I’ve posted about this before, but the day is upon me. Bunny is coming to live with me again. The one solace that I have is that my best friend (another post) isn’t leaving Montreal until September. However, he’ll be staying with different people, so I have to take in Bunny.
So far I’ve managed to clear the crap from the floor, but I’ll need my friend’s help to tape down wires, etc. He says she doesn’t chew anymore, but I fear a change in environment might make her not only start chewing again, but lose her litter training for a bit.
Like I’ve said before, I don’t quite know how I feel about this, but I’m the first one to take care of small animals. I had two guinea pigs for years (as an adult) and took Bunny in once before, for about seven months.
What sucks is that Bunny is old, and will probably die on my watch. It was bad enough taking my second guinea pig to be cremated (on the way to work - box, double-bag) - but this bunny is heavy. She’s already had tumors removed, so she can obviously get sick. Much as I love small animals, I told my friend I would not pay for a vet to tell me Bunny was dying. It sounds cruel, but if he wants me to take his pet in, well, I can only do (and afford) so much.
In the meantime, I’ll provide her with all the best caring, love, and food a bunny could ever hope for.
According to AOL’s pet guide it’s 5-10 years. If they’re anything like ferrets (which are supposed to- according to my ferret book- have the same life span) yours will live a long life, barring illness and disease, if they’re well taken care of and well loved. My brother’s ferret lived seven years after he got him, and Fang was estimated to be between 2 and 3 when we adopted him from ferret rescue; my little Claudia was born in 95’ and is still “young” from all outward appearances Good luck with Peanut!
I had two baby guinea pigs. First, there was Polpetta (Italian for “meatball”, because when curled up, she looked like one), then a few months later, Priscilla (wild, long hair).
Polpetta died at about four years old, probably from cancer, because when I rolled her over, I felt a lump in one of her teats.
Priscilla kept marching (“wheep wheep wheep!”) on until she was six and half years old. She didn’t suffer like Polpetta did (that was agonizing for me). She was fine on Saturday, squeaking for more spinach, and running around. Sunday morning, she was dead. I was told it was probably of natural causes, such as a heart attack.
It’s kind of morbid, but I wanted her to go out in style. (She dererved it.) So I shampooed her hair and clipped her nails, before bringing her to the vet to be cremated. But I can never use Herbal Essences shampoo again. It brings me back to that horrible time.
In any case, I gave both of my piggies the best lives possible, and I plan to do so with Bunny. She’ll be here within an hour.
Bunny is here. My friend brought over the BunnyCondo®, her new-and-improved litter box, and food for her.
She doesn’t seem freaked out. She’s stretched out under the couch, having a nice Bunny nap. She’s got lots of food and water, but I don’t think she’ll be hopping around for a while.
She took a nap under my couch, so I took a nap on the floor, next to her. (Bonding thing, I guess). When I woke up, she was hopping around the place, exploring the new environment. She hasn’t chewed anything so far (knock wood). Just as I was posting, she used her litterbox. This is a good thing, because I won’t need to re-train her.
I just have to watch her over the long weekend to make sure nothing goes awry…
She’ll no doubt be in the Montreal/QueerDope pics… until then, I’ll see what I can do. I have a couple of pics of her from five years ago on my hard drive, if anyone’s interested.
It’s weird to go from animal-less to having another pet. It’s been almost two years since my guinea pig Priscilla died , and I got used to not having to take care of anyone else but myself. But now that Bunny’s here, I find myself talking to her, looking for her when she’s hopped off somewhere, stroking her when she’s napping, and, obviously, posting about her.
Right now she’s napping in the middle of my living room, as opposed to under the couch. This is a good sign. It means she’s not afraid of a new environment anymore.
I slept on the couch in my living room last night, to be close to her. I’ll retire to my bedroom soon, but I just wanted her to know I was nearby.
She’s been an absolute angel. She hasn’t chewed anything, even though at my desk I’ve got wires and cords hanging all around. She’s been drinking from her water bottle, and as I write this, is eating a carrot. I checked her litterbox to make sure she’s been pooping, first of all, and in the right place. (How parental of me.) No poops elsewhere so far.
She’s been following me around, hopping about. My friend told me he didn’t give her much affection for the past few years, so she just kind of existed to be fed. But he told me if I gave her affection, she’d be back to her old self again. I’ve been doing so, and even though it’s been less than 24 hours, I’m loving having her again.
Even though she has the run of the house, she’s still dependent on me. It gives me a sense of responsibility, and makes me be less selfish.
She’s even more active now. I slept in rather late, but as soon as I was up and about, she was hopping around, following me. I spent some time petting her and telling her I loved her. She’s been sniffing me, and some of my clothes I have draped over a chair in my bedroom. I take this as a sign of familiarization.
Anyway, she hasn’t chewed anything, and hasn’t pooped anywhere other than her litterbox. This is good. I’ll have to make it to the grocery store tomorrow to get her some apples and stuff, but in the meantime, she seems happy with her pellets and carrots.
Guin - I just gave her a big hug, and said it was from you!
Anyway, it’s like 50 million degrees here, and humid as as all hell, so Bunny’s pretty lazy today, as am I. She’s kind of unresponsive, but I would be too if I were covered in fur on a hot day like today. But really, the heat is almost unbearable for me (I’m next to naked here - sorry, TMI) so I don’t know if I should do something for her… Here comes a GQ…
Bunnies DO NOT sweat, so they can over heat and get heat stroke rather easily. Do you have air conditioning? If not, use a fan and try not to let too much sunlight in and make sure she has plenty of water.
Glad to hear that Bunny’s doing well, and that she recognizes you and all that. Sounds like she’s adapting pretty well… give her lots of love and affection.
However, he’ll be staying with different people, so I have to take in Bunny.
, and I got used to not having to take care of anyone else but myself. But now that Bunny’s here, I find myself talking to her, looking for her when she’s hopped off somewhere, stroking her when she’s napping, and, obviously, posting about her.