How I Became A Rabbit Mom

Day 5 of the 30 Day Writing Challenge

I was not looking to become a rabbit mom. I already have all my birds and I do have aquariums that require time and attention, and a wee dwarf hamster. I was not even thinking of getting another pet at all. My hubby to be does not want anymore animals in my apartment. But I became a rabbit mom in mid-May quite unexpectedly. And I am so happy to have my bunny.

In mid-May, my hubby to be and I went to over his brother’s house for a social distance dinner. Covid has taught us to be creative, if nothing else I think. But that’s a post for another day. If you have followed my wedding planning posts, you might remember that he has land out in the nearby country.

While we were waiting for dinner to be ready, enjoying a glass a wine, his kids went down into the basement with my mom in law to be, and they came up holding their pet rabbit. She was adorable. And I mean adorable. She has a ginger brown coat, with a white belly and white eyeliner around her eyes. And she was soooo soft. And I mean, soft. She feels like Velvet, which was her name. And she sat in my arms and let me her pet her as calm and sweet as could be, and I fell in love. She was just too precious, and then she started giving me love licks, or as I like to call them kisses.

What Happened Next

Me being me, as soon as we were in the car heading home, I started talking about getting a rabbit. Of course, my darling hubby to be said no. The rabbit would pee everywhere. We already had six birds. I had promised no more pets. But, I kept at it, half heartedly because I knew it was a big ask.

The next day, we ended up back his brother’s house and I mentioned the rabbit and how much I loved her. This was a brief conversation and I did say I wanted a rabbit just like her, as in the same breed. And my brother in law offered to let me have the rabbit. Of course, we said no, we didn’t want to take the bunny away from his kids but he told us the kids had lost interest in the rabbit and his son was perfectly fine with the idea.

Well, we went home and I started researching how to care for a rabbit. Because I do not simply acquire pets and not provide them the proper care. And I don’t don’t simply take the advice of pet store employees because they very often don’t know anything about the animals they are selling. Therefore, I always do my own research. I was excited, because suddenly my hubby to be was warming up to the idea.

The next day, we had a discussion about the rabbit, and becoming rabbit parents. And we decided that if his brother (and the rest of his family) was willing to re-home their rabbit, that we were ready to take her in. We picked up the rabbit in the next few days after his brother had had time to talk with his family.

Why I Re-Named the Rabbit

I had originally thought to keep the rabbit’s name, Velvet, as I thought it really described her and she was already named. I didn’t really see the need to re-name her. But I ultimately decided that since was starting an entirely new life in a new home (I free roam my rabbit), that it would be best to give her a new name. We settled on Honey, and it’s honestly the perfect name for her because she really is the sweetest rabbit. Rabbits are prey animals and aren’t always cuddly and affectionate. I am very lucky that Honey loves pets and will seek us out to be pet, which can turn into cuddle sessions.

All About Honey

Honey is the perfect pet. I am not saying rabbits are always the perfect pet, but in our case, she really is. She free roams, which means she has full range of the main living area. I have bunny proofed the space so that is it safe for her, and also so that we don’t come home to things chewed up and destroyed (she loves chewing cords, ugh). She is also litter box trained, and has only had a few accidents.

Honey is a mini rex, which is why her fur is so soft. This particular breed of rabbit was bred for it’s luxuriously soft fur which really does feel like velvet. Rex rabbits are also known for being affectionate and generally even tempered. They are also intelligent and curious, and are considered the perfect house rabbit. Which I would agree with, she has been so super good in our home. Rex rabbits are also considered hypoallergenic making them perfect for those with allergies or who want a pet that won’t be high maintiance grooming wise.

We love our rabbit so much, and part of that is because we have allowed her to free roam. This allows us to bond to with her, and she is very affectionate seeking out pets and she often jumps up in our laps and gives kisses. To be perfectly honest, I can’t imagine my life without Honey. She has brought me a ton of joy and we both find having her calming. She has brought us a lot of happiness in the short space of time we had her.

Do you have a beloved pet? I’d love to hear about them in the comments!