Conference misery::feline_v1

    
    I am proud to be the one to tell you that the REAL name of your
    bunnies are.....
    STEW!!!
    
     Only joking, I anit got a cle but couldnt resist it..
    
    Phil{}

    Sounds like your bunny is a Himalayan, which is a fairly large breed
    of rabbit with the longish ears and tapering head of the 'normal'
    rabbit.
    
    One color of Netherland Dwarf rabbits is called Himalayan also,
    but the Dwarfs have short ears, a flat (short) face, big bold
    eyes ..and weigh no more than 2 1/2 pounds. 
    
    Both would have the pure white body with dark points and ruby eyes
    as you described.
    
    Enjoy your new friend!
    
    
    Linda :^)
                

    If the coat is short, and the markings are also square around the
    nose this is a Californian.  Fairly common but beautiful.  (4 years
    of 4-H makes me think this is what you have.)  If youare really
    interested contact your local 4-H or aggie store and ask about
    local breeders or rabbit groups.  They are fun and very helpful.
    
    Pam
    
    Who raised Dutch and Californians, but now prefers kitties...
    

    RE: .2
    
    Linda,
    
    Do you breed bunnies too???  !!!!!  
    
    cin...who's very impressed!
    

    Cin, 
         ..raising Netherland Dwarf rabbits was a 4-H project that my
    boys were involved in for many years. I was really mostly taxi-driver 
    and number one source of moral support (Like the midnight that found
    me driving into Logan in the middle of a major snowstorm to pick
    up a rabbit that had just arrived from Texas!).
    
    The boys bred and raised (up to 180 at a time) Dwarfs for many
    years ..and showed them very successfully at the national level.
    I was on my own with three boys at the time and it was a great project
    to share with the them and keep them involved. I can't say enough
    good things about the 4-H program ..and all the growing the boys
    did through their envolvement with breeding and showing rabbits.
    
    The boys poured over pedigrees for hours. They planned breedings,
    selected shows ..and ran the $$$ side of it like a business. Every
    rabbit was cleaned, fed and watered at least once a day (yes, all
    180 of them) ..the four of us pitched in. ..especially challenging
    when trying to keep them all with fresh water in these New England
    winters.
    
    They learned the joy of winning, learned how to lose gracefully,
    learned how many good people there are willing to help out, learned
    that you have to accept and go on when not everyone turns out to
    be as nice as most. We all shared the joy of helping other 4-H ers
    get started and of helping 'their breed' become established in this
    area ..the excitement of going to the national convention ..and winning
    there ..and all the hugs and tears we shed when a bunny was lost.
    
    My boys are in their twenties now and are very grateful for the
    experiences they had while raising the rabbits. Their love for animals
    is still very much a part of them..
    
    I don't raise them now, but I have 4 pet rabbits,.. three Netherland
    Dwarfs and one Mini-Lop. Now I concentrate most of my time on the
    Birman cats and, on a lesser scale, my miniature horses. 
    
    Re: .3  You are probably right. I forgot about the Californians ...that
    does sound like what this bunny might be.... I should have thought
    of them. They are a very popular breed ..and very attractive.
    
    
    Linda :^)   
    
                                                                 
    

    THANK YOU!
    .2 & .4 - looks like she is a Californian.  She does have a square of
    brown on the nose.  Whoever gave up this little girl lost out on
    one terrific bunny!  She is the friendliest, most lovable bunny
    I could wish for.  She gives kisses, comes when you call her, loves
    to be petted & scratched, and is so gentle.  I let her loose in
    the barn when I'm cleaning the stalls.  She gallops (?) around,
    checking on me every once in a while by putting her paws on my leg.
    I will contact the local 4-H and see if anyone in my area has this
    type. (I am considering breeding her this spring....I get to keep them all!)
                                                   
    I also have a Netherland Dwarf Male named Fred.  He turned out to be a
    disappointment, though.  He became very aggressive (biting & growling)
    and is not much fun to handle.  I'm better off than my neighbor,
    though.  He was given a free female ND, who was supposed to be an
    absolute angel.  They named her CUJO, after the Stephen King movie.
    If you open the cage, she comes at you claws and teeth bared.  
    She got the son right on the nose first day.  I am working with Fred,
    and he is getting better, but he will never be a lap-bunny.
    
    Re: .1,  May the fleas of a thousand rabbits infest your armpits!
    
    
    Lynne & the gang                                                  
    

    Fred is okay physically?  No medical problems that might
    be making him a little nasty?
    
    180 bunnies!  Don't let E.T. hear about this.
    

    re: .7
      Well that's only 10*CAT_MAX

    Fred is fine physically. (very well fed!)  The only thing I can
    think of that scared him was that he was scared by a dog when he 
    was in an outside cage.  It brought out his defensive instincts.
    (but I love him anyway)
    
    180 bunnies all at once!  WOW!  2 is fun, 180 is WORK WORK WORK!!!
    
    
    L-

    We found that our Dwarfs varied in personality as much as cats (and
    people!) do. One Blue-Eyed White buck (male) lived in the house
    with us and was a great pet. Some were gentle and easy to handle
    ...others were not.  Sometimes the difference was a matter of
    cirmcumstances..  When a judge is handling several mature bucks on the
    show table it can get a little out of hand sometimes. ..and does
    (females) will often become aggressive to protect their young. It was
    our experience that most times the bucks made the gentler pets
    ..though there were exceptions.
    
    As with most animals, frequent gentle handling from the time they
    are young can usually help alot. I know several people who have
    litter-trained their N. Dwarfs and given them the run of the house.
    
    By rabbit standards, the Dwarf is very intelligent and active. They
    are inquisitive and lots of fun. ..but only a few of them were content
    to sit still and be 'lap bunnies' for long ...there was too much
    to do! We used to say that if they were cats they would be Siamese
    as they reminded us so much of the mischief making old-type Siamese
    we had (...hard to believe that Sheba and Sity were part of the
    family way back then ..and are still going strong! :^)  ).
    
    
    One of the reasons why the boys decided on Dwarfs as 'their breed'
    was because they have so much personality ...the other was because
    they are so 'cute' that it is always easy to find some youngster
    who is willing to give a pet quality bunny a loving home. They
    decided from the beginning that they didn't want to have to deal
    with knowing that some of their bunnies could someday end up in
    that stew Phil mentioned. It was a side of rabbit breeding that
    didn't appeal to them ..much to their mother's relief!    
                               
    180 bunnies *were* alot of work. It was time well invested with a
    bigger payback than I ever expected ..in terms of what the boys
    learned and experienced as a result of it. I had told them in the
    beginning that bunny_max was set by three conditions ..every rabbit
    was to be cleaned, fed and watered every day; ..the rabbits had
    to pay for themselves (including show expenses) as I was not in a
    financial position to take on any added expenses; ..and if it ever 
    stopped being fun for them they were to tell me 'up-front' so we could 
    place the rabbits in the right homes ..not let them become 'forgotten'.
    They were kids and had to be reminded now and then ..but they did a good job
    of sticking to all three conditions. 
    
    Now if we want to discuss cat_max ..that's a whole different story.
    There is no way my fur-faces would tolerate sharing my attention
    with 180 ..even if I could find time for it! Cats definitely demand
    more attention!   Hmmnnn... Maybe some of you Feliners will be able
    to figure out just what cat_max should be?  If Jo, Pennie, Cin and
    E.T. are the standard what am I getting myself into???
    
    Linda  :^)  ...who is holding at seven ..for now...
    
    

    Wait a minute, Linda, I only have 11.....no where near the numbers of
    Jo and E.T.   Although, I lie to my husband and tell him I have
    10....10 is my cat_max!!!  He doesn't bother to count!!  Now, of
    course, I don't count kittens!!!  I have 4 of those right now.
    
    cin...who really tries to keep the numbers down!
    

    Well, Cin, then there is the story of Red Boy, not to mention 
    when you brought the Tortie home - yes, yes, I know, she is
    only going to stay less then a year or something like that!!
    I only have 8 more than you do!  But, if you have kittens
    all the time, and add 10 plus 4 or 6 kittens, that makes
    ah, let me see, is that 14 or 16 !!!  
    
    Now, Jo, on the other hand is really up there!  

    Actually, I think Cin thought that she still owned Lil.  She was
    nice enough to send a show entry in for me with hers to save time,
    and she entered my cat as:  Cattyshack's Tiger Lily    !!
    
    I thought that was a hoot - when I read the confirmation, it took
    me 5 minutes to figure out why it looked strange! (A little naked
    on the end!)  I wonder how it will feel to sell a cat/kitten to
    someone you know, and see it at almost every show.  I wonder if
    I will still think of it as 'my' kitten...  Jo, do you feel that
    way?  Cin, do you?

    Elaine, 
    
    I still think of Lil as my baby....she will always be my baby, but she
    is your cat.  I can't help it if I forget that you changed her name!!! 
    ;-)
    
    As you can tell, I'm always very proud of her, and am always pretty
    quick to mention to folks that she is my breding, even if I don't own
    her...and I feel very comfortable steeling her from her cage when your
    not there!!!  ;)
    
    

    Yeah! I think that's probably true with most breeders, I guess 
    
    I didn't change it - just added a new piece and made it longer!
    
    You know, at some shows, I sometimes wonder if she spends very much
    time in her benching cage.   I don't really even worry when I am gone 
    for a few minutes, and come back and she's not there, I figure one 
    auntie or another has her.  When all her aunties show up to either
    visit or if they are showing, her feet hardly ever touch the floor
    of her cage.  She is spoiled rotten!  Not to say that I don't 
    spoil her at all, of course not - not me !

    Elaine,
    
    Did you know that you CANNOT change the registered name of a cat, the
    only thing you can do is add the suffix.
    
    Just thought I'ld let you know.
    
    Wait till you have your babies, you'll see...Lil will always be my
    baby, as are all the "kids" that have gone on to new parents.
    
    me
    

    Imagine the breeder that buys Snidley and gets stuck with his name!!!
    
    ;-)
    

    Hey!  I guess I can change Dundee's name to:
      Dundee MacTavish of Putiput
      
      :-)

    Yup...as long as you want to send them $3.00...you can also remove a
    cattery name suffix for the same fee.
    
    cin
    

    re:16
    
    Yup, I know - I was referring to .14 when YOU said I changed her
    name.  Actually, out of most names I have heard 'lately', I
    think I got lucky with Tiger Lily - she really looks like a
    'Lil' ...

    I still feel a special attachment to all of my kittens.  I was at
    a show this weekend, and in addition to the cats I was showing,
    there were three of my breeding there!  Now, that feels good, but
    you want all of them to win, and not all of them can win.  That
    is when I like to have them split the rings.  
    
    Just because I can't remember how many cats I have doesn't mean
    that I have a lot, it just means that my old age is creeping up
    on me... my thirtieth birthday will be here in a matter of days!
    
    Oh, by the way, did I mention that I have a new cat?  Her name is
    Sacrechat Jacynthe, and she is a three year old seal point female.
    She belongs to Sheri who lives in Hawaii.  Kaisha, as she is called,
    will be with us until Sheri returns from Hawaii, unless Sheri decides
    to sell her to another breeder.  I hope she doesn't decide to sell
    her, I think she is terrific and would like to try and work her
    in to the household.
                       
    
    Jo

    "Just because I can't remember how many cats I have doesn't mean
    that I have a lot, it just means that my old age is creeping up
    on me... my thirtieth birthday will be here in a matter of days!"
    
    
    On behalf of all of us "over the hill" folks I want to thank you
    for your wonderful insult  ;-)   I'll be 35 in March and I know
    there are lots of other Feliners who are older than that.
      N
    

    Jo, I'm over 30, and I can count mine!!!!!  ;-)
    
    Of course, that doesn't mean that I tell my husband exactly how many
    there are!!!  ;-)
    

    Gee, sorry for the unintended insult!! :^)
    
    Okay, I have to list them alphabetically in order to keep them
    straight...
    
    1. Joui
    2. Kyrielle
    3. Kalliste
    4. Kaisha   \ do these two count? they were Sheri's before she moved
    5. Kaitlin  / to Hawaii 
    6. Lyscentia
    7. Laci
    8. Limoges
    9. Mimosa - does Mimi count, she will be sold as a pet someday soon
    10. Mirabel
    11. Moody
    12. Monroe
    13. Tilly
    14. Winston
    15. - 22. the poo heads - these guys don't count either, right??
    
    So gang, how man is that?
    
    Jo

    Jo, 22 poo heads - good lordy, 22 kitten??????????  
    
    I try to list them according to age, which usually equals when
    they came into the house, but that gets messed up when I get
    to SilVee, Misha, Pashenka, Malinka, and Terror and Charlie,
    and Lil, cause they all were not kittens when I got them !!
    It works for the first 9, then it goes down hill.....
    
    p.s. glad to hear from you again Jo, hope you are feeling betta!!

    No no no!  15 through 22 are the poo-heads!  There are only seven
    of them, thank God!!
    
    Alphabetical is the only way to go for me, it is the only way I
    can be sure that I get everyone.
    
    Jo

    Jo, 
    
    Kittens NEVER count!!!!!!  ;-)
    
    cin
    

    re: .27 - Tell their mother that!

    Well, by that token, does that mean that I don't have to count any
    cat that is under a year old??  That will reduce the numbers even
    more, since I won't have to count the 7 poo-heads, Mimosa, Moody,
    or Mirabel!  That makes only 12 cats for me, very respectable.
    
    I co-own Kaitlin with Sheri, and Kaisha is Sheri's cat, so I guess
    I really only have 10!
    
    Jo

    That's right, Jo, leased or co-owned cats don't count either!!  ;-)
    
    

    This reminds me of the breeder my kids came from.
    
    Up until a couple years ago she only had sable burmese.  Since
    there were no more than about 10 cats in a room at any one time,
    and since they all look pretty much alike, hubby only thought
    they had 10.  The actual count was somewhere around 45 (including
    kittens).
    
    Come to think of it, she doesn't count the leased/co-owned cats
    in the census either.
    
    
    

    Hmmmmm, maybe that's the way I can add to cat max.... have all the
    cats looks alike!!  Course to please my husband they'd all have
    to be Birmans...
    
    --Roberta (who's husband loves Murdock more than he does me!)
    

    And to think I started this just by asking what kind of bunny I
    might have......
    Now I know how to add to my cat_max.  My husband cannot tell our
    two Korats apart. Hmmmmmmm, another 2 or 6 or 12 of the same kind,
    and I could just keep telling him its Casey or B.K. ....Hmmmmmmmm,
    The more I think about it........Yes, it might just work.....
    
    
    L- & the gang

    That is one way that some breeders get around cat max in rental
    housing, the landlord can't tell the cats apart, so how can he know
    how many you have??
    
    Sheri did this for years in Monterey.  She was only supposed to
    have 2, but really had 7.
    
    Jo

    but when 5 of them are all in the window at the same time, isn't that a
    dead giveaway?
    
    Deb

    That usually doesn't happen much at our house.  I only have two
    that are window sitters, and they don't usually share on windowsill.
    
    I guess it could be a problem then.
    
    Jo

    Wow, at my house it sure would be a giveaway!  As many as can crunch
    get on the sills - that's why I put perches and trees by the windows
    so everyone gets a fair chance - lucky I have 15 windows!!!!
    And mine don't all look alike, yet !!  All but one have faces, noses,
    necks, legs, and normal sized bodies !!!!
    
    E.