This Cage Ain't Big Enough for the Both of Us . . .

I'd be the first to admit, when it comes to getting my pets to behave together, I'm a dismal failure. I've just been lucky that they've always managed to sort themselves out with no bloodshed or major territorial disputes. Until Mickey arrived, that is.

My biggest concern, after my bunny, Eve, passed on to the Rainbow Bridge, was to find a suitable companion for her sibling, Lilith, who wouldn't intimidate her or be unfriendly. Eve had clearly been the dominant bunny, and ruled the house with an iron paw. But she had her maternal, protective side, too, and faithfully groomed and snuggled with Lilith more than she chased her.

After a respectable wait of about 3 weeks, when Lilith seemed to be recovered from her depression, I packed her up in the carrier and we went to look over some rabbits looking for new homes. We were looking for a gentle, easy-going bunny with a friendly personality, and Mickey - a sweet-tempered, 4-year-old neutered Dutch rabbit - seemed to fit the bill exactly. In their first meeting in the foster home everything went well. The new pair had a peaceful trip home together the carrier, and both conked out as soon as we got home, exhausted from the ordeal of socializing and traveling.

My guard was down when I went up to my third-floor office to get some work done, but I'd barely booted up the computer when all hell broke loose downstairs! My timid little dwarf bunny, Lilith, had turned into an Amazon warrior, defending her turf from the hapless intruder - easily twice her size - who was fleeing in terror. With no secure cage to hide in, poor Mickey desperately tried to wedge himself between the wall and the radiator where he was protected against a sneak attack from the rear.

No one could have been more surprised than I was at Lilith's unexpected behavior. Except, of course, Mickey, who only left the security of the radiator when he was convinced the furry little demon couldn't break through the solid steel portable fencing I put up to give him a safe haven. Tufts of pulled fur were scattered along the trail of Mickey's retreat, but I was happy to find that no blood had been drawn, and I couldn't find any battle scars on either of the combatants. Still, I could see this bonding business wasn't going to be as easy as I'd hoped.

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