Posted by ravyn11 on April 19, 2003 at 16:57:12:
In Reply to: Housing question (indoor) posted by sharky on April 19, 2003 at 15:25:26:
Breed isn't a concern in whether or not rabbits will get along. Mini-Rexes can bond just as easily to lops, angoras, or dwarfs as they can to other mini-rexes. Buns sometimes even bond to guinea pigs over other buns! Personality is what you need to be concerned over. Some rabbits just don't like other rabbits, regardless of breed, and will fight. If you want to adopt the mini and the lop, have the shelter see if they will get along together before you get them both only to find out they want to murder each other. (spayed)females and (neutered) males usually make the best pair bond, though I myself have a pair of bonded females *mother and daughter, so it helps :)*
Those cage dimensions sound fairly reasonable, though I'm kind of a bonehead where measurements come in. It's best to have a cage tall enough the rabbit can sit up on its haunches comfortably in, but if the bun has the run of your house and the cage is only where it sleeps, size becomes less of a concern. Obviously you don't want them to be cramped, however.
When you ask about the pan, is it a sliding pan that goes under a wire floor? If so, I would consider taking out the wire floor altogether and letting them just have the pan. If you can't, put some cardboard or a slab of thin wood on the wire so they have somewhere solid to sit. Wire floors can cause serious foot damage if they do not have an alternative. You could try pet stores for the pans, or even a hardware store.
Letting them adjust slowly to their home is a good idea. For the first couple of days after bringing them home, don't handle them any more than you have too. Sit near the cage *read a book, watch tv* and just let them get used to the smells and having you around. Then slowly introduce them to their environment. Most bunnies seem to get on well with cats. Mine actually chase them! But some buns can be terrified of cats, so be cautious of this.
As for having the run of the house, even while you're sleeping, I would wait a significant amount of time before doing this. Make sure your house is completely bunny proofed, keeping in mind bunnies can get into VERY small spaces, like under the refrigerator. Even then, I would be hesitant to let them out on an unsupervised basis as they would be while you sleep. However it's a judgement call: how well you think your house is safeguarded and how much you trust your buns and your cat.
Good luck!
