Rabbit Care

Rabbits are gentle, quiet animals that make excellent pets. They have dynamic personalities and enjoy human interaction. The more time you spend with your rabbit, the more friendly and bonded they will become.

GUIDELINES FOR RABBIT CARE

  • Take your rabbit to your vet to get a check up and to get it spayed or neutered.
  • Always support your rabbit’s hindquarters when picking it up. They can hurt themselves if their powerful rear legs kick while being handled.
  • Always supervise children playing with rabbits.
  • Rabbits can be trained to wear a harness and leash and to use a litter box.
  • Provide a stimulating environment with toys. Be careful as rabbits like to chew items such as furniture and electrical cords. Guard your house when they are allowed to roam. Cord coating is inexpensive and can be found at hardware stores.
  • Always provide fresh drinking water.
  • Rabbits should eat 75%-80% hay. Give them fresh hay three to four times daily.
  • They also need two to three cups of vegetables and fruit throughout the day. Some good choices include fresh papaya, apples, watermelon, mango, carrots, romaine lettuce, parsley, and cilantro.
  • Never feed rabbits corn, potatoes or iceberg lettuce.
  • Rabbits live longer, healthier, far happier lives if they live inside.
  • Set up a hutch, cage, or bunny-proof room when you are not home, but make sure your rabbit has several hours of play time each day outside of its cage. No creature likes to be caged all the time and to do so is cruel.
  • Clean your rabbit’s cage at least once a week.
  • Keep your rabbit’s toenails trimmed and its fur free of mats and feces.
  • Brush your rabbit frequently to prevent hairballs.
  • Lastly, like most creatures, rabbits enjoy companionship from their own kind. Consider having more than just one rabbit. And always remember to adopt, not buy, your next rabbit!
  • Please note, articles in the Animal Resource Library are for reference only, and are not meant to diagnose or treat any medical or behavioral issues your pet may be experiencing.