Bonding Bunnies

Since West's demise, we have been seriously considering finding another companion for Claire because we are worried that she will feel lonely while we're at work. We found a suitable candidate, Inkie, a Netherland Dwarf who has the same colour as Claire. Inkie is about 3-4 years old and lives with Claire's nanny. She is a very inquisitive little bunny who will hop around sniffing here and there... very very cute =)

Claire seems fine to have her as a friend but not to "share her house". On the first day, I return home from the office (had some clients to meet) and to my horror, there was pee and poo all over the enclosure! We initially thought Inkie is not toilet-trained but later realised that the culprit was Claire! bunnies pee and poo to mark territory. She must have been really upset to have someone in "her territory". West used to be quite a bully and she was sad for a few days after he was gone but became kinda more lively and happier that the tyrant is no longer around LOL so perhaps she is afraid that Inkie will be another tyrant.

So for the time being, we a cage in the enclosure for Inkie so they can have contact yet they each have their own space. (Note that when keeping bunnies in a cage, it is important to place a resting board in the cage because prolonged standing on wired flooring is very bad for bunnies' soft paws. Unlike dogs and cats, bunnies do not have padded paws so may get a condition called sore hocks).

This seems to have solved the problem of Claire feeling the need to mark territory. It's going to take time for Inkie to gain Claire's trust so that we can put them together =)

chris: hm... Claire seems so docile.... didn't expect her to be so territorial.
me: You bring another woman home lor, see if i will be territorial...
chris: -.-??? (a bit cow head not match horse mouth...)

This afternoon, we found them grooming each other which is a wonderful sign! Bunnies groom each other when they feel comfortable =) It's kinda like humans. Our sphere of personal space decreases as we become closer to the other person. We will sit closer to people we like and even touch, hug them etc.



Let's hope for the best! Claire and Inkie, FIGHTING! *(^_^)*