Rabbits are cuddly, fluffy animals and the most adorable little bundles of joy ever, and they can make perfect pets if you know how to care for them properly. Learning about this highly intelligent and affectionate creature will help ensure a long and healthy life.
Steps
Step 1. Ensure your rabbit is on a proper diet
Must receive unlimited amounts of timothy hay, a variety of fresh vegetables, and plenty of water. You can supplement her daily diet with timothy pellets, but in very small quantities, as timothy hay is her primary source of nutrition and fiber, and too much pellets could contribute to obesity.
-
The pellet it is made of hay and you can find it in all pet shops. Rabbits under the age of seven months should be fed alfalfa pellets; older rabbits should be fed timothy pellets.
Raise a Healthy Bunny Step 1Bullet1 -
The hay it is an important part of the rabbit's diet and should be available at all times. Alfalfa, as already mentioned, is only recommended for rabbits under the age of seven months; timothy pellets or hay are more suitable.
Raise a Healthy Bunny Step 1Bullet2 -
Fresh vegetables it should be regularly present in your rabbit's diet. The most suitable are basil, Chinese cabbage, the green part of carrots (carrots themselves are sugary and should be given infrequently), romaine lettuce (not iceberg), broccoli, asparagus, and parsley (Italian) with flat leaf. You can also feed it with cilantro and many other vegetables.
Raise a Healthy Bunny Step 1Bullet3 -
The water it must be clean and abundant and changed every day. Some recommend attaching a water bottle to the rabbit's enclosure, but a heavy ceramic or steel bowl is better, as it allows him to freely consume large amounts of water and avoid mouth ulcers that can form by always using a bottle.
Raise a Healthy Bunny Step 1Bullet4
Step 2. Determine where the rabbit will live
Rabbits can live in cages, mesh enclosures, or let loose indoors (as long as your home is rabbit-proof). Many people leave rabbits in outdoor cages, but it is not recommended, as they are very social animals and require regular interaction with the family; they would also be exposed to dangerous weather conditions and predators (such as cats).
-
Give him a safe zone as his "base". A place of his own is a unique place for your rabbit, where he can relax and take refuge when he wants to spend some time alone. A “shelter” can be a cage or, if the rabbit lives in an enclosure, a cardboard box with two openings. Do not disturb him when he is in his den and do not force him to stay outside, let him free to move as he wants. Create a cover for her shelter, as rabbits feel safe under things. If you see that your rabbit is lying on his stomach with his feet apart at the back, it means that he is completely happy and relaxed.
Raise a Healthy Bunny Step 2Bullet1 -
You can allow your rabbit to roam the house, even with other pets and small children, as long as he is supervised. For his safety, you should confine him to a room at night, when everyone is asleep, although it is not necessary to lock him all night. Many bunnies sleep under the bed or in their own enclosure at night, but they are also partially nocturnal animals, which is why they need to be confined to one area when they cannot be supervised.
Raise a Healthy Bunny Step 2Bullet2 -
The more time the rabbit spends in its cage, the larger it should be. Bigger rabbits, of course, need a bigger enclosure. It should be large enough to allow him to run and jump. There should be space for food and water containers, a litter box, and some toys. Most commercially available rabbit cages are too small for most rabbits.
Raise a Healthy Bunny Step 2Bullet3 -
If your pet shop does not have the appropriate size cages, a large dog pen is a good alternative.
Raise a Healthy Bunny Step 2Bullet4
Step 3. Allow your rabbit to get plenty of physical activity
Letting him roam free in a rabbit-proof room during the day works very well if you have trained him in the use of the litter box. Provide him with toys to chew on and explore, and other games suitable for him to keep him busy and away from your baseboards.
Step 4. Ensure proper medical care
Make sure he always has regular check-ups about every six months from a vet who specializes in treating rabbits. Not all vets have experience with rabbits, so do your research before you get one, and do it well before you get sick.
Step 5. Take adequate measures to avoid reproduction
You should spay / neuter your rabbit at around six to nine months. If you are not an experienced breeder, there is no reason not to neuter / sterilize him, other than the fact that it greatly improves his health and temperament. In fact, a female who is not spayed is very likely to develop cancers of the reproductive system in the course of her life. Furthermore, the two sexes mark their territory with urine if they are not "sedated".
Step 6. Prepare for a long life for your pet
With proper care, rabbits can live up to ten or twelve years of age. Don't buy a rabbit, adopt it from a local shelter or farm instead. The rabbit is more than a pet, it is a member of the family. Knowing how to care for them properly is the best gift you can give them.
Advice
- Don't give your rabbit too many water-based treats, as they are bad for his digestive system.
- The rabbit's nails grow fast. Make sure you cut them once a week or as needed. This avoids the formation of fungi or diseases.
- Rabbits don't like too much noise, so avoid loud sounds, such as dogs barking, bands playing, or any other loud noise / distraction.
- Rabbits are very social animals and most of them are fine with a mate (rabbits that are not of the same litter tend to get along better with rabbits of the opposite sex, but there are exceptions). Again, make sure they are spayed and neutered!
- Rabbits are incredibly easy to train for the use of the litter box, especially if they are young and spayed / neutered. They drain naturally as they eat, so provide them with a large cat litter lined with newspaper and filled with Timothy hay or garden grass and they practically get used to it on their own. You may notice raisin-like balls left around the area where they roam freely; in this way they mark their territory. When they have settled down (and have “perfumed” the whole room by rubbing with their chins) they should moderate and stop.
- If the rabbit licks you, it means he likes you!
- Carrots are not very healthy. You should only give it a little every now and then, not every day.
Warnings
- If the rabbits live in an area where there are electrical cables connected, unplug them or move the rabbits. These rodents have a fondness for chewing on leads, and one bite could kill them. Another option is to cover the wires with PVC tubing or a flexible plastic spool, available at some electronics stores and rabbit supply websites.
- Do your research before (and after) buying a rabbit!
- Don't make it fat! Think about how bad it is for humans to gain weight; it's much worse for bunnies. Ask the vet how many health problems arise in an obese rabbit - they are the nightmare of rabbit enthusiasts! Proper diet and exercise are important factors in keeping your pet in top shape.
