Choosing a Rabbit
Are You Ready For a Rabbit? A Place to Begin
 They
are adorable in the pen at the pet store and you have heard that
they make good pets and can even be house trained. But
wait, if you are reading this before you bring that sweet bunny
home you are on the right track because for this to be a
successful relationship you need to know what you are getting
into. Just like any other pet, the better prepared you are the
better for you and your new rabbit.
Rabbits can be terrific pets, they
are full of personality and can be affectionate and attached
to their human family.
Time
Your bunny is going to need your time.
Putting a cage on you porch and feeding him, pulling him out
once in awhile for the kids to pet isn’t really fair to your pet
or to you really getting to experience having a pet.
Socialization
How you handle your rabbit from early in
your relationship is going to have the biggest influence on your
bunny’s personality. Of course breed type etc. will have some
affect but your care and attention will make a big
difference how affectionate he is with humans and also his life
expectancy.
You need to be prepared to provided
supervised exercise outside the cage in a safe area both indoors
and outdoors. He will need social interaction with you –
just
like a dog or cat, a rabbit is a social animal and needs interaction –
if not with other rabbits then with his human family. He needs
to be held and cuddled, talked to and given activities that will
stimulate him.
But a rabbit is also not like cats and dogs, he
will need lots of patient, quiet attention to get him
comfortable with humans, he needs to be handled gently and
carefully, rabbits are sensitive to noise and so he will need to be
gradually introduced to things in the human world –telephones,
televisions, noisy toys etc.
Care
Your rabbit will need to be kept in clean,
properly ventilated cage that is placed in temperature
controlled area. Although a rabbit's diet includes alfalfa pellets
they also need fresh fruits and vegetables daily, As I said
earlier, your rabbit will require daily exercise outside the cage and
require grooming, including brushing, keeping nails and teeth in
proper shape. (rabbit's teeth continue to grow throughout
their lifetime)
Health Issues
Your rabbit is of course going to need
veterinary care, both well-rabbit and sick and possibly
injury care. Rabbits can have problems with their teeth as they
grow continually. If they are not worn down from chewing (see
chewing ) they become overgrown and need attention. They also
can have problems with urinary infections, digestive problems
which may include “hairballs” particularly long-haired bunnies
just like a cat.
Rabbit Issues
Chewing
Rabbits like to chew, and they will chew
anything and everything unless provided with proper chewing
items. They will chew anything from the sofa leg to magazines
left within reach. They will also chew really dangerous things
like electrical cords, they don’t know the difference. This
will require that you “rabbit proof” the space you choose to
exercise your rabbit and you provide him with a variety of
chewing toys to keep him occupied. Check out the “Chew Toys for
Rabbits”
Territorial Marking
If you leave your rabbit “intact” – without
neutering or spaying they will act as nature dictates and mark
their territories just like other animals. They will spray
urine on vertical surfaces like sofa and chair legs, stereo and
TV cabinets. The expert recommendation is that they be neutered
or spayed not only for stopping of this behavior but also for
health reasons. See “Spaying and Neutering Your Rabbit”
Children
While it seems like a sweet idea to get
your child a bunny for Easter etc., be aware that rabbits
are fairly fragile and need to be handled with care and they
will bite if injured. Just like we have said in all out other
articles about pets, it is unlikely that your children will
actually care for their pet. They may be well intentioned but
they are children after all and even if they can be gotten to
care for the animal you will also need to supervise and do some
of the work yourself most likely.
 Rabbits
can be good pets for families with kids but please factor in
that the adults will be required to take a major role in all
areas of their care and should always supervise handling by
children.
Other Pets
Considering
other animals when choosing a pet is similar to considering your
children.
If you already have a pet at home, be sure that the new pet you
are considering will be compatible or that you can keep the two
pets apart. Don’t assume it won’t work either, many dogs and
cats, rabbits etc., are quite happy together. But also be
cautious when bringing a new animal into the situation. There
are ways to smooth the way when introducing a new animal into a
family.
Cost
Of course there are expenses related to
bringing a rabbit into your family. There are start up costs
and then costs that will continue throughout the life your pet.
-
Cage
-
Litter box and supplies
If you don’t already have them you will
need:
-
disinfectant cleaning liquid –
non-toxic preferable
-
Fenced outdoor play area
-
Indoor exercise area
-
Food dishes – non chewable
-
Drinking/Water containers
-
Containers for storing food
-
Nesting Box
-
Bedding
-
Toys
-
Travel box or case (vet visits etc)
-
Grooming items, brush, nail clippers
-
Flea preventative – See “Understanding
Fleas and Controlling Them”
-
Food
So, there are the basics
Choosing a pet can be fun and rewarding; some people wouldn’t
live without one.
To make sure your experience is successful for both your family
and your new family member choose your pet wisely. Do the
research necessary to have all the facts so that when you
finally do make a choice of a pet they will become one of the
family.
Tame
That Wild Thing!
has the information you will need to help you in choosing a pet
that is right for your family. Check the menu for animal
specific information and checklists to help you get ready.
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