11 Things You Need To Know About Domestic Pet Rabbits
Domestic pet rabbits make great house pets for those people that are ready for their daily care, financial support, and lifetime commitment of up to a 14-year healthy pet lifespan.
1. Rabbits are intelligent, affectionate, and inquisitive
Their personalities range from bold to timid, gentle to rambunctious, and all points in between.
2. Rabbits are prey animals
This means they are fundamentally different from dogs, cats, and humans. They are (usually) shy until you have earned their trust. It also means that most rabbits do not like to be picked up or held. They are more comfortable being next to you while you pet and interact with them. Most pet rabbits prefer quiet, gentle interactions.
3. Rabbits can be litter box trained
Domestic pet rabbits will quickly get accustomed to using a large enough litter box with clean, soft paper litter and a hay dispenser next to or above its litter box. Domestic rabbits often go to the bathroom while eating, and also enjoy the consistency of having their bathroom and their hay source located in the same place each day. Litter boxes should be kept clean at least 3 times weekly or more with pure white vinegar that disinfects well and is non-toxic and filled with fresh clean all-natural paper bedding or untreated wood-pellet bedding. *(Due to irritating wood oil fumes, AVOID: pine and cedar shavings).
4. Rabbits and children need to be supervised
Rabbits can be a good choice for some families with children. Many children want a pet they can hold and cuddle, but rabbits are NOT going to be happy with that. If your child has his or her heart set on a pet she can cuddle, a rabbit might not be the right choice.
5. Rabbits do really, really well in pairs
It’s not much more work for you; they will share a pen, litter, and food. Rabbits are very social and derive a lot of comfort from a companion.
6. Rabbits can live with domesticated cats and well-behaved dogs
Rabbits are social animals who thrive in the company of others — humans, house cats, and obedience-trained dogs. However, it is highly advisable not to leave your dog/cat and pet bunny together unsupervised.
7. Rabbits should live indoors
Domestic rabbits should live and exercise inside the house. 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 the rabbit will be terrified while it is doing so - which can cause potential illnesses due to lowered immunity in the rabbit from the added stress.
8. Rabbits need more than just rabbit pellets for their diet
The primary component of a mature rabbit's diet should be high-quality timothy grass hay. Fresh, leafy greens and timothy hay-based rabbit pellets should be offered in limited amounts daily. As well as access to fresh water from a water bowl (water bottles can cause dehydration as they are difficult for rabbits to drink from).
9. Rabbits should be spayed or neutered
Spaying/neutering prolongs a rabbit's life and limits or solves many behavior problems, such as house soiling, destructive chewing and digging, and aggressiveness. Unspayed females have more than 80% higher risk of developing uterine tumors by the time they're three years of age. Rabbits can live up to 14 years in good health. A spayed/neutered indoor rabbit can live a much longer, much healthier life.
10. Rabbits need a stimulating environment and like to explore by chewing
For their physical and emotional well-being, rabbits should be given lots of chew toys made of wood, cardboard, wicker, and paper, as well as toys to climb on and toss. Because rabbits are chewers by nature, their play area needs to be carefully rabbit proofed.
11. Rabbits need to see specially trained veterinarians
Most general veterinarians are not rabbit-savvy. You'll need to find a veterinarian who is experienced in diagnosing and treating rabbits.
1. Rabbits are intelligent, affectionate, and inquisitive
Their personalities range from bold to timid, gentle to rambunctious, and all points in between.
2. Rabbits are prey animals
This means they are fundamentally different from dogs, cats, and humans. They are (usually) shy until you have earned their trust. It also means that most rabbits do not like to be picked up or held. They are more comfortable being next to you while you pet and interact with them. Most pet rabbits prefer quiet, gentle interactions.
3. Rabbits can be litter box trained
Domestic pet rabbits will quickly get accustomed to using a large enough litter box with clean, soft paper litter and a hay dispenser next to or above its litter box. Domestic rabbits often go to the bathroom while eating, and also enjoy the consistency of having their bathroom and their hay source located in the same place each day. Litter boxes should be kept clean at least 3 times weekly or more with pure white vinegar that disinfects well and is non-toxic and filled with fresh clean all-natural paper bedding or untreated wood-pellet bedding. *(Due to irritating wood oil fumes, AVOID: pine and cedar shavings).
4. Rabbits and children need to be supervised
Rabbits can be a good choice for some families with children. Many children want a pet they can hold and cuddle, but rabbits are NOT going to be happy with that. If your child has his or her heart set on a pet she can cuddle, a rabbit might not be the right choice.
5. Rabbits do really, really well in pairs
It’s not much more work for you; they will share a pen, litter, and food. Rabbits are very social and derive a lot of comfort from a companion.
6. Rabbits can live with domesticated cats and well-behaved dogs
Rabbits are social animals who thrive in the company of others — humans, house cats, and obedience-trained dogs. However, it is highly advisable not to leave your dog/cat and pet bunny together unsupervised.
7. Rabbits should live indoors
Domestic rabbits should live and exercise inside the house. 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 the rabbit will be terrified while it is doing so - which can cause potential illnesses due to lowered immunity in the rabbit from the added stress.
8. Rabbits need more than just rabbit pellets for their diet
The primary component of a mature rabbit's diet should be high-quality timothy grass hay. Fresh, leafy greens and timothy hay-based rabbit pellets should be offered in limited amounts daily. As well as access to fresh water from a water bowl (water bottles can cause dehydration as they are difficult for rabbits to drink from).
9. Rabbits should be spayed or neutered
Spaying/neutering prolongs a rabbit's life and limits or solves many behavior problems, such as house soiling, destructive chewing and digging, and aggressiveness. Unspayed females have more than 80% higher risk of developing uterine tumors by the time they're three years of age. Rabbits can live up to 14 years in good health. A spayed/neutered indoor rabbit can live a much longer, much healthier life.
10. Rabbits need a stimulating environment and like to explore by chewing
For their physical and emotional well-being, rabbits should be given lots of chew toys made of wood, cardboard, wicker, and paper, as well as toys to climb on and toss. Because rabbits are chewers by nature, their play area needs to be carefully rabbit proofed.
11. Rabbits need to see specially trained veterinarians
Most general veterinarians are not rabbit-savvy. You'll need to find a veterinarian who is experienced in diagnosing and treating rabbits.