Are rabbits smart animals?

I'm homeless!

Close to two years ago, I got a shock and surprise that woke me up ‘good and proper.’ While opening the kitchen blinds to let in the early sunlight, staring at me out the window was this baby rabbit with a look that only rabbits can give. “Hello” said I, “where have you come from?” I did not know then that this tiny bundle of fur would share the next 18 months of our lives. And turn it up side down. Vyna and I were on our way at joining the small group of bunny owners who've discovered the unique pleasure of living with a rabbit. Now where do I start?

We all know people like to say “I’m a dog person” or “I’m a cat person.” You ought to see the looks that you get when you say “I’m a rabbit person.” So what is exactly is a “rabbit person”? William Cowper, a British poet once kept hares in his home to help combat his severe depression, and he wrote eloquently of his love and appreciation for these creatures as companion animals.

I would never suggest that one is better over the other, only they are different and rabbits can make wonderful pets - for the right family.

Family pet

I can also vouch for the fact that rabbits have distinctive personalities. They can be as playful and silly as puppies or kittens, as independent and fascinating as cats, or as loyal and openly affectionate as dogs. I believe that in their own way, they're every bit as smart as cats and dogs (read my post on Ginger the Cat). LINK PLEASE.

Are rabbits smart animals? You better believe it that they are. Just when you're thinking that you've succeeded in training your rabbit, the truth is they have actually trained you. When we decided that we were temporarily going to keep the rabbit, both of us went straight to the Internet and made a few calls in order to find out what we needed to do in order to take care for this bundle of fur.

I promise to be good

From day one this little rabbit started to condition us and we didn’t stand a chance. Whenever we couldn't respond quick enough to his needs, he would nibble at our legs, or toes. For us, it was easy to fall for his apparent charms and distinctive manners. I'll never forget the day when we were watching television upstairs, and our furry little friend poked his head in the door before he walked in. His appearance in our TV room was so unexpected, and consequently scared the life out of Vyna because Mr Marble was supposed to be 'locked up' downstairs. We'll always remember him as the great "escape artist". That bunny could squeeze his way out of just about any barriers.

Play time!

Mr. Marble was so good at hopping about (he did that quite well), and getting under your feet, obviously not realizing how dangerous this was for him. He absolutely loved to hop and skip in the garden, an act that would often bring the neighbors' dogs into a barking frenzy. And when they did bark, our rabbit would simply stare at them. Goodness knows what he was thinking. But I think I may have to do another post on Mr Marble because I’ve only scratched the surface by talking about our life with Mr. Marble. I'll finish this blog post by making this statement. If you want a fascinating, funny, warm and wonderful animal as a companion, try a rabbit.

Friends forever!