thinking of getting 1-2 bunnies as pets but live in flat, any advice?

[bonacara]

Hi, We cannot have dogs, but thinking about getting 1 or possibly 2 bunnies as pets. Anybody has bunnies who can give some advice, anybody againts it and why, would they be happy indoors with no direct access to garden? etc. any suggestions, ideas and comments welcome. thanks.

[lilolil]

http://gbhrescue.webs.com/aboutus.htm

I have had two rabbits from here. They are very helpful with lots of good advice

[Jessie]

They sound like v useful rabbits

[lilolil]

They are ....LOL

[computedshorty]

Rabbits are outdoor pets, if you have seen them in the wild you will have noticed the droppings ( currents ) their urine will not be seen, but should you keep them inside your enclosed home that smell will soon overcome your enthusiasm to live along side them, left uncleaned by just one day will make you want to get them a new home, are you prepared to try it?

[Saffron]

You can litter train rabbits. Or, are you suggesting that the soiled litter is the source of the smell? Try a woodpellet litter. Better odour absorption even than the crystal ones.

[aquarius moon]

I used to keep indoor rabbits in a large pet run. I put two litter trays inside filled with something called Russel rabbit bedding which is soft & quite absorbent. The rabbits used one tray for sitting in & the other other as a toilet.

They tend to always use the same place for doing a wee.

I think it's only un-neutered male rabbits that have strong smelling urine. You also can't keep these together because they are prone to fighting.

As for having no access to a garden, a lot of house rabbits live in flats, so they should be fine. You can buy a product called Kitty Grass, which is a little container containing grass seed. You just add water & it grows into grass that you can feed your rabbits as a treat.

[bonacara]

Thanks everyone, all great info. We will def. visit the rescue place in Beckenham. Now I just need to convince hubby. ;)

[Hannah1988]

Word of warning...

My sister had a house rabbit, trained it to do its business in a certain spot, cleaned it out regular and all that.

Her place still stank of rabbit though, and it chewed the wallpaper, the skirting board and all sorts.

[Jeremy]

If you let them out around the house they will gnaw at EVERYTHING, including cables.

[Gidget]

I had an outdoor bunny as a child - I now realise I should have had 2 but didn't know that then - and I used to bring her in the house all the time because I could see that she was lonely. She did run around, hide behind furniture and chew any cable she could find. She also left a trail of poo pellets behind. Unless you are prepared for that then perhaps you should think about guinea pigs or rats as indoor pets. Or what about rehoming an older cat who is used to being indoors?

[Michael Palaeologus]

A friend of mine in Thailand had an indoor rabbit. It was trained to pee and poo in a tray, which it did. However when the tray had to be moved, Momo (the bunny) was confused and proceeded to pee and poo all over the flat.

My friend decided to take Momo to her parents place. They have a farm in the north of Thailand. Friend and her Fiancee drove all the way up country to deliver Momo to freedom.

Momo loved his new life in the great outdoors, briefly. He was bitten by a bloody great snake. Momo died.

Remember, indoor bunnies are for life etc, etc, ad nauseum.

[Gidget]

So no mongoose to kill the snake?

[Michael Palaeologus]

Your common mongoose is not found in Thailand. Not sure about the more refined varieties.

[roxie99]

If you want a good smell, what about a ferret or two?