Keeping A Rabbit
Introduction
Rabbits are cute and cuddly, but they can also be a lot of work. Before you bring home a rabbit for the kids, do your research to make sure that you have time to devote to them. I worked at an animal hospital for years, where I helped injured rabbits recover from life’s mishaps and learned about the best ways to take care of them (not all vets are familiar with pet rabbits!). Here is what you need to know:
Rabbits need friends. Wild rabbits travel in groups, so domestic house rabbits should not be the only buns in their owners’ lives. Try adopting two bonded siblings or find a bunny-loving human companion who will agree to help out with cleaning litter boxes and dispensing veggies. Rabbits will live 8–12 years on average – and occasionally as long as 14 or 15! You’ll want your furry family member around for a while and good health starts with a healthy diet. Hay makes up 80 percent of a rabbit’s diet by weight, even though we think of carrots when we imagine feeding these hopsters. The rest of their diet is made up of fresh leafy greens like spinach or romaine lettuce (no iceberg lettuce). Try offering lots of variety so your bunny doesn’t get bored with his meals: there are over 20 different types of hay alone! If it’s edible, it’s probably on your rabbit’s “to eat” list – including cables! Electrical cords may look like tasty treats, but they can actually kill your pet if chewed through. Rabbits are known for being destructive little creatures – just ask my husband how he ended up with holes in his pants pocket! Rabbits need space to run around because they are prey animals by nature; this means they don’t get the chance to chase down other animals much in our homes. Pet stores sell great exercise pens that give bunnies plenty
Rabbits are social animals and need friends.
Rabbits are social creatures, and they need friends. It is not enough to have just one rabbit in your home—you should get at least two to make sure they are happy! If you only have one rabbit and it becomes lonely, it can develop a variety of health problems.
Rabbits in pairs or groups are the most content, because they can play with each other and groom each other’s fur. Rabbits who live alone tend to be more prone to loneliness-related stress that can lead to depression (or worse). Having more than two rabbits will help keep them from getting bored with each other—as long as you provide plenty of toys and places for them to hide from each other when they want some peace and quiet!
Rabbits can live for a long time: 8-14 years.
It can be easy to forget that rabbits are actually quite long-lived animals. They may not seem old when we first meet them, but their life span is around 8-14 years. This means that when you adopt a rabbit or bring one home from the shelter, it’s important to consider what kind of life they will have with you over the course of their lifespan.
Rabbits are social animals who thrive on interaction with other rabbits and people alike. They need regular attention and lots of toys to keep them engaged both physically (through exercise) and mentally (through enrichment). While rabbits aren’t necessarily known for being active during the day (they tend to sleep in), they certainly do enjoy some time outdoors during the morning or evening hours—especially if there is food available!
Rabbits eat hay, not just carrots.
Rabbits eat hay. Not carrots, not spinach, not lettuce—hay. It’s a common mistake for people to give their rabbits “vegetables” as part of their diet when in fact vegetables are a luxury for rabbits. The only notable exception to this is if your rabbit is overweight; then you can feed some greens to help him lose weight by providing low-calorie foods that fill them up without giving them too much sugar or starch. But if your rabbit is at a healthy weight and his teeth are healthy, then you likely don’t need to give him extra veggies in addition to his hay!
Rabbits will nibble anything, including cables.
Rabbits are curious animals and will nibble on anything they find. They may even chew on cables which can be dangerous as well as expensive to repair.
Rabbits need space to exercise.
Rabbits need a lot of space in which to exercise and play. If you have only a small room, consider keeping two rabbits at least; they will keep each other company and will also be able to share their space.
Rabbits need to be able to run and jump. They are very active creatures—they can run up to seven miles per hour! That is why it’s important that your rabbit has the opportunity for exercise every day.
One way for your rabbit to get the exercise it needs is by digging in its cage or hutch. Rabbits enjoy digging because it helps them clean themselves; however, you should never let your rabbit dig out of its enclosure unless supervised by an adult who can make sure that no damage is done inside or outside of the cage/hutch when digging occurs outside of this enclosure (i.e., carpeting).
Another way rabbits get their daily exercise is through chewing on toys like sticks or hay racks—just remember not give them anything made out of plastic because if ingested could cause health problems later down line due its toxicity level against pets such as these!
Rabbits need plenty of places to hide – the smaller the better!
Rabbits are prey animals and they need to feel safe. They like to hide in small places where they can see out, but not be seen. That’s why it’s important to provide your rabbit with plenty of hiding spots for them to sleep, relax and play in.
- Place the cage in a corner or against a wall so that it has limited visibility from one side. This will help your bunny feel safer because he knows there aren’t many places for predators to hide behind him!
- Make sure you have enough space between the top of your cage (where you’ll put toys) and ceiling so that your rabbit won’t get stuck trying to jump up there!
It is important to understand the needs of rabbits before bringing one into your family
If you are thinking about adopting a rabbit, it is important to understand the needs of rabbits before bringing one into your family. Rabbits are social animals who enjoy the company of other rabbits, but they also need space to exercise and hide. As prey animals, they feel safer in dark spaces than they do in open areas where they can be easily seen by predators.
Rabbits also require high-quality hay for food; if you don’t feed them enough hay or don’t provide varieties that meet their nutritional requirements on a regular basis (daily), then this could lead to health problems including obesity or dental disease later down the line! Finally, rabbits need companionship: while most people keep bunnies as indoor pets only because we think we’re protecting them from predators like foxes and coyotes–this isn’t actually true because there is no such thing as an “outside” threat anymore due to global warming/climate change issues making our earth too warm for these animals
Conclusion
Rabbits are amazing pets, but you need to understand some basic things before getting one. Do enough research first and then find a rabbit that suits your family.