Flopsy And Mopsy-A Mistaken Identity
Never Buy A Pair Of Rabbits Till You're Sure What They Are
I suppose that buying or getting a pet without really thinking about it first is never a good idea. But sometimes, we get a pet out of impulse and then we learn too late we have made a huge mistake. I have always have had a passion for animals, and have loved pets and that's how Flopsy and Mopsy came into my life. They were an impulse. Who knew two little fur balls could have caused so much disruption in one life ?
It started innocently enough when a friend of mine asked me if I wanted to go to a livestock sale. I said , why not. sounded like fun-something different. I love animals, so seeing goats and other small animals would be fun. He had a mini farm with some small animals and wanted to get a few more chicken. So, off we went.
Once we got there and headed to the bunnies, I got really intrigued with them. The flop ear rabbits were sweet as good be. So a long conversation started with the breeder about having them as pets. We talked , walked and my heart had gone out to a sweet pair of black bunnies. Cage and all, I headed home for what I thought was going to be a long term arrangement
One of the things that I learned was that if you are going to have a pair of rabbits, you need to have them neutered and spayed for obvious reasons- rabbits breed
New Duel Debate Module
Would you or have you ever had a pet rabbit
The First Problem With The Bunnies
Munching On The Lamp Cords and Every Cord In Sight
What the breeder never told me is that bunnies like to chew ! Holy cow, did they chew. I did not want to make them stay in the cage all day, so when I got home from work, I would let them out to play and get some exercise. Well, like I said, no one told me about their habit of chewing, and trust me they chew on everything ! I started to notice some of the cords on my lamps and other appliances were getting frayed. Then I started noticing edges on the corners of my room had marks. Then I started to get concerned when I saw some furniture had scratches on the lower end of the furniture. But I thought I could train them not to do it, at least that's what I thought.
Another thing that I found out is that they are very delicate and can easily have a heart attack. Seeing predators or even children can get them very upset.
The Litter Box Issue
They Told Me They Could Be Trained
So, as hard as I tried, despite everything I tried, I thought I could train my bunnies to use the litter box. At least that's what I was told. Well, maybe I wasn't using the right litter or the right technique, but no matter what I did, it just didn't happen. Maybe it was a matter of patience. I never had a problem training cats, but the bunnies had real issues with the potty training idea Guess what I later found out? Domesticated rabbits actually keep their cages clean. All you have to do is clean the newspaper up
The Final Straw
Pardon My Pun
One of my thoughts when I bought the rabbits home was that it would be a good and enriching experience for my grandkids. Well, in one sense it was. The kids learned about handling animals. But there was one lesson that I had not planned on them learning. I was in the living room and the grandkids wanted to pet the bunnies. So I let the bunnies out so the kids could enjoy them. I also thought the rabbits would start to really get used to be handled. I went into the kitchen to make a cup of tea. I had told the kids not to pick them up, just let me know if they were eating on anything. It was rather quite in the living room, till the kids started laughing and making noises. Finally, my granddaughter yelled out, "Grandma, the rabbits are doing a funny dance." It was that moment that I knew that the breeder had lied to me. It was in that moment that I knew I had made a big mistake. I called my friend who agreed to take my bunny pair. Mopsy and Flopsy had a new home for them and their bunny brood.
Rabbits need at least 3-4 hours out of their cages to exercise and that can be a time committement
My New Pet Rabbits - A Lesson Learned
Every Easter people go out and buy rabbits and chicks for their kids and grandchildren. For me, the rabbits as pets just weren't a good fit. I was lucky enough to know someone who was able to take them and give them the home they needed. I am not saying that you should not consider rabbits as pets, what I am saying is you should not make a pet a casual emotional decision as I did. All pets require time, attention and care. If you decide to get a pet, please make a forever home for your new family member
Rabbit Raising Resources
Rabbits were not a good choice for me, but they may be a good choice for you. If you are thinking about rabbits, here are some resources, I wish that I had known about.
- Raising Rabbits
What a great resource. Has everything you have wanted to know about raising rabbits. Wish I had found this one, for sure - Rabbits For Pets
Another great resource I wish that I had read ahead of time
Have you ever raised a rabbit? Or maybe made a not perfect choice about a pet? We'd love to hear your thoughts about the topic. Thanks for stopping by !