Rabbits make incredible pets and can be kept 100% inside which makes them great companion animals or indoor pets. Rabbits or bunnies are incredible cute and will make a great addition to your family because of their adorable personalities and characteristics.
Rabbits may not be as common as pets compared to cats or dogs but there are millions of pet rabbits around the United States. Before you go to buy a rabbit or rescue one from an adoption shelter you must be prepared to have a pet rabbit.
You should make sure that a pet rabbit is a good fit with your family, your current pets, as well as your lifestyle. In this article we will cover everything you need to know about getting a pet rabbit and caring for your rabbit.
Rabbits Can Live For Over 10 Years
Before you get a pet rabbit it is important to understand that the average indoor rabbit can live from anywhere to 10 years to up to 15 years depending on their lifestyle, health, and specific breed of rabbit. This means getting a pet rabbit is a longterm commitment and change for your family.
Your family must be prepared to take care of feeding your bunny, cleaning their habitat, and taking care of them for their entire life. If you don’t think you are ready to make this type of commitment then you shouldn’t get a rabbit as this isn’t fair to the rabbit.
You should only commit to getting a pet rabbit if it makes sense for your family and you are able to provide them with the happiest and healthiest life possible for their entire life!
Some Rabbits May Struggle With Kids or Other Animals
Each rabbit is different and will have a different personality but there are some rabbits who might not be too fond of children or other family animals such as cats or dogs. Rabbits are typically scared of loud noises and other animals because in the wild they are programmed to be afraid of animals that could harm them.
This doesn’t mean your rabbit will be afraid of your children or your other animals but it does mean that you will have to slowly introduce your pet rabbit to children or animals. It is typically recommended that you have adults as the primary caretakers of your rabbit and allow your children to help depending on their age and responsibility level. Having a child as the primary caretaker of a rabbit can be difficult for them and may cause unideal living conditions for the rabbit.
If you have other family animals or children you should slowly introduce your rabbit to them to make sure they grow comfortable.
Rabbits Require Daily Exercise and Room To Explore
Rabbits typically will require around 3 to 4 hours of exercise a day in order to stay healthy. This means that they won’t thrive if they are kept in a small cage all day long.
Most rabbits will thrive in a larger cage but also require free roam time to hop around and to explore their home. Many rabbit owners will allow their bunny time throughout the day to hop around their house freely but others will keep them restricted to a room or certain area of the home. This will vary based on your home as well as your rabbit.
If you have a safe backyard area then you can set up a small fenced in area with a small rabbit hut or shelter and allow your rabbit the ability to get exercise outside. This will give your rabbit the chance to explore nature and to hop around with as much freedom as possible.
Rabbits Are Social Animals
Rabbits are considered social animals by most experts which means they enjoy spending time with other rabbits or even other animals. If a rabbit is alone then they can constantly be on edge because rabbits rely on other rabbits to survive in the wild.
Rabbits are wired to always be on alert for predators but if there are other rabbits around them or other animals they are comfortable with then your rabbit will be much more comfortable.
If you are open to the idea of having more than one rabbit then they may thrive with a friend. If you are only looking to have one pet rabbit then you should strive to create a bond with your new pet rabbit and to make sure your family members and other animals create a bond with them too. This will help them feel more comfortable and help them feel like part of the family.
You Must Be Willing To Provide Them With A Diet They Will Thrive On
Many people believe that rabbits only need a few pieces of vegetables each day to thrive but this isn’t always the case. Rabbits require a complete diet that provides them with all of the nutrients that they need to thrive.
You should be willing to provide your rabbit with the fruits, vegetables, and grains that they need to thrive. There are many commercial rabbit foods that will provide them with all of the nutrients they need to thrive and you can also add additional fruits and veggies to their food to help improve their overall diet.
Learn What Rabbits Can and Can’t Eat
Be Prepared To Have A Bunny Home
Your rabbit will require a house and this house can vary in shape or size. There are specifically create rabbit huts or rabbit houses but many rabbit parents will just use a dog crate or puppy playpen to create their rabbit’s home.
The home will be your rabbits safe place which will provide them with comfort, safety, and a quiet place to eat and sleep. A house is important for keeping your rabbit safe and providing them with the comfort they need to thrive. There are many different choices when it comes to housing but your veterinarian can help to provide recommendations based on your rabbit.
