Taking on a rabbit, all a blur, help!

spinningsheep

Hi, I have agreed to take on one of my workmate's pets as she cannot take him to her parents house, she is moving home to the north to take a new job, long story. Anywho. She keeps him indoors at the moment in a big indoor cage, but I cannot keep him inside, due to no room, and already having a cat too so don't want to put his nose out of joint. I am getting a hutch tonight off ebay, and she is giving me bedding straw, sawdust, food etc, so he's all set. He was originally an outdoor bunny before she took him on from the rescue centre at petsathome, do you think he will ajust ok to outdoor living again? I agreed to have him as I thought it would be unfair for him to be in the rehoming centre for a second time, but I am just anxious that I give him the best life I can and neither my cat or the new bunny get stressed

amy104

If it was the middle of winter I'd advice you waited before introducing him outside again as an indoor bunny wouldn't have a winter coat but thankfully it has been a lot milder lately and I've noticed that my outdoor buns are shedding their winter fur already so I'd think it would be ok for him to go back outside now.

linda.b_4

Hi. The kindest thing you could do for your bun is to get him neutered and get a rescue neutered female for company. He will love you forever and be so much happier. I should imagine its a pretty lonely life for a rabbit on its own for up to 20 hours a day. I've got 2 bonded buns and am just in the middle of bonding another pair as like you, i was asked to take in a male on his own. They are both now neutered and after a few weeks of dating, are spending their first full night together in the shed,and its going great. There are loads of forums with lots of info regarding keeping bunnys, Rabbits united being the best, IMO . It would be better to keep him on hay rather than straw as its main part of their diet and they need lots!:)

Silly_Girl

spinningsheep wrote: »

Hi, I have agreed to take on one of my workmate's pets as she cannot take him to her parents house, she is moving home to the north to take a new job, long story. Anywho. She keeps him indoors at the moment in a big indoor cage, but I cannot keep him inside, due to no room, and already having a cat too so don't want to put his nose out of joint. I am getting a hutch tonight off ebay, and she is giving me bedding straw, sawdust, food etc, so he's all set. He was originally an outdoor bunny before she took him on from the rescue centre at petsathome, do you think he will ajust ok to outdoor living again? I agreed to have him as I thought it would be unfair for him to be in the rehoming centre for a second time, but I am just anxious that I give him the best life I can and neither my cat or the new bunny get stressed

He should be fine in this weather but I would highly recommend you get another rabbit to keep him company. They rely on each other for heat and it'll reduce the boredom

I did exactly the same thing. I got my boy neutered then contacted the RSPCA, they took him for a week and hooked him up with a bunny girlfriend who was already 'fixed' and they bonded them for me. Was a brilliant thing to do.

spinningsheep

thanks sillygirl. when I can afford a larger hutch I will do just that, at the moment fiunds are tight so will be a future purchase, would not be fair to put 2 lop ears in that hutch would be a wee bit of a squeeze:p

Nimeth

I second the advice to get him a companion bunny and to have him neutered. If you get him a female companion (also spayed), not only will this avoid unwanted babies, it will stop him peeing everywhere! Once he's fixed he should be easy to litter train him to go in the same place. If he's going to be outside, you should change his litter and straw at least once a day, maybe twice, to avoid flystrike.

I'd also check what vaccinations the bunny has had. If he hasn't had any, I would recommend that you find a bunny savvy vet and have him vaccinated against Myxomatosis and Viral Haemorrhagic Disease (VHD). Myxi should be done every 6 months from then one and VHD once a year. The vaccinations shouldn't be too expensive, mine only cost me about £15 a time. I really do recommend this, better safe than sorry as VHD is always fatal and Myxi is also nearly always so.

I also agree that Rabbits United forum is a great place for advice, they should be able to advise you of what treats/veg are suitable, who's a good vet in your area and how to go about bonding bunnies when you're ready to do so.

I assume the food you've been given is hay and pellets?

spinningsheep

Hi Nimeth, yes pellets and hay, and the bunny was originally adopted by my friend from petsathome and she was told he was neutered and had all his jabs

Nimeth

spinningsheep wrote: »

Hi Nimeth, yes pellets and hay, and the bunny was originally adopted by my friend from petsathome and she was told he was neutered and had all his jabs

Excellent, good stuff! I wasn't sure whether he'd had all that or not. Good luck with your new furry companion!:)