With Easter so close behind us, rabbits are still a hot subject in many homes, especially families that have just adopted bunnies for Easter. Because there are so many new rabbit owners out there and many considering rabbit ownership, this month’s issue of Splitting Hares is dedicated to deciding whether a rabbit is the pet for you, learning what rabbits need to live a healthy life, and finding the right rabbit for a pet.
The Easter bunnies you may see in stores are very cute, but are often very young. The minimum age to sell rabbits in Pennsylvania is 8 weeks old, so they are still very small. They will grow up to be anywhere from 4 lbs. to 16 lbs., depending on the breed. Before bringing a rabbit home, make sure that you will be able to feed and care for them once your furry friend grows up.
Rabbits make great pets. They can be very friendly and fun to play with. Rabbits can be wonderful house pets and are easily litter trained. However, they do require daily care. They need fresh food and water every day, shelter, and a cage big enough to jump and play in. The cage should be cleaned often as needed (at least once a week) and bedded with something like pine shavings. If they are litter trained, the litter box should be cleaned often and bedded the same as the cage. Be careful to avoid cat litter, which can be harmful to rabbits. Rabbits are very playful animals and enjoy toys to stay entertained. You can buy toys made for rabbits, or give them hard plastic baby toys. They love rattles, plastic keys, and anything they can throw. Every rabbit has a favorite toy!
The best food for your rabbit is just plain pellets and hay. You can buy these at many feed stores where pellets are not as expensive as pet store food. It is much healthier for them too, as the little colorful treats that are often found in pet rabbit food are not healthy for them. They need fresh water, offered in either a water bottle or bowl. If you add apple cider vinegar to the water in a ratio of about 1-2 tablespoons per one gallon of water, it will decrease the odor of the urine and provide vitamins and minerals to your rabbit!
If you have decided that you are ready to commit to a rabbit for its lifetime (5-10 years), the next step is to find the right rabbit for you. Take a few things into consideration. What breed of rabbit do you want? Do you prefer long hair or short hair? Lop ears or erect ears? A full list of ARBA-recognized breeds is available at www.arba.net/breeds.htm. There are lop breeds, wool breeds, and meat breeds. Each one has its own personality, so research the breed and talk to breeders who work with your top choices before deciding.
Once you choose a breed, it’s time to decide where to purchase your rabbit. You can buy one from a pet store, a shelter, or a breeder. Each of these has advantages and disadvantages. Pet store rabbits can be less expensive than a shelter rabbit or a pedigreed rabbit. Pet stores may have some background information on the rabbit, but usually do not. Some stores sell a rabbit starter kit with their rabbits, which include a cage, food, a water bottle, toys, and more.
Shelter rabbits can make great pets. Often the shelter will spay or neuter your pet for you before you take it home. You have to keep in mind that these rabbits may have been neglected and can be skittish in some cases. They also may have special needs and require veterinary attention. If you are prepared to give a shelter rabbit the love and care that it needs, go for it, but also keep in mind that you do not know the age of these rabbits, so they may be older when you buy them.
When you purchase a rabbit from a reputable breeder, the rabbit will most likely be purebred. Rabbit breeders take great pride in their rabbits and try to keep them in the best health they can. They will not sell a sick rabbit, and they will tell you about any other problems the animal may have. One disadvantage is that these rabbits may cost a little bit more money than a rabbit from the pet store. But breeders can tell you about the rabbit’s parents and may have them for you to look at. Other outlets usually do not have that information.
Rabbits are great pets and can be very friendly. They are very intelligent and can learn many things. But consider all of the needs that rabbits have, and make sure you will be able to care for your pet for 5-10 years of life!