A Few Helpful Bunny Facts
If you are thinking of getting a pet rabbit, you may want to do your homework on bunny facts before making a commitment. Similar to owning a dog or a cat, there are many responsibilities involved in caring for a rabbit. Neglecting these responsibilities, whether by choice or by lack of knowledge, can result in a low quality life for the animal. In some circumstances, fines and even jail time can be charged to pet owners who fail to care for their pet properly, as this is considered a form of mistreatment. So to avoid all of this, we are going to cover all of the basic bunny facts you need to know in order to provide your rabbit with a happy and fulfilling lifestyle.
Although it is tempting to imagine a fluffy bunny as a cuddly lap pet with limitless patience and plenty of affection to go around, the reality is that all rabbits have a personality, just like humans, cats, and dogs do. While a friend’s pet rabbit may jump up and snuggle like the best of comrades, yours could very well squirm and squeal every time someone tries to touch it. Therefore it’s important that you understand that you won’t necessarily get a Peter Rabbit. The best way to increase your chances of obtaining an affectionate and truly pet-like rabbit is to handle the rabbit on several different occasions before taking him home. Or you could also opt for a slightly older rabbit which has been raised in a human environment. This will really increase the likelihood that you get the kind of pet rabbit you’re really looking for.
Let’s get on to the first bit of real business: food. All living things need to eat, right? Many people are under the impression that store-bought bunny pellets are all a rabbit needs to maintain a healthy body. Unfortunately, rabbit pellets only provide a portion of the daily nutrients that a rabbit’s diet needs. Timothy hay should be the main source of food for your bunny. This hay can be subsidized with fresh vegetables such as carrots, celery, cabbage, lettuce, spinach, broccoli, and even tomato. Bunnies also enjoy fresh herbs such as basil, oregano, and cilantro. Adult rabbits should have about four heaping cups of mixed veggies per day, subsidized with about 1/8 of a cup of store-bought pellets for every 5 pounds the rabbit weighs.
A proper home is another important factor to consider. A bunny hutch is one of the most popular types of housing for rabbits, but there are things to take into account when buying or building a hutch. For instance, bunnies are natural prey for many predators, therefore the hutch should be tall enough from the ground that the rabbits are not at risk of being harmed by wild animals (or the pet dog!). Rabbits are also very susceptible to hot temperatures, therefore if you live in an area that experiences fairly hot summers, you may want to consider a hutch that is either permanently stored in a temperature controlled area or one that can easily be wheeled or transported to an air conditioned spot. Rabbits can be litter box trained, however the main thing to bear in mind is that whether a rabbit is trained to use the litter box or not, the hutch will be need to be cleaned out on a daily basis.
That brings us to our next point: exercise. Being condemned to spend all day every day within the confines of a hutch would depress anyone, even a bunny. It’s important to realize that your bunny will need to be released from the hutch in a safe environment every day to romp around and stretch his legs. Make sure that there are no cats, dogs, or other animals around which might see the rabbit as a meal rather than a fellow pet. If the rabbit is to be brought indoors for play time, ensure that all wires and electrical items are out of the way, as you wouldn’t want the bunny to chew on them!
These helpful bunny facts should see your bunny well cared for. If you decide that the maintenance required to care for a rabbit simply isn’t going to fit with your lifestyle, then you can always consider another less demanding pet, such as a fish. Best of luck!