Rabbits make great house pets for people of all ages. They come in a variety of sizes from dwarf to giant Flemish and colors. They are intelligent, friendly and have personalities.
Rabbits are prey animals and are always on alert for predators. Because of this, transition to a new home can be scary for your new rabbit at first. For the first three days, give the rabbit a chance to get used to their surroundings. Set up their cage in a quiet, low-traffic area. Talk quietly to the rabbit and pet them gently but refrain from picking up just yet. Offer your rabbit treats, this will make them come to you and become more comfortable around you. This will allow you to gain their trust to begin picking up your rabbit and allowing it playtime outside the cage.
They are social animals and require daily interaction and playtime with their owners.
Lifespan
Average lifespan for rabbits is 7-10 years old. They reach sexual maturity at 4-6 months old and can begin reproducing at that time. Sexing rabbits can be difficult at a very young age until they are about 3 months of age.
Enclosure
Rabbits require a large housing area to stay happy and healthy. They should be kept as primarily indoor pets with some monitored outside time. Outside, your rabbit is vulnerable to predators, disease, and extreme temperatures.
Smaller breeds of rabbits, i.e. under 7 pounds, require a minimum enclosure size of 18″x24″. Medium-sized rabbits, i.e. 7-12 pounds, require enclosure size of 30″x36″. For giant breeds of rabbits, i.e. greater than 12 pounds, require a minimum of 36″x48″ enclosure space. Remember this is the minimum requirement for a single rabbit, more space is required for multiple rabbits. If you are uncertain about the correct size of enclosure for your rabbit, ensure your rabbit is able to hop 4 full hops in each direction of the cage and able to fully stand up on their hind legs without touching the top of the cage.
Avoid wire mesh bottoms for cages because your rabbit can get their foot caught in the wires and possibly break their foot and/or the wire mesh can irritate the bottom of their foot pads. Solid floor bottoms are preferred and can be covered with unscented pelleted or shredded paper bedding with some fleece material. Avoid cedar or pine shavings for bedding for your rabbit. They can sometime cause upper respiratory infection or irritation to their lungs.
Soiled bedding and/or litterbox should be removed or cleaned daily. Clean cages completely once a week with soap and water or a 1:10 ratio of dilute bleach solution. Always rinse the soap or dilute bleach solution off thoroughly from the cage.
Your rabbit also needs a designated exercise area. This can be puppy play pens, open roaming around the house in a secure and safe area, or commercially available rabbit exercise pens. The height of the pen should be 4 feet for small-medium breeds and taller for larger/giant breeds. Make sure there is non-slip flooring available in the play area. Never leave your rabbit unsupervised if roaming around the house and especially with other pets (dogs or cats) in the household.
Supplies needed to include in the enclosure is a hanging water bottle, ceramic food dish, a litterbox (if trained), and a hay rack. There should also be at least one area for your rabbit to hide in – it can be as simple as a cardboard box or a rabbit house.
Temperature
Rabbits are susceptible to heatstroke, so environmental temperatures should be kept between 60-70’F. Humidity is not required for your rabbit’s proper care and should be avoided unless directed by a veterinarian. Keep your rabbit’s enclosure in a quiet, dry and well-ventilated area.
Toys/Enrichment
Rabbits do enjoy playing with a variety of toys and chewing materials. Items that they can chew on, move around/throw around, and make noise tend to be their favorites. Toys can include: untreated wooden blocks, branches, toilet paper roll, balls, baby toys, etc. Avoid electrical chords and wooden furniture as rabbits do like to chew and they can cause some pretty good damage with their teeth. Rabbits need 3-5 hours a day of exercise and/or playtime.
Litterbox Training
Rabbits can be litterbox trained, which can make cage cleaning much easier. Please go to the following link for more information about correct type of litterbox and tips and tricks for litterbox training for your rabbit. Use rabbit-safe litter only such as paper or wood pellets. Avoid pine shavings, clay, and scented litters. Too much dust from litter can predispose your rabbit to upper respiratory infections and rabbits could ingest the litter, causing an intestinal blockage.
Diet
Rabbits have a fairly complex digestive system that requires a nutrient-dense diet which contains a lot of bulk roughage. A healthy rabbits diet includes:
- Timothy or Orchard Grass Hay – 80% of your rabbits diet should be hay. It should be offered/available 24 hours a day as free choice.
- Pelleted feed such as Oxbow brand for rabbits – Ensure pellets are grass hay and do not contain alfalfa. Feed 1/4 cup up to 1/2 cup daily for 5-10# rabbits.
- Vegetables and fruits – 1/2 cup up to 1 cup daily of leafy greens should be offered to your rabbit. Remove uneaten fresh food after 3-4 hours of it being offered.
- Treats – Oxbow treats with multivitamins are recommended. Additional treats include carrots and bell peppers. Feed treats occasionally, such as 2-3 x weekly.
Avoid alfalfa or clover hays in adult rabbits as these hays are too rich in protein and calcium. Never give your rabbit straw. Hay can be contained in a hay rack, box or basket. Rabbits will not eat hay that has been soiled.
Pellets can be offered to your rabbit in a glass or ceramic bowl. Avoid pellets that contain nuts, seeds, or corn. Most pelleted feed must be used up within 90 days of the manufacturer’s date. Dwarfs and smaller rabbits eat about 1/8 cup of pelleted feed daily, 5-7# rabbits eat 1/4 cup daily, 8-10# rabbits eat 1/2 cup daily, and 11-15# rabbits eat 3/4 cup daily.
Recommended vegetables for rabbits are: spinach, mustard greens, cilantro, kale, romaine lettuce, carrot green tops, cucumbers, turnip/radish greens, basil, parsley. Recommended fruits for rabbits include: bananas, peaches, apples, papayas, strawberries, raspberries, melons, and pears. Feeding carrots should be a 2-3 x week treat because it can change the color of their urine. Ensure all vegetables and fruits are organic or washed thoroughly to remove any pesticides. Always introduce new fruits and vegetables slowly to your rabbit. Your rabbit’s stools may become soft and runny, i.e. diarrhea, if being feed too much vegetables and fruits. To resolve the diarrhea, cut back on the vegetables and fruits.
Multivitamins are best absorbed in rabbits if they come in solid treat form. Multivitamins that are placed in water dissolve too quickly and are not absorbed appropriately. Oxbow has a great line of multivitamin treats for herbivores that rabbits love the taste of.
Cecotropes
Rabbits will eat their own droppings, specifically the cecotropes, to help aide with their digestion and appropriate nutrition absorption. Cecotropes are nutrient-filled material created in the gastrointestinal tract of rabbits to help rabbits get more nutrition out of their food. When rabbits ingest food, the first time through the gastro-intestinal tract, small particles of fiber are moved into the cecum where the microbes ferment them. This creates useable nutrients for rabbits who them expel them and re-ingest to completely absorb the second time through the gastro-intestinal tract.
Water
Rabbits need access to fresh water daily. Provide water in either a sipper water bottle or ceramic bowl, rabbits can be trained to use either. Wash the water container daily. If your rabbit is eating a lot of greens, please remember they obtain some of their water intake from eating their greens.
Companions/Bonding Pairs
Most rabbits are happiest with a rabbit companion. New rabbits should never be houses together immediately as they can become aggressive with each other cause injuries. The bonding process between two new rabbits is slow and can take a few weeks. It is best to try to bond rabbits that have been spayed/neutered. We recommend researching and watching Youtube videos about bonding rabbits before attempting. Please see the following link for more information.
Grooming
Rabbits shed their fur 4 times a year, every 4ish months. They need to be brushed one to two times per week if the short haired variety. If their hair coat is longer, they need to be brushed daily to prevent matting. Rabbits are naturally clean animals and groom themselves daily. Avoid giving very young or new rabbits a bath as the shock from it can cause cardiac arrest. Instead use unscented baby wipes or a wet wash cloth if needed. Ensure your rabbit is completely dry before exposing them outdoor temperatures.
Rabbits will need their nails trimmed every 4-6 weeks and avoid the quick of the nail or they may bleed. To stop bleeding, apply corn starch or flour to the bleeding quick and hold pressure for 2-3 minutes.
Resources:
The House Rabbit Handbook: How to Live With an Urban Rabbit by Marinell Harriman
“How to Take Care of a Pet Rabbit” videos by Amy Sedaris and Mary E. Cotter, Ed.D., LVT
The Language of Lagomorphs: Your Guide to Rabbit Communication
The Bunny Lover’s Complete Guide To House Rabbits: The Ultimate Handbook for Successfully Living Indoors with a Pet Rabbit by “The Bunny Guy”