What do you know about rabbits?
I thought I knew a little something. Cute. Soft. Timid. Shy. Calm. Quiet. Cuddly. Hahaha! I look back and laugh about it now. Just like Jon Snow in Game of Thrones, I knew nothing!
Meet Loki, fittingly named for the Norse God of Mischief. Cute? Yes! Soft? Yes! Timid, shy, calm, quiet, cuddly? No, no, no, no, and no. This compact 5.5-pound lagomorph can move a 150-pound human with his nose. He runs excited circles around his favorite toys and binkies into the air. He will “come” when called (for a treat). He LOVES fresh banana but does not like carrots as much (surprise!). He will grunt when he is upset and thump his back feet when he is afraid. He is litter box trained … mostly. He does not nibble delicately on his parsley but plays tug-of-war until he tires of the game and gives a final yank, freeing the human hand of the stem.
Did you know bunnies can walk?! As in, take one step at a time in a quadrupedal gait like many four-legged animals do. It is normal—but weird looking—when a rabbit does not hop. Almost like the bun is trying to sneak by. Sit on the floor with Loki and he will scramble up to sit briefly on your shoulder (Look! I’m a parrot!) then he jumps off and knocks over all objects in his enclosure that are taller than he is. He tries his teeth on a willow basket, cardboard, your shirt, whatever, and if you happen to be in his way, he will push at you with his nose until you shove over and clear his path. He’s a very powerful bunny! He is like a whirling dervish. And then, like turning off a faucet, he will flop with his legs stretched out, and briefly rest, only to get up and entertain us once more with his antics.
The biggest surprise of all for our family at the beginning of this adventure was learning that rabbits are generally not cuddlers who like being held. Initially, that was a big disappointment for my daughter who really wanted a bunny to sit in her lap while she read, watched movies, and relaxed. Loki was not totally averse to being petted, and that was a nice thing for us because he is unbelievably soft and cute. But he would not hold still for long to receive such attention. He has been incredibly tolerant of other interactions.
At about six months old, Loki’s behavior suddenly changed. I worried and contacted House Rabbit Society to describe a rabbit who had gone from totally rambunctious to almost affectionate, practically overnight, like the flip of a switch. Surprisingly, Loki was staying still for petting and grooming and was even sitting on our laps for extended periods of time. And, unexpectedly, he was giving kisses to all of us. I truly feared something was wrong. How could his personality be totally different so quickly if he was healthy and all was well? When I called HRS, Sandy said something to me I’ll never forget. She said, “Welcome to the wonderful world of bonding with your rabbit.” What a relief! And what a wonderful, amazing thing … to have this incredible little guy trust and love us back!
The cute factor has been through the roof since the very beginning. It might be easy to imagine my daughter and me going gaga over this velvety, adorable, funny animal. As it were, my husband and teenage son have also become putty in his paws. Small animals are said to reduce blood pressure in people. I think it is absolutely true for my husband, who often peers at me over the top of his laptop while he works and says, “Let’s go play with the bunny!” And my son has taken to sitting with Loki on his lap while attending his online classes.
Loki is not the pet any of us expected at the beginning, more than two years ago. But in the end, there is no denying that we love this tiny creature who is even-tempered, has tons of personality, is both affectionate and feisty, and is extraordinarily entertaining—a benevolent ruler with his small but mighty ways. And we, his loyal subjects, are happy to oblige him.
We still regularly call HRS both for expert advice about Loki, and to help sustain the organization with purchases. We recently donated our car to national HRS to further assist in its mission. We like supporting this wonderful organization in the work it does with the amazing animals that are rabbits in need. To bun! There is no question.
Reviewed by HRS staff
Author: Jennifer TaekmanPhoto Credit: Hannah Hodgson
Journal Issue: House Rabbit Journal, Winter 2020
