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Decorating For the Artist Within
There is an artist lurking within all of us. The creative fire burns in every human, propelling us to create, to express, to shape the world around us. Even though we may be unlearned, or perhaps even unskilled, still the urge to impact our...
Introducing a New Kitten to Your Older Cat...
So, you read somewhere that introducing a new kitten into your home could be great for your existing cat, for companionship. And you remember how much fun your cat was when she was a new kitten, and you would love to re-live those days.
It is...
Muscle Spasms Mimic Symptoms of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome & Cause Repetitve Strain Injury
Do you suffer from chronic low back pain? Do your knees hurt when you go up the stairs, and your hands hurt when you try to open a jar? Do you experience headaches that feel like a bomb going off in your head? Do you get ringing in your ears? Have...
The Sentimental Meaning Of Flowers
For me certain types of flowers bring back a flood of memories. I remember in my early teens visiting my best friend who had moved to the country. We would spend hours in the field next to her property, talking and picking the petals of daisies...
They’re not just pants, they’re Dockers
Dockers changed the way in which men dressed for work in 1986. With their new apparel category men could look great and wear comfortable casual clothing to work. Dockers set the trend on khakis and today they are still the number 1 brand of khaki...
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Easter Bunny—New Member of Our Family!
My husband and I decided to give our children a real treat this Easter...A real live Easter Bunny!
We made a trip to our local Agway store and, as we suspected, they had several baby bunnies for sale, along with fresh-hatched chicks and ducks. Thank heaven that Darlene, the lady working during our visit, knew a good bit about bunnies. She was able to quickly gather the essentials we needed to take our new family member home, before our 2 year-old harmed any of the little chicks that she insisted on picking up by their necks! I was glad to get out of there!
So with supplies in hand, and our furry little friend in a box, we headed for home. We made a quick stop at the local Giant Eagle for cat litter, since our new friend will be a house pet.
Since this was my first experience with a bunny, I decided to consult my wise friend, the internet, for some advice. I learned a lot from the sites I visited and it made the whole process much easier for us. We especially wanted to learn about litter training, since that would be the key to keeping our new friend indoors! I'll share these helpful links with you later in the article.
If you're thinking of purchasing a bunny of your own, here is a list of essential items you will need to get started. Are you wondering about cost? The bunny was cheap, just $6.50. However, all the "stuff" we needed to go along with it added up to about $75.00. These amounts can vary depending on the type of bunny you want (pure bred, or mix) and the "accessories" you choose.
Essential Items:
1. Cage—There are lots of styles and sizes to choose from. We chose a 2' x 2' wire cage. Make sure there is ample room for all the items that must be in there plus room for bunny to play! 2. Water bowl—I recommend a heavy ceramic dish that will be heavy enough not to tip over when bunny decides to stand on the side! 3. Food bowl—Same recommendation as above. 4. Food—Special pellets just for bunnies. Ask your bunny salesman for recommendations. TIP: I always thought we could feed her scraps of cabbage, carrots, lettuce...you know, all the things that "Peter Rabbit" liked! I was quickly cautioned against this. It seems that too much of these good things will cause diarrhea! I've not personally witnessed this as yet, but I'm taking her word for it. These items should only be given in small amounts as "treats" every now and then. 5. Litter pan—Any plastic pan will do. I purchased a corner pan from Petco, which fits nicely in the corner of her cage and doesn't take up much space. The back sides are higher than the front so bunny can get in and out without much effort. 6. Salt/Mineral wheel—This little wheel hangs on the side of the cage for bunny to lick. You can get them in different flavors too! 7. Chew
toys—Hard wood or plastic items for bunny to chew on so that her teeth don't get too long. This will save your furniture! 8. Plastic Tray—If your cage doesn't come with a removable tray, you'll want to purchase one to put underneath the cage for catching droppings that fall outside the litter pan. We purchased a large plastic tray from Lowes that was actually made for under a washing machine. It works! It's probably worth spending a little extra to purchase a cage that comes with a tray already. Purchasing the items separately doesn't save much and the tray won't be the exact size. 9. Litter—Here's another bit of advice: Don't buy regular cat litter from the grocery store. If you must, make sure that it is NON-clumping! I didn't learn about this until AFTER we'd already purchased a BIG container of "fast-clumping" cat litter! The reason? Bunnies tend to "nibble" at the litter, and it may "clump" in their digestive system! Not good. CareFresh Pet Bedding is highly recommended. It's made from short fiber pulp that cannot be used in paper-making. It is 100% safe and can be used for both bedding and litter. Very absorbent with superb odor control. I use it now and it works great!
That about does it for the essentials. There are plenty of "extras" that you can get too!
You'll want to make sure bunny has plenty of challenging activities and toys for mental stimulation so that he/she doesn't get bored! Boredom can lead to depression and/or excessive destruction.
It's important to realize that your bunny's behavior is usually motivated by one of three things:
1. A natural need and inclination to chew and dig. 2. A need to communicate in non-verbal ways. 3. The social structure as seen by rabbits, which all members of the family relate to them by way of "pecking order."
These three basics of rabbit behavior are the motivation behind their actions. I highly recommend visiting the following web sites and reading the articles to learn more detailed information about your new friend. I found them all extremely helpful!
1. http://www.bunnyrabbits.org/bunnylove/bunnytraining.htm 2. http://www.rabbit.org/faq/sections/litter.html
So, if you've thought about adding a furry new member to your family, go for it! Your kids will love it and this will definitely be one Easter they won't forget!
About the Author
Gina M. Woods is an artist, graphic designer, wife, and mother of three children. Please visit her web site at www.spiritwithindesigns.com for a variety of Christian gifts created from her artwork. She is also involved in affiliate marketing. Join her marketing team FREE at http://mpamads.com?u=1506492&l=4510. Get FREE step-by-step lessons & earn a steady income online. Questions and/or are welcome at ginawoods@alltel.net.
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PetSmart - Pet supplies and pet products for healthier, happier pets |
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Pets 4 You.com - Dogs | Cats |
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Welcome to Healthypet.com! |
Pet care resources by the American Animal Hospital Association to find a veterinarian, veterinary clinic or animal hospital for pets and provide pet care ... |
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Dogs & Puppies - Next Day Pets |
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Petfinder.com: Adopt a pet and help an animal shelter rescue a ... |
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Welcome to Neopets! |
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Chicago Tribune | Pets |
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Pet - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia |
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Pets - Pet Breeders Pet Information Pet Classifieds |
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Defra, UK - Animal health and welfare - Bringing pets to Britain |
Travel guide and information on qualifications, requirements, and fees for bringing a pet into the UK. |
www.defra.gov.uk |
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Defra, UK - Animal health and welfare - Pet Travel Scheme |
The Pet Travel Scheme (PETS) is the system that allows pet dogs, ... For travel to France, the passport also replaces the PETS 5 certificate. ... |
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Indiatimes - Pets |
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pets.indiatimes.com |
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AVMA Care for Pets Home Page |
Articles that tell how to select a pet, how to care for various types of pets, and how to cope with the death of a pet. Includes a section just for kids. |
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Dog and Pet T-Shirts and Gifts at CafePress.com : Shop Over 35 ... |
Pet Gifts. Pet Gifts. Pet owners unite with fun t-shirts, hats and more. See all results... Categories within Pet Gifts ... |
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Pet Lover Gifts : Find & Buy Gifts at CafePress.com |
Shop millions of unique and custom pet designs - such as dog, cat, bunny, horse and other animals - available on t-shirts, mugs, mousepads, posters, ... |
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PETS 911 pet adoptions thru local animal shelters |
Offers hotline for lost and found pets, adoption, veterinarians, and animal shelters. |
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Pets |
Most of us think of adopting pets for all the wrong reasons.. as a ... Pets has a way of listening without judging and loving its owner unconditionally. ... |
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Mara Pets Games - Play Free Flash Games, Dress Up Games and ... |
Mara Pets Games is a free virtual pet site with fun flash games and character dress up games. Three new games weekly! |
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Canada's pet information center for dogs cats and humans |
Canadian pet information centre, featuring articles, bulletin board, dog breed profiles, cat breeds, and ask the vet sections. |
www.pets.ca |
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