Rabbit Information

Rabbit Care

Diet

A rabbit's diet should consist of mostly hay, rabbits 5 to six months old should be given constant access to alfalfa hay. Once your rabbit is 7 months old, you should switch to timothy, or orchard grass hay. Your rabbit should also be given fresh veggies such as salad greens, parsley, basil, carrot tops, or spinach at least twice a day(A full list of edible fruits and veggies for bunnies will be included on a paper you will receive if you buy a rabbit). About 1/4 cup of Timothy pellets a day should be given for adult rabbits, and around 2 tablespoons a day for babies.

Housing

There are many different approaches to rabbit housing, such as cages, Xpens or playpens, and free roaming. If you choose to put your rabbit in a cage, the best thing to do is make the cage as large as your situation will allow. If you cannot provide a cage at least 5 times the size your rabbit will be when it is fully grown, than you should consider getting a different pet. If you choose to put your rabbit in a cage than you should let it out to run around and exercise at least once a day for about an hour. If you choose an Xpen or playpen than you should get the largest one possible for your situation. They are a lot cheaper than cages and I highly recommend them or free roaming because your bunny will be a lot happier if they have more room to run around. If you choose to free roam your rabbit, you will need to litter train it. Yes they can be litter trained, just like cats, but we will get into that later. Free roaming is exactly what it sounds like! you can pick an area of your home for your rabbit to live in, no cages, like a cat! Or you can simply let them have the whole house. I personally use cages at the moment but I am transitioning to playpens/Xpens, as soon as possible because it is kinder to the rabbits.

Litter Training

To litter train your rabbit, first you have to pick the right litter box. Most cat litter boxes will do, you shouldn't buy the "rabbit litter boxes" you will see in some pet stores, because they are very often way too small for your rabbit. A good rule of thumb is your rabbit should be able to do a 360 degree turn inside it. Once you have your litter box, you need bedding, I use pine wood shavings. Paper or pellet bedding will also work. If you use paper, just be sure it isn't dangerous for your rabbit to breath in, or consume. Don't use cat litter! it is very dangerous for your rabbit to eat. Your litter box should be filled with 1/4 bedding and 3/4 hay (an alternative would be to give them a hay rack and fill the litter box with just bedding.) Rabbits are very clean animals and will do their business in one spot. Simply place their litter box in the spot they seem to pick. Any accidents should be cleaned up immediately, with a pet safe cleaner and paper towels. Place the soiled paper towel in the litter box, this will encourage your rabbit to use the litter box. Your rabbit will lift their tail when they are about to use the bathroom, if you see this occur, simply place your rabbit in the litter box, this will also encourage them. It may take a few weeks, but eventually they will catch on. If they don't, you should consider spaying/neutering your bunny, as it may be territorial.

Toys/Accessories

There are a lot of rabbit toys you can buy online, which is great, but you have to be careful. Some toys have unsafe dyes or wires that can hurt your bunny. You can also make your own toys. Cardboard is your new best friend, bunnies love it. It is safe for them to eat/chew on (As long as it doesn't have ink or tape on it.) you can make so many different toys out of it too! Pine cones are also excellent chew toys. Toys are essential if you don't want your bunny to be bored, toys = happy bunny.

Companion?

I recommend getting a companion for your rabbit, as they are social animals. Rabbits in the wild live with many other rabbits, and while domesticated and wild rabbits are certainly different in many ways, this is not one of them. Bonding rabbits is a difficult process, but the absolute easiest way is to bond two babies. I will put out a "How to Bond Rabbits" article soon. The best way in my opinion is to get two babies and let them grow up together.

Veterinary Care

One of the harder things to do when you get a rabbit is to find a rabbit savvy vet near you. You should only need the vet in emergencies, and to spay/neuter your rabbit. I would recommend spaying/neutering your rabbit as it helps with litter training, and aggression. Just make sure you have vet near you that services rabbits, so you can call in an emergency.

Summary

You should always give your bunny the love and attention they deserve. This probably seems like a lot of work, but trust me, it's worth it. Rabbits can be very affectionate if you give them a chance! They will be just as loyal and loving as a dog! They are truly amazing animals that deserve a lot more attention than people are giving them. If you care for them properly and give them the attention they deserve than they will reward you with love, and unlimited cuteness!