Shearing my Angora Rabbit

My rabbit is four months old and her fur was 3 inches long - just the right length to trim it off and spin it. I decided I'd better do it before going on tour, so that brushing her wouldn't be too much of an ordeal for our housesitter. She doesn't like being brushed - has been known to bite me as I brush. Yikes.

Here she is just before the trim:



(And no, I didn't wash her - it was just a convenient place to put her - in our outdoor washroom sink! It looks like she's settling in for a good old fashioned shampoo and blow-dry.)

Here's me, half way through cutting her fur:



Now you might think, from that photo, that she sat there like an angel, teeth tucked away delicately, while I worked my way across her fur. Alas - it was not to be. This photo was probably snapped at the only moment I was able to work alone. The rest of the time she struggled, kicked, bit, flipped somersaults, and generally did everything in her power to get rid of me and my vile scissors.

Paula held her down while I worked, and we had to do it in several sessions over two days, since the poor bunny was so traumatised - hell I think I was almost as traumatised as the bunny by the end.



Finally, at LONG last, the job was done, and as a reward, we let bunny have a big hop around in my food forest. Normally she's not allowed outside as all that straw and dirt gets very badly caught in her fur, but this time her fur was too short to worry. She looks strange, doesn't she? I don't recognise her at all.

I feel a sinking feeling in my stomach, looking at her all shorn like that. It was so awful, and I felt so cruel. What to do? The rabbit people assure me she'll settle down - just needs good training. I asked a vet for a sedative to help with the regular brushing, and the vet also suggested training. I'm doing everything by the book.. but it's not going too well.

I'm not sure how much of a future my rabbit and I are going to have. And yet, I have taken on responsibility for the life of a small creature. It's not a small thing to do, and I genuinely want the best for her. Angora rabbits get sick if they aren't groomed. It's got to happen. If she went back to live with the rabbit people she'd be in a very small cage 24/7, not hopping around the house for hours on end, no diet of lush green vegies. But is this a good enough life, the one I can give her? I'm running out of friends who'll look after her when I go away, she's such a handful. What to do....?

Comments

[David Leviston]

G'day. I used to breed rabbits, including Angoras. You are absolutely doing the right thing and it is never easy to do the clip. I suggest you get a top quality pair of pet shears. It will lessen the time taken to shear her and thus the stress on you both. Good luck!