Is a Rabbit the Right Pet for You?
Rabbits can make absolutely delightful pets, but as always, having the right expectations will help you develop a strong bond with your pet. Before choosing a pet rabbit, it’s essential to find out all you can about the care of (and the benefits of having) pet rabbits.
The life expectancy of a rabbit varies by breed, ranging from 5 to 14 years. Rabbits are very social, active, and playful, forming close bonds with their owners. As long as you know what to expect from a pet rabbit, they have the potential to be wonderful pets.
Why Rabbits Can Make Good House Pets
- Rabbits are social and, with gentle handling, are generally quite tame.
- They are playful and entertaining to watch.
- Rabbits often form very close bonds with their owners.
- They can be litter-trained. They also respond well to gentle training and can be trained to do special behaviors and tricks.
Consider Adopting a Shelter Rabbit
- Please consider adopting a rabbit from a shelter or rescue if you have one nearby. There are many perfectly good pet rabbits who need a second chance at finding a forever home. Don’t worry about getting an older rabbit—you can get a good sense of their personality, and they will bond with new owners just fine.
What You Need to Know Before Getting a Rabbit
- Being social, rabbits need a great deal of interaction with their owners and/or other rabbits to be happy. Daily playtime and exercise outside of their cage are a necessity.
- Rabbits are not low-maintenance – it takes a good deal of work to properly care for a rabbit.
- Rabbit pellets alone are not a sufficient diet — they need lots of roughage in the form of good-quality hay and a variety of fresh vegetables.
- They do need to chew, so provide lots of safe chew toys, and any spaces where the rabbit is allowed to run must be carefully rabbit-proofed.
- They need a relatively large cage. They are better off indoors, where they can be more social with their family and also safe from predators (even in the city) and extreme weather.
- While they are generally quiet pets, rabbits are not a good match for active young children who may not be careful enough when picking them up or playing around them.
- Rabbits like to be near their people, but they often prefer not to be held.
- They will likely require some veterinary care, which can be expensive. They should be spayed or neutered (by a vet experienced with surgery on rabbits), and they may require vaccinations depending on where you live (see Rabbit Vaccinations from RabbitRehome.org.uk for more on vaccines).
- Rabbit urine can have a strong odor, so expect to change their litter box frequently. Spaying and neutering can help reduce the odor. In addition, their urine is high in calcium and can leave a chalky residue when it dries that can be hard to clean up (vinegar is pretty effective for this).
A Special Note About Easter and Rabbits
The association between rabbits and Easter means rabbits are often impulsively acquired as pets at Easter time. Unfortunately, many of these bunnies end up neglected or given up for adoption since those cute little bunnies grow up into rabbits that need as much attention and care as a dog. Rabbits can be destructive if deprived of attention and appropriate toys, and need to be spayed or neutered to cut down on behavioral problems and health risks. In addition, rabbits are not ideal pets for children, partly because rabbits usually do not like to be held or cuddled. Always research a potential pet thoroughly to make sure it will be a suitable companion before getting one, and avoid the impulse to get a bunny for Easter.
For more great rabbit resources, check out these websites!
BunSpace: A community website for rabbit lovers, created by rabbit lovers
House Rabbit Society: Features a host of information on all things rabbit, from care to training
Save a Bunny: Dedicated to saving the lives of pet rabbits via adoption, education, and fostering