The Rabbit Habit

Pictured: Not rabbits

Before I get started, you may have noticed there is a new button to the right, type in your email address and press the button, great and terrible things await. (Also that last post got 70 views, only six of which were from robuts, thanks guyz!)

As I mentioned a couple times in my previous post, I am a rabbit owner. Well sort of, at least. Last Christmas I bought my ladyfriend a pet rabbit by the name of Houdini, she's the best (we thought it was a boy at first though, hence the name :/ ). This is her face:

Initially my plan for the whole bunny affair was that it would be the girlfriend's pet and I would just enjoy her occasional company. This plan failed.

Now I'm nearly as enthusiastic a rabbit-owner as she is and am currently on the hunt for the perfect rabbit of my own for the new duplex I shall soon inhabit. A lot of people, through knowing me, through reading the last post, or though some other means have asked me about rabbits as pets. A lot of people would like to have one because they're goddamned adorable, but are unsure about a lot of things that come with that commitment. So this post will be part guide-part my general thoughts on these small companions and the facets of having one.

I'll start by saying that for prey animals, an aspect that shapes much of the way bunnies are, they are surprisingly friendly. Sure it takes them a while to warm up to people, but once they figure out who you are and that you are the bringer of treats they're pretty much your best friend. They'll run up to the side of the cage when you walk by, lay at your feet, or nudge your arm when your on facebook or some such for attention. They're pretty nice; all the curiosity of a dog without the aloofness of a cat, all the softness of a kitty without the in-your-shit-all-the-time-ness of a dawg. They're also super cheap, running about $30-$50 a month, much less than larger animals. They are a bit fragile, so beware. Don't feed them dumb shit like bread or Cheetos, don't drop them from significant heights, and watch your feet as you walk because they love to circle them (again, best friend). They don't need to bathed, they got that shit down; they aren't smelly unless you suck at your job as a rabbit owner, and they'll pee in the cage if you train them to (which isn't hard, just put they're favorite treats on a device that hangs over or next to their litter bowl, eventually they'll get it). They aren't really for small children, which is one of the major demographics they're bought for. As prey animals they have a certain fresh-hold for excessive holding and squeezing (though they do like some) and kids just don't tend to understand that. When one doesn't want love or even nips an overly aggressive child they are commonly sent away to a pound or released into the wild, both of which can lead to dead rabbits. Rabbits are grown up pets, bear this in mind.

A lot of people worry about how they do with other pets and there's some fairness to that concern. Rabbits and dogs can be friends, but it takes some supervision, and can be helped with some select circumstances. If you have an adult rabbit and say a puppy, that rabbit will quickly teach that little shit who's boss, a lesson that will stick with the dog even when it's the size of 10 rabbits. Like dogs rabbits are grouped, social animals, so establishing dominance is an important part of their social interactions. If they're put in a situation with another animal they'll try to establish themselves, which works well with small dogs and terrifies the shit out of most cats who are, themselves, solitary animals. Let's make it clear though, while it freaks cats out at first it does establish the grounds for a good relationship. Case in point:

Best friends? Best friends.

Our bun, Houdini, is about 8 months old now (indoor rabbits live about 8-12 years) and is a mix of a Holland Lop and something else, as she doesn't have the full-time droopy ears that a true Lop would have. Lops are pretty awesome; they're pint-sized and super friendly, one of the more social and pro-cuddling breeds. We bought her in a pet store in Mattoon, however, if you ever decide to get a rabbit, do not do it this way. There are a multitude of reasons why and I will summarize them as briefly as I can. It's more expensive, first off: pet stores mark up buns quite a bit and buying all the supplies to go with them can be fairly pricey. Shelters, however, especially bunny specific shelters, tend to be much cheaper. I would imagine this is primarily due to the fact that shelters are mostly either non-profit or publicly owned (cheaper shit), are primarily focused on getting pets happy homes (as opposed to turning a profit), and tend to offer package deals with other businesses, resulting in discounted goods. It's also a better thing to do, as a person. You're rescuing your little friend from what in many cases is approaching doom. A lot of times if rabbits aren't rescued by shelters they're taken in and bred/killed for meat, neglected and die in a bad home, or are released into the wild where they, being domestic breeds, quickly die off. In short: adopt, don't shop. For my upcoming bun I will most likely be going to No Splitting Hares in Algonquin, IL; a no-kill, bunny focused shelter.

The Netherland Dwarf is pretty cool too, and is a lead contender for my bun-to-be. They are, as a breed, all bred to exhibit dwarfism, so it's basically a breed of Tyrion Lannister bunnies (which this bunny is named, jealous). It's why they have SUPER big eyes and heads in proportion to their bodies, they also have comparatively tiny ears. They look like this:

Bros for life.

Bunnies are great companions, loving, affectionate pets; and thoroughly underrated and frequently misunderstood animals. Get one, love one, and let your life (and it's) be better for it. If you want more pictures of buns (always an admirable pursuit) try the Daily Bunny, which has a new bun picture er'ryday. There will be more rabbit posts in the future as Houdini and my bun-to-be try new things and have new experiences, but for now I hope this post has sated what questions you may have and perked your interest in these charmers. Here is another picture of Houdini and a song that has nothing to do with rabbits but is really awesome and has been stuck in my head space as of late.