Rabbits
Caring for a rabbit
Rabbits make great pets – they're cute and cuddly and can live for around 10 years if well cared for. However, they are not as easy to look after as many people think. Here’s a list of things you need to think about before taking a rabbit into your home.
Companionship
Rabbits shouldn’t be kept alone – they need to interact with other rabbits or humans. If you can’t keep a second rabbit as a companion, you'll need to make extra time to play with your pet every day.
However, the RSPCA says that “the widespread practice of keeping rabbits and guinea pigs together is not recommended”.
Living area
Where you keep your rabbit is very important. They need a good sized, weatherproof home – many homes sold in pet shops are too small according to the RSPCA.
If you keep more than one rabbit in the same area, each animal should have its own covered sleeping area.
Your rabbit hutch needs to be off the ground, out of direct sunlight and strong winds and will need to moved indoors or to a more sheltered area during cold weather.
You should line your rabbit’s home with a clean layer of wood chippings and plenty of hay or shredded paper. Soiled bedding need to be changed every day and the whole hutch should be cleaned out every week.
If you keep your rabbit in an open enclosure, remember that they are burrowing creatures, so your enclosure needs to be sunk into the ground and escape-proof as well as being safe from predators like foxes.
Home pets
Rabbits can be house trained and make great indoor pets. However, you need to make to make sure that your home is rabbit-safe.
Rabbit food
You should feed your rabbit on a diet of grass with some rabbit pellets, apples, carrots, dandelions and a good quantity of hay. You also need to make sure that your pet has a constant supply of clean drinking water from a drip feed with a metal spout.
Rabbits’ teeth never stop growing so your pet will need a gnawing block to wear down teeth, which can become a problem if they grow too long.
Keeping fit
Rabbits need as much exercise as a small dog, so they need daily exercise in a safe grassy area. If you let your rabbit run free in your home, make sure that wires and cables are kept out reach – rabbits will gnaw them otherwise.
Holidays
No matter what pet you have, you should never leave it alone for too long. If you're going on holiday you need to make sure that you have someone that can look after it.
Neutering and vet care
Neutering your rabbits will prevent unwanted litters as well as fighting and cancer in females.
Your rabbit needs to be vaccinated against myxomatosis every six months and VHD once a year. You'll also need to keep a close eye on your pet and take it to the vet if you think that there is a problem. Rabbits are adapted to hide signs of pain and are unlikely to cry out if something is wrong.
Vets bills can soon add up so you might want to consider pet insurance.
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