Pet Rabbits

Rabbits

Many people keep rabbits as pets and it is no surprise since these furry fellows are great companions. It is important however to know that they are not small dogs or cats, and definitely not a practice pet for children. These beautiful animals have a life expectancy of about 10 years and can live into their teens when taken care of properly. They have distinctive personalities and can be funny and quite expressive.

Rabbits and young children tend not to mix well. Pet rabbits do much better in homes with older children and adults, they can also get along quite well with other family pets like dogs and cats when introduced properly. When meeting a new rabbit, make sure that you start by petting them on the head and back, don’t offer your hand for a sniff as you would with a dog because odds are the bunny will think your hand is something to chew on.

Most rabbits kept as pets can easily learn to respond to their name, they can also learn some simple cues and how to use a litter box. Rabbits love to get under, over around and through barriers, to the point that some owners are almost proud of their rabbit’s abilities. At first bunnies tend to explore the less exposed parts of a room, like under the sofa and close to the walls, some thumping is not unusual when they explore and as they feel comfortable in the space they will venture further out. 

Rabbits kept in the busier parts of a home tend to adapt to family life much sooner than those kept in a separate room. It is important to bunny proof your home as they will chew on practically anything. It is a good idea for your rabbit to have his own space as well, a large crate or puppy pen, works well for times when you are not watching them. Their space should be at least 3ft long and have a smooth bottom to prevent injuries. 

It is recommended to exercise your rabbit for several hours every day. Since rabbits are most active in the early mornings and evenings, they adapt quite well to working, busy families. They can play and hop around while you are home in the morning and evening, then rest in their space while you are at work or school. 

Keeping your rabbit busy will keep him happy. Pet rabbit toys, rabbit chew toys, mazes and interactive treat toys are all great options to keep a bunny entertained. Many rabbit owners choose to build their own cardboard mazes which they can alter and add to throughout their bunnies lives. It is important to get those chew toys since rabbit’s teeth grow continuously throughout their lives. A great idea is to bunny proof an area of the living room where your bunny can romp around safely and have tons of fun with toys and mazes while you can’t watch him.

There are more than four dozen recognized breeds of domestic rabbits and plenty of mixed breeds. They vary in size between 2 and 20 lbs full grown. Their fur colors include black, white, tan, red, harlequin, sable and several others. That fur can then be a different texture like: normal, rex, satin or wool. Rabbits come in 5 distinct body types, fully arched, semi arched, compact, commercial or cylindrical. And their ears can be either upright or lopped (dropping by the sides of the head or sticking out like a helicopter). 

A rabbit’s diet should be mostly unlimited fresh grass or hay. You should add dark leafy greens daily, about one cup of greens per two lbs. of rabbit. Those greens should be rotated so your bunny is eating different greens from meal to meal. You can occasionally feed other veggies in very small amounts as well as high fiber rabbit pellets. Fresh water should be available at all times for your rabbit.

A pet rabbit should be gently brushed regularly to help remove excess hair. They will also need nail trims regularly. It is important to note that not all small animal veterinarians have experience with rabbits so it is a great idea to find a rabbit expert for your bunny’s needs.

Spaying and neutering rabbits is a must since the males tend to spray and the females can get territorial when intact. Having more than one rabbit in a household can be tricky and it is only recommended for very experienced rabbit owners.

If you are interested in reading more about pet rabbits, please visit www.rabbit.org or www.raising-rabbits.com you will find all sorts of useful information. You can also find tips, information on behavior, health diet and housing in the “House Rabbit Handbook” by Marinell Harriman.