Rabbit Care

A rabbit is the perfect pet for people who want something big enough to play with a lot, but not something that'll take up the entire house and family time. They're cute, fluffy, social, and quiet. Be prepared to give your bunny some attention and learn how to treat these gentle creatures.

Please don't get a bunny before you know what to do with him/her. The initial time you spend together will be critical in establishing trust and building the foundations of a good life together.

What you Need to Know About Your Rabbit

There are some basic stats that you should know about any pet before purchasing or adopting -- the same applies to your rabbit. Make sure you ask the questions below of the pet store or adoption agency before taking your new pet home.

• Has s/he hit sexual maturity (around 6 months)? Has s/he been spayed or neutered?
• What is its sex? Will s/he cooperate with other rabbits of the same or different sex?
• Has s/he been inoculated for any diseases?
• Is s/he sick or injured in any way?
• Has s/he been abused or does s/he suffer from any behavioral problems?

What Rabbits Need

These items are essential to have before you bring any rabbit home. You rabbit will need them immediately and setting them up will help you understand what kind of space your new pet will occupy in your home.

Cage  Should be at least 4'x2'x4' tall to allow movement. Metal grating  on the bottom should be covered by a wicker mat.  Plastic bottoms  and a towel  could be nicer.	Water and Food The water dish  and food bowl  need to be shallow, wide, and heavy. Learn what to feed down below.	Gnawing Material If you don't supply your rabbit with something to chew on, s/he will nibble at your furniture, floorboards, carpeting, and wires. This can be anything from twigs to expensive chew toys.	Litter  Can be nontoxic and pre-made,  unscented woodchips,  food pellets,  or newspaper shreddings.  They need something in which to burrow.	Hair  and Nail  Care You need to brush  you rabbit between once a week and daily, depending on hair length. Clip nails once every three months or so. Small scissor clippers  for small rabbits and larger clippers  for thick-nailed bunnies.

What Rabbits Like

If you want your rabbit to have any more than the bare essentials, get these. Most are very inexpensive and many can be cobbled together from your household items. But your bunny will love them.

For Chewing Unpainted wood,  twigs, hay,  phone books, and leaves are perfect chew toys.  Rabbit's teeth are always growing, so they need to keep chewing to stay trim. Encourage it.	For Playing A playpen  gives them a larger area to traverse safely. A system of cardboard boxes  and tubes  can be a playground. Put anything wooden and unpainted  in there.	For Burrowing Rabbits need some softness and something to claw. Grass mats  are great for scratching. Blankets  are perfect for snuggling in a pen or on your lap.	For Private Functions You can litter box train your rabbit! A cat's litter box  with rabbit litter,  hay, or newspaper scraps will be perfect. A lid  can keep things a bit cleaner.	Other Toys A baby's plastic keys,  a parrot's rattle,  and rabbit-intended toys  are great for shredding and biting. Keep everything non-toxic and free of little bits of plastic.

What to Feed

• While they love to eat and chew, rabbits are very little and don't require so much food.
• If your rabbit is getting fat, feed him/her less.
• Fat rabbits are slow, unhealthy, and suffer the same problems from obesity that humans do.
• Rabbit pellets  should be their primary diet. Follow the guidelines on the package, but try to give your bunny 1/8 cup of pellets per 2-3 lbs. of body weight, twice a day.
• Try to get high fiber pellets made from timothy hay  instead of alfalfa hay. 
• 4-8 oz. of green and colored fresh vegetable slices will make your rabbit's day. Try to mix your varieties each day.
• Carrots, while stereotypical, should be given sparingly as they are high in calories; give under 4 inches per day.
• Don't give more than a single slice of fresh fruit per day. Fresh apples and banana slices are ideal treats.
• Dried fruit is overly caloric.
• Hay is an unlimited food! But grass hay  is better than alfalfa hay. 
• Seeds,  nuts,  and human foods have too many calories and needn't be eaten by your rabbit.

How to Play

Your bunny is a prey animal and therefore very vigilant of potential predators. You're big, loud, strong, and look like a predator. If you want your rabbit to feel safe with you, you're going to have to be very gentle, calm, quiet, and respectful.

• Don't approach your bunny from above or the front; his or her side-set eyes cannot see you and you'll scare her/him.
• Lift her/him gently or s/he'll flail, scratch, fall, and get hurt. And not trust you in the future.
• Her/his ears and nose are much more sensitive than yours. If the house is loud or you smell like other animals, your rabbit will be frightened.
• If too frightened, s/he could go into shock. (Don't worry. Just be nice.)
• Approach her/him from eye level (get down on the floor) and lift gently, supporting her/his neck and hindquarters. Commence petting.
• When s/he is getting used to you, let her/him to come to you when exploring a room. Put your hand out to smell and let her/him take the lead.
• Rabbits like carpets more than slippery floors, but their initial messes are easier to clean up on slick surfaces.

Rabbit-Proof Your Home

• Do not expose your rabbit to toxic materials like phone cords,  painted wood to chew on, or inorganic food. It will chew whatever it sees.
• Rubbing Ivory soap  along doorways and loose wood will keep it from getting chewed.
• Bunnies will chew your plants  and get sick. Keep them out of reach.

Multiple Rabbits

Introducing a new rabbit to an old one? Follow these instructions:

• If of opposite sexes, make sure they've both been spayed or neutered or you'll have a whole family of rabbits in no time.
• If of the same sex, bring the younger one in once s/he is fully grown and big enough to defend her/himself.
• Introduce them in neutral territory and have double the supplies so they're not crowded and fighting.
• If they bond well, they'll be snuggling in no time!

Rabbit First Aid

• Superficial cuts should get firm pressure with sterile gauze  for bleeding. Ice, cauterize, or cornstarch as needed.
• Wash wounds with warm, soapy water.
• They are sensitive to light. Give them shady places to live.
• Don't bathe unless treating for fleas. Don't treat for fleas unless told to by a vet.
• Do NOT clip your rabbit's fur or teeth. This needn't be done unless your vet volunteers to do it.
• If s/he ingests something toxic, go to the vet immediately.
• CLEAN THE LITTER BOX or your rabbit will get sick.
• When in doubt, go to the vet.

External Links

• Animaland -- The basic info on rabbits from the ASPCA.
• Central Pets -- Huge amounts of information about each breed.
• Healthy Pet -- How to litter train your rabbit.
• Leith Petwerks -- Rabbits USA 2006 is a great issue to teach you all about you need to care for your rabbits.
• Petsyclopedia -- First tips for rabbit owners.
• Petsyclopedia -- Before you buy a rabbit for a child, read this.
• Petsyclopedia -- How to keep your bunny happy.