Rabbit Care

Fun Facts

• A baby rabbit is called a kit bunny.
• A group of rabbits is called a herd.
• Hares are different than rabbits - they have larger ears and back legs.  Hares are born with their eyes open and have fur.  Rabbits are born with no hair and their eyes are still closed.
• Rabbits have scent glands on their chins and at the base of their tail that they use to mark their territory.
• Rabbits will thump their back foot on the ground to warn other rabbits of danger.
• Wild rabbits live in underground tunnels they dig called warrens.
• A rabbit's teeth continually grow for their entire life.

Breeds
Domestic rabbits came from Europe thousands of years ago.  Today there are many breeds of domestic rabbits, from the mini lop to the Angora, who have silky, soft long hair.

Lifespan
A well cared for indoor rabbit will for about 9 to 12 years or longer. A rabbit who lives outdoors will only live for about 4 to 6 years. 

Identification

A rabbit can't ask for help back home if he gets out of the house alone or is lost. That is why it's so important for rabbits to have identification.  Your rabbit should be microchipped instead.  A pet Microchip is a tiny chip about the same size as a grain of rice.  Each chip has a different code that is linked to all the information about the animal's family. This information can be read by a special scanner.  If an animal gets lost, shelters and veterinarians can scan the chip, read the code number and contact the animal's family.

Spay & Neuter
Spay and neuter are the names of simple surgeries that prevent rabbits from having babies. Spay is the surgery for girls and neuter is the surgery for boys. Rabbits are put under anesthesia so they don't feel any pain, just like people are during surgery.

Having your rabbit spayed or neutered provides many benefits.  It reduces the risk of some types of infection and cancer.  It helps reduce companion animal overpopulation.  It also helps with Behavior issues. Animals who have been spayed or neutered are also less likely to bite people.

Food
Just like you, rabbits need good food to grow and stay healthy. Rabbits are herbivores, which means they eat only plants. Rabbits need a variety of foods, including alfalfa or timothy pellets, fresh timothy hay and fresh vegetables. Rabbits should always have fresh timothy hay or orchard grass available. Treats should only be fed in small amounts as rabbits can develop health problems from being overweight and from eating too much sugary food, such as carrots and fruits.

Do not give the following to rabbits:

• Antibiotics. Only give your rabbit medicine that has been prescribed by your bunny's vet.
• Apples, pears and cherry pits. These are poisonous to rabbits.
• Beans, rhubarb, tomatoes, tomato leaves and vines. These vegetables are poisonous to rabbits.

Water
Rabbits should have access to fresh water at all times.  His water needs to be changed at least once daily and more often if it becomes dirty. Rabbits are naturally playful and enjoy tossing things around.  So water should be provided in a heavy crock or dish, which cannot be tipped over.  You can also give him a water bottle so he has a water source just in case the dish tip over their water dish when you are not looking. 

Shelter
Rabbits should live inside your house where they have an enclosure of their own and can also socialize with their human family.  The enclosure should be as big as possible and at least four times bigger than your rabbit.  The bottom of the cage should have a solid floor.  Wire-bottom or slatted floor cages are painful for rabbits to stand on and can cause injury if their feet get caught. 

The enclosure is your rabbit's home.  Inside the enclosure should be a litter box with rabbit litter (do not use cat litter), water, food, toys and a towel, blanket or carpet piece as a floor covering.  A towel draped over one of the corners of the cage is also a good idea to give your bunny some privacy and a place to feel safe.

Play & Exercise
One of the most important things you can do to care for your rabbit is play with her everyday.  Always remember to play gently and not scare the rabbit. Few rabbits like to be held.  Never pick a rabbit up by her ears as this can be very painful.

Rabbits, just like people, are very curious.  They can get bored when left alone in their enclosure for too long.  Giving rabbits a run, or safe room to roam, in which they can exercise will keep them happy and healthy.  Rabbits can also be litter box trained so they won't make a mess on the floor when playing around your house.  Rabbits are most active during the early morning and early evening, so these are the best times to play or let them out of their cage.

One way that rabbits mark their territory is by leaving pellets, or droppings, in their area. Even if your bunny is litter box trained, you will still occasionally find stray bunny pellets on the floor. This may happen more often if you have more then one rabbit in your house.

Toys help your rabbit stay busy while she is in her enclosure.  Playing with toys is also good exercise. Pet supply stores have lots of Cruelty-free toys, ones that are free of feathers and fur from other animals.  Be sure the toys you give your rabbit are very strong and cannot be easily broken when she chews on them. Good toys for rabbits can be heavy plastic toys made for large parrots. Many of these toys also have bells inside, which your rabbit will enjoy hearing jingle when she tosses it in the air. Rabbits also like stuffed toys and cardboard, but don't let rabbits swallow pieces of these toys.

A fun toy you can make it home is a bunny "digging" box. This can be made with a large box. Have your parents cut a hole in the side of the box so your rabbit can easily climb in and out of it and fill the box with shredded packing paper or clean newspaper.

Chewing, Digging and Rabbit Proofing
Rabbits naturally chew and dig.  So it's important to give them safe a safe place to act out these natural behaviors.  Cardboard tunnels and scraps of carpet are good for digging as long as the rabbit doesn't eat any of the material. Wood or willow chewing toys made especially for rabbits are safest. 

The areas where you let your rabbit play should be "rabbit proof." This means protecting anything you do not want your rabbit to chew on such as furniture, electrical wires and houseplants. 

Outdoor Exercise
Rabbits should live indoors but you can occasionally bring them outside for supervised visits.  You can use an outdoor enclosure or walk him on a leash and harness. Never leave your rabbit alone outdoors.  There are many dangers to rabbits outside and rabbits can become sick from eating grass or plants in your yard.

Grooming & Cleaning
Rabbits need regular grooming. You will need to keep her nails trimmed and her coat brushed. Both long and short haired rabbits need to be brushed, especially when they are shedding their old coat. Rabbits cannot throw up to get rid of hairballs like cats, so it's important to give her plenty of fresh water and hay to help her pass any hair she eats.

The scent glands at the base of your bunny's tail should be checked and cleaned when needed. You should also keep an eye on your bunny's teeth to make sure they do not become overgrown.  To help your rabbit stay clean and healthy, her litter box should be cleaned once each day.

Health
Since rabbits are very sensitive and have different bodies than dogs and cats, it's important to have a Veterinarian that understands them.  Rabbits should get a check-up from their veterinarian at least once a year. If your rabbit is acting unusual or you think he may have eaten something dangerous, have your parent or guardian call the veterinarian right away. Rabbits should also go to the doctor if they have been attacked by a predator, even if you don't see any injuries.

If your rabbit's teeth become too long or you notice that your rabbit is not eating very much she should be seen by a veterinarian immediately.

If you know a rabbit that is being treated badly or hurt, he needs your help.  Visit the Report Animal Abuse page to learn how to help him.

Household Hazards
Many common things found in your house can be very dangerous to rabbits.  For example, household cleaners, slug bait and antifreeze are all poisonous to rabbits.  Rabbits can choke or get an upset stomach from chewing on, or eating these things: decorations, string, electric cords, plastic, rocks and sticks.

Behavior
Understanding your rabbit will make her a happier, more fun companion.  You can learn all about rabbits by quietly observing them and reading books about them.  A good book to start with is The House Rabbit Handbook.

Handling
Rabbits enjoy the company of their human friends, but do not usually like being picked up by them. It can be very scary and uncomfortable for a rabbit to have his feet off the ground. If you do need to pick up your rabbit, always support his hind legs and chest and hold him close to your body. Rabbits have very fragile bones that can be easily broken if they are dropped.  They can also be injured by kicking their hind legs too hard while trying to get away if they become scared. The best way to be close to your rabbit is to sit on the ground with him in his play area.  If you are sitting on the ground your rabbit may climb into your lap or just sit beside you.

Want to know more?
More information about responsible Companion animal care can be found at our other website.