Cinnamon & Gnocchi, Pet Rabbits in the Village

By Joy Pape

When I saw two rabbits out on leashes one sunny afternoon, I told their owner, Neal, that I used to have a rabbit named Jennifer. He introduced me to Cinnamon and Gnocchi. Here’s what I learned from Neal.

Why did you choose rabbits for pets?
Growing up, I always wanted a dog but my mother is allergic. The only pet I could have would need to live outside the house. For a long time that would be the end of the conversation. Eventually my grandmother suggested that I get a rabbit. Making plans for suitable living arrangements took some planning but my sister’s best friend, who already had a rabbit, helped us out. As soon as my mom agreed, within 10 minutes my sister, father and I were out the door.

We chose a Lionhead rabbit we named Fluffy. She was easy to take care of and I loved her. She did spend a lot of the time outside. We rabbit-proofed our backyard, meaning along with fencing, we had netting she couldn’t get under. Rabbits don’t have collar bones and can flatten their bodies to slip under fences. Fluffy died in her sleep at age seven, when I was a senior at NYU.

Why did you want another rabbit and where did you find them?
Besides being easy to take care of, rabbits are really adorable and each one has a different personality. It’s not hard to find rabbits. You’ve most likely heard the term, “breed like rabbits,” meaning there are lots of rabbits. While living in NY I checked out Craig’s List and found Cinnamon. While the breeder was getting her ready, I met Oreo who was so friendly and came right up to me. Cinnamon and Oreo were partners in crime for two years. I moved back to Seattle in 2019 and in 2020 a bobcat unexpectedly showed up and got Oreo. We managed to rescue her but she didn’t survive the night.

Cinnamon changed after this. She hadn’t been too adventurous. She had just followed Oreo’s lead and was calm and cuddly. She became more ‘alpha rabbit’ and this has continued with her new friend Gnocchi. Gnocchi would rather not be touched but she’s curious enough to come up to you to see what’s going on.

In 2022, I moved back back to the Village. I felt guilty about taking them away from the backyard so I got a stroller to get them out of the house and explore the world.

What do they do when you are away at work?
Rabbits are crepuscular so they’re most active at dawn and dusk when I’m home. The rest of the time they’re napping. They live under my bed, free roam, and use their litter box. Sometimes they jump onto the couch and say hello or sit and watch a movie. Cinnamon especially likes to cuddle and get her head scratched.

Anything in particular you want us to know?
Rabbits are pretty low maintenance. Like cats, they are self-cleaning. They like hay (grass), pellets (a type of rabbit food), carrots, blueberries and especially leafy greens..

See more of Cinnamon and Gnocchi @bunniesofwestvillage.