At this time of year, especially when children are seeing "the Easter bunny" everywhere, a lot of families consider bringing home a pet rabbit.
A rabbit can be a wonderful addition to any home, but before you adopt, here are some things you should consider when bringing a rabbit into your family.
Rabbits can live up to 10 years, so be sure you're ready to commit to your new family member and care for it for years to come.
What will my rabbit need?
A new rabbit will require a variety of supplies to keep them happy and healthy in their new home. Recommended supplies include
- Cage with a solid (not wire or slatted) bottom
- Bowl or cage-attachable bottle for water•
- Exercise pen
- Carrier
- Grooming brush
- Safe chew toys
- Timothy hay and hay rack
- Quality rabbit pellets
- Litter box and digging box
- Tile to lay on when hot
Where should my rabbit live?
Rabbits should always live inside; temperatures in Northern Virginia can be both too hot and too cold for a rabbit to live outside safely.
When bringing your rabbit home, start them in a smaller than normal enclosure, such asa medium to large dog crate with a litter box, food and water, hay rack and a bath mat. As they grow comfortable in your home, they should move into a large, more permanent space.The recommended minimum cage length is four feet, but bigger is better! You can even have your rabbit in an area of the room closed off with an exercise pen, or train them to be a house rabbit.
Where do bunnies do their business?
Rabbits are very clean by nature and can even be trained to use a litter box. Most rabbits will choose on corner of the cage as their bathroom and once they do, you can place a newspaper-lined litter box in that corner. Cover it with hay or pelleted litter meant for rabbits; pine or cedar shavings or clumping litter can be dangerous for your bunny. For the first month, do not completely clean the box as your rabbit gets used to it, and if your rabbit goes to the bathroom outside the box, put a paper towel with urine on it in the box.After the first month, you can clean the box with vinegar to neutralize the odor.
What should my rabbit eat?
The most important component of your rabbit’s diet is a grass hay, like Timothy hay, to keep their intestinal tract healthy. An unlimited supply of hay should always be available. You can also supplement their diet with rabbit pellets. Your rabbit would like fresh, leafy greens daily. The following greens are safe for rabbits:
Arugula, Basil, Broccoli, Brussels sprouts, Carrots and carrot tops, Cauliflower, Mint, Mustard greens, Oregano, Radishes and radish tops, Red-leaf or romaine lettuce (NOT iceberg), Watercress
I have a rabbit. Can I bond him with my new bunny?
Bonding rabbits is a process that takes time and patience. AWLA staff can help with introductions at the shelter, but you’ll need to be prepared to help both rabbits continue to strengthen their new friendship once home. You will need to have a second enclosure for your new rabbit to live in during the bonding process.
What is a “house rabbit?”
Many bunnies are social, trainable and love room to play, and like a dog or a cat, they can be trained to roam freely around your home. Like a dog or cat, make sure to take precautions to make your house safe for a rabbit: no easily accessible chemicals, make sure chewable cords are out of reach, and make sure there are not open spaces in which your rabbit can get trapped or caught. Rabbits should be contained to a smaller area when they are not supervised, but your newly-minted “House Rabbit” might love to join you for Friday movie night, an afternoon of board games or even a bit of bunny yoga.
Pay attention to your pet to find the arrangement that works best for both of you. Rabbits can live up to 10 years, so let us know if you have any questions to help you prepare for your new furry family member. All rabbits adopted from the AWLA are spayed/neutered and microchipped. Adopters will receive a voucher for a complimentary “First Check-Up” with a local veterinarian and access to our behavior hotline for any pet questions or concerns that may arise.
