Many people buy a rabbit on impulse. They see
a cute, fluffy baby bunny in a pet store and
decide it would make a great pet. It may be, but
it might also not be the right pet for you.
Before you decide to get a pet bunny, be aware
of the following things:
 Rabbits
can easily live five or more years. They are not a
pet that just lives for a few years, like mice do.
They need a good home and plenty of attention for
the duration of their life.
Rabbit
urine is very high in ammonia, so it WILL smell
bad if you do not clean often and have decent
ventilation.
Rabbits
and other animals rarely get along, mostly because
a rabbit is at the bottom of the food chain. A
rabbit and a dog or a cat should NEVER be left
along together. Even if they seem very friendly
together, it only takes a second for a dog to snap
a rabbit's neck. Even a little dog can kill a
rabbit, no matter what size the rabbit is. Also,
never keep a rabbit cage where a dog can get to
it. Dogs can and will kill a rabbit right through
the wire of the cage.
Rabbits
need attention. They do not like to just sit in
their cages and do nothing. You would not like
that either, so why should a rabbit have to be
stuck in a cage all day long? Rabbits should have
toys and they need plenty of human contact in
order to be happiest.
Finding
a good rabbit veterinarian can be difficult. Many
veterinarians know about dogs and cats, but few
know about rabbits. Certain drugs that are fine
for cats and dogs are deadly to rabbits, including
Moxicillin, Lincomycin, Clindamycin. Also, vet
care for rabbits is often very expensive since
most vets classify rabbits with exotic animals
(even though they are one of the most popular pet
animals!)
Rabbits
must be fed a good rabbit pellet. They cannot live
off of lettuce and carrots. In fact, they should
not be fed iceberg lettuce at all because it can
cause them to have digestive problems.
If
you get a female bunny, she should be spayed to
prevent unwanted pregnancies and to prevent
uterine cancer, which is very common in rabbits.
Some
bucks, and even some does, do spray urine to mark
their territory. Spaying or neutering will usually
solve this, but it is best to get it done BEFORE
the rabbit starts spraying.
Rabbits
cannot tolerate direct sunlight or very hot
temperatures. They can handle the cold better, if
they are properly cared for and precautions are
taken, but heat and sunlight are deadly. The best
place for a pet bunny is in the house, with you!
Many
rabbits can be litter box trained, but be aware
that some will never learn. Even those that do
will often leave a few dry poops here and there,
but they are easily vacuumed or swept up.
Baby
rabbits often change their temperament as they
mature. A sweet little baby may become a hormonal
terror when it gets older. Your best bet is to
purchase a rabbit that is at least 3 months old,
preferably 4 months. A rabbit is sexually mature
at 6 months (except very large breeds, which
mature at 8 months).
Rabbits
love to chew and dig, so even if you "rabbit
proof" your house, they may cause some
damage.
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