Are you thinking of getting a pet? Then you must consider getting a rabbit. Rabbits make fantastic pets since they have adorable personalities and quickly adapt to a domestic lifestyle, even adjusting to other pets in the apartment, such as cats and dogs.
However, rabbits are frequently seen as simple beginner’s pets. But that is not the case as bunnies, like all other pets, have significantly more complex demands. The amount of care required by a bunny is the same as that required by a dog. Rabbits require special care to keep them happy and healthy. It may include all beginning with plenty of hay and pallets and ending with a lovely comfortable nest. So, here are all you need to know if you want to bring a new pet bunny.
- Safe Housing
Every rabbit owner should know one fact: the safest place for a rabbit to live is inside. Rabbits should never be kept outside because they are not like wild rabbits and cannot tolerate extreme weather, especially in the summer. Even though your rabbits are safe outside, they are vulnerable to predator attacks. Seeing and hearing animals surrounding the rabbits might cause so much distress that they may die from a heart attack.
What’s best Caged or Free?
Whether you let the rabbit run around in a large house or a tiny place, the most crucial thing is that it is safe. Even in an ordinary house, one little bunny may cause a lot of havoc. As rabbits enjoy chewing on things, so make sure that the electric cords are not left open and that they are out of reach of the bunnies or that the outlets are entirely covered. Chewing appears to cause many other issues, such as chewing on poisonous things left open in the house or unsecured cupboards.
If you keep them in the cage, ensure they have adequate room to move around. A rabbit cage must have enough space for them to stand on their hind legs without hitting their heads on the top of the cage, as well as a litter box and a resting spot. The cage should be simple to clean and built of metal or another indestructible material. The cage must be kept in a cool, well-ventilated place. However, be cautious and never store the rabbit cage in the basement as it might become too moist and cause respiratory ailments. Furthermore, if the weather is too hot, the rabbit may suffer from heat exhaustion.
Keep your rabbit out of the cage as much as possible. To avoid physical and psychological illnesses, they will require exercise and playtime. Rabbits should be let into parks or lawns for a few hours each day to play, jump, and ruminate. However, ensure that they have a safe place to play and explore.
- Set Up a Litter Box
Rabbits are one of the cutest pets anyone could have whether it is their two bunny teeth or bunny tail length you will end up adoring everything. However, one of the weirdest facts about rabbits is that they like to eat and defecate in one place only. Set up a medium-sized kitty litter box or shallow storage container near their food/water bowls to take advantage of this. Fill the litter box with a thin coating of rabbit-safe recycled newspaper pellet litter. Using clay/clumping cat litter or wood shavings is not recommended for rabbits. Then place hay on top of the litter as rabbits like to eat and poop simultaneously. Strange? But it’s true. Furthermore, this will foster proper litter habits. Many rabbits enjoy relaxing in their litter box and ensuring that it is clean and that it is of ample size.
- Balanced Diet
Rabbits have a complex digestive system, so receiving a balanced and appropriate diet becomes much more important. Plus, many health problems also start with foods incompatible with the digestive system. So, to help you with that, the following are the foods that must be incorporated into a rabbit’s diet.
- Provide unlimited grass hay
This is the main component of a rabbit’s diet, and it must be included in the diet. Timothy, oat, and hay are one of the best choices. Put it in daily in the clean side of the rabbit’s cage. For young rabbits, go with alfalfa hay and pellets that tend to provide more calories to a growing rabbit.
- Vegetables
You may give your rabbit vegetables as a treat. Rabbits can be given carrots because they are known to enjoy them, but don’t overdo it because carrots have high sugar content. Try to feed the veggies after thoroughly cleaning them and supply green leafy vegetables, like spinach, collards, and turnip greens, if feasible. But introduce the veggies at a slower rate as it can upset a rabbit’s stomach. You can go once a week. Fruits should be given at a superficial level as they have high sugar levels.
- Foods to avoid
Some vegetables are detrimental to rabbits’ health, such as onion, potato, cabbage, maize, tomatoes, beans, peas, bamboo any form of meat. Human things such as bread, chocolate, candy, dairy, and everything should not be given to rabbits. Don’t feed your bunny iceberg lettuce, which can kill them by causing diarrhea and upsetting their digestive system. Instead, feed them Romaine, preferably organic Romaine. You can also allow your rabbit to eat grass that has not been sprayed with herbicides or pesticides.
- Keep your rabbit Healthy.
Your primary focus when you keep a rabbit as a pet must be that you should try to keep them healthy in all cases possible. Following are some tips that will help you do the same.
- Keep the cage of your bunny clean and at least attempt to wash at least twice a week with hot, soapy water and rinse it thoroughly. On the other hand, the litter box must be changed daily and disinfected at least once a week.
- Keep at least two litter boxes on hand to replace a dirty one with a clean one.
- Try to keep the optimum temperature for your rabbit that too in between 61 to 72F. The most probable sign of overheating for a rabbit would be the ears as they tend to get red, which can be concluded as a sign of overheating.
- Always brush your bunny, as bathing is totally out of the picture unless and until they get filthy and need to get clean.
- Take your rabbit to a veterinarian at least once a year to ensure they are healthy.
Conclusion:
Getting a pet, whether as big as a dog or as small as a rabbit, requires much research and care. However, due to their small size and cuteness, many people think rabbits are easy to take care of. However, it is not valid, as rabbits also require a lot of care and love to be nurtured and stay healthy. So do, rearm yourself with all the information with intensive research before choosing any pet.
