summers@ihuxk.UUCP (12/15/83)
Thanks to everyone for your information on rabbits as housepets, I am posting a response to your replies to the net since mailing a response to each sender would entail a lot of time and probably wouldn't make it to everyone. Also others may be interested in this topic. Since all of the comments I received were favorable I decided to buy one. He is a Netherlands dwarf buck that is a chestnut agouti (He looks a lot like a wild rabbit). I failed to mention that we have two cats and I was somewhat hesitant due to that but they get along pretty well. The cats will approach the rabbit slowly and the cat and the rabbit will touch noses and sniff each other. Occasionally the cats would chase the rabbit at first, the rabbit always winning the race, but he got fed up with that and turned and chased them nose low and ears pinned back. It was hilarious to see a 1 lb rabbit chase away a 15 lb cat. Now they seem to respect each other pretty much and their play is pretty tame. I have had the rabbit for several months and he still isn't very tame though. I have to chase him all over the house when I want to hold him and he doesn't like being held for more than a few minutes before he gets frisky and starts nipping at clothes, fingers, etc. to get down. He is kept in a large cage during the day and allowed to run free when someone is home to keep an eye on him and the cats. Still haven't gotten around to trying to litter box train him and am not sure I have the patience to do it. For the time being we keep the vacuum cleaner out to clean up his little "surprises" he leaves on the carpet (at least he does leave them in one particular spot). Again thanks for your advice, Bob Summers -- Robert L. Summers AT&T Bell Laboratories Naperville, Illinois 60566 (312) 979-1649 ihnp4!ihuxk!summers