Comments on: In celebration of the house rabbit http://boingboing.net/2013/03/13/in-celebration-of-the-house-ra.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Sat, 25 May 2013 23:06:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: bheater http://boingboing.net/2013/03/13/in-celebration-of-the-house-ra.html#comment-1680569 bheater Fri, 15 Mar 2013 21:10:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=218376#comment-1680569  Sylvia's trained for both -- those the second can sometimes get away from her.  Sylvia’s trained for both — those the second can sometimes get away from her.

]]> By: Jonathan Roberts http://boingboing.net/2013/03/13/in-celebration-of-the-house-ra.html#comment-1679836 Jonathan Roberts Fri, 15 Mar 2013 11:42:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=218376#comment-1679836 You'll be pleased to know that they are kept very well (providing they are actually kept in accordance with the regulations). They must be kept in groups and not separated unless absolutely necessary. The enclosures must reflect the needs of rabbits (at least 6m2 and 700cm2 per rabbit, no cage flooring, suitable gnawing and nest building material, raised area for looking at the surroundings, covered areas for shelter and hiding, separate area for each female rabbit nest). They must have appropriate lighting (measured at the head height of the rabbit) with a suitably long dusk period and at least 8 unbroken hours of darkness. Each animal is inspected twice a day and they have access to a vet and daily recording of quite a lot of information regarding the animals' welfare. You’ll be pleased to know that they are kept very well (providing they are actually kept in accordance with the regulations). They must be kept in groups and not separated unless absolutely necessary. The enclosures must reflect the needs of rabbits (at least 6m2 and 700cm2 per rabbit, no cage flooring, suitable gnawing and nest building material, raised area for looking at the surroundings, covered areas for shelter and hiding, separate area for each female rabbit nest). They must have appropriate lighting (measured at the head height of the rabbit) with a suitably long dusk period and at least 8 unbroken hours of darkness. Each animal is inspected twice a day and they have access to a vet and daily recording of quite a lot of information regarding the animals’ welfare.

]]> By: Vicki Maree Whateley http://boingboing.net/2013/03/13/in-celebration-of-the-house-ra.html#comment-1679820 Vicki Maree Whateley Fri, 15 Mar 2013 10:38:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=218376#comment-1679820 yep yep

]]> By: AnthonyC http://boingboing.net/2013/03/13/in-celebration-of-the-house-ra.html#comment-1679411 AnthonyC Thu, 14 Mar 2013 20:02:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=218376#comment-1679411 Correct me if I'm wrong, but can't they only be litter box trained for #1? Correct me if I’m wrong, but can’t they only be litter box trained for #1?

]]> By: Daemonworks http://boingboing.net/2013/03/13/in-celebration-of-the-house-ra.html#comment-1679090 Daemonworks Thu, 14 Mar 2013 15:29:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=218376#comment-1679090 It's worth mentioning that you should be /really/ sure you want a rabbit before you go out and pick one up. They are one of the animals most likely to be bought, and then simply ditched when the purchaser decides they're no longer convenient. Happens in huge numbers every Easter. It’s worth mentioning that you should be /really/ sure you want a rabbit before you go out and pick one up. They are one of the animals most likely to be bought, and then simply ditched when the purchaser decides they’re no longer convenient. Happens in huge numbers every Easter.

]]> By: nowimnothing http://boingboing.net/2013/03/13/in-celebration-of-the-house-ra.html#comment-1679059 nowimnothing Thu, 14 Mar 2013 15:09:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=218376#comment-1679059 Guess it was just ours that was so quiet, could hardly get him to wheep a bit. Guess it was just ours that was so quiet, could hardly get him to wheep a bit.

]]> By: Maggie Champaigne http://boingboing.net/2013/03/13/in-celebration-of-the-house-ra.html#comment-1678939 Maggie Champaigne Thu, 14 Mar 2013 13:19:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=218376#comment-1678939  Definitely depends on the pets involved. Our two cats and one rabbit have lived together, no holds barred, for two years now -- almost since we adopted him (after supervision and a pen at night for, like, a week). But I don't recommend that until you're REALLY SURE and you know the cats REALLY WELL.  Definitely depends on the pets involved. Our two cats and one rabbit have lived together, no holds barred, for two years now — almost since we adopted him (after supervision and a pen at night for, like, a week).

But I don’t recommend that until you’re REALLY SURE and you know the cats REALLY WELL.

]]> By: apoxia http://boingboing.net/2013/03/13/in-celebration-of-the-house-ra.html#comment-1678867 apoxia Thu, 14 Mar 2013 08:06:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=218376#comment-1678867 I "liked" your post merely for your sentence "It was worsened one night by an odd cocky dance that the bun performed in the living room, as if to suggest that all strivings are but vanity and the cat's entire sense of self was premised upon hollow glories."  Fantastic. I “liked” your post merely for your sentence “It was worsened one night by an odd cocky dance that the bun performed in the living room, as if to suggest that all strivings are but vanity and the cat’s entire sense of self was premised upon hollow glories.”  Fantastic.

]]> By: swess http://boingboing.net/2013/03/13/in-celebration-of-the-house-ra.html#comment-1678729 swess Thu, 14 Mar 2013 02:55:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=218376#comment-1678729 I can't tell you how much MORE I love boingboing right now. I've had my Ms. Drizzle for almost 2 years now. We found her in Prospect Park the day before Hurricane Irene hit ("Drizzle" 'cuz it wasn't drizzling...it was pouring) and while it hasn't been the smoothest road, I love her to absolute bits now. She's got some insane bunitude--from snuggling every night before bed, to figuring out how to shake and bang the door when I leave her in the room alone. Pure bunny love. Thank you, boingboing and all who contributed! For anyone looking for a great bunny vet in Brooklyn, check out Dr. Holloway at Prospect Park Animal Clinic. I can’t tell you how much MORE I love boingboing right now. I’ve had my Ms. Drizzle for almost 2 years now. We found her in Prospect Park the day before Hurricane Irene hit (“Drizzle” ‘cuz it wasn’t drizzling…it was pouring) and while it hasn’t been the smoothest road, I love her to absolute bits now. She’s got some insane bunitude–from snuggling every night before bed, to figuring out how to shake and bang the door when I leave her in the room alone. Pure bunny love. Thank you, boingboing and all who contributed!

For anyone looking for a great bunny vet in Brooklyn, check out Dr. Holloway at Prospect Park Animal Clinic.

]]> By: Emily Compton http://boingboing.net/2013/03/13/in-celebration-of-the-house-ra.html#comment-1678688 Emily Compton Thu, 14 Mar 2013 02:13:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=218376#comment-1678688 I think it does have a lot to do with socialization, both with humans and with other members of their species.  I figure that if you kept a cat in a hutch in the yard all its life, it would probably be a pretty boring pet, and it would probably not know how to react to human companionship as well as one that had been raised in a stimulating and nurturing home.  It's a lot of expect of an animal that has basically no interaction with you outside its occasional maintenance to act affectionate or show much in the way of personality. As an aside, one thing that I find interesting is that unlike dogs, rabbits never really have been extensively bred for companion animal temperament, but rather physical traits.  I wonder if there will be such thing as a "lap rabbit" breed in the future, but for now I think the most important thing is to try to find homes for the multitude of rescue rabbits, and enjoy the entire spectrum of rabbit personalities as we discover them. I think it does have a lot to do with socialization, both with humans and with other members of their species.  I figure that if you kept a cat in a hutch in the yard all its life, it would probably be a pretty boring pet, and it would probably not know how to react to human companionship as well as one that had been raised in a stimulating and nurturing home.  It’s a lot of expect of an animal that has basically no interaction with you outside its occasional maintenance to act affectionate or show much in the way of personality.

As an aside, one thing that I find interesting is that unlike dogs, rabbits never really have been extensively bred for companion animal temperament, but rather physical traits.  I wonder if there will be such thing as a “lap rabbit” breed in the future, but for now I think the most important thing is to try to find homes for the multitude of rescue rabbits, and enjoy the entire spectrum of rabbit personalities as we discover them.

]]> By: membeth http://boingboing.net/2013/03/13/in-celebration-of-the-house-ra.html#comment-1678677 membeth Thu, 14 Mar 2013 02:00:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=218376#comment-1678677 I'm not sure how anyone who's ever spent any time at all with horses could ever think they are not prey animals.  It explains so much of their otherwise irrational behavior.  Ever seen a horse completely freak out due to rustling noises? Trash bags in the wind, crinkling paper, even some noisy jackets can provoke some seriously outsized responses until the horse fully processes what it is and realizes it's not about to get eaten. I once had an elderly and very staid horse take off bucking because there was a squirrel playing in the leaves behind us and he thought "ZOMFG, wolves!"  He was rather embarrassed when the wolves did not materialize.  In suburban New York.  Where there are, in fact, unsurprisingly, no wolves.  It's a totally ingrained response even among domesticated horses that have never encountered a predator large enough to do them any harm. I’m not sure how anyone who’s ever spent any time at all with horses could ever think they are not prey animals.  It explains so much of their otherwise irrational behavior.  Ever seen a horse completely freak out due to rustling noises? Trash bags in the wind, crinkling paper, even some noisy jackets can provoke some seriously outsized responses until the horse fully processes what it is and realizes it’s not about to get eaten. I once had an elderly and very staid horse take off bucking because there was a squirrel playing in the leaves behind us and he thought “ZOMFG, wolves!”  He was rather embarrassed when the wolves did not materialize.  In suburban New York.  Where there are, in fact, unsurprisingly, no wolves.  It’s a totally ingrained response even among domesticated horses that have never encountered a predator large enough to do them any harm.

]]> By: pjcamp http://boingboing.net/2013/03/13/in-celebration-of-the-house-ra.html#comment-1678659 pjcamp Thu, 14 Mar 2013 01:32:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=218376#comment-1678659 Rabbits periodically sample their owners to see if they've turned into carrots yet. No thanks. Rescue dogs rule. Rabbits periodically sample their owners to see if they’ve turned into carrots yet.

No thanks. Rescue dogs rule.

]]> By: 9illy http://boingboing.net/2013/03/13/in-celebration-of-the-house-ra.html#comment-1678624 9illy Thu, 14 Mar 2013 00:18:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=218376#comment-1678624 Pretty much just rabbits, that I know of. And not hay, it's definitely the bunnies. I have to avoid angora blend sweaters. They don't directly irritate my skin, just my eyes and nose. Pretty much just rabbits, that I know of. And not hay, it’s definitely the bunnies. I have to avoid angora blend sweaters. They don’t directly irritate my skin, just my eyes and nose.

]]> By: Antinous / Moderator http://boingboing.net/2013/03/13/in-celebration-of-the-house-ra.html#comment-1678619 Antinous / Moderator Thu, 14 Mar 2013 00:12:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=218376#comment-1678619 I visited a friend from work who had gotten a rabbit for her son. Apparently, they never touched it because, a minute after I picked it up, I had a hole in my jeans with blood pouring out of it. I visited a friend from work who had gotten a rabbit for her son. Apparently, they never touched it because, a minute after I picked it up, I had a hole in my jeans with blood pouring out of it.

]]> By: Antinous / Moderator http://boingboing.net/2013/03/13/in-celebration-of-the-house-ra.html#comment-1678616 Antinous / Moderator Thu, 14 Mar 2013 00:11:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=218376#comment-1678616 <a href="http://boingboing.net/2008/11/17/chickens-stop-rabbit.html" rel="nofollow">Farm animals are tougher than you think.</a> Farm animals are tougher than you think.

]]> By: Festus http://boingboing.net/2013/03/13/in-celebration-of-the-house-ra.html#comment-1678602 Festus Wed, 13 Mar 2013 23:39:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=218376#comment-1678602 My experience is that our rabbit is so much less maintenance than any cat we've owned. Cats thrash. They chew, they claw, they get sick, they urinate and defecate everywhere, their feces stink because they eat meat, they get nervous and freak out when change happens... Our rabbit is so much more social and HIS POOP DOES NOT STINK. Plus I could never keep a cat on our porch--because I care about songbird populations--whereas Bunny lives there fulltime. My experience is that our rabbit is so much less maintenance than any cat we’ve owned. Cats thrash. They chew, they claw, they get sick, they urinate and defecate everywhere, their feces stink because they eat meat, they get nervous and freak out when change happens… Our rabbit is so much more social and HIS POOP DOES NOT STINK. Plus I could never keep a cat on our porch–because I care about songbird populations–whereas Bunny lives there fulltime.

]]> By: Festus http://boingboing.net/2013/03/13/in-celebration-of-the-house-ra.html#comment-1678597 Festus Wed, 13 Mar 2013 23:36:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=218376#comment-1678597 Rabbits definitely need lots of touching. The literature insists on regular petting and holding. Our bunny can't get enough. Rushes forward to receive loves from everyone who comes by. Rabbits definitely need lots of touching. The literature insists on regular petting and holding. Our bunny can’t get enough. Rushes forward to receive loves from everyone who comes by.

]]> By: Festus http://boingboing.net/2013/03/13/in-celebration-of-the-house-ra.html#comment-1678595 Festus Wed, 13 Mar 2013 23:34:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=218376#comment-1678595 Our little Dutch bunny terrified into quivering submission a Chihuahua kept on our porch with him for a weekend. Both were uncaged. Our bunny regularly drives off cats, whom he hates. And he has lived uncaged on our porch for nearly four years. Granted, we don't get a lot of off-leash dogs here, and there are lots of hiding spots for bunny on the porch. But I wouldn't be so sure that rabbits are automatically going to be prey animals. Our little Dutch bunny terrified into quivering submission a Chihuahua kept on our porch with him for a weekend. Both were uncaged. Our bunny regularly drives off cats, whom he hates. And he has lived uncaged on our porch for nearly four years. Granted, we don’t get a lot of off-leash dogs here, and there are lots of hiding spots for bunny on the porch. But I wouldn’t be so sure that rabbits are automatically going to be prey animals.

]]> By: Festus http://boingboing.net/2013/03/13/in-celebration-of-the-house-ra.html#comment-1678591 Festus Wed, 13 Mar 2013 23:31:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=218376#comment-1678591 Ours was raised with small dogs. Uncaged. I am convinced that is why our rabbit is so cool. He fears no dog, but hates cats. Consider it. Ours was raised with small dogs. Uncaged. I am convinced that is why our rabbit is so cool. He fears no dog, but hates cats. Consider it.

]]> By: Festus http://boingboing.net/2013/03/13/in-celebration-of-the-house-ra.html#comment-1678590 Festus Wed, 13 Mar 2013 23:30:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=218376#comment-1678590 We inherited BunBuns from a neighbor some years ago. He lived on her porch (no cage, no gate) for three years. He's lived on ours for nearly four. No cage, no gate. Rabbits are territorial. He stays on his porch and we are gone at work all day. We do cage him at night so the neighborhood fox doesn't eat him. This is the best pet we've ever had. He guards the house, thumps at cats (hates cats, that makes two of us) and greets dogs. Loves dogs. HIS POOP DOES NOT STINK. He only urinates in his designated containers. Smart as hell, way smarter than the dogs I've owned. And not hateful, like cats. BunBuns has a HUGE neighborhood fan club. He gets organic frisee greens from the nice lady with the pair of wolfhounds. The little kids tear out chunks of weeds for him. We've met everyone in our block. Do yourself a favor---get a porch bunny. We inherited BunBuns from a neighbor some years ago. He lived on her porch (no cage, no gate) for three years. He’s lived on ours for nearly four. No cage, no gate. Rabbits are territorial. He stays on his porch and we are gone at work all day. We do cage him at night so the neighborhood fox doesn’t eat him.

This is the best pet we’ve ever had. He guards the house, thumps at cats (hates cats, that makes two of us) and greets dogs. Loves dogs. HIS POOP DOES NOT STINK. He only urinates in his designated containers. Smart as hell, way smarter than the dogs I’ve owned. And not hateful, like cats.

BunBuns has a HUGE neighborhood fan club. He gets organic frisee greens from the nice lady with the pair of wolfhounds. The little kids tear out chunks of weeds for him. We’ve met everyone in our block. Do yourself a favor—get a porch bunny.

]]> By: Quiet Wyatt http://boingboing.net/2013/03/13/in-celebration-of-the-house-ra.html#comment-1678555 Quiet Wyatt Wed, 13 Mar 2013 22:51:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=218376#comment-1678555 <i>*heh*.</i> I don't even <i>own</i> a predictable world. *heh*. I don’t even own a predictable world.

]]> By: Maggie Champaigne http://boingboing.net/2013/03/13/in-celebration-of-the-house-ra.html#comment-1678552 Maggie Champaigne Wed, 13 Mar 2013 22:45:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=218376#comment-1678552 This I think is the problem with how rabbits are generally viewed. This is what people think they're like. I personally think rabbits are more interesting than cats (and mostly quieter, bonus). My first bunny was a holy terror of destruction,she'd climb to the top of whatever she could, and outsmarted us more than once. She also loved me and would climb into my lap to chill with me. My current little buddy is totally different. He's a rescue, and completely non-destructive. He's staid and relaxed. He loves attention, but on his terms (the floor). They aren't for everyone, but they are totally awesome and often far more entertaining than any other pets I've known (When a rabbit is really happy, sometimes they do what is known as a flop: they THROW themselves flat on the floor and look like something horrible just happened. It's perpetually hilarious.). This I think is the problem with how rabbits are generally viewed. This is what people think they’re like.

I personally think rabbits are more interesting than cats (and mostly quieter, bonus). My first bunny was a holy terror of destruction,she’d climb to the top of whatever she could, and outsmarted us more than once. She also loved me and would climb into my lap to chill with me.

My current little buddy is totally different. He’s a rescue, and completely non-destructive. He’s staid and relaxed. He loves attention, but on his terms (the floor).

They aren’t for everyone, but they are totally awesome and often far more entertaining than any other pets I’ve known (When a rabbit is really happy, sometimes they do what is known as a flop: they THROW themselves flat on the floor and look like something horrible just happened. It’s perpetually hilarious.).

]]> By: Antinous / Moderator http://boingboing.net/2013/03/13/in-celebration-of-the-house-ra.html#comment-1678549 Antinous / Moderator Wed, 13 Mar 2013 22:43:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=218376#comment-1678549 Funnily, the same thing happens in threads about vegans. Funnily, the same thing happens in threads about vegans.

]]> By: noah django http://boingboing.net/2013/03/13/in-celebration-of-the-house-ra.html#comment-1678539 noah django Wed, 13 Mar 2013 22:37:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=218376#comment-1678539  >>>/n/  >>>/n/

]]> By: Maggie Champaigne http://boingboing.net/2013/03/13/in-celebration-of-the-house-ra.html#comment-1678537 Maggie Champaigne Wed, 13 Mar 2013 22:33:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=218376#comment-1678537  Our guys still often panic when he approaches! Occasionally they try climbing into his boxes and must be chased off post-haste. They have a healthy respect for him. The darting around definitely seems to be the main problem for cats. I can see why that is. It's pretty unnerving if you've never encountered anything like that before. Good luck with your dudes!  Our guys still often panic when he approaches! Occasionally they try climbing into his boxes and must be chased off post-haste. They have a healthy respect for him.

The darting around definitely seems to be the main problem for cats. I can see why that is. It’s pretty unnerving if you’ve never encountered anything like that before. Good luck with your dudes!

]]> By: Maggie Champaigne http://boingboing.net/2013/03/13/in-celebration-of-the-house-ra.html#comment-1678532 Maggie Champaigne Wed, 13 Mar 2013 22:29:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=218376#comment-1678532 Haha, fuck me I do that EVERY time. I win at internets. Yes it is http://catbunny.tumblr.com/ sorry! Haha, fuck me I do that EVERY time. I win at internets. Yes it is http://catbunny.tumblr.com/ sorry!

]]> By: Rob Wheeler http://boingboing.net/2013/03/13/in-celebration-of-the-house-ra.html#comment-1678526 Rob Wheeler Wed, 13 Mar 2013 22:24:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=218376#comment-1678526 Chinchillas are cooler. That is all. Chinchillas are cooler. That is all.

]]> By: Doug Hammond http://boingboing.net/2013/03/13/in-celebration-of-the-house-ra.html#comment-1678501 Doug Hammond Wed, 13 Mar 2013 22:05:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=218376#comment-1678501 I particularly enjoyed this needlessly superior dig: "folks who, like myself, have eschewed the predictable worlds of dog and cats" You have a dog? That's so <i>predictable</i>. <i>I</i> have a <i>rabbit</i>. I particularly enjoyed this needlessly superior dig:

“folks who, like myself, have eschewed the predictable worlds of dog and cats”

You have a dog? That’s so predictable. I have a rabbit.

]]> By: Antinous / Moderator http://boingboing.net/2013/03/13/in-celebration-of-the-house-ra.html#comment-1678463 Antinous / Moderator Wed, 13 Mar 2013 21:43:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=218376#comment-1678463 That takes me to a sign-in page for Tumblr.  Is it this:  http://catbunny.tumblr.com/ That takes me to a sign-in page for Tumblr.  Is it this:  http://catbunny.tumblr.com/

]]> By: Antinous / Moderator http://boingboing.net/2013/03/13/in-celebration-of-the-house-ra.html#comment-1678455 Antinous / Moderator Wed, 13 Mar 2013 21:35:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=218376#comment-1678455 We have wild hares in the desert across the street. They come over every evening to eat the grass in the condo complex yard. About once a year, I hear the eldritch shrieks of coyotes over there, and no more bunnies for a while. We have wild hares in the desert across the street. They come over every evening to eat the grass in the condo complex yard. About once a year, I hear the eldritch shrieks of coyotes over there, and no more bunnies for a while.

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