The Adventures of Tiny R
A Bunny's Tale

---

Tiny R and the Marshmallow Cloud

Tiny R has been sitting pretty lately. Just like a little prince on a big, fluffy, marshmallow cloud. Unfortunately, the "cloud" belongs to Mr. Peepers, our dog. Poor Mr. Peepers doesn't know exactly what to do about the situation so he's doing the only thing he can. Nothing.

Yes, Tiny R has been at it again. This time he decided to take over Mr. Peeper's bed. It's a good thing Mr. Peepers likes Tiny R.

Actually, Tiny R only gets on Peepers' bed once in a while. Just often enough to let all of us know that he can get on it if he feels like it. I guess it's a territorial thing. So far, Peepers hasn't objected. He's pretty mellow for a young male dog.

If you're wondering why I refer to Mr. Peepers' bed as a marshmallow cloud, well, here's the scoop. Last winter Eric decided that Peepers needed a more comfortable place to nap while he was here in the living room. So we took a queen-size foam mattress pad and folded it in quarters. Then wrapped the whole thing up in an old blue terry cloth beach towel. After the towel was pinned securely around the foam, Voila! A Fluffy Blue Marshmallow Cloud!

So how did Peepers like his new bed? He loved it! Even when he's curled up on it, the bed is at least 6 inches thick. And he looks so comfortable. When he naps, he sleeps deeper and looks very relaxed.

For some reason, Tiny R didn't take notice of Mr. Peepers' new sleeping arrangement for quite a while. But when he did, there was no holding him back.

Tiny R is a curious little guy. Always has been. I think it's a sign of his exceptional intelligence. Once he realized there was something new in his princely realm, he had to investigate.

After the obligatory sniffs and nose pokes, Tiny R hopped up on the marshmallow cloud to have a closer look. I happened to see him do it and almost jumped up to shoo him off. I had visions of him marking the cloud with a little splash of rabbit urine. But, to my surprise, Tiny R didn't do that. Instead, he sat up on the bed as if it was the most wonderful, comfy place in the world.

Since that first time on the bed, Tiny R has taken turns with Mr. Peepers. Tiny R usually doesn't spend more than 4 or 5 minutes relaxing on the marshmallow cloud before heading off to another activity. And so far, he hasn't had one single urinary accident. The cloud remains in fairly pristine condition.

And since I'm the one who would have to wrestle that huge piece of foam to wash it, believe me, I am very glad Tiny R is being so considerate.

Cold Turkey

Tiny R has been having a problem with intermittent soft stools. After reading the article by Dr. Susan Brown about this condition, we decided to pull the plug on Tiny R's treats. Cold turkey.

It has become apparent that, as an older bunny, Tiny R simply can't tolerate the excesses of his youth, namely foods high in carbohydrates. So, out go the mini shredded wheat biscuits and the sourdough bread crusts. As much as he enjoys those two foods, they are no longer on his menu.

Also gone is his food bowl with the alfalfa pellets. He didn't eat too much of that anyway.

So, what's left? Hay. Lots and lots of hay. Hay in his cage, hay inside his "summer home" (his Pet Taxi on the fireplace hearth), and other small piles of hay in his favorite hang-out places. If it sounds like there is hay all over the living room, you're right.

And do you know what? So far, Tiny R seems quite happy. He just munches his hay whenever he feels like it.

I don't know if it's my imagination or not, but Tiny R seems more active and alert than usual. Could it be that he's beginning to feel better already? Maybe his GI tract has been in trouble for a long time and we just didn't recognize it.

Sometimes humans can be so dense! (said with finger pointed at my own nose)

Update:

It's been 5 days since Tiny R's new hay diet went into effect. Guess what? No more poopy stools. Actually, the sticky muck stopped the second day after he stopped getting the junk food, namely the shredded wheat and the toast crusts.

Did Tiny R accept the new dietary regimen without comment? No. In fact, Tiny R was quite upset with us for a time. And he wasn't a bit bashful about letting us know about it. He did everything in his power to express his outrage.

Tiny R started out by rattling his cage to get our attention. "I want a shredded wheat biscuit! And I want it now!"

When that didn't work, Tiny R grunted at us and thumped to show his displeasure. Finally, when the reality of the situation finally sank in, he lowered his head, turned slightly, and gave us the "evil eye."

If you've ever been given the "evil eye" by your rabbit, you know what it means. It means he's really, really mad! When Tiny R does it, you know where you stand with him and you know he's not in a forgiving mood.

Now that 5 days have passed since switching gears on Tiny R's diet, the news is good. No more poopy stools. Luckily it didn't take very long to clear up. He's still on his hay diet but we've started adding small amounts of greens. So far everything is going great.

Tiny R's begging act has toned down quite a bit. He seems to know that it's not going to work the way it did before. Now when he wants a treat, I pick an especially nice piece of hay out of the bag and offer it to him. Most of the time he accepts my offering. But other times he turns his head away when he realizes it isn't a shredded wheat or a crust of toast. If he's really upset, he grabs the hay and throws it down in disgust. Then gives me "the look."

So far we've been able to stick to our guns on the high carbohydrate treats. When the sorrowful looks get too strong, we've learned that the best thing to do is simply turn away from Tiny R so we don't succumb. The begging routine doesn't work if you don't watch.

Well, I have to admit it; I did succumb once. But just a little. The other night Eric brought home a pizza. As soon as the pizza box entered the front door, Tiny R came racing out of his cage with his ears flared out to the sides. He stopped, leaned his head forward and pointed his nose directly at the pizza. He froze in that position like the needle on a compass pointing north.

What would you have done? Yep, that's what I did, too. I broke off a small piece of crust the size of my littlest fingernail and gave it to him. He grabbed the tiny morsel and hopped off as fast as he could go. He nibbled, he munched, he savored. Tiny R made that little piece of pizza crust last a long time. I have a feeling he knew that was the last piece he was going to get that night.

I wondered if that bit of pizza crust would put Tiny R's bowel problem back to square one. The next morning I carefully checked his cage for evidence of any sticky stool. Hurray! No blobs of poop on the cage floor. And none on his rump. We had dodged the bullet.

Tiny R continues with his mostly-hay diet. He seems to be adjusting well. He still begs briefly for his shredded wheat in the morning but is becoming easier to distract with fresh hay. Perhaps in time, the memory of shredded wheat will fade. We are gradually adding greens back in his diet. Tiny R seems to enjoy them more than ever.

Was it hard to learn to ignore the pleas of a bunny bent on getting a high carb treat? Yes, it was. Will it pay off in the long run with a healthier and probably longer life for Tiny R? We think so.

Already Tiny R is acting like a younger bunny. And we like it that way.

Bunny in a Bag

One thing about rabbits, there's always something to make you laugh just around the corner. Like this morning........

Last night Eric brought in a fresh supply of hay in a paper grocery bag. After putting handsful of hay out for Tiny R, Eric stuck the bag with the remainder of the hay next to Tiny R's "bridge."

This morning Tiny R spotted the bag. A few wisps of hay were sticking up where he could see them. Finally curiosity got the best of him. Tiny R stood on his bridge so he could reach better and began pulling the hay out and eating it.

I saw what he was doing, and since he wasn't getting into any trouble, didn't pay much more attention to him.

All of a sudden I heard the sound of paper crunching and then a loud thump. When I turned around to see what it was, Tiny R had disappeared but there was a lot of action going on down inside the bag. The bag was wiggling back and forth like it was trying to shuffle away.

I got up and looked inside the bag. There sat Tiny R looking up, and looking a little sheepish. Then he did what he always does when he's embarrassed; he pretended he jumped into the bag on purpose. He nonchalantly picked up a piece of hay and started chewing. I gave Tiny R a friendly fur ruffle and went back to what I was doing to allow him to save face.

After a minute, Tiny R decided it was safe to come out and scrambled out of the bag. Then he looked around to see if anyone had seen his rather graceless exit. Tiny R really hates to look undignified.

After he was satisfied that no one was laughing at him, Tiny R hopped over to his favorite spot on the hearth and settled in for a little nap. He'd already had his fill of hay for a while. A little snooze was just what he needed to repair his bruised pride.

For Tiny R, a nap is like pushing the re-set button. The slate is wiped clean and everything starts over after a nap.

Oh, that our own lives could be that simple.

Summer Frolic

Tiny R is getting to be an older rabbit. He is 8 years old now but still in good health. He's on a mostly hay diet, supplemented by a combination of pellets (alfalfa and timothy), and greens. Yes, an occasional taste of pizza crust (very, very tiny, just so he doesn't feel left out) and 2 or 3 flakes of Wheaties now and then. But only after he's eaten a lot of hay.

Ever since we stopped plying Tiny R with junk food, there have been many positive changes. For one thing, the sticky, smeary, smelly poops have ceased. His fecal pellets are now gorgeous. Round, plump and medium green. No more glued-on smears on the cage floor that have to be pried off with a screwdriver. Yes, Tiny R's GI tract problem is now under control.

Over all, Tiny R's health seems to be tip-top. But there was one thing that concerned me. When we took away Tiny R's shredded wheat and other high carbohydrate treats, he seemed to look a little sad. No animation. It seemed like he had lost his reason for joyfulness when the treats were curtailed. Maybe a little withdrawal was going on.

It must have been hard on Tiny R to have his life up-ended so suddenly. I'm sure he didn't understand what was going on. So he became depressed. Just kind of stayed in his cage or sat forlornly on the hearth. Didn't move much for hours on end. So sad. So very sad.

After a week or so of this kind of reaction, something had to be done. But what to do? There had to be something.

We decided that the best thing to do was replace the unhealthy treats with something besides food that was healthy and make it fun. We came up with three things that got Tiny R back to his old happy self: food presentation, exercise and adventure.

Food presentation was easy. Instead of just plopping a handful of hay in his cage, I have started making eating a social time for Tiny R. Several times a day I pull up a chair to the fireplace hearth where Tiny R likes to hang out and feed him.

I have gotten to know just which strands of hay are his favorite (none of that dark brown stuff for him!) and offer it to him. I hold the hay strand out and he sniffs it and then starts chewing. He seems to enjoy the company and of course I talk to him and give him pets and ear rubs. This may sound kind of kooky to some folks but it only takes a few minutes every day and Tiny R really perks up.

One thing I've learned is how sensitive Tiny R's nose is to odors. I have to be very careful about washing my hands before offering him some hay. He knows right away if I've been around anything that smells of meat. One sniff and he jerks away as if he'd been stung by a wasp. It must be one of those instinctual things. So my hands get a good washing before Tiny R's meals. But isn't that what we're supposed to do anyway? I think there's a lesson to be learned here.

Another thing I've started doing with Tiny R's hay is presenting it more attractively. Oh, I still put a handful in his cage for midnight snacking but the bulk of his eating is done outside his cage. To make mealtime more fun, I put a couple of small boxes on the hearth and filled them with hay.

The boxes came with plastic containers of strawberries in them which I removed. The cardboard boxes are big enough for Tiny R to get in if he wants to but small enough to push around. And the sides are low enough to lean his head into or easily hop over.

Tiny R makes a cute sight, sitting there in his strawberry box. The funny part is that he's only about 5 1/2 pounds and the logo on the side of the box says, "California Giant". I'll have to have Eric take a picture of him.

The exercise and adventure components of Tiny R's lifestyle change are combined. We decided Tiny R needed a change of pace and a change of scenery. Being a house rabbit is cool but even rabbits need a little vacation now and then. So we decided on a backyard safari.

Our backyard will never grace the pages of Sunset Magazine but the wild critters like it just fine. We have birds of every description, gray squirrels, possums, raccoons and some things I'm probably better off not knowing about. Our place is bumped up against the wild land; we've seen deer, jack rabbits, skunks, foxes, and even a couple of mountain lions roaming around. And cats, lots and lots of cats. Most of them feral.

So a backyard safari for Tiny R isn't something he could do without a lot of protection. That's where Eric and I and our dog, Mr. Peepers, come in.

Several evenings a week, we take Tiny R outside for an adventure and some exercise. We position ourselves in chairs so we can see every part of the yard where danger could lurk.

Mr. Peepers positions himself on the other side of the yard where the cats usually hang out. The cats are very much in awe of Mr. Peepers. When he's on duty, the cats are nowhere to be seen. It's obvious that Mr. Peepers knows why he's out there, to guard Tiny R from the cats.

Then Eric puts Tiny R down on the ground. Tiny R's play area is all wild grasses, some dirt and leaves from the giant oak tree. Tiny R doesn't like the lawn. But the natural grassy area really brings him to life. After the usual hopping, sniffing and nibbling, Tiny R begins what can only be described as a "frolic". He runs, he leaps, he does twists and flips. It is such a joyful display that anyone who doesn't feel a surge of pure joy in his own soul must have some wires loose.

Last evening was one of the best outings so far. Tiny R put on a display of acrobatics that would have amused even the most sour of pusses.

At one point he leaped straight up into the air about 18 inches or more and did a twist/kick that was positively amazing. Tiny R is just a little rabbit. How he did it is a mystery to me. The only explanations I can think of are "springs" or "flubber".

Tiny R is really getting into this "going outside" stuff. He has such a good time. But we only stay out around 15 or 20 minutes. Don't want to over-do a good thing. By then Tiny R starts slowing down and seems ready to go home.

The other reason we limit his time outside is that we've never seen him stop to go to the bathroom. As soon as Tiny R is back in the house, he runs to his potty corner and relieves himself. Maybe he thinks the outside is part of the house and he doesn't want to soil it.

All in all, Tiny R is doing fine. He's feeling better on his rabbit-friendly diet and has some new activities to stimulate his mind. And most of all, he seems happy. Very, very happy.

Fearless is My Middle Name

Tiny R is 9 years old now. But being an "older" rabbit hasn't slowed him down much. And it certainly hasn't taken away his sense of territory. Just ask Monkey the cat.

A couple of winters ago a quartet of feral kittens made themselves comfortable in our garage. The first time I caught sight of them was when I was putting a load of clothes in the washing machine. A brief flash of motion was all I saw. But no doubt about it. I was not alone.

A few days later I got a brief look at what was out there. Kittens. Four of them. Away they scampered and hid behind boxes on the garage shelves.

Who can resist a kitten? I've heard rumors that there are some people who can do it but apparently I'm not one of them. A trip to the grocery store for cat food cemented the kittens' place in the family.

As soon as they were old enough, all four kittens were trapped (had to buy a Havahart trap at a cost of over $50 to do it) and taken to the vet to be neutered or spayed and to get their vaccinations. When they were brought home, they shot out of the carrier without looking back. But they all showed up in time for dinner so I guess we were forgiven.

The kittens are now full grown cats. And although they definitely know that this is their home, only one cat has decided to be a semi-house cat. Her name is Monkey Face. Just Monkey for short.

Monkey is a Calico. She's the smallest cat but she's also the bossy one. She has become playful and even developed a voice. Her meows are kind of stunted, more of a squeak than a meow. I've heard that feral cats are often very quiet so I guess Monkey must trust us.

Now, here's where Tiny R enters the picture.

Tiny R has had experience with cats before. His relationship with "The Cat" was a standoff kind of thing. Tiny R established his territory early on and the old cat respected it. But the time finally came when the old cat passed away.

There was a period of around 2 years when Tiny R was free of cats in the house. It was a time of relative peace. Then Monkey showed up and was eventually allowed to be a part-time indoor cat. Some new ground rules needed to be established. Tiny R didn't wait around.

As I have described before, Tiny R has a favorite resting place on the fireplace hearth. He spends part of every day there, either napping or keeping a close eye on what we humans are doing. He can hear the refrigerator door open from there and always has an expectant look whenever I come back from the kitchen. "Is that a carrot you have there, perhaps? Or some dandelion greens or broccoli?"

Well, one evening Monkey the Calico Cat was in the house. She was just getting used to being inside and was curious about everything. As she made her rounds, sniffing and inspecting things as she went, Monkey strolled up to the fireplace hearth.

Wrong move!

Tiny R charged at Monkey with a ferocity that absolutely astounded me. The rabbit "growl" that came out of Tiny R was huge. Tiny R was mad and he wasn't going to take that new cat moving into his territory. No sir! No way!!!

Monkey was taken completely off guard. She took off for the kitchen so fast that she skidded across the floor and landed in a pile in front of the sliding glass door. She was very happy when we opened the door and let her out.

And what did Tiny R do? He simply settled down on his piece of newspaper on the hearth. His attitude seemed to be, "No big deal. So I chased a cat out of my territory. It needed to be done and I did it."

When it comes to standing up for himself, being a rabbit doesn't stop Tiny R. He apparently doesn't accept the idea that he's supposed to be a timid little animal.

Tiny R is an old rabbit now. And very wise. He apparently has come to the conclusion that the best defense is a good offense.

It works for him. Just ask the cat.

Where's Mine?

I've never quite gotten used to seeing Tiny R sleeping with his eyes open. It just looks spooky. Is he awake or not?

Awake or asleep, it doesn't seem to interfere with Tiny R's ability to know what's going on in the house. Especially when it comes to treats and our dog, Mr. Peepers.

Mr. Peepers is a working dog. Sort of. His job is to keep watch over the backyard, specifically the area where we feed the birds. With all the cats in the neighborhood, the bird feeding area needs to be policed during the day to prevent tragedy among our feathered friends. So even though Mr. Peepers is primarily a house dog, he keeps an eye on the yard through the sliding glass door and lets us know if he sees a cat.

Does Mr. Peepers provide this Good Shepherd service out of the goodness of his heart? Probably not. More than likely it has to do with "treats".

Mr. Peepers is no dummy. Especially when it comes to food. And more especially when it comes to Marrow Snacks.

Marrow Snacks. Mmmmm Yum! It didn't take Mr. Peepers long to figure out how to get one. All he had to do was spot a cat lurking in the bird feeding area and then come and let us know. Voila! A Marrow Snack!

So several times a day, Mr. Peepers gets a reward for faithful service and keen eyes. This does not go unnoticed by Tiny R.

While Mr. Peepers is dancing around in anticipation of his reward, Tiny R hops to the edge of the hearth and waits with one foot ahead of the other and his head held high. His body language exudes an aura of expectation. Surely there will be a tasty reward for him, too.

If for some reason we don't notice him at first, Tiny R turns slightly sideways, juts his face forward and focuses his evil-eye-stare on you. And there he sits, absolutely still waiting for you to notice him.

Tiny R is relentless. He just never gives up. If the stare fails, he goes into phase three. Tiny R begins dashing back and forth on the hearth, sometimes standing up on his hind legs so tall that he starts to fall over.

"Where's mine! Where's mine! Come on, you guys. No fair! I want something good, too!"

Well, what can I do other than go out to the kitchen to find an appropriate snack for Tiny R? Sometimes a piece of carrot or his favorite, dandelion greens.

OK, so I'm a push-over. I'll admit it. But do I really have a choice?

Tiny R knows what he wants and won't rest until he gets it. Which means I won't get any rest until he gets it.

And that, my friends, is just the way it is.