Snowflake Challenge 2026 - Day 2

[dizzojay]

Challenge #2: Pets of Fandom

Loosely defined! Post about your pets, pets from your canon, anything you want!

Oh, you’re going to regret challenging me to write about my pets! 😉

My pets are two very spoiled house rabbits. They are littermates (I hesitate to say siblings because I think there may be different fathers involved, so half siblings) and they came from a rabbit rescue sanctuary here in the UK. We got them when they were 16 weeks old, and they will be five in March.

They’re free roam in the living room, and out in the back garden when the weather’s nice – that’s because we have to sit out there to supervise them and keep an eye for predators.

My handsome little boy is Nutmeg, he’s a grumpy little ratbag plus he’s a jumper and an explorer. Since we’ve had him, he’s been up on the couch, the windowsill, the coffee table, various boxes we have around the place for them to play in, and on one memorable occasion, up on the dining table.

His beautiful 'sister' is Juniper. She’s much more sedentary than her brother. She’s all about the food and the comfort, a real lady of leisure. She’s very sweet and loving, and will sit around being fussed and loved while her brother squirms away like we’re dirty! Juniper was named in tribute to jj1564 whose name was June. We got the bunnies three months after June’s passing.

I’ve always loved rabbits, and have several throughout my life, but these are my first in the age of Social Media, so these two have their own Insta and their own Youtube channel.

I’ve always been a vocal supporter of rabbit welfare, and even more so now that house rabbits are becoming more of a thing, and knowledge of them and their needs is improving.

Here are just a few pointers as to why rabbits, although the third most popular pet in the UK (may well be similar in other countries), are also the most misunderstood, and as a result many of them live miserable, lonely and unhealthy lives:

• Contrary to popular belief, rabbits are not good starter pets for children. Rabbits generally don’t like being picked up and held (they’re prey animals and picking up is a predation trigger). Children can often be noisy and unpredictable, something else that rabbits don’t do well with.
• Rabbits can live upwards of ten years. I’ve known of rabbits to make it to fourteen years of age.
• They’re active and require a lot of space. A hutch is not sufficient for them.
• They are social animals and do better in pairs or groups than alone.
• They have a level of intelligence similar to a domestic cat so they need attention and stimulation. They require toys and hidey holes, plus an environment gives them security and the freedom to engage in natural behaviours.
• They’re nibblers and that can’t be stopped, so nibblesome stuff has to be kept out of their way, or protected from them
• From a veterinary point of view, they are classed as exotic pets, and so veterinary care may be costly. It’s always best to find a rabbit savvy vet as they have complex needs to keep them healthy including annual vaccinations

And that’s just for starters!

So it anyone you know mentions ‘getting a rabbit for the kids’, please show them my post!

Anyway, that's it from Nutmeg and Juniper...

Signing off!

Comments

[stardust_rifle]

Your rabbits are so cute and it's always nice to see exotic pet owners who are realistic about the challenges of keeping them. I think rabbits are so cute, but they're just so small and I would be too nervous to own something that I could scare to death.

[dizzojay]

Thank you - I know what you mean, I've known so many people buying weird and wonderful pets and being totally unprepared for them. A large part of that fault lies with the pet shops.

I think one of the reasons I love rabbits is that they're prey animals, and winning the trust of a prey-animal whose entire DNA is programmed to fear everything, is one of the most magical feelings.

[visualjyushi]

Nutmeg and Juniper are so cute. I didn't mention it in my own post, but I also help to take care of my housemate's rabbit. We volunteer at a local bunny rescue as well. Doing so made me learn so much about rabbit care and how they're often mistreated. I appreciate you passing on some good rabbit knowledge for everyone :)

[dizzojay]

Ah, that's wonderful. I would love to help out at the sanctuary where we got Nutmeg and Juniper but it's 80 miles away. When I retire or at least reduce my working hours, one of my aims is to be able to do some volunteering at an animal rescue.

[yarnofariadne]

What lovely bunnies! When we were at the vet recently I noticed they had lots of posters up about having a rabbit specialist on the team, and lots of information about proper rabbit care. I thought that was pretty neat.

[dizzojay]

That's fantastic. Knowledge of bunny welfare has come on so much in the last few years thanks to the efforts of the Rabbit Welfare Association. There's still such a long way to go, but it's improving.

[spiralicious]

<3 I can't believe they are going to be 5 already!

[dizzojay]

Neither can I, the time has flown by!

[potentiality_26]

Such cute rabbits <3

[dizzojay]

Thank you, they really are little cuties with lots of sass!

[tarlanx]

They are both so cute!

I totally agree about them not being good starter pets for kids!

[dizzojay]

Thank you!
And I love that you agree. That information needs to get out more and more!

[faitsu]

YES!!! Advocate for rabbit welfare! They need so much space and have so many needs!

[dizzojay]

Absolutely.
Knowledge of rabbit welfare is improving but there's still a long way to go.

[maevedarcy]

they're so pretty! fluffly and adorable!!!

[mywitch]

I just followed your bunnies on insta. I'm unicornranch there :) I love rabbits. Never had one but have always thought they would be delightful - yours definitely are!