Bunny Rabbit World View
The vision for this website is two-prong:
- First: A place to encourage people to become bunny rabbit owners by providing the necessary information needed.
- Second: To coordinate a collabrative community of bunny rabbit lovers the world over. In doing so, it is our desire to make this web site as fun and entertaining as our bunny rabbits.
We love cottontails and hares (and all animals) but it is those cute, snuggly, inquisitive, soft and gentle pet bunny rabbits that have won our heart. They are the stars of this web site, and the ones that will be showcased.
It is our desire to make Rabbit World View the Grand Central Station for bunny rabbit lovers everywhere. You are invited to get on board The Bunny Rabbit Express and participate in all its ever-expanding activities. Together let us keep abreast with all the latest discoveries being made about these furry little love balls of happiness.
We, David & Linda, as the web masters of this site, definitely qualify as bunny rabbit lovers. One visit to our home will prove it, for it is a virtual display of all kinds of rabbits, adorned from top to bottom, inside and out, with thousands of bunny items we have been collecting since the 1980's. Our neighbors call us “The Bunny House” but we like to refer to ourselves as “The Mid-South Bunny Museum”. Plan to visit us sometime and take "The Magical Bunny Tour". Each season offers a different set of items. The tour is free but you need confirmation in advance. We have owned six bunnies over our 30 years of marriage, two of which we rescued.
We desire your help in spreading the good news about what wonderful pets bunny rabbits are when properly understood and provided for. Please opt-in to our Newsletter so you too can share what life is like living with a bunny rabbit. Help us in our mission to awaken our fellow man to the joys these special creatures of God give. We know it takes a special person to be the guardian of a pet bunny rabbit because bunny rabbit owners are a special breed themselves.
Bunny Proofing
It is no secret rabbits are chewers and diggers, which makes bunny proofing your bunny’s play area essential - that is if you value your furniture, carpet and books. There are practical solutions to this situation so you and your animal friend can live together in harmony. Rabbit companion owners have turned bunny proofing into a science.
The number one defense against your bunny’s “chewing machine” is distraction.
Rabbits are much more curious than cats. They can not help but investigate every new thing placed in their environment. This makes coming up with bunny toy ideas easy. For instance, crumple up a piece of notebook paper and throw it on the floor - Presto, a new bunny toy.
Our bunny loves to tear at the pages and make a mess. When playtime is over it only takes a minute to clean up the shredded paper. It sure beats picking up carpet fibers (which can be harmful to a bunny’s delicate digestive system). Magazines work well also (newspapers can get ink on bunny’s fur).
These make for great items for our bunny to chew on, as well as good exercise by having to jump inside where there are more toy s to play with and hay to nibble on. When playtime is over, the baskets make a good place to store all the bunny toys
We purchased a four foot long concrete forming tube at Home Depot (choose diameter according to the size of your rabbit). We painted it to match the color of bunny’s play area. She loves to explore it, run through it, and sometimes camp out inside (rabbits in the wild live in burrows). The neat thing about this tunnel is that when not in use it sets up on its end, easily placed out of everyone’s way.
Anything made of cardboard makes for a bunny toy. The inside cores of toilet paper and paper towels are fun for our bunny to toss around. Just a strip of cardboard in the cage makes for a bunny toy. Empty tissue boxes, cracker boxes, etc. are potential bunny toys.
Are little “tents” that can be purchased at a pet store and attached to each other. Our bunny loves to camp out inside and munch on hay. Sometimes she runs through them like a tunnel. These cat cubes are super light and attractive.
Here is where a person can really get inventive. Tape boxes together (do not us tacks) and make multi-storied bunny condos, but make very sure they are secure so bunny cannot fall. Be sure to make lots of doors and windows. Boxes make for good hiding places, much better than behind couches or under easy chairs. Our bunny loves to dig in the boxes.
The Pet Rabbit Speaks
The Pet Rabbit here at your service. It is my purpose to help you make a decision about whether or not to become the owner of a pet rabbit. And if you already are an owner of a pet rabbit, then it is my hope I will be able to give you some insights that will help you enjoy your little friend even more.
First of all, let me explain myself. I’m a big “fraidy-cat”, I mean “fraidy-rabbit”. Let’s face it, I’m among the lowest links in the food chain. I have more predators after my body than Heinz has varieties. I’m a very cautious creature (its hard-wired into my genes). I get it from my relatives who live in the wild (feral rabbits), who, to help insure their survival spend hours a day grazing on roots, grass and vegetables under the cover of darkness. This is why God has equipped us with large eyes on the side of our head. These eyes are eight times more sensitive to light than yours, and each has 190 degrees field of vision so we can see behind us - a pretty cool trick, don’t you think? This is why if you reach out with your hand to pet us in the nose area it will startle us because this is our blind spot. Just aim for the top of our head and we will let you pet us, ... and pet us, ... and pet us - we love to be petted! So, yes, I am a nervous type and I frighten easily - that is, until I learn to trust you.
We bunny rabbits are a sociable lot (sometimes 70 - 120 in a warren, with 3 - 10 in a family), not as sociable as dogs, but much more sociable than cats. We domesticated bunnies love to interact with our owners, hear their voices, and entertain them. We are not ornamental pets by any stretch of the imagination. When you bring one of us home, please give us time to bond with you and your home. The more we are outside of our cage and among you, the more our personalities flourish.
And as much as we do like to be petted, we really don’t like being picked up. But since you can’t resist (because we are so cute, soft and snuggly), be sure to pick us up in a secure manner. Do this by putting one hand under our chest and the other under our rear, then with one motion scoop us up into your arms (don’t squeeze too hard - our backs and legs injure easily) and hold us closely to your chest with our head securely against your arm. If we struggle by kicking our hind legs it is usually because we are afraid, so talk to us and assure us everything is OK. You do not want our hind legs dangling - you could get scratched. And of course, keep on with the petting (they don’t call me the “Pet Rabbit” for nothing).
Since we are prey animals we like to eat and play in the morning and in the evening. We like routine. We don't mind being quiet and restive during the day hours. This makes us perfect pets for working people. We also make great companions for elderly people.
Training a rabbit to chew only in appropriate places takes patience and time. Refrain from yelling (and never hit your bunny) when “crimes” are committed. Your rabbit is only doing what comes natural. Just use the word “No” in a strong way. Your bunny will learn that word the same as a child does. The more time your bunny spends out of her cage being socialized, the more her personality will flourish - and this includes her feelings. She will know when you are not pleased with her behavior.
Supervision of your bunny is key, and bunny proofing your house is a necessity. As time passes everyone learns their place. In the rabbit’s culture, position is based on dominance and hierarchy. Your bunny will learn you are the head of the warren, and bunny proofing the bunny’s play area will help make for a happy household.
