Solo bun

I really taken a liking to Mini and given that he still has not been adopted since we met him, I think Mini and I are fated. Uncle Hubby even thought of the name for Mini - Milo. However, we are not sure if Cotton will be able to accept Milo. We read a lot online and other people's experiences on introducing new bun to their existing buns success stories and how they did it, however, we still have our reservations.

To prepare Cotton on welcoming Milo, I decided to stimulate the situation such that where Milo would be staying. I re-configured Cotton's 5-fence playpen to a 4-fence playpen and used one of the cage metal to form a 2 playpens of 4 fences.

Original 5-fence playpen set-up for Cotton

 

The reconfiguration to home 2 bunnies if we adopt Milo

Because of Cotton's cage base, his 4-fence playpen has even lesser walking space and this makes him rather unhappy. Then he began to explore the new set-up and running around the house. See video. 

 

 

And I naively thought he might be looking for Milo, aka phantom bun since we have not adopted him yet. Then Cotton did something very bizarre - he kicked away all our stuffs placed under the coffee table and lie there. He was looking for a resting place to compensate for the lost of the space at his 5-fence playpen where he always rest at.

 

Cotton: This is now MY space

 

Cotton: Toying with my ears will NOT change my mind to leave this place

 

Cotton: I have CHOPE this place

I think the loss of the space really upset Cotton very much and so I think by proceeding to get Milo, will not help to bond them any easier. So we decided to halt the idea to adopt a 2nd bun....sorry Milo, but you always have a special memory space in my heart. I pray Milo for a good family soon.

 

I thought of another configuration - move the cage base out and set-up back into a cage, without changing the 5-fence playpen space. The cage will place next to the 5-fence playpen so that the new bunny can still interact with Cotton. But I did not want to test out this alternative configuration because Cotton has just gotten back his original playpen space and is still in the midst of getting adapt to his bell-collar which already upset him as well.

  

I am a strong believer of destiny and fate - if Milo is destined to be with us, we will meet again. If not, then it could also be a blessing in disguise so we never know. So for now, Cotton is a solo bun and I think he is happy being alone as what we saw him did many binkies in the past.

First night of wearing the collar

Cotton's first night of wearing the collar.

He grooms more often than usual - within expectations, and not getting used to the bell sounds.

I suspected that he has been trying to "remove" the collar and did not sleep at night. So this morning, he totally flopped and concussed out of conscious. I have not seen him sleeping so soundly that when me and Uncle Hubby were talking at our normal level, he did not budge/raise his ears at all. This is also our first time to see him sleeping so soundly.

He has been eating alright but not as much as usual, but his fecal for this morning was pretty unusual. The classical grape-like cecotrope was observed and a check at the internet indicate it's normal. I cleaned it up before Cotton eats it back. 

I think this situation still needs to be monitored closely. After-all, he is a senior bun and will need a longer time to accept new things. I have been giving him massage to make him feel better as well. Let's hope he will be able to accept the collar fast. :D

After 3hours later, his normal solid 'cocoa-puff' feces are back! That's a great sign. However, I still need to monitor for next few days to ensure Cotton fully accepts the collar and bell. He did with us his daily shuttle run for treats exercise but halfway through, he went back to his playpen. I think that's a great improvement that he still willing to do some routine with us. Finger-crossed now. 

Litter Tray Liner

I am still trying to fine-tune cleaning Cotton's litter box so that I can clean even faster and yet, environmental friendly at the same time. I read that there are litter box liner available just for the purpose and so I got to try.

 

It's not cheap - 15 pieces for $6, and I want to see if Cotton's urine will seep through the liner or not. At first look, the liner is thicker, smoother and definitely feel better quality.  Anyway, let see how it is set-up.

 

The liner I bought to try

The liner fits my tray perfectly

 

I added the pee pad as an extra protection and prevent Cotton to bite/dig it

 

And the verdict? Absolutely no leakage! Awesome product! However, Cotton's litter box has to be changed every alternative day so this liner is not affordable for my case. So I am going to try double layering the black plastic. Check out my next entry again.

 

The litter box is absolutely dry like Cotton's hay

Vegetable for the week

His first taste: Wheat Grass and Brussel Sprouts

His fresh vegetable variety: Chinese Parsley, Dill, Wheat grass, Brussel Sprouts and Peeled carrots

Presentation for Cotton's dinner later

Preparing Cotton's fresh litter box

Look Mummy, I can eat with my own hands now!

A Holland lop wannabe

First taste of Carrot Tops!

Someone online selling carrot tops for 4 stalks for $5 and to sweeten the deal, the person can meet us at our convenience. Awesome! So I just have to get it.

Cotton was so happy to eat them. A carrot top a day, keeps the vet away. :p
 

The carrot top!



Watching Cotton crunching and munching the fresh vegetables also opens up our appetite for eating more greens in our daily meal. LOL Yummy!

Vegetable for upcoming week!

First new taste for Cotton: Wild Rocket

Woot! NTUC sells Endives and so I just have to buy for Cotton. It's not always available in the supermarket in my area and so lucky for Cotton, he will have another consecutive week of fresh vegetable intake.

I love the $2 shop!

Dear BlogSpot:

 

My mummy was so happy when she went to the $2 shop at IMM building yesterday and so am I. No, she did not bring me along but all the items bought were just for me. Yay!! Let's see what she bought for me:

 

A mini-dust pan?! OMG! Is she hinting that I need to do my own cleaning from now on? Doesn't she know that I am happiest when I slave her?

 

Yes! Finally a glass plate for my fresh vegetable and the bowl for my pellets. More pellets please please.

 Mummy was so excited when she found this cat's collar with a bell. Terrible woman. She wants to collar me so that she and Daddy can track and monitor every of my movement. Hmph! The excuse they gave was for my safety reason such that they be aware of my presence whenever I go to the kitchen. Oh no....I cannot sneak up on Daddy anymore. I love to give Daddy a scare in the morning when he's collecting his hot water electric flask. : (

 

Well at least mummy still has a little consideration to secure the bell with a cable tie and move the knotted part to the front so that no rough edge will hurt my delicate skin.

She bought 2 of these metal mesh.....argh....to block my certain access around the house. What the heck is she thinking?!

Of all the loots she bought, only the glass plate and bowl are decent to me and the rest are craps. Can somebody please tell my mummy not to waste her monies on buying these craps anymore?

Sign-off,
Cotton

Tempting Cotton...

What happens when you try to tempt a normally calm and glutton old bun?

Watch this video!

 

Kissing Cotton

Writing in Cotton's perspective:

Dear BlogSpot:

Mummy used to sleep in my playpen at around 10-11pm, however, recently, she has changed the venue to her playpen - humans called it bed.

Actually I pretty like the bed because it has so much cloth material - silky smooth, and most critically, there is AC. Ooooo I love that cool air blowing to me. For the AC and the silky smooth cloth on Mummy's playpen, I do not mind snuggling with her. Then she will planting a lot of kisses on my face and stroke my whole body. Ooooo la la

Daddy do not like me on their playpen and recently he has been home late and Mummy said Daddy is OT. I don't know what is OT...maybe Daddy went to other playpen and get kissed by his Mummy in a bigger AC room.

Usually I let Mummy kisses me for 5-10mins and I will try to move a little and eventually break free. 24hours later she will come back for me. :S

 

Love,
Cotton

More supplements than his humans counterparts

Cotton now have more supplements intake daily than us now. 

SPCA roadshow

Yesterday, we brought Cotton to the SPCA road show to show our support and check if Cotton would like to befriend some new bunny friends. 

We spotted Mini at the roadshow who is also a lionhead like Cotton. Isn't he a beauty? I interacted with him a little by stroking him and he seems much friendlier than what Cotton and I first interacted 2 months ago. I'm thinking to adopt Mini for Cotton to be bonded as a pair but Uncle Hubby has his doubts. 

Mini is slightly smaller size than Cotton but he seems less human-phobia compared to Cotton. He's also quite fat and chubby and has shorter ears than Cotton.  I really like Mini very much and we almost adopted him. 

When Uncle Hubby was ready to decide to adopt Mini, we were already in the train back home. In other words, too late. Detouring to City Square Mall again is just too tiring for me and Cotton. Psssst, we think Uncle Hubby not sincere at doing the 2nd adoption. 

One of the SPCA staffs carried Cotton and commented that Cotton is a little bony because his spine cartridges can be felt. He suggested we feed him more pellets to fatten him up. But I explained Cotton's blood glucose is on the high side so I only feed pellets as treats. He understood and then he also admitted that Cotton gets to exercise via free roam while his rabbits are caged so that might make another differences too. At that moment, I imagine Cotton is athletics type hahahahha  

Also, Dr Tan (the vet who examined Cotton previously) said Cotton's weight is just right for his size. Hmmmm.... But I do hope to fatten up Cotton a little, afterall, rabbits being lowest in the food chain, fattening up is only normal. :p

Basic Grooming Tools for Cotton

Tools that I am using to groom Cotton.

Picture from left: Big teeth comb, flea comb, slicker brush, scissors and nail clipper. 

For combing out matted fur, I personally love the flea comb to remove them quite easily. There were moments when there was stubborn matted fur that simply cannot comb out so I had to cut them with the scissors. 

The big teeth metals in the big teeth comb can rotate themselves and so will easily comb out the curly/stray fur from becoming knotty during combing and therefore reduce the chance hurting the rabbit. I used to use the big teeth comb on Cotton but now his fur is all so combed out and straight, the flea comb becomes relevant presently. 

The slicker brush is useful because it traps and removes loose matted furs with ease. However because it has a larger rectangular surface, it can be tough to brush Cotton's pelvic, tighs and paws areas. So the flea comb comes in very useful and has become my must-have tool on his weekly grooming session.

I have not nail clipped Cotton personally and have engaged HRSS for a house visit for their grooming service on 03-May. Betty will be showing and teaching me how to do it. Looking forward to that day to come soon. 

Easter Sunday

Happy Easter Sunday to all!

Weather was wet in the morning but the rain (seems like a blessing of holy water from the heaven) cools the afternoon heat down. Cotton behaved strangely in the morning by climbing under our coffee table's layer and started digging. It has never happened before and is it an innate behaviour for all bunnies to do so on an Easter Sunday morning?

 

Of course he found no eggs. Hahaha

From my daily observation of Cotton's behaviour, usually whenever he digs, it means he is looking for a nest/place to rest. He did not rest under the coffee table so either he does not like under the coffee table environment or whatever thing he is trying to find is not found, obviously.







Cotton: Where are my Easter eggs hidden to?



Hmmmmm....Cotton, why are you digging? Can tell mummy about it?

School bag for Cotton!

Cotton now has a school bag! Yipeee!

I been seeing other bun parents posting pictures of their bunnies and their school bags so I just had to get one for Cotton too. It costs me $8.90 in total (including shipping). Isn't the bag cute like Cotton?

Cotton's first school bag

So what was Cotton's response at first sight with his school bag? Let's see....

I think he is pondering what's on earth is this yellow thing on my back! Hahahaha.... He really stood there stoning and let me take pictures of him.

The bag is now hanging at his playpen and is stuffed with his wet tissue pack and harness-leash. His playpen is getting full of hanging stuffs now...hahahaha....oops. Anyway, Cotton is ready for school anytime....woot!

Cotton's first walk

I am still feeling excited when writing this entry because it's Cotton's first walk outside with us and he has absolutely no qualms to have the harness on him. What a fabulous personality bun we have and again, our worries that he would detest having a foreign object tying his neck would make him mad turned unfounded. Phew!

The harness cost $12 but Pet Passion owner is generous (as always) to give us a good discount and even allow us to try the harness on Cotton first before purchase.

The 'H' design harness and leash

 

The receipt

The harness which comes with a 1m or so leash has a bell and a butterfly pin on it. These make the harness and leash so pretty and when Cotton was hopping or shaking himself, the bell will ring which makes Cotton seems like a puppy. We brought Cotton to an urban roof-top garden laid with padded ground for his first walk because it seems cleaner than walking him on the public grass. :p

It's Cotton's first walk so we just have had to take videos of him.

 

 

 

 

 

Uncle Hubby and I took turns to walk with Cotton. Walking with a bun is very different from walking with a dog - for the former, the owner follows the pet whereas the latter, the pet follows the owner or vice-versa. 

 

Uncle Hubby also took some pictures of Cotton with his iPhone 4S, simply because the scenery was just too beautiful to be missed.  

 

 

The harness we bought was a 'H' design with 2 clips - neck and under ramp areas. We did not tighten the harness and it was quite loose that the harness-leash connecting point kept slipping to under his neck. We always try to keep up with Cotton so that there would be no tugging which might hurt Cotton via strangulation effect at his neck. The only time we would pull the leash (gently of course) was when Cotton was chewing the dead leaf found on the ground. Then we would check on him to make sure his mouth was no longer chewing.

 

Walking with a bun sure drew some curious on-lookers and at one time, he even got a head-pet from a stranger who was exercising nearby at the garden.

 

After about 15mins of the walk, Cotton began to look for spots to lie down to rest and we knew it was time to go home. We took the baby wipe wet tissue (no scent) to wipe his furry paws and his belly before we put him back to carrier. 

When we reached home, Cotton quickly hopped back to his playpen to eat and then went to his favourite resting spot at the AC room to rest. The walk really tires him out but we know he really enjoys the walk very much.

 

Cotton caught on video for flipping his treats bowl

Cotton is caught on video for flipping his treats bowl (violently) after he has finished his treats - typically fresh vegetables. So that's how he created his signature bowl-flipped sign-off to indicate he has finished his treats. Actually, we humans also use eyes to see....tsk tsk

Wait a minute...that's how he also trying to tell us when he broke my Gong-Zai bowl previously too. Hmph!

Violent king....

Relaxing around the house

Cotton has identified some corners/areas around the house to be his resting place. Sometimes he will look for new places if I disturb him at his existing resting place. I cannot help not to not disturb him because he is such an adorable bun.

At a corner of another bedroom, under an un-used bar table chair

At a corner under our bar dining table

Resting outside of our bedroom corridor

Resting at his favourite spot in the AC room

 

Snoozing......

 

Sleeping his day away....

Our new janitor bun - guarding our master bedroom toilet.

His 2nd resting place when he was first given the green light to free roam.

 

His first resting area when he was given the free roam

He is still exploring around for new resting places around the house so stay tune to this entry.

Happy Easter in-advance. 

Updated on 20-April-2014

Relaxing next to our color printer??!!