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Parenting

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Original poster

Oh God, DD wants a rabbit...

38 replies

Tinkjon · 11/05/2009 10:23

DH and I hate pets - I'm often allergic, they're smelly, we're a bit scared of animals and I am so busy that I really don't have time to add another thing to care for! But poor DD (6) is desperate for a rabbit... would it be so bad? Do you have to clean them out every day? I also feel sorry for them being in cages but can't imagine it being practical for us to have a house rabbit. Can they stay outside in the winter? Will the foxes get into their cages and eat them?! Are they really scratchy with their claws? Can you never go away from home without having someone to look after them or can you buy food/water dispenser thingies? Do you have to have 2 rabbits (I think they're gregarious?), would it be cruel to just have one?

Just a few questions to be getting on with, then

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Tortington · 11/05/2009 10:24

just say no.

practically you will end up cleaning the shit and it won't be novel after a month

iheartdusty · 11/05/2009 10:33

might you consider a pair of gerbils?

they need cleaning once a week or once a fortnight. DD (7) does it totally by herself; she dumps the bedding into the compost bin, washes the cage and refills it with shavings and hay. No smell unless you put your whole face in the cage. Mostly dried food, a bit of veg every so often, and a water bottle.

our pair are now very tame, go into a trance as soon as they are held and stroked.

we have taken them with us on all holidays so far (in the UK and not camping - will have to make plans for camping). They could stay alone for a weekend perfectly well.

CountessDracula · 11/05/2009 10:35

get a cat
at least they poo outside and bugger off killing things most of the time so you don't have to see them

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Rubyrubyruby · 11/05/2009 10:35

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

CountessDracula · 11/05/2009 10:37

I agree
they are all twitchy and almost have heart failure every time you pick them up

TsarChasm · 11/05/2009 10:43

My dc are all desparate for a pet too. I so kwym about not having the enthusiasm for yet another thing to care for.

I rather like rabbits though. I'm surprised they're getting a poor rating on here. I was semi-tempted to get them a rabbit (note the lukewarm enthusiasm there). Are they no good then?

tiggerlovestobounce · 11/05/2009 10:48

I have a rabbit, he is lovely. he has a hutch, which is secure so I dont need to worry about foxes, and a run in the garden, which I put him into each morning. He does get a fair bit of attention, I put him in his run in the morning, and into his hutch again at night, and then feed him at both those times. I clean out his hutch when it needs to be done - for him that is weekly in the winter, but slightly less often in the summer when he spends more time outside.

I only have one - I think its not advised to have more than 1 in the same hutch? I think people often get a guinea pig to keep a rabbit company.

I think the bottom line though is not to get one if you dont want one. You will be doing all the care for it, and a rabbit does need attention. My DDs do nothing for the rabbit, other than occassionally throwing some grass into its run.

EffieGadsby · 11/05/2009 10:53

Rabbits are wonderful and lovely pets but they need masses of exercise, so if you can't get them a massive hutch (I'm talking box bedroom sized), then it's not the pet for you. My rabbits were house trained, so they could run free all the time, but I understand that's not practical for everyone.

Maybe consider getting a pair of guinea pigs instead? They need less space than bunnies (animals of the cave rather than the field), but will need to be cleaned out every day (but it only takes 5mins) and handled a lot. Guineas make a great first pet; I've loved them since I was tiny. If I had some outdoor space for a run, I'd get a few now.

Keeping them outside seems a bit mean to me. The foxes may not be able to get in but will scare the shit out of any caged animals in your garden. Rabbits and guineas who live outside always seem a bit nervy, which is probably down to harassment by foxes and cats. Indoor ones are much more chilled and fun.

southeastastra · 11/05/2009 10:56

i have a huge fat rabbit that doesn't like exercise. she hates being picked up but loves to be stroked, on her head especially.

she's not bothered about being outside at all.

StripeyKnickersSpottySocks · 11/05/2009 10:59

You need 2, it would be cruel just to have one. It would be cruel to keep them in a hutch, they need a big run as well.

They need cleaning out a couple of times a week. We have 2, DD lost interest after 2 weeks. I have to do everything, inc feeding them or they'd starve. She never plays with them.

tiggerlovestobounce · 11/05/2009 11:03

Really? should I get another rabbit then?

My rabbit is male - I was worried that I would get a lot of fighting if I had another male, and millions more rabbits if I had a female.

He chases my cats around the garden as it is - maybe he would be aggressive to another rabbit too? Or would a neutered female maybe be OK?

southeastastra · 11/05/2009 11:07

i'm not cruel keeping my rabbit alone! she's fussed over!!

if you have two you must get them neutered or they will fight

EffieGadsby · 11/05/2009 11:27

I agree, it's not cruel to have a bunny on its own, as long as it has masses of attention. When I was young, mine slept on a rug next to my bed, and as my dad worked from home, the rabbit followed him about the house all day, so he was never bored or lonely (the rabbit, not my dad...). This is no crueler than having just one dog or cat, and loads of people do that. If it's a rabbit outside on its own all day, it would probably be bored to tears, though.

Blottedcopybook · 11/05/2009 11:43

Our wee rabbit is largely ignored after DS whining for months about getting one. She's a really nice wee thing too but when she's gone that's it! No more wee animals!

I liked the suggestion of guinea pigs, far more sociable, less prone to biting and they squeak which is really nice to listen to. Plus they need less exercise and space than rabbits do.

Honestly though I'd stick with your gut instinct, if you're not thrilled with the idea now you'll be even less so when you're having to clean out the cage and do all the care.

StripeyKnickersSpottySocks · 11/05/2009 11:47

House bunnies are ok by themselves but a garden bunny should really have a friend. But yes, get them neutered.

littlerach · 11/05/2009 11:58

We have a rabbit and he is v sweet.
Dd1 can clean the hutch out (8).
You od have to handle them a fair bit to get them used to you.

I don't think you are supposed ot keep guinea pigs with them as rabbits can kick them a lot.

Blu · 11/05/2009 12:11

Unless you are a dedicated pet keeper, I think rabbits are not an ideal pet for a child.

We have two rabbits (neutered females) and they clearly get a lot from being together - they cuddle up, groom eac other, etc - rabbits are v social in the wild, so personally, unless I was paing it close attention several times a day, I ouldn't be happy leaving one to live alone.

Ours do not like to be handled, and if you have to do things they don't like, they struggle. Rabbits have very very strong back legs, and it's easy to get bad scratches.

They each have to have two lots of injections a year (£70), and rabbits MUST be fed regularly and consistently - they have very un-hardy digestive systems.

Ours live in a shed with a hatch to a run, so have lots of space. But to make it safe, I had to dig under the soil and lay wire, then out the turf back on top, and screw the run to the shed and peg it down with tent pegs - foxes are extremely determined and will dig - and can get through chicken wire.

They must be cleaned daily in summer as flies in the hutch can cause fly strike - basically maggots eat under the rabbits tail, causing an agonising death.

I am v fond of our rabbits but I wish we had got guinea pigs.

Original poster

Tinkjon · 11/05/2009 12:46

Thanks everyone - hmm, that's a shame - I was hoping you'd all say "oh no, rabbits are easy!"

She is such a faddy girl - desperately into one particular thing for about a month then goes off onto something else, but as much as I try to explain to her that she'll get bored with a rabbit she's having none of it!

LOL, talk about a guilt-trip - yestyerday she wrote a whole poem called "My Wundaful Lovelee Cyoot Rabit" and on the back she'd written "a rabit wood chainge my life so pleese get me one"

OP posts:

theBFG · 11/05/2009 12:59

we have a rabbit and he is lovely. The thing with having two rabbits is that they then love each other and are less likely to be friendly towards you, but if you get one you have to give them lots of attention.

And the hutch needs cleaning every couple of days at least, especially in the summer.

theDreadPirateRoberts · 11/05/2009 13:00

Am I the only person who opened this thread to find out whether the dilemma in question was fluffy or buzzy?

Nappyzoneisabeetrootrunner · 11/05/2009 13:06

I had a pet rabbit as a child - it was horrible and scratched and pissed on me - when i was a grown up i got my own house i got 2 rabbits - they scratched and pissed on me and i didnt learn! DD begged me for a rabbit and i refused but a yr later succumbed and got a pair of guinea pigs instead - they have never peed on me and are v tame and you can actually enjoy them - granted the cleaning is generally left to me but they are cleaner than rabbits and generally go a week b4 needing cleaned out. Ours have the run of the garden through the day. Rabbits need room to run about. Guinea pigs are lazy little grazers who save me cutting my lawn . Oh also if you cant see them i shistle and they start squeaking and come running towards me - they are fab.

Nappyzoneisabeetrootrunner · 11/05/2009 13:06

thats whistle

seeker · 11/05/2009 13:11

My dcs want gerbils. My dp has announced himself the founder member of the Keep Britain Rodent Free Party, and reckons he'll get into Parliament at the next Election.

iheartdusty · 11/05/2009 13:14

g'wan seeker
they'll love them and your DP may grow strangely fond of them too
g'wan g'wan g'wan

seeker · 11/05/2009 13:29

Trouble is, I suspect the cat will regard them as a sort of running buffet!

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