Apache and Baby were put into the second run, adjoining Sultan and Sophie. As I've said on the 'Friends' page, there was a lot of testosterone, as well as spraying. Apache was also rather taken with Baby and mounted her continuously. So, for everyone's comfort, Apache was put into a cage inside the run. A situation he was less than pleased with, all these new friends and now he was in jail.
A call was made to the vet and he was booked in for the big snip. In the meantime, he and Baby made friends in a manner that was a little more civilised. Within a day, they were both snuggling up as close as the cage would let them.
The operation went well and once the anesthetic wore off, he was back to his bouncy self. He was kept in the cage for about 3 weeks, just to be sure there weren't going to be any unwanted babies. The day he was let back in with Baby, he tried to mount her twice, but didn't seem overly interested, or committed, so he was allowed to stay.
The situation between the fences hadn't improved much and I didn't think it would until they had been allowed to face each other. This we did over a week or so, until we could be sure they weren't going to really hurt each other. For the most part, Sultan and Apache have worked out their differences, and Apache is willing to concede Sultan's dominance. I don't think Sultan has quite forgiven Apache his earlier transgression and he can sometimes be seen sitting with a little tuft of white fur dangling from his mouth. Like any family they have their differences to sort out and as long as no-one is showing signs of damage we don't interfere. So far so good!
Apache, like Sophie, is very curious. When I clean out their boxes and area, I can count on those two to be keeping a very close eye on what I'm doing. They'll climb on me, jump in and out of the crate I cart their litter away in, sniff the broom and generally get in the way. When I scrub the floor and hose it out, they run around in the water and then flick their feet indignantly because I got them wet. Needless to say, I spent most of the time laughing at them. When everything's back in place, they're the ones that check every detail to make sure I've got it right.
Apache and Sultan are the organisers of the group. They both spend a lot of time, tossing, moving
and bunching. It's quite funny to watch these two compulsives follow each other around.
Sultan moves this, changes that and gets things just so. Then along comes Apache and re-organises
everything the way he likes it. Back comes Sultan... and so it goes on.
At least it keeps them busy!
One thing I've noticed about Apache is that he craves love and attention. He's always begging the other rabbits to groom him and he looks most contented snuggled up besides one of the girls. Although he's a little shy, he will happily sit on your lap and be stroked, tooth purring and grunting all the while. None of the other rabbits seem quite so avid about receiving attention. I assume he had little contact where ever he was before and now he's getting it, he's addicted.
Each of my rabbits has a definite personality. Apache reminds me of an awkward teenager, trying to find himself and his place in the world, assert his individuality, yet desperate to fit in. Hopefully, with time, he will reach the supreme confidence that Sultan displays.
Sadly, Apache went to the bridge on 27 February 2003.