So I am a spinner, and while walking through a local pet store after picking up hay for my daughter’s guinea pig, I saw one of the store’s employees walking towards me with an armful of angora fluff.. I INSTANTLY knew what it was, and had to go say hi to him. The employee shared his history with me, and I knew that there were decent odds that the little one (he was too small to sex at that point) would end up being mine. He was an easter purchase (grrrrr) and was donated to the petstore after grandma and grandpa realized that the kids were NOT going to play with, or take care of, their new fuzzy friend. When the employee at the pet store discovered I was a spinner, and understood what angora care meant, AND had previously had a house bunny (though it was 20 years ago in college), she quickly made sure I got to snuggle on him, and she showed me how matted he was, and how they were hoping to find him a home where they knew what kind of care he needed (I apparently have “SUCKER” written across my forehead in very large letters).. My boyfriend needed an allergy test, but the manager at the store said they had already found him the right family, and that they would hold him for me until the test, even knowing it might be a no… Sooo fast forward a month while we got the test scheduled and done, and he came home last night. I’ve had bunnies before (though it’s been a while) and I did my research on the extra needs of an angora, but I realized this morning that I had one key question that I hadn’t gotten an answer to yet..
They did a great job brushing him out, but there are still some mats around his front legs and shoulders that need to be worked out, and obviously I don’t want to let him get matted up again.. Does anyone have any advice about how to balance giving him space to explore and get used to me, while still forcing him to deal with being brushed and groomed daily while we get those last knots out? Should I stick to short grooming sessions every day, or do longer sessions and skip a day, or multiple VERY short sessions a day?!? help!? Thankfully he got a LOT of love at the pet store (several employees were REALLY sad when I took him home last night, it was so sweet) so he’s pretty well socialized, but I want to set he and I up for success, so.. thoughts would be much appreciated.
Also, does anyone know if fresh pineapple or the papaya enzymes are better for preventing woolblock? I’ve heard both and am inclined towards fresh pineapple, but my goal is absolutely for what’s best for the fuzzybutt!
Thank you all, and I’m looking forward to getting to know you all as I figure the boy out..