Cute, cute, cute.....

[poliphilo]

I didn't mention this before, what with everything else that was going on, but we acquired a rabbit and a guinea pig last week. Joe had been talking about getting a snake or a rottweiler and I figured we should head him off at the pass.

I was thinking small animals would be low maintenance. I was wrong.

The rabbit is Toshiro Mifunny the Bunny (aka Fluffbucket) and the guineapig is Mulan

Comments

[zoe-1418.livejournal.com]

Welcome to the wonderful world of guinea pigs. I've had continuous GP companions since 1995. PJ, my first, was adopted in Seattle and lived with me in a tiny studio apartment in an old high-rise, where she experienced an earthquake and numerous fire drills. She flew on a plane (in cargo!) when we moved to Wisconsin, then got a mate and had two litters in quick succession. Others have come and gone, but PJ just died two years ago, and the unheard-of old age of *eight*, when she was blind and tiny and bony, but still held her own at the water bottle. Now we are down to just Teddy, a five-year-old boy who lives in his own condo, a converted dog crate on top of our actual dog crate, so he can be at eye level with anyone who comes in. He demands fresh produce and attention with that shrill "Reep Reep Reep!!" noise.

None of my pigs, no matter how much handled and loved, have ever gotten over that instinctual "run for your lives!" reaction to hands coming at them. They are pretty near the bottom of the food chain after all, and I guess it's wise to keep a lookout for hawks, even indoors! But Teddy doesn't mind Ben, our twenty-pound red tabby cat. Ben will sleep next to Teddy's cage, share greens with him through the bars, and even let Teddy chew on his tail. Go figure.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

We now have two GPs. The second is less jumpy and has only one eye. We're still trying to come up with a name- perhaps something pirate-related.

The rabbit is easy to get along with, but the GPs obviously need a more proactive approach.

Thanks for sharing your experience. It's very encouraging.