Now when people think pets, most people think automatically of cats or dogs. But there are plenty of other pets out there. I’ve owned quite a few. Being a teacher, a science one at that, lead to a lot of pets over the years. We always had hamsters and guinea pigs that parents generously dumped (I mean donated) on the classroom when they got tired of taking care of them. Which I would then recycle to another family at the end of the year. I’ve owned Chinchillas (super cute, but not very hardy). I’ve owned Sugar Gliders (mini flying squirrels for those who don’t know). And many, many a bunny rabbit. I used to actually volunteer for rabbit rescue and seemed to collect all of the rabbits that no one would take…otherwise known as the problem children. 🙂
My current rabbit has quite the story; you can read about it here. But basically is the most expensive rabbit I have ever owned thanks to very expensive eye issues. But he is my pet and therefore my responsibility. For the first year he was kind of a pain, but has since mellowed out and turned into quite the lovable cuddle bunny. He is way too smart for his own good, and I will never get him another rabbit as I fear it will turn into the Pinky and the Brain show. As it stands now, I am pretty sure he spends every night trying to figure out how to take over the world.
He’s a whopping 2 ½ pounds, and yet my cocker spaniel is afraid of him when he growls at her…or farts (yes, rabbits fart…loudly). Which causes my skittish cocker to go running, often slamming herself into the door. He’s a pain at feeding time, eating his favorite pieces first and then dumping out the rest to pretend his bowl is empty. Doesn’t work and I just refill it with the stuff he doesn’t like as much. He walks on a leash which is always fun as people just never know what to think of that.
He may be small but he has the heart the size of a horse. What about you? Do you own a non-conventional furbaby? If so, what?
Bunny Treats
1 small carrot, pureed
1/2 banana, mashed until really creamy
1 tbsp honey
1/4 cup rabbit pellets, ground finely in a coffee grinder
1/4 cup ground oats, ground finely in a coffee grinder
Mix pureed carrot, banana and honey in a medium bowl. Add pellet powder and ground oats. Mix until blended. Knead in your hands for 1-2 minutes. Roll out the “dough” in 1/8- to 1/4-inch thick layers between sheets of plastic wrap. Cut into small cookies (about 3/4 inch across). Place cut shapes onto a parchment paper covered cookie sheet. Bake at 325 degrees for about 30 minutes (check to make sure they are not browning too much). Turn off the heat and let the cookies sit in the warm oven for an hour or so.
Ginny says
Fun recipe – thanks for posting. We have three silver martins we adopted from a rescue society after our first rabbit died at the ripe old age of 11. He was the best bunny ever. These guys are good – they are just bonded to each other, not us. No biggie, though. Our children (4 and 8 mos) love them.
We have had to take them off the pellets, though, because of weight/kidney issues. Only romaine for these guys as they enter their “twilight” years.
Becca says
Awww your bunny is so cute! I just wanna squeeze him, but that wouldn’t be good. I had no idea that bunnies could growl. o.O I find that somewhat terrorfying(sp?)
I used to own a guinnie pig, but I moved and they don’t do well with traveling so we gave him (and my sisster’s) to a lady with a farm. There’s actualy a funny story with my mom getting mixed signals and her thinking that the lady wanted to eat our pigs xD
lars says
We have 2 gerbils, Shadow and Chi-Chi. We have only had them about 2 months. The one is really friendly. The other is skittish and kind of squirrely. We keep hoping she will come around with time. The boys adore them which is the only reason I invited rodents into the home. I was not their biggest fan when we brought them home, but I am starting to have a slight fondness for them.
Erika says
Awe; what an adorable bunny!
I didn’t know bunnies growled.
That’s very sweet of you to make bunny some special treats.
tiff says
What a sweet bunny! I hope you continue to post pictures of your pets.
Pam says
I have the House Furbaby which is my 15 year old Jack Russell Terrier who is scared to death of every animal except squirrels.
We moved from CA to UT and sit on a mountain and I have claimed all the animals on our 42 acres as our pets.
I cut up fruit and veggies buy dried corn and set it out and watch them come right up to the house and eat. We have a huge buck and his harem of 9 gals, 2 foxes, a skunk, a bunch of Jack Rabbits, wild turkeys and a ton of chipmunks that care more about the food than worrying about me standing there watching them. We have already starting naming the ones that come around daily.
KJ says
Aww! Your bunny is adorable. I love furbaby Friday! Makes me want to cuddle my dog even more.
Gina, Mom to The Shoe says
Oh how I wish I’d had this recipe 20 years ago. My husband and I had two bunnies at different times. Both were litter-box trained. Addison got wet tail and died. 🙁 Bart slept on my pillow with me – she was the sweetest bunny ever – though she did tick me off when she started nesting in my sofa! (we had her fixed right after that) Bart gave me “kisses” every night at bedtime and every morning to wake me up. Adored that bunny! She was also leash trained for when we were outside. People in our apartment complex loved her, too. She always brought out the neighbors when we were outside. The only time she ever growled at me was when I came home from work and had been handling other bunnies (actually her siblings that one of the docs had brought up there to see if anyone else wanted one). She not only growled, but she clawed at me and BIT me!! I had to run to the shower and put my clothes directly in the washer so she’d calm down. I’d love to get another house bunny but I have four kids now instead. 🙂 Your bunny is *precious*!!!
Melissa says
I had a pet rat. He would run up my leg, sit on my shoulder and take a treat. I think he knew his name (or, more likely, he knew the sound of the treat box). Basil. Because “someone put Basil in the ratatouille” from Fawlty Towers.
Alice says
What a precious bunny! You should feature him more often. Not saying I don’t love seeing your cutie cocker spaniel…
Our home is quite the suburban zoo. We have 3 cats, 2 labs, and my son has 2 mice. We fostered a rescue bunny once and our labs were quite scared of him. Funny how a 90 lb weight difference favored the bunny…
Tara says
Aw… I need a little bunny! I’ve been thinking that they would be good pets. So adorable! We have wild ones living under our shed – they are so cute. I need to at least go visit some shelter bunnies now…
Donna says
I had a mini french lop many years ago. She was a great bunny, but weird. She did not like carrots, her favorite treats were the leaves off by broccoli plants. Of course, her other favorite treat was the back of the couch.
Peabody says
@Donna- I have yet to own a rabbit that likes carrots. Carrot tops they love, but not so much the carrots.
Amelia says
Love your fur babies! We had lots of pets growing up, including a Norwegian dwarf I think and some huge other bred of rabbit. Lefty (the male dwarf) and squiggles (the huge female). They made pretty good pets too!
Lynn says
I love your bunny! Adorable doesn’t even begin to cover it.
Lisa @ The Cooking Bride says
I think it’s funny that your dog is scared of the rabbit. Our 80-lb. boxer is pretty much scare of everything and will also go running into the door frame to get away from the laundry basket, the garbage can, a loud noise, you name it.
Mrs. L says
I owned a dwarf rabbit before. Her name was Beatrix. Had her potty trained to use a litter box. Cute little thing!
Jenn says
We have three rats and they are just the sweetest girls. They do know they’re names and usually come when they’re called (although, it never hurts to shake the treat jar if they don’t respond quickly enough for your liking). They’re also litter box trained and very clean critters.