jerseygirl]

She certainly sounds super cute, kirstyol.

Sorry caudex, I hadn’t seen your last reply before I posted my last reply.
Will be interesting to see what they come up with.

[Mikey]

Oh, how about one of these! http://www.japantrendshop.com/images/mewgaroo-hoodie-cat-pouch-snuggle-cuddle-clothes-th.jpg

[Vienna Blue in France]

A jacket with an inside breast pocket…. (or an outside one…)
Mikey – thats funny.

[MoxieMeadows]

Could you alter the hoodie? (Leave the pocket and make the hoodie smaller, or buy a hoodie and attach a pocket that sized to the front?)

[Author]

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