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Originally Posted by RoAnneM  Just read somewhere that said rabbits form a very deep bond for life and when one of them dies the other can go into a depression. Makes me think twice about getting another rabbit (especially a younger one). When my boy dies, I don't want the other one to be sad! But is my boy lonely? He's never had anyone else, maybe he doesn't know what he's missing and I should just leave well enough alone. |
You're only looking at the bad part--when the partner dies. Rabbits are social animals. Not as social as guinea pigs, mind you, but they benefit from same-species companionship. I've had a single bunny and they are practically a different animal when they have a bunny friend/friends.
A book you may want to read is Stories Rabbits Tell by Marinell Harriman and Susan E. Davis. It explains basically everything there is to know about a rabbit's social life.
As far as depression goes, yes bunnies can get depressed, but rarely do they die from it. It is unkind to deny your bunny the ability to feel the emotions that he can only feel with a bunny companion. You can't groom him or flop next to him or talk to him. You aren't with him all the time. You are also WAY bigger than he is! You're intimidating--you're a potential predator.
Especially since you are away a lot, your bunny would benefit from having a partner. 4 years is not very old for a bunny [they can live to be 10-15+ years], neutering is perfectly safe.
Sophe7132r: Males bond with males almost as easily as females; domestic male rabbits are much more lax than their wild counterparts. Female/female bonds are the most difficult to achieve, as they are especially territorial and.. mean to each other.