Thinking about welcoming a bunny into your home? Rabbits are wonderful pets, ranking as the third most beloved furry companions after cats and dogs. They bring immense joy and personality into a household. However, it’s crucial to understand that rabbits have specific needs and behaviors that differ significantly from those of cats or dogs. Before you bring a bunny home, here are essential aspects of rabbit care you should know, including the best places to pet your new furry friend to build a strong bond.
1. Rabbits Are Long-Term Companions
Unlike some smaller pets, rabbits have a considerable lifespan. Depending on their breed and care, your bunny can be a part of your family for up to 15 years! This long-term commitment means you need to be prepared to provide consistent care, attention, and a loving environment for many years to come.
Alt text: A man hand-feeding a brown and white rabbit outdoors, showcasing gentle interaction and rabbit care.
2. Indoor Living is Ideal for Rabbits
The days of keeping rabbits isolated in outdoor hutches are outdated. Bunnies thrive when they live indoors, becoming integrated members of the family. Ideally, your rabbit should reside in a spacious, enriched enclosure or have the freedom to roam in a bunny-proofed room where family members spend time. This indoor environment allows them to feel secure, socialized, and part of your daily life.
Their living space should be generously sized, accommodating food and water bowls, at least one litter box, and a secure hideout. It’s important they have enough room to hop comfortably. The more space you can offer, the happier and healthier your rabbit will be.
Avoid small pet store cages that are inadequate for rabbits. Instead, consider using dog exercise pens or modular wire storage cubes to create a large and customizable habitat. Larger enclosures are not only better for your rabbit’s well-being, providing space for enrichment items like toys and perches, but they also simplify cleaning and maintenance.
Ensure the habitat floor is solid to protect their paws, not wire mesh which can cause injury. For bedding, use safe materials like aspen shavings (avoid pine or cedar), recycled paper bedding, or soft, clean blankets.
Alt text: Kalee, a brown and white rabbit, comfortably housed in a large indoor enclosure with toys, highlighting proper rabbit housing.
3. Understanding Rabbit Behavior: They Are Prey Animals
Rabbits are naturally prey animals, and this instinctual behavior shapes how they react to their environment. In the wild, their survival depends on either freezing still to avoid detection or fleeing to safety when threatened. As pets, they retain these instincts. To ensure your rabbit feels safe and secure, provide them with shelters within their enclosure and in any room they explore. These hideaways offer them a retreat when they feel startled or need a moment of peace.
Alt text: Bonny and Clyde, two bonded rabbits, seeking comfort together in a secure space, illustrating the importance of safety for pet rabbits.
4. Rabbits Need Exercise and Space to Explore
Rabbits are energetic and inquisitive animals that require ample space to move and explore. Your bunny should have a minimum of four hours of playtime outside their enclosure daily. You can allow them to roam freely in a bunny-proofed room or create a safe, enclosed area using dog exercise pens. Prioritize “bunny-proofing” your home by elevating houseplants, concealing electrical cords, and removing any potentially harmful items from their reach. This ensures their playtime is both fun and safe.
5. Mental Stimulation is Key for Happy Rabbits
Rabbits are intelligent creatures that need mental enrichment to prevent boredom and promote well-being. While you are away, provide them with stimulating activities. Safe chew toys, hay towers, and puzzle feeders filled with healthy treats are excellent options. Hide treats within cardboard mazes or food balls to encourage their natural foraging behaviors. Always ensure they have plenty of hay available in their litter box as well.
Chewing is a natural and essential behavior for rabbits, helping them to keep their continuously growing teeth at a healthy length. Providing a variety of chew toys not only entertains them but also supports their dental health.
6. Companionship is Important for Rabbits
Rabbits are social animals that thrive on companionship. In their natural habitat, they live in groups. Consider adopting a pair of rabbits so they can provide each other with company, especially during times when you are not home. Having a bunny friend can significantly enhance their quality of life. They will engage in mutual grooming, play, eat, and rest together, forming a close bond.
Alt text: Rabunzel and Tinker Bun, two dwarf rabbits, exhibiting affectionate behavior by cuddling, emphasizing the importance of companionship for rabbits.
7. Grooming is Essential for Rabbit Hygiene
Rabbits are meticulous groomers and generally keep themselves clean without needing baths from humans. However, regular brushing is necessary, particularly for long-haired breeds, to prevent matting and reduce the risk of hairballs. Unlike cats, rabbits cannot cough up hairballs, making it crucial to minimize their ingestion of loose fur.
Nail trimming is another essential part of rabbit grooming, typically needed every four to six weeks. Exercise caution when trimming their nails, as cutting too short can cause pain and bleeding. It is often helpful to have someone assist you, one person to gently hold the rabbit and the other to trim the nails.
Alt text: A lop-eared rabbit with floppy ears looking curious, highlighting the charming appearance of a well-groomed and healthy bunny.
8. A Rabbit’s Diet: Hay is the Foundation
Rabbits are herbivores, meaning their diet consists solely of plants. Grass hay should be the cornerstone of their nutrition. Offer a variety of grass hays like Timothy hay and orchard grass, ensuring they have unlimited access. Hay is vital for 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.
Supplement their diet with a generous daily serving of fresh vegetables, especially leafy greens such as bok choy, parsley, romaine lettuce, and various leaf lettuces (excluding iceberg), cilantro, celery leaves, and carrot tops. Fruits and carrots should be given sparingly 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 also be part of their diet, but in limited quantities. Overfeeding pellets can lead to weight gain and other health problems. Furthermore, excessive pellet consumption can reduce their hay intake, which is detrimental to their health.
Remember, a rabbit’s digestive system is sensitive, so prioritize a diet that is low in sugar and rich in fiber. Consult resources like the BC SPCA Rabbit Food Guide for detailed information on proper rabbit feeding.
9. Housetraining Your Rabbit is Possible
Rabbits are intelligent and can be successfully litter trained, making them cleaner house pets. Regular cleaning of their litter box, every 1-2 days, and a full cage cleaning once a week will maintain a hygienic environment.
A large, plastic cat litter pan works well for rabbits, ensuring they can comfortably fit inside. Line the bottom with a rabbit-safe litter, such as paper-based or wood-based pellets, and importantly, place a generous amount of Timothy hay in the litter box. Rabbits often enjoy eating hay while using their litter box.
Alt text: A rabbit using a litter box filled with Timothy hay, illustrating successful rabbit housetraining and hygiene practices.
10. Veterinary Care is Crucial for Rabbits
Spending quality time with your rabbit allows you to learn their normal behaviors and habits. If you observe any unusual symptoms, such as diarrhea, a hunched posture, or loss of appetite, seek veterinary attention immediately. As prey animals, rabbits are adept at concealing illness, so even subtle changes can indicate a serious health issue. It’s vital to find a veterinarian experienced in rabbit care.
Rabbits also require specific vaccinations to protect them from diseases like Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease, which is a serious threat in some regions. Consult with your vet about necessary vaccinations in your area.
Alt text: A veterinarian examining a small white baby bunny on a scale during a check-up, emphasizing the importance of veterinary care for rabbits.
11. Gentle Handling: Where to Pet Your Bunny
Despite their soft and cuddly appearance, most rabbits do not enjoy being picked up and held. Lifting a rabbit can trigger their prey animal instincts, causing them to feel frightened and struggle to escape, often kicking with their powerful hind legs. This can result in scratches for you and potential injuries for the rabbit.
Instead of picking them up, build trust by interacting with your rabbit at their level. Sit or lie on the floor and allow them to approach and sniff you in their own time. Some rabbits are naturally shy and may take longer to become comfortable. Once they are relaxed, you can gently pet them in places they enjoy, such as their forehead, between their ears, and along their cheeks. These are generally safe and pleasurable areas for rabbits to be petted. Avoid petting their belly, feet, or tail, as these areas can make them feel vulnerable or uncomfortable.
When petting your bunny, use slow, gentle strokes. Pay attention to their body language; a relaxed rabbit may flatten their body, close their eyes slightly, or gently grind their teeth – signs of contentment. They might even lick or ‘chin’ you, which is their way of marking you with their scent as a sign of affection and claiming you as their own.
If it becomes necessary to pick up your rabbit, always use both hands: one supporting their hindquarters and the other around their chest. Hold them securely close to your chest to help them feel more safe and supported.
Alt text: A young girl gently pets a rabbit on the floor, showcasing a safe and respectful way to interact with a bunny.
12. Spaying and Neutering is Responsible Rabbit Ownership
Rabbits are known for their rapid reproduction rates. A single unspayed female rabbit can potentially be responsible for hundreds of offspring in just one year. To combat pet overpopulation and promote the health and well-being of your rabbit, spaying or neutering is essential. The BC SPCA, like many reputable shelters, ensures all rabbits are spayed or neutered before adoption.
Spaying or neutering not only prevents unwanted litters but also offers significant health and behavioral benefits for your rabbit. It can make litter box training easier and reduces the risk of certain health issues, such as reproductive cancers.
Are You Ready to Adopt a Rabbit?
Adopting a rabbit is a rewarding experience. If you are prepared for the commitment and ready to provide a loving and enriching home, consider giving a rabbit a forever home.
View adoptable rabbits to find your perfect bunny companion.
