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Original poster

Rabbit - Ok I should of listened to you in the beginning

56 replies

keepitsweet · 13/04/2010 21:08

Yesterday I was asking about Rabbits and guinea pigs and you advised me to get 2.

Well today I went to RSPCA who suggested I only needed to get one one of each, even when I pushed should I get pairs, I was told as long as I got them out every day one enough was fine. So I purchased one rabbit and one guinea pig, they are now in separate cages.

Anyway the rabbit is thumping away out there -
is it just letting me know he's unsettled on his first night?

I've been out there and have seen two hedgehogs in the garden, is he telling them he's there?

Or is he lonely and tomorrow I need to get him a friend?

Thanks

OP posts:
LaurieFairyCake · 13/04/2010 21:10

He's just telling you the hedgies are there - thats what they do when they hear scuttling - it's a warning response

Are they well caged up? (cos of foxes)

bigstripeytiger · 13/04/2010 21:11

The thumping is an anxiety thing, it should stop when he feels more settled.
If you have a guinea pig too then he will have some company, and you can get another rabbit if you feel that he is unhappy once he has settled down a bit.

Original poster
keepitsweet · 13/04/2010 21:13

Yes, large hutches, all secured, dh put extra latches on to prevent crafty fox, undoing one, and getting a snout in the bottom. 3 on each door, stiff to turn, so hopefully they should be nice and safe.

OP posts:
IndigoBlue · 13/04/2010 22:37

If you look on the RSPCA website it gives the opposite information that rabbits should be kept in pairs so I don't know why they told you to keep them on their own. Was the rabbit with other rabbits in the shop as if so you may be able to go back and get another one he got along with, otherwise introducing one rabbit to another is not always straightforward as they may fight.

Getting them out every day is not really enough to compensate for them being on their own, guinea pigs especially like to have a friend and having 2 is not much difference to having one looking after wise.

There are lots of animal forums on the internet that you can find advice on, just search for guinea pig / rabbit care etc.

MrsL123 · 13/04/2010 22:38

I think a lot of people gave you good advice yesterday, and unfortunately it seems to have fallen on deaf ears. The RSPCA are not known for giving out correct information or acting in the best interests of the animals they rehome, and whichever numpty staff member advised you that a rabbit is fine living alone was wrong (and if you suspected this, I don't think it was wise to go along with it). Unfortunately if the rabbit is unhappy, it is very difficult to introduce another - you have to take time to match them up and handle the introductions very carefully; rabbits can (and will) fight to the death, and introducing new rabbits to each other is not something to be undertaken by a novice owner IMO. I'm actually quite sad that you went ahead and got a rabbit for your daughter (especially on it's own) against the advice of some very experienced owners, including myself, but I do wish you the best of luck and hope he settles in OK.

MrsL123 · 13/04/2010 22:42

Just read that back and it sounded a bit snippy, I didn't mean it to. I really do hope he settles in OK, I wasn't being sarcastic

Ukelegirl · 13/04/2010 23:28

Keepitsweet
I really really dont want this to sound rude..........

BUT
I distinctly remember advising you yesterday that guinea pigs will be lonely if kept without another guinea pig.
How would you feel if you were kept alone in a small hutch for hours and hours every day with no one to snuggle up to. A bit of time with a human each day isnt enough

I have no idea about the rabbit - maybe he is trying to tell you that you didnt listen when you asked for our advice yesterday

Original poster
keepitsweet · 14/04/2010 06:16

I appreciate everyone's comments, and did read the previous comments as well. I also read other information, and spoke to a number of staff, both in pet shops and at RSPCA.

Maybe I have made an error, although I would like to stress that this wasn't a rash purchase, and had been talked over as a family for many months.

Let's hope that they will settle in and be happy.

OP posts:
seeker · 14/04/2010 06:57

I recently did a lot of research before getting our guinea pigs, and i don;t think there was a single website, book or petshop that said it was OK to have a guinea pig on it's own, so you must have been looking in very different places.

They are very social animals - ours are now very tame and spend a lot of time with us, but always sleep cuddled up together and run to each other if they are startled.

You could always go today and get another one from the same litter.

compo · 14/04/2010 07:19

We had rabbits on their own for yrs when I was growing up, they were fine so don't worry

Fliight · 14/04/2010 07:34

It's early days.

Fwiw I have three females from same family, together. they are still unneutered (though booked in tomorrow!) which has caused some problems with friendliness, but anyway - I have been so relieved they have had each other.
They will still thump occasionally, in a response to perhaps a noise outside etc, he should get used to things.

Male rabbits tend to be more willing to become friendly and tame with a human, afaik.

My mother kept a succession of single rabbits, but was VERY attached to them so they would just let her hold them all the time, came in the house, ran to her in the garden (she let them roam)
it was like she was their best friend. (less so with the female she once had, most were male)
so really, you can do it but you will need to put much more time and effort into it, as he will be very lonely otherwise and bored.

You could introduce a neutered female to him, they can get on better than two blokes who may well fight.

As for the guinea pig, no, I'm really sorry but it's not fair. Apart from anything else he will need to be warm, at night, and not having a friend is very difficult for them.

I think you should take him back and get another rabbit instead, personally.

cornsilk · 14/04/2010 07:52

can the bunny live in the house?

MrsL123 · 14/04/2010 08:18

I also don't know of anywhere that would advise to keep either animal on it's own. And as for pet shops - would these be the same shops that sell a variety of completely unsuitable tiny "rabbit" hutches and keep their rabbits in small cages / pens for weeks while they are on sale, with no exercise? And the same shops that sell paper bedding, scented woodchips and dairy treats for guineas, all of which are harmful. Pet shops have a lot to answer for unfortunately - bad advice included! Any decent experienced rabbit or guinea owner, whether online or in RL, would advise you to keep them in pairs. And the problem is, no matter how happy they may seem on their own, they will never be as happy as if they had company - it is vital for their mental wellbeing. My last guinea was alone for 18 months after her sister died and IMO she was miserable (depsite much attention), but it was too late to bring in a new friend for her. She seemed happy enough, but I knew her quality of life had declined greatly. She died on easter sunday, and I would never ever keep a caged animal on it's own again - especially not through choice. When one of my bonded pair of rabbits dies, I will seriously have to consider getting the other PTS, as they have been together for more than 5 years and I know the surviving rabbit will just fade away without company - human contact or not - and it is a cruel way to live.

Fliight · 14/04/2010 08:25

I'm really sorry to hear about your piggy

My two have been together since the day after we got the first - we rang EVERYwhere to find another femal within driving distance! The first night on her own was awful for Gloria, scared, 6 weeks old and on her own for the first time in her life.

Frances made all the difference...they are like a pair of spinsters, there is a role and a heirarchy,it's hilarious at times and very touching. Frances comes to grab the food from my hand, while Gloria waits for it to be delivered by Frances. Gloria is extremely large and feminine...Frances more of a bullet shape

I hesitate to say it reminds me of my sister and her legal partner Oh dear

Point being they need one another, they talk to one another, it's vital for them.

Please reconsider, OP. You have the chnace to make the difference here to semi happy lives or really happy lives, please take it.

MrsL123 · 14/04/2010 10:45

Thanks fliight, a few tears were shed but we buried her next to her sister, so no doubt they'll be up there somewhere squabbling over the last big of spinach as usual! I know what you mean about the rabbits, ours are like an old married couple, it's so funny to watch. They fell out over something a few weeks ago and went into a huff with each other - Mr went out into the run, and Mrs lay across the cat flap so he couldn't get back in! I know she did it on purpose because he was battering the door trying to get back in (actually rocking her side to side in the process!) and she just lay there and looked at him as if to say "you're not coming in". It was very funny but eventually we had to move her out of the way. When he came in she turned her back on him and stomped her foot, so he started to nuzzle at her back very apologetically. Then he pushed his luck by trying to lick her ear, so she turned away from him a bit more and stomped her foot again. This went on for about five minutes, him trying to say sorry and her turning away from him and stomping (you could practically see her eyes rolling - if she had arms, they would have been crossed!). Then she obviously gave in and decided to forgive him, because she hopped over to 'their corner' and lay down, and he went over and joined her. It was hilarious, so much like watching a martial spat!

FernieB · 14/04/2010 11:10

MrsL123 - loved your story about your rabbits. Also sorry to hear about your piggie. We will hopefully be getting 2 piggies later in the year and as a first time piggie owner, I may be deferring to you for advice.

I read the OP's previous post about getting pets and was surprised after all the advice to find she'd got just one of each. Hopefully they will settle down okay though.

I do have an only rabbit but she was the only one left from the litter and is now a housebunny and very pampered. I do sometimes feel she is a bit lonely even though we spend most of the day together and she often goes to play with the kids in their room. I would never again just get one though.

On the thumping thing - my rabbit thumps for hedgehogs, weasels and our neighbours cats, but not dogs or the cat from further down the road. For some reason she likes him!

MrsL123 · 14/04/2010 13:06

Just noticed I said martial spat instead of marital. Just to be clear, my rabbits do not know Judo

cornsilk · 14/04/2010 15:29

fernie I have a single house bunny also. We also got ours from a pet shop and weren't advised to get 2.

kingprawntikka · 14/04/2010 16:53

I don't know anything about rabbits but we have two guinea pigs. I think its cruel to keep a single guinea, they are very social creatures and spend time cuddling up to each other "talking" to each other and generally running around together. Ours hate to be separated even for a cuddle, they like to be able to see the other one next to them on someone else's lap.I would try and get a companion for the guinea pig.

arsesandoldlace · 14/04/2010 17:08

Or, just, you know,ignore experienced owners and do what you think is best OP.

Are you really going to leave that poor guinea pig on it's own? It won't 'settle in and be happy', it will be lonely.

But people have told you this and you chose not to hear it.

Take it back to the RSPCA if you're not going to do it properly.

MeMudmagnet · 15/04/2010 01:06

I don't know anything about Guineas, but I do know that rabbits shouldn't be kept alone or in a hutch all day. Sure they'll put up with it, they haven't much choice! But they won't thrive and be happy.
I have free range bunnies. Our first pair came from a rescue. When one died, the other became very withdrawn and miserable. We introduced her to another one, with guidance from the rescue and they bonded well.

It's no life for rabbit to be stuck alone in a hutch. I would consider taking it back if you can't find and get help to introduce a mate.

seeker · 15/04/2010 07:23

I would aslo like to know who advised the OP that guinea pigs in particular are OK alone. We have a branch of a chain pet shop near us, as hard nosed and commercial company as you could imagine, and they won't sell baby guineas on their own.

FernieB · 15/04/2010 11:59

In all our local pet shops, both guineas and rabbits are priced at a 'buy one, get another half price' deal and like seeker says, they won't actually sell you just one.

ouchitreallyhurts · 15/04/2010 14:49

Pets at home sold me a lone Gp once because he had 'issues' with other Gp's and had to be separated. He now lives happily with a neutered female

Fliight · 15/04/2010 15:40

Am nervous. We took our 3 to be 'done' today. I rang about an hour ago, they said two had been done and were fine (phew) but the third had yet to be operated on.

'it has been a busy day' apparently This after I specified they must be kept together as far as possible. Great.
Now we'll have to re-introduce one of them, possibly...

so worried in case something goes wrong with the last one. the nurse kept saying 'there is a greater risk of anaesthesia causing problems in rabbits' when I asked her if things had moved on since I had heard that.

It was not reassuring.