Thinking about welcoming a rabbit into your home? Rabbits are incredibly popular pets, ranking third among furry companions after cats and dogs, and it’s easy to see why! They bring a unique charm to any household. However, it’s essential to understand that rabbits have specific needs and behaviors that differ significantly from those of cats or dogs. To help you make an informed decision, here are 12 crucial things you should know before bringing a bunny home and considering Rabbits As Pets.
1. Rabbits Offer a Significant Lifelong Companionship
Unlike smaller rodents such as rats or hamsters, rabbits boast a considerably longer lifespan. Depending on their breed and care, your rabbit companion could be by your side for up to 15 years! This longevity is a wonderful aspect of rabbits as pets, offering years of companionship, but it also signifies a long-term commitment. When considering rabbits as pets, remember you are planning for a decade or more of care and responsibility for your furry friend.
Alt text: A man hand-feeding a brown and white rabbit outdoors, emphasizing the gentle interaction possible with rabbits as pets.
2. Rabbits Thrive Indoors as House Pets
The days of keeping rabbits isolated in outdoor hutches are long gone. Rabbits as pets truly flourish when kept indoors, becoming integrated members of the household. Ideally, they should reside in a spacious, enriching enclosure situated in a communal area of your home, or even better, have free reign of a bunny-proofed room. This indoor lifestyle allows them to be part of the family and promotes their social and emotional well-being.
Their living space, whether a large enclosure or a room, needs to be adequately sized. It should comfortably accommodate food and water bowls, at least one litter box, and a secure hideout, while still providing ample space for them to hop freely. Remember, when it comes to rabbits as pets, more space equates to a happier and healthier bunny.
Commercially available pet store cages are often too small to properly house a rabbit. Instead, consider creating a larger habitat using dog exercise pens or modular wire storage cubes. These options offer significantly more space and are more conducive to creating a stimulating environment for rabbits as pets. Larger enclosures also offer more opportunities for enrichment, allowing you to add toys, perches, and hiding spots, while also making cleaning less frequent.
Ensure the base of your rabbit’s habitat is solid, not wire or mesh, as these can cause discomfort and injury to their sensitive feet. For bedding, opt for safe and comfortable materials like aspen wood shavings (avoid pine or cedar), recycled paper bedding, or soft, clean blankets.
Alt text: A tan and white rabbit sits comfortably inside a spacious indoor enclosure made of wire panels, showcasing a suitable habitat for rabbits as pets within a home environment.
3. Understanding the Natural Prey Instincts of Pet Rabbits
Rabbits are naturally prey animals, and this instinctual behavior carries over into their lives as pets. In the wild, their primary defense mechanisms when frightened are to either freeze in place or flee to safety. As rabbits as pets, they retain these instincts. To ensure they feel secure and safe in your home, it’s vital to provide them with shelters or hideaways where they can retreat when they feel nervous or threatened, whether they are in their enclosure or exploring freely.
Alt text: Two rabbits, one black and white and one brown and white, nestled inside a cardboard box, illustrating the need for secure hiding places for rabbits as pets to feel safe.
4. Rabbits are Active and Need Space to Exercise
Rabbits are naturally energetic and playful animals that require considerable space to express their activity levels. As rabbits as pets, they need a minimum of four hours of exercise outside of their enclosure each day. You can allow them to explore freely in a bunny-proofed room or utilize dog exercise pens to create a safe and contained area for them to hop, run, and play. Prior to letting your rabbit roam free, it’s crucial to “bunny-proof” your home. This involves elevating or removing houseplants, concealing electrical cords, and securing any other items that could pose a hazard to a curious rabbit.
5. Rabbits are Intelligent Animals Requiring Mental Stimulation
Rabbits are smart creatures, and keeping them mentally stimulated is essential for their well-being. During times when you are away at work or school, provide them with engaging activities to prevent boredom. Safe chew toys, hay towers, and puzzle feeders are excellent options. Hide healthy treats within cardboard mazes, food balls, or other interactive toys to encourage foraging behavior. Ensure they always have a generous supply of hay in their litter box, as foraging and chewing are natural and important behaviors for rabbits as pets.
Chewing is not only a natural foraging behavior but also a vital activity for rabbits to wear down their continuously growing teeth. Providing appropriate chew toys and plenty of hay is crucial for maintaining their dental health.
6. Rabbits are Social Animals and Thrive with Companionship
Rabbits are highly social animals. In their natural wild environment, they live in large, communal groups. When considering rabbits as pets, think about adopting a pair or bonded rabbits. Having a rabbit companion can significantly enrich their lives, especially during times when you are not at home. A rabbit friend can provide companionship, allowing them to eat, play, sleep, and groom each other, fostering a happier and more fulfilling life as rabbits as pets.
Alt text: Two small dwarf rabbits, one white and one grey, grooming each other, demonstrating the social and bonding behavior of rabbits as pets when kept in pairs.
7. Rabbits Need Regular Grooming Care
Rabbits are meticulous groomers and keep themselves relatively clean, so they do not require baths from humans. However, regular brushing is an essential part of rabbit care, particularly for long-haired breeds. Brushing helps prevent matting of their fur and reduces the amount of loose fur they ingest while grooming themselves. Unlike cats, rabbits are unable to cough up hairballs, making hair ingestion a potential health concern.
In addition to brushing, rabbits need their nails trimmed every four to six weeks. Nail trimming requires care and caution, as cutting the nails too short can be painful and cause bleeding. It is often helpful to have another person assist you with nail trimming – one person to gently hold the rabbit securely, and the other to trim the nails.
Alt text: A brown lop-eared rabbit with floppy ears, looking directly at the camera with a curious expression, highlighting the endearing nature of rabbits as pets.
8. A Balanced Diet is Crucial for Rabbit Health
Despite the popular image of rabbits eating carrots, their diet is more nuanced. Rabbits are herbivores, meaning their diet consists solely of plants. Grass hay should form the cornerstone of a rabbit’s diet. Offer a variety of grass hays, such as Timothy hay and orchard grass, and ensure they have unlimited access to it. Hay is vital for proper digestion and helps to naturally wear down their teeth. Avoid alfalfa hay, as it is too rich in calcium and protein for most adult rabbits.
Fresh vegetables should be offered daily, especially leafy greens like bok choy, parsley, romaine lettuce, and various leaf lettuces (excluding iceberg). Cilantro, celery leaves, and carrot tops are also good choices. Fruits and carrots should be given sparingly, only as occasional treats due to their high sugar content. Introduce any new foods gradually to prevent digestive upset.
High-quality, high-fiber rabbit pellets can supplement their diet but should be given in limited quantities. Overfeeding pellets can lead to weight gain and other health issues, and it can also reduce their hay consumption. A rabbit’s digestive system is sensitive, so a simple, high-fiber, low-sugar diet is best. Refer to resources like the BC SPCA Rabbit Food Guide for detailed information on rabbit nutrition when considering rabbits as pets.
9. Rabbits are Trainable and Can Use a Litter Box
Rabbits are intelligent and can be litter box trained, making them cleaner house pets than many anticipate. Litter training helps to confine their waste and makes cleaning their living area much easier. Regularly cleaning the litter box every 1-2 days and cleaning the entire enclosure weekly is important for hygiene.
A large, plastic cat litter pan works well as a rabbit litter box, ensuring it is spacious enough for the rabbit to fit inside comfortably. Line the bottom with a few inches of rabbit-safe litter, such as paper-based or wood-based pellets. Importantly, place a generous amount of Timothy hay in the litter box, as rabbits often like to eat hay while using the litter box.
Alt text: A rabbit inside a litter box filled with bedding and hay, demonstrating the litter box habits of rabbits as pets and their cleanliness.
10. Rabbits Require Veterinary Care from a Rabbit-Savvy Vet
Regular observation of your rabbit will help you become familiar with their normal behavior and habits. If you notice any unusual symptoms, such as diarrhea, a hunched posture, or loss of appetite, it’s crucial to seek veterinary care promptly. As prey animals, rabbits tend to conceal signs of illness, making it essential to take even subtle changes in their behavior seriously. It is vital to find a veterinarian who has experience treating rabbits.
Rabbits also require specific vaccinations to protect them from diseases such as Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease, which is present in some regions. Consult with your veterinarian regarding necessary vaccinations and preventative care for your rabbits as pets.
Alt text: A veterinarian gently examining a small white rabbit on a scale during a check-up, emphasizing the importance of veterinary care for the health of rabbits as pets.
11. Rabbits Prefer Interaction on the Ground
Despite their cuddly appearance, most rabbits do not enjoy being picked up and held. Lifting a rabbit off the ground can trigger their prey instincts, causing them to become frightened and struggle to escape, often kicking forcefully with their hind legs. This can result in scratches for you and potential injuries for the rabbit during their attempt to get away.
Instead of picking up your rabbit, interact with them at their level. Sit or lie on the floor and allow them to approach and sniff you on their own terms. Some rabbits are naturally shy and may take time to become comfortable in a new environment. Once they are relaxed, you can gently pet them. A sign of affection from a rabbit might be licking or “chinning” you, which is their way of scent-marking you as part of their territory.
If it is necessary to pick up your rabbit, always use two hands for support: place one hand under their hindquarters and the other around their chest. Hold them close to your body to help them feel more secure.
Alt text: A young girl gently petting a brown rabbit sitting on the floor, illustrating a positive interaction with rabbits as pets at their preferred ground level.
12. Rabbits Reproduce Quickly – Spaying or Neutering is Essential
Rabbits are known for their rapid reproduction rates. A single unspayed female rabbit can be responsible for hundreds of offspring within just one year. To help prevent pet overpopulation and for the health and well-being of your rabbit, spaying or neutering is crucial. Reputable adoption organizations, like the BC SPCA, ensure all rabbits are spayed or neutered before adoption. Spaying or neutering rabbits as pets not only prevents unwanted litters but also makes litter box training easier and contributes to a healthier and longer life for your companion.
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If you are prepared to provide the care, space, and attention rabbits need, they can make wonderful and rewarding pets.
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