Considering a fluffy bunny as your next family member? Rabbits are the third most beloved furry pets after cats and dogs – and for very good reasons! However, it’s crucial to understand that these adorable creatures come with their own set of unique needs and behaviors, quite different from our feline or canine friends. Before you welcome a bunny into your home, here are 12 essential things you should know about Pet Rabbits.
1. Rabbits Have Surprisingly Long Lifespans
When compared to other small pets such as hamsters or rats, rabbits boast a considerably longer lifespan. Depending on their breed and care, your pet rabbit can live anywhere from 8 to 12 years, and some even longer, reaching up to 15 years! This long-term commitment is something to seriously consider when thinking about bringing a bunny into your life. Ensure you are prepared for many years of cuddles, care, and companionship.
2. Indoor Living is Best for Pet Rabbits
Forget the outdated idea of keeping rabbits isolated in a backyard hutch! Domestic rabbits thrive when they live indoors, in a central part of your home where they can interact with the family. Ideally, this means providing them with a large, enriched enclosure or even allowing them free roam of a bunny-proofed room. Integrating them into your home life allows them to truly become part of the family and reduces feelings of loneliness and stress.
Their living space, whether it’s a cage or a room, must be spacious enough to comfortably accommodate food and water bowls, a litter box (or two), and at least one cozy hideaway. Crucially, it should still give them enough room to take several hops without obstruction. Remember, when it comes to rabbit habitats, bigger is always better!
Standard pet store cages are often far too small for the proper housing of a rabbit. Instead, you can easily create a spacious and comfortable habitat using dog exercise pens or modular wire storage cubes. Larger enclosures contribute significantly to happier and healthier rabbits. They also offer ample space for enrichment – think toys, tunnels, perches, and hiding spots – making their environment more stimulating and enjoyable. Plus, larger spaces are easier to maintain as they don’t become soiled as quickly.
Ensure the base of your rabbit’s habitat is solid, not wire or mesh, as these can cause painful sores and injuries to their sensitive feet. For comfortable bedding, opt for wood shavings like aspen (avoid pine or cedar as they are toxic), recycled paper-based bedding, or soft, thick blankets that are regularly cleaned.
3. Pet Rabbit Behavior Stems from Wild Instincts
Rabbits are naturally prey animals. In the wild, their survival strategy when faced with danger is to either freeze in place, hoping to become invisible, or to bolt and run for cover. These deeply ingrained instincts remain strong even in domesticated rabbits. To ensure your pet rabbit feels secure and safe in your home, it’s essential to provide them with shelters and hideaways. Whether they are in their enclosure or exploring a room, having a safe retreat is crucial for their well-being and helps minimize stress.
4. Rabbits Need Plenty of Exercise and Space to Move
Rabbits are far from being sedentary pets; they are active, curious, and playful animals that require a significant amount of space to exercise and explore. Your pet rabbit should have a minimum of four hours each day outside of their enclosure to hop, run, and stretch their legs. You can allow them to roam freely in a bunny-proofed room or utilize dog exercise pens to create a safe and contained area for their playtime.
Prior to letting your rabbit loose, it’s crucial to “bunny-proof” your home. This involves carefully removing any potential hazards from their reach, such as moving houseplants out of reach (many are toxic to rabbits) and thoroughly blocking access to electrical cords, cleaning supplies, and other items that could be dangerous if chewed or ingested. Rabbit-proofing ensures their safety and prevents damage to your home.
5. Rabbits are Intelligent Animals Requiring Mental Stimulation
Rabbits are smart and inquisitive creatures, and mental enrichment is just as important as physical exercise for their overall well-being. To prevent boredom and destructive behaviors, it’s essential to keep your rabbit mentally stimulated, especially during times when you are away at work or school.
Provide them with a variety of safe chew toys made of rabbit-safe materials like untreated wood or cardboard. Hay towers filled with fresh hay encourage foraging, and hiding healthy treats inside cardboard mazes, treat balls, or other puzzle feeders makes meal times more engaging and mimics their natural foraging behaviors. Always ensure they have a plentiful supply of fresh hay in their litter box, as chewing hay is not only essential for their digestion but also helps to naturally wear down their continuously growing teeth.
6. Rabbits Thrive on Companionship and Can Be Social
Rabbits are naturally social animals who thrive on companionship. In the wild, they live in large, complex social groups. While you provide love and attention, consider the immense joy of adopting a pair of rabbits so they can keep each other company, especially during times when you are not at home.
Imagine how much happier your pet rabbit will be having a bunny friend to interact with! Bonded rabbit pairs will eat together, play together, groom each other, and snuggle up for naps, enriching their lives and providing constant companionship. If considering multiple rabbits, it is generally recommended to adopt a neutered male and a spayed female to minimize the risk of territorial aggression and unwanted litters.
7. Rabbits Need Regular Grooming, Including Nail Trims
Rabbits are meticulous groomers and generally keep themselves clean, so they never require baths from humans unless specifically directed by a veterinarian in very messy situations. However, regular brushing is essential, especially for long-haired rabbit breeds, to prevent fur matting and to minimize the ingestion of loose fur during self-grooming. Unlike cats, rabbits are unable to cough up hairballs, which can lead to dangerous blockages in their digestive system.
In addition to brushing, routine nail trims are necessary every 4 to 6 weeks. Rabbit nails grow continuously, and overgrown nails can become painful, making it difficult for them to walk properly and increasing the risk of injury. Be extremely careful when trimming rabbit nails, as cutting too short can hit the quick, causing pain and bleeding. It’s often helpful to have a second person assist – one to gently and securely hold the rabbit while the other trims the nails. If you are unsure, your veterinarian or a rabbit-savvy groomer can demonstrate the proper technique or perform nail trims for you.
8. A Rabbit’s Diet is Primarily Hay-Based, Not Carrots
Contrary to popular cartoon depictions, rabbits cannot live on carrots alone, and carrots should only be given sparingly as treats due to their high sugar content. Rabbits are herbivores, and their diet should primarily consist of plant-based foods. Grass hay is the cornerstone of a healthy rabbit diet. Offer a variety of grass hays such as Timothy hay, orchard grass, and meadow hay – and provide it in unlimited quantities. Hay is crucial for proper digestion, providing essential fiber, and it plays a vital role in naturally wearing down their continuously growing teeth. Avoid alfalfa hay, as it is too rich in calcium and protein for most adult rabbits and is more appropriate for young, growing bunnies.
Supplement their hay-based diet with generous portions of fresh, leafy green vegetables daily. Excellent choices include bok choy, parsley, romaine lettuce, red and green leaf lettuce (avoid iceberg lettuce as it has minimal nutritional value), cilantro, celery leaves, and carrot tops. Fruits and carrots should be offered only as occasional treats and in very small amounts due to their sugar content. Introduce any new foods gradually to avoid upsetting their sensitive digestive system.
High-quality, high-fiber rabbit pellets can also be offered, but these should be given in limited amounts. Overfeeding pellets can lead to weight gain and other health problems, and it can also reduce their hay consumption, which is the most crucial part of their diet. A rabbit’s digestive system is delicate and sensitive, so keep their diet simple, high in fiber, and low in sugar. Consult resources like the BC SPCA Rabbit Food Guide (PDF) for more detailed information on feeding your pet rabbit.
9. Rabbits Can Be Litter Box Trained for Indoor Living
Yes, rabbits are intelligent and clean animals that can absolutely be litter box trained, making them excellent house pets. Litter training prevents messes around your home and helps to keep their living space clean. Regular litter box maintenance is essential – scoop out soiled litter daily and completely clean the litter box every 1-2 days, and thoroughly clean their entire enclosure at least once a week.
A large, low-sided plastic cat litter pan works well as a rabbit litter box, ensuring your rabbit can comfortably fit inside and easily enter and exit. Line the bottom of the litter box with a few inches of rabbit-safe litter, such as paper-based pellets or aspen wood pellets (avoid clumping cat litters and clay-based litters, which are dangerous for rabbits). Critically, place a generous pile of fresh Timothy hay at one end of the litter box. Rabbits naturally like to munch on hay while they eliminate, encouraging them to use the litter box.
10. Veterinary Care is Essential for Rabbit Health
Spending quality time observing your pet rabbit will allow you to become familiar with their normal behavior and habits. This makes it easier to recognize when something is amiss. If you notice any unusual symptoms, such as diarrhea, lethargy, a hunched posture, sneezing, or loss of appetite, it is crucial to seek veterinary care immediately. As prey animals, rabbits are adept at hiding signs of illness, so even subtle changes in their behavior can indicate a serious health issue. Prompt veterinary attention is vital for their well-being.
It is also essential to find a veterinarian who has experience treating rabbits, as their physiology and medical needs differ from those of cats and dogs. Rabbits also require specific vaccinations, such as the vaccine to protect them from Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease (RHD), a fatal disease that is now present in various regions. Consult with your veterinarian about recommended vaccinations and preventative care for your pet rabbit.
11. Rabbits Generally Prefer to Stay Grounded and Can Be Startled by Being Lifted
Despite their cuddly appearance, most rabbits do not enjoy being picked up and held. Lifting a rabbit off the ground triggers their natural prey instincts, often causing them to become frightened and struggle to escape. They may kick out with their powerful hind legs in an attempt to get away, which can result in scratches for you and potential injuries for the rabbit if they fall or twist awkwardly.
Instead of picking up your rabbit, build trust and interaction by spending time at their level. Sit or lie on the floor and allow them to approach you and sniff you on their own terms. Some rabbits are naturally shy and will require more time to relax and feel comfortable in a new home. Once they are comfortable, you can gently pet them. A relaxed rabbit may even lick you or “chin” you (rub their chin on you), which is their way of scent-marking you as a member of their group.
If it is absolutely necessary to pick up your rabbit, always use two hands for support: place one hand gently under their hindquarters and the other around their chest, behind their front legs. Hold them securely and close to your chest to help them feel more secure and minimize the feeling of being exposed and vulnerable.
12. Rabbits Reproduce Quickly, Emphasizing the Importance of Spaying or Neutering
Rabbits are known for their rapid reproduction rates. An unspayed female rabbit is capable of producing a litter of baby bunnies every month, and within just one year, a single unspayed rabbit could theoretically be responsible for hundreds of offspring! To help prevent pet overpopulation and ensure the health and well-being of your pet rabbit, spaying (for females) or neutering (for males) is highly recommended. Responsible rabbit rescues and shelters, like the BC SPCA, ensure all rabbits are spayed or neutered before adoption.
Spaying and neutering not only prevents unwanted litters but also offers significant health and behavioral benefits. Spayed and neutered rabbits are generally calmer, less prone to territorial aggression, and litter box training often becomes easier and more reliable. Spaying female rabbits drastically reduces their risk of developing uterine cancer, a common and often fatal disease in unspayed females.
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