A Basic Guide To Care for Your Pet Rabbit
Want to get a pet rabbit? That’s a great idea! Pet bunnies can be cuddly companions for you and your family, and they aren’t very high maintenance once you train them properly.
But if you’ve ever owned a rabbit before, you need to know what to expect, as well as know what to buy so you can prepare for your new friend’s arrival home. Below, you’ll find a basic guide to pet rabbit care.
The Best Diet for a Pet Rabbit
As you probably already know, all rabbits are herbivores. They don’t eat any meat or meat products, and their diets in the wild are mostly grass and leaves and occasional flowers and fruits. For domesticated rabbits, grass hay is the cornerstone food item.
Some of the best grass hay examples include:
- Timothy Hay
- Bermuda Grass
- Meadow Grass
- Oat, Rye, and Barley Grass
A pet rabbit should have grass hay available at all times, as it helps them digest healthily and wear down their teeth regularly thanks to the constant chewing. Plus, if your rabbit has plenty of food to eat, they’ll be less inspired to chew on things they aren’t supposed to, like your furniture.
In addition to hay, your bunny should also eat regular green foods like collard greens, romaine lettuce, broccoli, kale, celery, parsley, and so on. All of these green foods will help round out your rabbit’s diet and ensure they get plenty of vitamins and minerals, as well as fiber.
Rabbits also appreciate fruits and vegetables, which can be used as training treats or desserts. Some of the best rabbit-friendly fruits and vegetables include blackberries, apples, raspberries, cranberries, carrots, mangoes, peaches, and even green or red bell peppers.
But keep in mind that your rabbit’s diet should generally consist of a majority of hay and only be supplemented with green foods, fruits, and vegetables.
Lastly, don’t forget water; your bunny should have access to clean water at all times, and you should change their water dish at least once per day.
Home and Environment Tips
Your rabbit will also need a place to play and sleep aside from your house. A good rabbit cage will be big enough so that your bunny can stand on their hind legs fully without hitting their heads on the top. There should also be enough room for sleeping, as well as a separate space for a litter box. Many rabbits prefer to have a little hiding area, such as an enclosed dome or box. Consider adding one for your pet bunny as you learn what their personality is like.
We recommend adding a cage made of metal so it can’t be destroyed or chewed through. If you get a cage with multiple levels, that’s great for your bunny. However, their bare feet should not be exposed to metal wires. Keep in mind that they need a litter box on every level to avoid making a mess throughout their cage.
You should also position the cage in a perfect environment. For rabbits, that’s a cool and well-ventilated place, preferably out of direct sunlight.
No matter what, don’t keep your pet rabbit in its cage at all times. All rabbits need to be let out so they can exercise and explore, which stimulates their minds. Always let your rabbit outside into an exercise area, even if it’s just one room of your house, for at least a few hours each day. If you want to limit your bunny’s mobility, place a guard gate or puppy pen in a key location to stop them from getting around too freely.
How To Handle Your Pet Rabbit
We get it—rabbits are so soft and cuddly that it can be tempting to handle them all the time. But you have to be careful when handling a pet rabbit, as their backbones are very fragile. If your pet rabbit gives a very strong kick and they aren’t properly supported, they could injure themselves.
When holding your rabbit, support their hind end with one of your hands and never pick up a rabbit by the ears. In fact, the best way to pick up a rabbit is to grasp the skin around their shoulders and scoop them up before placing them against your chest.
As you handle a rabbit for the first time, do so by crouching down and staying close to the floor. This way, if your rabbit kicks off and falls, it won’t be very far, and they probably won’t be injured. As you become more experienced, you can pick them up and walk around with them. Just always keep their hind legs secure so they can’t push off and hurt themselves.
Training Your Rabbit
You’ll have a much better time with your rabbit if you train them properly. Your rabbit can be trained to do all sorts of things, including come to you or do certain tricks with the right motivation. Give them commands and reward them with pieces of fruit to reinforce positive behavior.
When it comes to litter training, place a litter box filled with litter material (like newspaper shavings and certain pellets) and lined with hay on the corner of their cage. Your rabbit will eventually get the message since they like to eat hay while they defecate.
If your bunny doesn’t go to the bathroom where they need to, limit their space by keeping them in the cage until they start pooping in the litter box consistently. Then you can give them free rein of the home again.
Replace the hay and litter material about once every other day to ensure that it stays fresh for your rabbit.
Rabbit Grooming
All rabbits need to be groomed, but certain breeds may require less than others. For example, short haired rabbits only need to be brushed about once per week. Keep in mind that all rabbits shed about once every three months, so you may need to brush more regularly around the time when your rabbit starts to shed their coat.
On the other hand, longhaired rabbits like angora rabbits have to be groomed daily. You may also want to trim the coat to about one inch or so in length. This will prevent the coat from matting or becoming overly dirty.
Regardless, always use a brush designed for rabbits. These have soft bristles that won’t break your rabbit’s skin (which is fragile no matter the breed).
Rabbits don’t need baths, fortunately. In fact, they find this activity to be a bit stressful. If your rabbit becomes overly dirty or gets matted hair, wet a rag and do some spot cleaning rather than soaking your bunny in the sink.
Alongside brushing your rabbit, you’ll also need to trim their nails. To do this, simply check your bunny’s nails once per week during your brushing session, then trim them whenever they start to get long. In the early days, it may be easier for you to have a friend or family member hold the bunny while you trim their nails, as they can sometimes kick or squirm during the process.
The Importance of Regular Checkups
It’s always important to take your rabbit to the veterinarian at least once per year and possibly twice per year for vaccinations and for supplements. As your rabbit gets older, they will need to visit the vet more often to get checkups and to treat minor health problems that crop up.
Of course, your rabbit will also need to be spayed or neutered. Talk to your veterinarian about how old your rabbit should be when the procedure takes place. If you spay or neuter your rabbit too early, you could stunt their growth or cause health complications in the future.
Generally speaking, rabbits over the age of four months or so are ready to be neutered or spayed, depending on their sex. You might also know when your rabbit is ready to be spayed or neutered based on their behavior; male rabbits, in particular, can be very territorial and may become more aggressive or resistant to defecating inside their litter boxes.
Raising Rabbits
This is just a basic overview of the things you’ll need to learn to keep a rabbit successfully and comfortably. Although rabbits can be fun companions, you do need to take care of them to make sure they have a great life and that you both have fun together. Luckily, the longer you keep your rabbit, the more skilled you’ll become at caring for them.
SOURCES:
Rabbits: Habits, Diet & Other Facts | Live Science
Handling rabbits – Handling rabbits – How to pick up a rabbit | RSPCA
Rabbit Grooming Basics | The Rabbit Haven
What’s the Perfect Rabbit Cage Setup? | Pet MD
