Rabbits are becoming a more popular pet, especially this time of year. Kids become fascinated with the Easter Bunny, so it is only natural for parents to make their day on Easter Sunday by giving them an actual pet rabbit as a gift.
Is a Rabbit a Good Pet for Your Family?
Before you give in to impulse, you need to make sure you are in fact ready for the commitment a rabbit calls for. Much like most cats and dogs, rabbits have a very long lifespan, so the new furry creature running around the house is going to be there for some time.
The rabbit is going to require visits to the vet, daily care, food, and yes, playtime. While you don’t have to necessarily worry about taking the rabbit out for a walk, it will need space to exercise. And, keep in mind, rabbits can jump quite high, so just letting the rabbit out in a low-fenced backyard might not be the wisest move. You may have to actually erect a pen for the rabbit to enjoy its time outside so you do not risk losing the pet.
What Can a Rabbit Eat?
Rabbits require a diet that is very high in fiber and low in sugar. That being the case, you are going to want to avoid giving your pet rabbit any of that delicious raw honey we always talk about. You will also want to avoid giving it any processed food. In addition to those items, there are some items you might think would be okay but are actually very dangerous for rabbits. These foods include:
- Avocado
- Biscuits
- Bread
- Chips
- Chocolate
- Potatoes
- Rice
There are additional items you may have growing in your backyard garden that can harm a rabbit. While a wild rabbit instinctually knows to avoid these plants, a domestic rabbit may get curious having only a limited area to explore. Some of these foods are:
- Apple seeds
- Almonds
- Tomato (all parts of the plant and fruit)
- Onions
- Wild carrots
- Wild cucumbers
- Rhubarb
For a full list of foods that are harmful to rabbits, you can check the Victoria State Government website.
Housing a Rabbit
As we mentioned above, you will need some type of pen outside for your rabbit to roam the grounds and even protect your garden. In addition, you should have a cage inside to house the rabbit unless you want the bunny roaming freely night and day. If you have other pets, you will more than likely want to keep them separated when you are not home for fear of coming home to a house that looks like WWIII just happened.
Photo Courtesy of Anna via Creative Commons License
Your rabbit needs more space or a part of your garden. I personally keep my rabbits in a shed and they have: a 2 floored hutch, hidyhouse, logs, ramps, den, litter tray, hanging hay bale and benches. I keep them in there for winter and most days. However, When it gets hot (around late spring, summer and early autumn), i put them in my outdoor run that has a built-in hutch and 3 meters by 2 meters run which is basically a large part of grass with a mesh fence and roof. Your rabbit has a tiny carpeted piece of your house and a tiny cage. It also has a very dangerous drop down some stair and ,if it falls from the edge, it will probably badly injure itself or break a bone. Please get a safer bigger area that is better for your rabbit, THANK YOU!
Hello Xavi – Thank you for your concern. This is not our personal rabbit in our possession. This is a generic photo of a rabbit, and an article written by our marketing staff. I completely agree with your comment. I have a friend who has a rabbit, and that rabbit is cared for exactly the way you described. We love animals as much as you do… 🙂