What You Should Know About Adopting a Rabbit

Guest article by Ashley.

Rabbits make wonderful pets. They’re soft, cuddly, and absolutely adorable. Around Easter time each year, you’ll notice a huge jump in rabbit sales. Bunnies are a symbol of the holiday, and breeders use this to their advantage, marketing rabbits toward parents of small children. Unfortunately, many of these rabbits end up in shelters or rescue centers because the owners didn’t know how to handle them, or the novelty wore off for their children.

Before you’re drawn in by those big beautiful eyes and large floppy ears, make sure that you are prepared. Pets are for life, not something to be picked up on impulse and later tossed away. Caring for rabbits, especially those that have been neglected or abused, is more difficult than you may think.

First of all, even if you’ve been told that the rabbit that you adopt has been allowed to have free roam of its home and is litter box trained, this does not mean that your new bunny buddy will use a litter box immediately upon arriving in your home. Rabbits can be litter trained, certainly, but it’s a fairly involved process that centers around careful placement of the litter box. You will likely have to start the training process again from square one.

A lot of people consider rabbits to be good first pets for children. They seem tame and calm, incapable of causing harm. It’s important to note, however, that rabbits can display aggressive territorial behaviors when not properly trained. When frightened, rabbits will also kick out with their powerful hind legs, and the scratches resulting from those kicks can be very painful.

Aggressive shows of behavior don’t mean that your bunny is “bad” or “mean”. It’s likely that your new friend has not been properly trained, and hasn’t been shown affection and love. Be patient. You’ll have to prove to your new friend that you can be trusted.

Even if you plan on allowing your rabbit to roam free in your house, it’s important that you begin with a cage. Keep your bunny in its cage until it is comfortable with its new surroundings, and with each member of your family. This helps prevent aggression related to territorial issues.

It’s also essential to “rabbit-proof” your home. Bunnies are natural chewers, and will chew on most anything, including furniture, curtains, clothing, and carpeting. Keep your rabbit distracted with toys that it can chew on and give it lots of love and attention. Rabbits will also chew on exposed wires. This is very dangerous, both for your bunny and your house, as it poses a fire hazard. Wrapping loose cords in a cord saver or electrical tape will help keep everyone safe.

If you catch your bunny chewing, never hit or yell at him. The only thing this teaches your rabbit is to fear you. Instead, offer alternatives to the bad behavior, and use positive reinforcement in the form of treats or praise.

If you’re looking for a cuddly, loving, and cute new pet, rabbits are just the ticket. If you care for your rabbit properly, have realistic expectations, are are patient and kind, your new bunny buddy will bring joy into your life for many years.

“A great many people now reading and writing would be better employed in keeping rabbits”. ~ Dame Edith Sitwell