Rabbits, not cats!!

[Desley (booktigger)]

Interesting subject - I hope they have some success with it. I noticed there were rabbits in our area on it

[fluffybunny]

I would definitely advocate spaying female buns, but I would also advocate finding an experienced vet to do it!  All the ones I've had done over recent years have had internal sutures only (a sort of blanket stitch on the inside) so there actually aren't any stitches on the outside for them to pull at.  There is a reasonably high risk of adhesions forming if the op is done by someone who isn't familiar with doing bunny spays - and it can happen even then.  But on balance of risk I always have it done and the buns always seem calmer and happier afterwards, I guess it must be quite frustrating having a very strong breeding instinct! 

Would definitely recommend rabbitrehome as the best place to encourage rehoming for buns 

[Rosiecat]

I have had many bunnies neutered and have only ever had one doe pull her stitches. 

I have 17 rescue buns and have long since thought that the ones in rescue are truly the lucky ones...it is the bunnies who live and die forgotten in tiny hutches who break my heart 

I have only ever once made the decision not to spay - Daisy my beautiful Frenchie who came to me in September 2005 after being kept in a 3 foot slug filled hutch in someone's front garden (Dawn - you may remember her).  She had no food, water or hay and despite my phoning the RSPCA, the inspector visiting twice (and seeing this for himself) he - and I quote - "could not guarantee" he would visit again and it was "how 50% of rabbits in this country live".   

She spent the last year of her life with me as a completely free range house rabbit but in October 2006 she started to haemorrhage due to uterine cancer and we had to let her go.  I would not wish such a sight on anyone but I do believe that she would not have survived an anaesthetic - for her it was quality of life over quantity.

[Desley (booktigger)]

I know - every spring they try and release their hormones (she has two sisters), and I mention cancer every year to her. HAve also mentioned the two womb infections they can get in the past. At least I got through to my sis.

[Millys Mum]

Get her to check with her local RSPCA, round here they do regular free rabbit neutering 

[Den]

It's way worse keeping them intact! Of course there are the medical reasons but un-neutered rabbits can be evil little things. They really are so much nicer and loveable without those crazy bunny hormones. Plus they bounce back really quickly. It's definately not hard on them - in fact its more stressful for them to not be neutered.

[Desley (booktigger)]

Thanks for that, have passed it on to her. My neighbour hasn't had her females done cos of a preconception that it is really hard on them - and I suppose she thinks cancer isn't!!

[Den]

Depends on the vet anywhere between £25-£50 for a Buck and £35-£70 for a Doe. I will warn you though (something no one ever mentions) is they are notorious for complications. Does are little  at trying to pick out their stiches and Bucks can bleed and swell a lot ... but its a very routine procedure. I found out the hard way when my Buck had problems but they are so in so's.

I'd always be prepared with a bit extra money for problems .. although lots of my friends have had their done with no trouble.

[Desley (booktigger)]

And as I have just pointed out to my sis (who thought it was fine to let rabbits have babies to sell), they are the lucky ones who end up in a rescue, there are probably a lot more unwanted rabbits, and more neglected ones too. Fortunately, she has just replied to say she is going to get them done when she saves up the money - any idea on costs?

[Den]

I think the figure is there are over 33,000 rabbits in rescue every year Of course we are coming up to the season where everyone wants a baby bun.

[Desley (booktigger)]

Excellent, thanks for that, I know they really struggle, and I hate to think of animals in rescue for months, even if they aren't a pet I would own myself. Just been on, and can't believe how many rabbits end up in rescue each year, it is so sad.

[Den]

Rabbit rehome is the best one out there!

Thank you for thinking of the buns 

[Dee]

http://www.rabbitrehome.org.uk/

They have a forum too where they have rescue rabbits for rehoming.

[Desley (booktigger)]

I know there are people with experience of rabbits on here, and thought it might get lost in non cat section. I went to the rescue Zia came from last week, they have rabbits and dogs as well as cats. Now, they do really well on cat rehoming thanks to catchat, and they use dogpages for the dogs (although with lesser success from what I can tell), but they really struggle homing rabbits, they have 9 in at the moment, and htey had most (if not all) of them last time I was there, which was end of Nov. Does anyone know of any internet sites like catchat for rabbits? I feel really sorry for these rabbits, and would love to help them home them. They are in Oldham.