To Clean or Not to Clean

I'm after some advice about whether to clean out the bunny house completely now Bobby has gone, or if I should just leave it and let his smell disappear over time on its own.

At the weekend I spent some time (with Becky supervising of course) giving the bunny house its weekly thorough tidy out. I did the usual and removed all the soiled bedding and cleared the litter trays and I also removed the large collections of Bobby's fur, which I've kept in a memory box, and with the promise of buying Becky new ones, I took away the toys I considered to be Bobby's.

So I guess my question relates to what I call their sleepy box, its an enclosed part of the house which is filled with hay. Should I take away all that hay and replace it with fresh so it doesn't smell of Bobby, or should I leave it? That same with the floors, should I clean them or leave them?

I want to do what's best for Becky, if it will confuse her having Bobby's smell around and it will make her think he might be coming back then I will clean it and it can be hers until I get her a companion, but if it will provide comfort to her having the familiar smell then I'm happy to leave it.

She did get to spend time with Bobby after we brought him home from the vets, there was a tray full of hay he liked to dig and sit in, so we laid him in that and she had some time with him and then when we were out at work or in bed he was just the other side of the pen. She's showing a few signs of grieving, but nothing I'm concerned about.

Also I do realise that when I get her a companion I will need to clean it thoroughly so they can start a fresh together.

Oh dear sweetheart, I have to say that I am honestly not sure. I am sorry little Becky is now on her own but whether to wash all traces of Bobby away, I really do not know. Someone else on here will advise you love, sorry to be so hopeless.

Hugs
JO xx

In the past, after a bunny has died, I've cleared out all bedding and newspaper lining but not washed the hutch. Obviously if bunny has died from something infectious, you need to be more scrupulous and do a good scrub out. None of my bereaved buns have ever shown that the smell confuses them.

Sorry for your loss xx

After Bertie had passed I cleaned in the usual manner by clearing litter trays and replacing bedding. Unfortunately Bubbles has not taken it well. Nearly 3 month later and she is still grieving for her hunbun.

Not easy. But, personally, I would be inclined to leave as is; unless, of course, there's a risk of infection. I would see leaving Bobby's scent as a comfort, something familiar in her surroundings after the loss. Remember, her scent will be there too and it will be mingled with his and be a big part of her home. It could help to have that.

Unless as woodwench says, there's risk of infection I would also advise to leave as is.

However, if you come to bond with another bun then I would strip, disinfect and rearrange while bonding in a neutral area.

Thanks guys.

I probably should have said, Bobby died of spontaneous organ failure, the vet thought it was his liver.

I think I will leave it, as until now, Becky only ever lived in the Bunny house with Bobby.

On Tuesday Becky went for her annual vaccination and when she came home she went straight into the sleepy-box to hide and didn't come out for about 2 hours. I could hear her snuffling round in there and I did open the door to have a peek at her just to check she was ok. So I guess she was happy in there as it was.

Father Jack wrote:Unless as woodwench says, there's risk of infection I would also advise to leave as is.

However, if you come to bond with another bun then I would strip, disinfect and rearrange while bonding in a neutral area.

This is exactly what I was thinking

I have not been on for a while, would just like to say so sorry for your loss.