"Pat" wrote in message
...
We now believe that we have a female bunny, so we are calling her Hazel.

Tonight for the first time Hazel sat on my lap. She actually stayed there
for a long time. I've been waiting for her to allow this. It took quite
some time. I feel like we've crossed an important threshold. She also
spent some time laying down up against Tommy on the sofa. He seemed amazed
at having a bunny share his space so closely.

We've had to protect Hazel from several of the younger cats. Abigail,
Arthur and Mickey are not allowed to run loose when Hazel is out. They
spend their time either in Dave's room or in the rabbit cage. We give them
a chance to learn to be good to Hazel each time we let her out, but as
soon as one of them chases or swats at her, into confinement they go.

Hazel enjoys eating all sorts of grass. Thank goodness she enjoys bermuda,
which we are trying to eradicate from the garden. Now, instead of throwing
all of it into the compost bin, Hazel gets a bundle of it every day, along
with orchard grass and other types. We'll be planting a patch of timothy
in a few months, too, so we won't have to hunt for it at hay dealers. It's
a difficult hay to find around here.

Every day when I come in with a bunch of fresh grass, the cats all try to
get into the rabbit cage to eat with her. Even though the cats get their
own "salad" every day, they like eating with Hazel!

Have you ever read the novel "Watership Down" by Richard Adams? if not, you
should.
Hazel was a male bunny in that.

it's not difficult to sex rabbits if you know how and I can help you on that
one, if you want me to.

Tweed