Read this BEFORE You get a Real Easter Bunny

Many people get rabbits for Easter every year only to find that bunnies are not what they expected. Not only are they active animals that need lots of time to run and exercise, but they also have some destructive tendencies and some high-maintenance care needs. If you’re not prepared, you might quickly start to feel overwhelmed caring for your new rabbit.

In general, I try to discourage people from getting real rabbits as Easter bunnies. Most of the time, it’s an impulse purchase and does not turn out best for either your or you new little rabbit.

That being said, I fully believe rabbits are excellent pets. They can be great companions and family pets, just like cats and dogs are. If you are willing to take the time to learn about rabbit care, there is no reason you can’t go and adopt your new Easter bunny.

This article is meant to be a starting point for your research to know if a rabbit is really the right pet for you. Check out these links for more information before you decide to bring home an bunny for Easter this year:

• Pros and Cons of Having a Rabbit
• Are Rabbit High-Maintenance Pets?
• What is a Healthy Rabbit Diet? and How Is a Baby Rabbit Diet Different?
• How much Space to Rabbits Need?
• Rabbit-proofing for House Rabbits
• Why Rabbits Need to be Spayed or Neutered
• Litter Training Tips for Rabbits
• How to Understand Rabbit Behavior
• How to Befriend a Rabbit
• Why Rabbits are Not Good Pets for Children
• How to Know if a Rabbit is Sick
• 20 Things to Know Before Adopting a Rabbit
• What to Expect When Adopting a Rabbit

If you’ve decided that you’re ready to get a rabbit, I highly encourage you to check your local animal shelter or rescue organization and adopt a rabbit. As my regular readers know, I have been working with rescue rabbits for almost 10 years now, and I can say that they are often incredibly sweet and ready to go to a loving home. We also get a variety of popular and adorable rabbit breeds.

Rabbits at shelters will also be already spayed or neutered in most cases, so that’s an extra expense you won’t have to worry about. Please consider adopting!

Bunny Basics: What to know before you get a rabbit

Rabbits are not low maintenance pets. While they’re not as difficult to care for as a horse, for example, but you should expect to give them about the same amount of care that a pet dog requires. For more detailed information on each of these categories, check out my in-depth article on beginner rabbit care.

1. Enclosure size

Rabbits need a lot more space than you might expect. Their enclosure should be large enough for the rabbit to hop three times across the length. It should also be wide enough for your rabbit to lay down along the length and tall enough for your rabbit to stand up without hitting their head. For an average-sized 5 pound rabbit, you will want a space that is at least 8 square feet.

Instead of getting a small cage that’s marketed toward rabbits, I recommend using a pet playpen as your rabbit’s enclosure. Not only is this larger, but it’s also easier to clean and cheaper than most other options. Check out the current price on Amazon.

2. Diet

Unlike cats and dogs, rabbits can’t be given a bowl of dry food every day and expect to remain healthy. In fact, dry food pellets should only take up a small portion of a rabbit’s daily diet. Rabbits have a very sensitive digestive system, so if their diet isn’t correct, they have a high chance of getting ill.

The main parts of a rabbit diet include:

• Hay: Hay should make up the majority of your rabbit’s daily food. Timothy hay, in particular, is great for rabbits because of the high fiber content. If you’re looking for a place to find high-quality hay for your rabbit, I recommend an online store called Small Pet Select. Rabbits go through a lot of hay, so I like to get a large box so it can last me a while.  (Use the code ‘BUNNYLADY’ at checkout to get 15% off your first order)
• Fresh greens: Rabbits also need 1-2 cups of fresh leafy greens daily. Plants such as parsley, cilantro, kale, arugula, etc., are good options for your rabbit. Give them multiple options to help them get various vitamins and nutrients in their diet.
• Pellets: Rabbits only need about ¼ cup of pellets every day. It’s a small amount that they’ll probably gobble up very quickly, leaving an empty bowl. That’s okay; they’ll still have all that hay to eat! If you’re looking for a healthy brand of pellets, I recommend Oxbow pellets. They are a well-respected company for small animal care, and you can even find their products in most pet stores.
• Water: You’ll want to give your rabbit water in a bowl instead of a bottle. This is a more natural way for rabbits to drink and promotes better hydration.

Treats should only be given to rabbits in minimal amounts. Fruits and vegetables such as carrots, strawberries, bananas, bell peppers, etc., are delicious for rabbits. However, too many will cause an unbalanced gut, so stick to only about 1 tablespoon worth of treats per day.

3. Rabbit-proofing

Pet rabbits are very good at getting into trouble. Just like you would need to child-proof your home when you have a toddler running around, you need to take the time to rabbit-proof your home for your new bunny. Learn why it’s best to keep rabbits as indoor pets.

The main areas you need to focus on are:

• Covering wires: Rabbits like to snip through wires with their strong teeth. Keep the wires out of your rabbit’s reach, or cover them with split loom wire tubing to keep your rabbit and wires safe.
• Covering carpeted flooring: Many rabbits, especially females, like to dig into carpeted floors. Cover corners and problem areas with cheap area rugs or plastic mats to prevent your rabbit from destroying your carpet.
• Covering baseboards: Baseboards and furniture legs are often targeted as chew toys for rabbits because they are right at your rabbit’s level. Cover them with fencing or cat scratcher mats to prevent your rabbit from chewing on them.
• Keeping your rabbit away from dangerous objects: Make sure any space heaters, fans, houseplants, and other objects are moved out of your rabbit’s reach.

4. Socialization (gaining a rabbit’s trust)

Rabbits are incredibly social animals. They come from a species that live among large family groups in tunnels underground. While rabbits are skittish to begin with, they will learn to love all the attention you can give them with a bit of patience.

Once they warm up to you, they will love spending all day by your side, just like a companion animal. Without enough daily interaction, rabbits run the risk of becoming bored and depressed. These rabbits are more likely to be destructive around the home or develop health problems related to depression.

5. Rabbits need to be spayed or neutered

It’s vital to get your rabbit spayed or neutered as soon as possible. This will prevent potentially fatal health issues that are common in rabbits who have not been altered. Female rabbits, in particular, have an incredibly high chance of developing uterine cancer if they have not been spayed. It’s best to get the surgery done before they are 2 years old to reduce the chances of developing cancer.

Getting your rabbit fixed also tends to help with many behavioral problems that begin as rabbits reach maturity. They’ll get aggressive and start spraying urine around the home to claim their territory. Schedule an appointment with a rabbit veterinarian to get your bunny fixed and fix these behavior problems.

7. Rabbits are not good pets for children

Believe it or not, rabbits are not great pets for children. They are usually not very cuddly, especially after their baby days are over, which can be difficult for children to understand. Rabbits also have a delicate bone structure and are easily injured if they are mishandled. On the other end of that, rabbits also have strong jaws and sharp nails that can harm a child if they are left unsupervised.

This is not to say that children and rabbits absolutely should not mix. I think rabbits can make great family pets. However, as the adult, you need to take on the responsibility of caring for the pet rabbit and supervising interactions between children and rabbits.

Sources

1. Carneiro, Miguel, et. al. “Rabbit genome analysis reveals a polygenic basis for phenotypic change during domestication.” Science. August 29, 2014. https://science.sciencemag.org/content/345/6200/1074.full.
2. Daly, Natasha. “Here’s why Easter Is bad for bunnies.” National Geographic. April 2017. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/article/rabbits-easter-animal-welfare-pets-rescue-bunnies.
3. “Researchers Observe Striking Differences Between Brains of Wild, Domestic Rabbits.” Texas A&M University. June 26, 2018. https://vetmed.tamu.edu/news/press-releases/researchers-observe-striking-differences-between-brains-of-wild-domesticated-rabbits/

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