Can rabbits have imaginary friends?

File: Bunford.jpg (46KB, 472x629px) Image search: [Google]

46KB, 472x629px

I suppose it's not a crisis, but it is a bit weird.

My wife and I had wanted to get a rabbit for some time, but back when we first met, we were living in a succession of apartments, most of whom wouldn't allow pets, so yeah. Anyway, it was pretty silly, but I once got her a stuffed rabbit kind of as a reminder/promise that one day we'd have our own place and get a real one.

We get our own place, get a real rabbit, and "Sam" the stuffed rabbit takes up residence in the attic. One day, I'm going through some stuff in the attic, and Bunford, our actual rabbit, follows me up the ladder/stairs (and I had no idea he would try that, he's usually scared of heights) and while looking around, he spots the stuffed rabbit, grabs it in his mouth, and hops back down the ladder/stairs again.

He takes that stuffed rabbit with him a lot. When he's going for food, he'll invariably drop the stuffed rabbit by his bowl. When he wants to go outside, he'll often bring the stuffed rabbit, although he won't take him outside. When the vacuum is running or a dog is barking outside and he's scared, he'll always run on over to the stuffed rabbit.

Can rabbits identify with an object like that? I just kind of assumed they wouldn't have that kind of mental ability.

Apologies for the shit pic, I'm a terrible photographer.