Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Small pets

Mumsnet does not check the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you're worried about the health of your pet, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

Flip

1 2 3

Original poster

Worried about cold bunny.

68 replies

gigigrace · 28/10/2018 20:06

Our five month old boy is very loved. We make sure we spend a lot of time with him, play and cuddle him. He gets plenty of exercise. During the day while we are are home, we bring him into the kitchen and he can roam freely there and be around us till around 9 at night. Then we put him in his hutch. It has straw, and a bucket with a safe blanket in.

This has been working fine until now. I'm just really worried about him now the weather has changed. Everyone is telling me 'it's a rabbit. They live in the wild'... well yes but those rabbits don't come into warm kitchens and then get put back into the cold. I'm worried I may be doing him more damage by bringing him in to play.

But then if I don't, I don't feel he will be getting enough attention. In fact I know he won't.

Any advice? Or does anyone do similar.

OP posts:

Fairylea · 28/10/2018 20:07

Could you keep him inside? Get a very large indoor cage for him? We have indoor guinea pigs in a custom made cage, I couldn’t imagine leaving them outside although I know a lot of people do.

user1484830599 · 28/10/2018 20:08

I've no advice, but rabbits are not as hardy as people think. They are pretty delicate creatures actually.

My bunny is so pampered, he lives in our dining room, complete with aga in the winter. Could you bring yours in over the winter?

Original poster

gigigrace · 28/10/2018 20:09

I could potentially keep him inside. But we do have an indoor cat and it hard enough trying to keep them separate during the times Finn (our bun) comes in. I would rather avoid this though and didn't fancy having an indoor rabbit but to be honest, it's looking likely if people comment here saying it is unfair to put him out at night.

OP posts:

abbsisspartacus · 28/10/2018 20:09

I bought my bunny in at this time of year it's too cold for them outside

Original poster

gigigrace · 28/10/2018 20:10

Just to add, when we've introduced the rabbit and the cat while Finn is in his hutch, our rag doll doesn't seem at all bothered by him.

OP posts:

reservoircats · 28/10/2018 20:10

They are delicate as PP said and can freeze to death. I think you should bring the bunny inside.

abbsisspartacus · 28/10/2018 20:11

Cats and rabbits get along fine a rabbit can kick the whiskers off a cat they can defend themselves if the worst happens

BathFullOfEels · 28/10/2018 20:11

Why do you only have one rabbit? It’s ever so cruel, especially if you are bunging it out in the garden on its own at night!

You need to get another rabbit to bond it with. You also need to either slowly introduce it to loving outside or bring it in and have it as a house rabbit. There’s no way it will survive the winter if you carry on doing as you are.

Bubblysqueak · 28/10/2018 20:14

My Guinea pigs move into the garage at this time of the year. They have free access to the garden when the ground is not frozen and they have a third of a double length garage to roam in inside.
When it gets really cold they have their own animal friendly heater, extra bedding and heat pad.
Is there anything like this you could do.
My boys also love their independence so we're looking into training them to use a cat flap so the garage can stay warm and they can still access outside if they want to.

totallyaddicted · 28/10/2018 20:14

Yes you need to bring bunny inside. They can freeze to death as pp have said. Could you put it in a separate room to the cat? Maybe in the utility room if you have one.

Original poster

gigigrace · 28/10/2018 20:15

Was waiting for the one rabbit comment. We only have one rabbit at the moment as Finn is only now just old enough to be nutured. In fact vet suggested 6 months is best. Would be more unfair to stick a female in with him and have lots of unwanted bunnies.
He seems extremely happy though and I've read a lot of owners on her saying that their rabbits became unhappy when another came and they fought. But I was advised by breeder to get a companion for him.

Another one is likely to come in the new year when he's been sorted.

OP posts:

Original poster

gigigrace · 28/10/2018 20:17

We do have a spare room. I'll look into getting an indoor cage for him then. Will he be alright being in the outdoor hutch while I'm at work for a few hours in the day? I won't want him to roam free when I'm not home. And I think the indoor cages look very small as compared to his huge hutch.

OP posts:

Squeegle · 28/10/2018 20:17

You will need to bring him in for th winter. In the wild they live in burrows and have lots of company to snuggle with.

Mucky1 · 28/10/2018 20:18

We have a snuggle safe for ours :)

Processedpea · 28/10/2018 20:18

My rabbit is ten and lives outside she runs about in the garden and goes in her hutch at night. I use straw and hay this time of year and cover the hutch with blankets and tarp to keep it warm.

BathFullOfEels · 28/10/2018 20:21

Surely the breeder told you to buy two though? Even Pets At Home are pretty strict on not selling individual rabbits. Most people buy same sex pairs as youngsters and then get them neutered at the same time. He will seem happy to you as he is desperately lonely and as a result will try and get company from people. They need company and, despite your claims to love him, you are depriving your rabbit of a very basic need.

DiaryofWimpyMum · 28/10/2018 20:21

Our rabbit used to get on fine with my ragdolls, if you're worried keep him safe in a crate over the cold months

KatherinaMinola · 28/10/2018 20:23

A single rabbit will be too cold by itself outside at night. They do keep warm by huddling together. Have you a garage or shed you can keep its hutch in? And cover with blankets and tarp as PP says.

If not I think I'd bring it in, but keep well away from cat!

Original poster

gigigrace · 28/10/2018 20:24

The breeder told us to get another once Finn was neutered. I was going to get his brother also and she said they the likely hood is that they would fight when they get to adolescence. Of course that's not for sure, but that was her advice to me. She said male/female pairs live happiest. And of course you can't put males and females together unless they can't reproduce. Which is why we have waited.

OP posts:

LadyMonicaBaddingham · 28/10/2018 20:24

Our two bunnies live outside in a rabbit palace hutch, but they have each other to snuggle up to. We stuff the hutch with hay and straw (which they promptly eat) when it's chilly and have been known to give them the odd 'hot' water bottle if it's properly cold out. They are very loved and extremely spoiled.

yousimplyhavetobethesedays · 28/10/2018 20:24

Out rabbit is indoors and happily in her indoor hutch next to the radiator 🙄. Spoilt little critter

bertielab · 28/10/2018 20:25

Bunny inside from now on.
Especially as due to the hot weather I don't think they really thicken their coats. Indoor hutch and much nicer for rabbit.

Under 10 degrees they can die very easily.

Don't be like someone I know and leave your rabbit in a thermal hutch and then think it's fine -they went out and said rabbit was frozen. Chuck a coat on and see if you want to sleep out -if the answer is no -don't put the animal out.

Original poster

gigigrace · 28/10/2018 20:28

Your all saying what I thought to be honest. Some people genuinely lAughed when I told them my concerns. That they were rabbits and they are used to being out doors. I'll be getting an indoor cage and keeping him inside till the weather gets warmer.

OP posts:

FiveNightsAtMummys · 28/10/2018 20:29

Could you put him in a play pen inside when your at work? Would that work? I don't have a rabbit or a cat so sorry if that's a stupid idea.

Processedpea · 28/10/2018 20:29

Check out a site called run around for great bunny provisions they have some great tunnels etc a rabbit next to a radiator sounds awful it will be way too hot

Flip

1 2 3

Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.

Join Mumsnet Log In

This thread is closed and is no longer accepting replies. Click here to start a new thread.