Hide ‘n’ seek

Since getting my first bunny, Baggins, back in the year 2000+1, my other love, music (played loud) has been banished from the inner sanctums of any house we’ve lived in and instead, restricted to the car and places well away from the sensitive ears of the buns. As their most vital defense tool for not getting caught and eaten in the wild, even lop-eared bunnies have a far keener sense – and much greater range – of hearing than us humans.

I know this limits stress in their environment. It’s particularly important as we approach the festive season, with more frequent visitors invading their space and arguably more noise.

The RSPCA’s advice on rabbit enrichment explains the importance of having a place to hide – to avoid prey, to go to if feeling unwell, stressed or ‘wanting time away from social contact with other rabbits or humans’. My rescue bun ‘Enry – a big chunk of a lad – reminds me of this frequently. At 9 years old, until this summer, he’d never met another bunny, and had been rescued from a place where he’s hopefully nearly forgotten. Since he’s been living here with me and DaisyDoe, he’s displayed signs of separation anxiety (hardly unexpected since he was often left alone frequently and for weekends at a time in a way too small indoor hutch, no hay and on CatLit), has had a huge untrusting ‘personal space’ around him, and often lunged at quick movements or when food was about (as if it was his last). He’s now a very chilled, loving bunny who demands lots of stroking and interaction and plays and sleeps in the Maze Haven with DaisyDoe. He still occasionally retreats to the other room downstairs where there’s a Tunnel Haven amongst other hiding places – and returns after what can be half an hour or so when he’s happy to join us again. You can’t take 9 years treatment out of a bunny overnight… but that’s ok. It’s his choice. He knows what he needs and it’s there when he needs it.

The RSPCA recommends providing constant access to hiding places within the home, free from sights and smells of predators (yes that includes us humans), in a quiet area, high enough for them to move rapidly underneath, but low enough to provide a feeling of security and have at least two entrances/exists – avoiding the feeling of being trapped as well as reducing territorial or aggressive behaviour. If they can jump on them they can function as a platform (a look-out tower!). Ideally this should be at least one hiding place large enough for them all to rest together.

So whilst I will soon be doing my best impression of Joey Ramone’s cover of ‘Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)’ big style in the car, I’m happy that my bunsters are able to hide from anything or one that may happen upon their home – this Christmas and beyond.