Welcome to the Bun-agerie!
Hey there, Athens.
My name is Pat, and I'm glad to know you. I've decided to take up this "blogging" thing for a while and see how it goes, so first things first, let me tell you a little about myself:
"For those who do not know, no explanation is possible; for those who do, none is necessary."
Uh, okay, that's a bit standoff-ish, and not terribly helpful, isn't it? Maybe I could just say that I'm a middle-aged (not-quite) Southern man, previously married, a father of children, a veteran in more than one sense, an enjoyer of music, and most importantly, a lover of bunnies.
Ummm, right. Okay. You know, rabbits. I like them. Not THAT way! But yeah. Er.
I tell you what: I'll blog about my rabbits (and other pets), and you can tell me if I'm nuts, or just off my rocker. We can swap stories and ideas about our pets and such, because although I have some experience, I don't consider myself an expert, and I'm sure I can learn far more from you all than you can from me. And hey, pets are fun! Who doesn't like to talk (and hear!) about how great our Fuzzykins are?
Mostly, I just hope to inform, entertain, and pass a little time over the back fence here with my North Georgia neighbors. I look forward to meeting all of you, and hearing about your furry (scaly, feathery, etc.) friends in the days to come. So from my menagerie to yours, be happy, be well, and don't be a stranger.
- PT
Dave Ballard
3:36 pm on Sunday, July 29, 2012
Welcome, Pat. I personally think bunnies are much more fun than watching people argue over religion. I look forward to your posts.
Rebecca McCarthy
5:58 pm on Sunday, July 29, 2012
Pat,
one of my daughters has about 20 toy bunnies, including a Pat the Bunny Bunny. We have a Snowshoe Siamese cat, a real live one. If we were to get a bunny as a pet, what kind should we get? I would like one that gets along with the cat and one that either is large enough, or which will be large enough, so that the cat can't injure it. Any recommendations? Thanks.
Pat Thomas
9:22 pm on Sunday, July 29, 2012
Rebecca, my knee-jerk reaction "a rescued one," but let me try to be more specific. Your situation brings up two very important interactions: the one between bunnies and other species of pets, and the one between bunnies and children. Making these introductions depends a lot less on the exact breed than it does the process that's followed.
In both cases, it's important that the bun(s) have a place where they can be safe from harm whether or not you're watching. This can take the form of a bunny condo, or a large cat carrier, for example, but whatever is used must allow the bun(s) to be safely out of reach of little fingers and claws when no one is looking.
Also, your bun(s) should not be out and about the house unsupervised until ALL parties - pets, kids and bun(s) alike - have made it clear that they understand each others' rules. This takes gradually introducing everyone in neutral areas over the first weeks and months, and being ready to step in the moment things start to spiral.
For you specifically, Rebecca, as long as your bun(s) are at least half the size of the cat, I wouldn't think there'd be any serious difficulties between them. And as long as you make it clear to your daughter that bunnies are NOT stuffed animals (most seriously dislike being held, especially at first), she should be fine with some guidance and supervision.
I'll definitely be covering these topics in detail later on!
Dave Ballard
3:01 pm on Monday, July 30, 2012
I tend to agree, Pat. Rabbits breeds (so I'm told) are more about looks and size, and much less about behavior. Adult bunnies that have been fixed by 6 months of age (yep, they're adults at that point!) also tend to be more sociable, and a lot less territorial - basically, less nipping at fingers and ankles, less digging and grunting, and a whole lot less "marking."
Pat Thomas
7:13 pm on Monday, July 30, 2012
Imagine judging likely HUMAN behavior by looks alone, right Dave? I've seen the "typical" Rex with her lush coat and towering, regal temper, but I've also seen some that were as sweet as pecan pie. (Juuuust a little nutty!)
The only general tempermental characteristics that I've seen reliably is that bigger rabbits tend (tend, mind you) to be more laid back than the smaller ones, fixed tend to be friendlier and less agressive (they're ALWAYS happier - I'll explain how you can tell later on), and boys tend to be sweeter than girls. But even in the last case, I've personally seen the exception in my own house.
As with any potential pet, it's best not to judge the book by the cover!