I'm fostering a WHAT?

[smeisnotapirate]

So a friend of mine is going to school, where she's not allowed animals. She has a rabbit - named Fluffernutter. She called me, desperately in tears, saying that she was 10 minutes from putting him on Craigslist, but she didn't want to give him away, because she'd be back in December, and would I watch him for her until she gets back from school in December?

So I said yes. :

Now I have a rabbit, a dog, and 3 cats. And I have NO IDEA how to care for a rabbit. She gave me all the accessories - food, cage, litter, things for the bunny to destroy, etc.

Can you guys help educate me about bunnies? I want to be a good foster mama to him.

[SummerLynn]

Bunnies are so easy to care for. I assume this bunny will be inside since you mentioned litter. So basically you just need me make sure that he eats, drinks, has firm poos, and chews on enough things to make sure his teeth dont get too long. Any ideas what kind of rabbit it is? If it has a longer coat, like an angora you may want to brush him, if its just a normal coated bunny you can just pet him often and get the loose hair out, otherwise he might get hair balls which arent good for rabbits. Other than that just enjoy his company and keep the kitty and dogs from eating him and you'll be fine!

[smeisnotapirate]

Yeah, except he sems to be a PISSY bunny. Everytime anyone goes near his cage, he whacks out with his front paws. Is that just because he's getting used to us? My friend says he hates being petted. Is that normal?

[SummerLynn]

Most of the rabbits I have had experience with were tame but that was because i had them from wee lil rabbits, but I have come across the temperamental bunny too, so yea its not unheard of. It will probably lighten up a little but that might just be his personality. If thats the case then theres not much you can do except feed water and clean up after him. If your brave you can work with him and try to "tame" him, but if its an older bunny that could be quite the feat.

[smeisnotapirate]

He's still young, maybe 1.5? How would you go about "taming" a bunny?

I keep seeing the bunny from Monty Python.

[SummerLynn]

You pretty much just have to gain their trust. try getting him to eat treats like carrots lettuce celary out of your hand. When he gets to the point of allowing you to do this, then try petting him, when he lets you pet him then try to pick him up etc. I would do all of this in a quiet setting, IE without the other pets around to stress him out more.

[miss_sonja]

Rabbits chew chew chew! make sure the bunny does not get out unsupervised! They'll chew on power cords, baseboards, furniture, you name it.

Provide lots of stuff for the bunny to chew on. They take a while to get used to new people and they don't like being picked up (too much like being grabbed by a hawk).

Remember that a rabbit is a prey animal and that will help you learn how to interact with him.

A good book is the house rabbit handbook by the house rabbit society. Google for it; you'll find good tips.

I think it's really sweet of you to keep the bunny for your friend. Good karma.