A Companion for Your Bunny
Anyone who has two rabbits that live with each other needs no convincing that bunnies derive tremendous companionship, comfort and fun from each other. There are few things you can do that will have a more beneficial impact on your rabbit's life than giving him or her a companion. And it’s not very much additional work for you because they will share everything. You’ve already prepared your home, and you’re already feeding and cleaning for one rabbit. Feeding and cleaning for a second doesn’t take much extra time - they’ll share food, litter boxes and pens.
Rabbits are very social by nature. They really like having a companion. They play together, snuggle together, rest together and are unbelievably cute together. Most people are away from their home for a good part of the day and are busy with their lives and families when they are at home. You can give your bunny a friend to be with so that even when you’re away they will comfort each other. Their lives will be much fuller with a companion.
European wild rabbits, ancestors to our domestic rabbits, live in groups called warrens. This need for companionship is deeply ingrained and persists in domestic rabbits. This need can be partially met by a human. However, once you have lived with a bonded pair of house rabbits you will know that we don't fully satisfy that need. We can do a lot for them, but we don't "talk bunny." A bonded pair are rarely out of each others sight. Rabbits communicate with each other frequently, not with sounds but with movement and touching. The frequency with which they interact and lay side by side touching each other is compelling evidence of the comfort that they derive from one another.
Fortunately, what's good for our rabbits is also good for us. Pairs get into less mischief around the house. They have each other to interact with, and keep each other amused. A bored bunny is a "naughty" bunny - and having a companion helps prevent boredom.
If you are using a pen, it will need to be large enough for both bunnies, which needs to be taken into consideration when establishing the environment. Two rabbits are generally not more expensive than one. Pellets, hay, fresh fruits and vegetables, and litter shopping for two adds a relatively small additional cost. The exception is medical care as one or both rabbits may become ill and require veterinary care.
Selecting a companion for your rabbit requires some thought and care - and he/she will have a say in the matter. We’ll help you find just the perfect one. You can bring your bunny in for a “date” if you’d like, so the two of you can meet several of our residents.
It's somewhat odd, in view of how affectionately bonded rabbits interact, that the bonding process requires supervision. Introductions are sometimes difficult for the human because the rabbits will not form an instant bond. Skirmishes are not unusual as they work out their relationship. You will need a separate pen for each bunny during the bonding process, which typically lasts from one to four weeks.
We will help you through the bonding process. However, it does require a commitment of time from you each day to supervise their time together during the bonding process. Once bonded, they do not require this daily supervised time. Bonding is actually an interesting and fun process, and it’s very touching when they do bond. Read and download our Guidelines For Bonding Two Rabbits.
We encourage our adopters to get a companion for their bunny by offering a 50% discount on a second rabbit that you adopt from us within six months of the first adoption.
Give your bunny the gift of a lifetime - he will be thankful every single day of his life!
An Adopters Story
We received this letter from an adopter after she adopted a companion for her rabbit. It says it all.
When I adopted my first bunny, I thought I couldn't afford a second one for a few more years. Also, this bunny, Athena, turned out to be very playful and affectionate, and I was a little bit concerned that we might lose our special bond if I got a second bunny. I'd always thought of myself as a single-pet kind of person, you know? I paid Athena lots of attention and hoped that this would make up for her being a lone bunny, at least for a couple of years.
But bunny love won out, and a few months after I took Athena home we adopted Teddy, a friendly little boy bunny with whom Athena had an instant bond. Seeing how they communicate with each other, play, and groom each other, it's now totally clear to me how having Teddy around gives Athena something I never could have provided on my own. Now I see with my own eyes what it means that bunnies are social creatures: companionship with fellow bunnies gives them all kinds of happiness and security for which there's really no substitute. I don't find having a second bunny to be any more work or much more money; and seeing how well they care for each other, the tiny extra cost (for food) is well worth such an enormous boost in their well-being.
From a purely selfish perspective, too, getting a second bunny was the best thing I ever could have done! All the joys of bunny ownership are multiplied many times over when you have more than one. Seeing two bunnies snuggling together (which they do for most of the day), licking each other's faces clean, and playing games together is the cutest thing imaginable and it brings me huge joy every single day. Teddy is unbelievably adorable, and being able to see the ways in which they are each unique helps me to understand and appreciate both bunnies better. And Athena only got more affectionate and snuggly with me once she had a friend! (She wants to make sure that she gets plenty of my attention.)
If you have a single bunny, I'd definitely encourage you to do yourself the huge favor of getting him or her a friend. It's the best thing you could ever do for your bunny (can you imagine life with no human contact?) -- and it will bring you enormous joy!
We Can Bond Your Rabbits For You
Bonding two rabbits is a process that takes some time and attention. We will help you during the process. You'll need a separate pen for the new bunny, a neutral space for their daily interactions. They will require supervised time together every day. Some skirmishes are to be expected. It usually takes one to four weeks until they are living together and supervised time is no longer required.
Bonding two rabbits is very interesting. You'll observe them work out their relationship. It's not an opportunity that you'll often have, and some of it is quite fun.
The time and space commitment can be difficult for some people. We can bond your two rabbits for you. You'll leave them with one of our volunteers for a week. They will reside in the volunteer's home (not the rescue center) for one week. Once you take them home, they will live together. They may need a temporary living space rather than their permanent location, to avoid any territorial issues in your bunny.
Please contact us for more information if you are interested in this service.