Some Lessons on Pet Rabbits

Rabbits are not easy pets, but they are very loving. Many parents get their child a rabbit around Easter as their own “Easter Bunny” without doing any further research on them. Anyone that has done their research should know they are signing up for a pet with as many- if not more- needs than a dog. Eventually, they get rid of the rabbit because they underestimated the needs of their new pet. Did you know that rabbits are the third most abandoned pet? Cats and dogs being the first and second. If they do not give them to a shelter, they “release them into the wild” thinking that they will be able to survive on their own. Wrong. Domesticated rabbits are completely different than wild rabbits. Many of their natural instincts have been bred out of domesticated rabbits, so they could not learn to survive in the wild no matter what. Releasing a pet rabbit is a death sentence.

In a lot of ways they are a combination of a cat and a dog. Rabbits are extremely social, and if you only have one, they depend on you for all of their social needs. Isolation can actually cause depression for your little fur baby! Rabbits will joyously greet you when you return to them. They also are very stubborn little animals and will demand attention from you. Give it to them! Like a dog, they are very loving, and are only here for 8-12 years. You have a life separate from your pet, but to your rabbit you are their whole world. A binky is the ultimate sign of happiness in a bunny. It will seem like they are twitching, or randomly jumping into the air, but in reality- they are showing you how happy they are! These aerial acrobatics are adorable to watch, and even more so when you know the reason behind them.

Many people that buy rabbits as pets completely underestimate the costs. Rabbits require so much time and energy, as well as money. They need toys, food (both healthy pellets and hay), a house, and bedding. When I got my rabbit, Loki, I was in way over my head. I was not thinking about what he would need and instead focused on how adorable the little baby fluff ball in my hands was. I thought he would be like the guinea pig I had as a child. Cute, fluffy, and quiet, with no real personality. Little did I know they are nothing alike.

First of all, rabbits are not rodents. They are lagomorphs. They belong in the same family as pikas, hares, and wild rabbits. Rodents consist of mice, rats, guinea pigs, cavies, capybaras, and so many more. A rabbits dietary needs are completely different from rodents as well. They need a constant supply of timothy hay, because 80% of their diet should consist of fiber. They should also have about a handful of healthy pellets, and by healthy I mean not rainbow colored. Those kinds of pellets have way too much sugar, fat, and protein, and too much of those can cause a lot of dangerous complications in their digestive system. They should also receive leafy greens daily. Carrot stems, spinach, dandelion leaves, and spring lettuce are just a few examples. The greener the better. They also need plenty of space to run around for exercise. When I am home, I have him out running around my room. if you have ever seen a bunny with the zoomies- you will know you have seen the most adorable thing in the world. Rabbits also like to be stroked, but on their terms like a cat. They will come to you and demand attention, and heaven help you if you ignore them. Most rabbits also do not like being picked up. My rabbit likes all four on the floor, and gets really mad at me if I do pick him up.

Also like a cat, they can be litter trained! Many people are not aware of this, and give away their pet because it poops too much. Rabbits poop a lot. Litter training can make or break your relationship with your rabbit. And it’s super easy! All you do is figure out what corner they do their business in, and put a little box there. That is it. Instead of cleaning his entire cage every day, all I have to do is clean Loki’s litter box and pick up a few stray poops that he did to mark his territory.

Rabbits can also be taught tricks. My rabbit knows “Up”, in which he will get up on his hind legs and beg for his treat, and “Twirl” in which he spins in a circle on all fours to get his treat. They can also be trained to go through agility courses, but Loki and I are not ready for that.

Teaching them tricks is a great way to bond with your bunny. They get a treat, and you get to spend time with them! It is a win-win situation.

Rabbits are very clean animals. They spend hours a day grooming themselves to make their fur fluffy and soft. They also are a little OCD. They have special places for their toys and food, their bed, even their litter box, and boy do they get mad if you move them! Even if it does not look “tidy” in human standards, to them their hutch is the epitome of cleanliness.

While all of these little tidbits of information may seem like a lot, the rewards of having a pet rabbit far outweigh the costs. I have an animal with a fierce personality, and a very loving disposition. He can be a total fatty sometimes, even going so far as to beg for more food. He can be loud and obnoxious, and wake me up at the crack of dawn to demand pets. But he can also be sweet and loving, quietly cuddling with me and licking my hand like a dog to show his affection. Rabbits are not an easy starter pet for a child. Getting a child their own “Easter bunny” is like handing them a puppy. They take time, patience, and training. But much like a dog, the reward of having a loving companion is completely worth it.