Things You Should Know About Pet Rabbits

​What should you know before adopting a pet rabbit? Check out our key facts and some common misconceptions about lifespan, natural behaviors, and basic needs.

Rabbits are a long-term commitment

Rabbits require daily care and can live up to 12-14 years.
Rabbits require veterinarians who specialize in diagnosing and treating rabbits. Most general veterinarians are not rabbit-savvy.
Rabbits should be spayed or neutered. It prolongs a rabbit's life. Female rabbits who aren’t spayed are 80% more likely to develop uterine tumors by age 3. Spaying or neutering also limits behavior problems such as aggressiveness, destructive chewing and digging, and not using the litter box.

Rabbits should live and exercise indoors only

Rabbits that live inside become part of the family. Furthermore, rabbits allowed outside are exposed to ticks, fleas, fur mites and predators. Predators will be very determined to get at a rabbit, and can gain access to them even if secured in an enclosure.
Rabbits need physical exercise and mental stimulation. They should not be confined to a cage all the time, so it is important to bunny-proof the areas outside of the enclosure. Rabbits have a natural instinct to chew and dig, so toys made out of untreated wood or cardboard can help direct their tendencies.
​Check out our tips on how to set up your rabbit's indoor living space.

Rabbits are social animals

Rabbits have individual personalities. ​They need human interaction, and also thrive with a fellow rabbit companion. While they can live with other pet species in the home (like cats and dogs), they should not be left unsupervised with them. Interactions with children should be supervised as well.
Learn more on the benefits of a bonded pair of rabbits.

Rabbits are prey animals

Rabbits may be cautious or shy at first. Most rabbits prefer quiet, gentle interactions, such as sitting next to you while you pet them. Rarely will any rabbit like being picked up or held.
Rabbits can be easily stressed. The source of stress can come from unfamiliar environments or sounds, too much or too little stimulation, sudden changes in routine, or loss of a companion.
Rabbits are very good at hiding pain or illness.

Rabbits should not be leashed

Rabbits can injure themselves when restricted by a harness or entangled in a leash. A twist, pull, or sudden jerk on the leash can easily break their fragile bones. If you need to transport a rabbit, a pet carrier is the safest choice. 

Rabbits have several dietary needs

Fresh water and unlimited timothy hay are the most important staples of a rabbit's diet, but they need other foods as well. Daily servings of timothy hay pellets and leafy greens add supplementary nutrition to their diet that they would otherwise not get from hay alone.
​​Check out our recommendations on what to feed your pet rabbit.