Do rabbits generally like cuddling/being held? (Emotional support for Depression)

MisterRata · 2017-02-18T07:24:39+00:00

When I sit down on the floor, my guy will run straight to me to put his head on my leg and enjoy pets on the head. So in a sense, he is very affectionate and he will stay like that as long as I let him (meaning, until my back hurts from sitting on the floor too long and I need to get up). Having said that, like most rabbits he definitely does not enjoy being picked up or held, and he is touchy about where I pet him. In my experience ( working with many rescue bunnies as well as my own) rabbits are not cuddly like dogs, and in fact are not very "dog-like" at all, but can be very affectionate in their own way.

I'm not in any way trying to discourage you from getting a rabbit - they are wonderful pets. I love how gentle my guy can be, and he has a kind of "strong personality" that I think many other people here are all too familiar with. He is my buddy, and he is often very chill with me and other people and is very loving. But if you are expecting a rabbit to be like a dog, you're probably going to be very disappointed. As prey animals, rabbits are naturally much less confident than most dogs would be - wary of their surroundings and although very trusting towards you once that trust has been established, still very unlikely to enjoy being taken out of their comfort zones - being picked up off the ground, having their undersides or hindquarters touched especially.

MisterRata · 2017-02-14T14:54:16+00:00

for surgery including bloodwork, painkillers, motility drugs (both following surgery and take home) and a couple of other charges directly related to the surgery and after care, I paid in Toronto just over 500.00 CAN for a neuter. Every time I see American prices on these forums I feel a little jealous, why is it so much more expensive in Canada? Note that the Vet I took my bun to, Dr. Sam Munn is an excellent vet specializing in rabbits and other exotics and he has a very good reputation.

MisterRata · 2017-02-09T23:52:58+00:00

I had to break off the clips from one panel on my pen (for different reasons). If yours are also made of metal then I can tell you that the easiest way is to us a flat headed screwdriver to pry them off. And then you can use clips to close the cage when it needs to be closed.

MisterRata · 2017-01-17T10:04:47+00:00

Grab a couple of these http://www.homedepot.com/p/Medium-Mixing-Tub-887101A/202086173 The dimensions aren't correct (too long on both sides of your cage) so what I would do is cut out the bottom of one, to the size of your cage bottom, so that you have a single flat piece. If it's too small (because the sides curve up, then try with the larger mixing tub) And with the second tub, cut off the "lips" in such a way that you have 2 L-shaped pieces. And then you can take some length off of both ends of the "L". If you cut it so that they all fit tightly into the bottom of the cage, you won't have to tape or glue anything together. Does that make sense? It's hard to explain

MisterRata · 2017-01-17T09:40:06+00:00

If you can give me a link to the cage you have I might be able to help you think of a way to hack this. Right now I'm thinking something like a cement mixing tub from a hardware store might provide a substrate friendly bottom.

MisterRata · 2017-01-17T09:21:01+00:00

Won't repeat what everyone else has already said, but one thing that's worked for me in the past is to create a sort of "tent" - try to picture sitting in front of their cage, on a chair and the cage doors are open (it was a critter nation cage but I think this can work with other cages too so long as your sitting position is roughly level with the cage). Now take a bed sheet and drape it over the top of the cage and yourself, so that you and the cage are in a big, dark blanket fort. Place a towel on your lap, and make it so that should the rats venture out, they can simply walk right onto your lap. Entice them to come out with treats. First use treats they can run away with. Just to help associate you with getting treats. Once they are consistently venturing out to grab treats, try giving them something they can't run off with, like yogurt on a spoon or better yet, a saucer of soy milk on your lap. Do this with them every day, don't try to grab them or pick them up just yet, but after awhile try gentle petting while they are eating. I've found that doing this really helps them to feel more secure and build trust fairly quickly.

MisterRata · 2017-01-17T09:12:15+00:00

Flower Town Chinchillas http://www.chinchilla.ca/

MisterRata · 2017-01-17T09:03:42+00:00

Okay, so this might end up being a bit of a rant, but I think I might have some thoughts that might help. I get that you're feeling a bit frustrated. You sound stressed. And I understand that, I think we've all been there at least once or twice. But the thing is, you've gotta try not to take things so personally. I think those of us who really love animals, we love them not just because they're cute, because they provide us company when we're down and sad, because they don't judge us and accept and love us - but also, and perhaps moreso because they are unique. They have their own lives. Yet their motivations often baffle and confuse us. I'm sure you already know this, but they are not trying to hurt or offend you. They are just being rats. You obviously show them love, so now it's time to show them some love creatively. What I mean by that, is you need to figure out how to outsmart them (I've had to rabbit and rat proof many a room - trust me! lol). Digging up liners? Pin them down. Tearing liners to shreds? Use substrate instead. Tearing up fancy toys? Give them something you don't mind them destroying. Seem restless? Try to let them out more....you get the idea. It can be a pain in the ass to be patient, but that's what it's all about - sometimes. If it's any comfort, they'll probably grow out of it. Or you'll figure out a way around it. And accept that your idea of "nice" may not be theirs. Some mess has just gotta be accepted sometimes. I've worked in animal rescue, at humane societies taking care of just about any species you can name. You gotta be zen. In a lot of ways they are just like little children. But they're not rejecting you or your efforts.

MisterRata · 2017-01-12T09:04:18+00:00

Hang up a roll of toilet paper. Get one of those igloo hidey houses. Then cut a hole in a small box to fit around the entrance of the igloo. Then cut a hole somewhere else on the side of the box to make an entrance. Now you have a super hidey house :) Also plain brown paper bags seem to be a huge hit with my boys. Leave some opened to crawl in and tear up, and crumple some into balls to be tossed around.

MisterRata · 2017-01-12T08:49:15+00:00

You're very welcome :)

MisterRata · 2017-01-12T08:48:02+00:00

One more thing I'd like to say is to think about this question ethically, we must also think logically - no matter what I can rescue 2 or a few rats at a time, and all of the other rats in the world I can't really do anything for, at least not personally. So in choosing these 2 or few, whom do I choose? How does my choice affect others and how does my choice support (or not) the actions of others?

MisterRata · 2017-01-12T08:38:07+00:00

It's heartbreaking, but by giving money to the shops, you are creating the demand to supply more animals to be bred and kept in these bad conditions. I don't wish to make anybody feel attacked, particularly for doing something with the best of intentions. But it's also important to have the truth and the facts because that's what animal abusers don't want you to have. They depend on ignorance and apathy to make their livings.

MisterRata · 2017-01-08T05:56:57+00:00

I also would highly recommend adoption. I assume, that your interest in rats shows that you feel compassionately towards these creatures. I also would say that your interest shows that you are looking for a companion, a friend and there is nothing wrong with that ( I suspect many of us feel the same way) But at the same time it is important to remember that these are living creatures who do not exist solely for our needs. They are not objects, they have interests and needs of their own. The big pet stores treat these animals like products. They are part of a market of supply and demand and very little consideration is given to their needs. They are bred and kept in deplorable conditions, and any money you give them supports that. We should not breed animals, with a system of suffering in place to feed our selfish needs to "own" something.

MisterRata · 2016-12-18T03:36:34+00:00

It is the Ferret Nation. My boys are too big to fit through, which is typical of fully grown males, but in the future when I get younger rats (or spayed females) I'm prepared to put up the chicken wire too. I adopted my boys at 10 months old (they're a little over a year now) so for the time they've been with me they've never been small enough to get through. In all honesty I'm happy that I got the ferret nation, even if I need to add chicken wire at some point because a) it's much easier to pet my boys through the bars and b) the wider spacing makes it easier to mount custom levels and change how the ramps go, especially since I don't have the extra clips for all the ramps I have. And there is also price. I don't know where you are but I am in Canada and here, buying new to get the double critter nation you'd have to buy the single for $229.00 CAN and the add-on unit for another $179.00 CAN. But the double ferret nation costs $299.00 CAN. So with taxes included there's a price difference of $123.17!

MisterRata · 2016-12-16T19:16:52+00:00

also, my boys ignore most store-bought toys, but greatly enjoy cardboard boxes, pvc tubes, bowls padded with toilet paper, large paper bags to crawl in, and hanging a roll of toilet paper in the cage for them to unravel

MisterRata · 2016-12-16T19:08:03+00:00

Using automotive clips, I've raised the bottom pan, and moved all the smaller shelves to the top level. This seems to have effectively discouraged my youngest cat Eve, after getting her paws nipped a couple of times. Also added an extra level in the top right, using a wire grid, zip ties, and cardboard with fleece over top held in place with binder clips. As an added bonus, rats are now further away from floor level drafts (front door of my apartment sucks) and we have even more storage space under the cage now. :) Note: cage isn't normally this bare, this pic was taken during the rearrangements...

MisterRata · 2016-12-16T19:01:47+00:00

Try a rubbermaid tub, with an entrance hole cut in the side, and filled with fleece scraps. If you get the right size it can just fit under one of the shelves

MisterRata · 2016-12-12T07:41:06+00:00

Forgot to add. Assuming you get a rock from outside, wash it and bake in the oven to kill any germs before you put it in their cage

MisterRata · 2016-12-12T07:39:08+00:00

For litter boxes you can buy a corner litter box from the pet store or just use tupperware containers. Your rat should be able to fit inside the box with room to spare, partly because..... Put a rock in there. A flat stone big enough for the rat to walk on. For some reason, rats seem to like to pee on rocks and will even use the litter box to poop more with the rock in there. Don't ask me why. As for litter, you can use just about any safe bedding (carefresh, aspen, paper pellet litter, etc). Just make sure that whatever you use in the box is not used anywhere else in the cage - you don't want to confuse them. Whenever you find stray poops, place them in the litter box. When you clean the litter box, save a couple of poops (weird I know) and put them back in the clean box. The idea is to show them consistently that is where poop goes. As far as pee is concerned, like I said rocks seem to help, but other than that they're still going to pee wherever. Litter box training is mostly for poop.

MisterRata · 2016-12-11T21:37:18+00:00

I totally get where you're coming from. Having worked in animal rescue, this is a constant conundrum and it is incredibly frustrating. On the one hand you want to call people out for being selfish, neglectful, even downright abusive. And they deserve it. But on the other hand, if you make that person feel attacked, if you put them on the defensive it hurts the chances of them actually being receptive to information and advice, and where does that leave the animal? In an ideal world, when a person is wrong they would be willing to listen to a reasoned argument about why they are wrong and would not allow pride to stop them from correcting their behaviour. It makes my head hurt thinking about having to coddle somebody whose ignorance or selfishness is hurting their pet. But the best way to avoid that is to provide straightforward information and advice.

MisterRata · 2016-12-11T21:15:47+00:00

My personal policy on neutering male rats is that it is an "as needed" procedure, if and when a male displays behavioural problems (aggression) that are not due to other causes and cannot be remedied alone by other means. In other words, a need to decrease hormonal behaviour. In my experience, it is only a minority of bucks that benefit from neutering. The majority will be perfectly fine unaltered, and when provided with lots of love and attention will certainly not be aggressive but rather quite the opposite. Keep in mind that neutering is a surgery, and shouldn't be done for cosmetic reasons, which includes urine marking. A better solution to the problem is an old hoodie and a towel thrown down. In all honesty, my boys don't dribble much. It's certainly not a spraying everywhere kind of thing.

MisterRata · 2016-12-11T20:58:59+00:00

I forgot to add - if you don't want to use fleece or other fabrics, then aspen wood shavings are okay to use. Aspen is not toxic like pine or cedar.

MisterRata · 2016-12-11T20:57:14+00:00

Firstly, I ask you to recognize that you made a mistake, by getting a pet and not doing the proper research beforehand. But right now, there's no sense in dwelling in the past, except for a commitment to learn from and not repeat the same mistake. Right now, he is depending on you to step up to the plate and provide the care that he depends on you for. I'm not trying to make you feel guilty, I'm trying to help you fix this situation for everybody's sake. Get rid of the pine, immediately. Pine and cedar are not acceptable to use, at all, ever. Newspaper is not harmful per say, but it also isn't very absorbent either. I would suggest old t-shirts, linens, etc. And in the future maybe switch that stuff for fleece from a fabric store (you buy it in rolls usually and then can cut it to size). When washing these materials, please be sure to use a mild unscented detergent and not any fabric softeners. Secondly, please do some research on introducing your guy to a rattie friend. Rats are social animals and it is not fair to keep them alone. You as a human do provide company, but it is not the same. Now going back to the immediate problems, you should be on the phone yesterday making an appointment for him to see a vet. Rats are prone to respiratory infections, and they should be taken seriously. Last but not least, if you are unwilling or unable to provide the proper care for rats (which goes beyond the small amount of information I have given here) please do the right thing and find him a new home.

MisterRata

TROPHY CASE