Rabbits - An Introduction
So you have a new rabbit, or are looking at welcoming a rabbit into your family. Doing your research first/early on - before welcoming a bun into your family, is wise and sensible because rabbits are complex creatures who are often difficult to manage and are potentially very expensive to keep.
Whilst a rabbit may be seen as a ‘cheap/affordable’ pet because they don’t cost a lot to buy, this is far from the truth. For example -vaccinations and desexing; which are both essential, are rarely mentioned by pet shops and many breeders.
Unfortunately these same pet shops and breeders also sell same sex pairs to unsuspecting customers who (very admirably) want to avoid unwanted litters. Sadly, this approach - whilst avoiding one problem, creates another. Same sex pairs are not to be recommended as even when desexed the rabbits; once they mature, will start fighting often with horrendous outcomes - a dead or seriously injured rabbit/s, huge vet bills and two rabbits which are no longer bonded and cannot live together safely.
Rabbit husbandry can also be challenging and the death rate of young rabbits is high due to lack of education, knowledge and appropriate care. This is why we always recommend adopting a bonded and desexed adult Male/Female pair if you are a first time rabbit owner.
Illness is another area that can be very difficult to understand for a new rabbit owner. Rabbits are quite fragile and are also a prey animal so they will not let you see that they are sick. By the time it is noticed that the rabbit is unwell, it is a serious emergency. You can’t wait and see how it is in the morning, it needs veterinary care ASAP and this is often after hours.
Rabbits are not suitable as a first pet for a child - unless the parents are prepared to be 'in charge' and completely responsible for the day to day care of the rabbit. Contrary to popular belief rabbits do not like to be picked up, cuddled or carried around - which of course is what most kids want to do with them. We've had feedback from folk that were considering a rabbit for their child’s first pet who have instead welcomed Guinea Pigs into their family with great success, after discussing the pros and cons of both in the group. Have a read of ‘Rabbits and Children’ for more info about this.
‘The Real Cost of Being Owned by a Rabbit’ is the best place to start to gain an understanding of just what it takes to care for a rabbit/s properly. The next section you should look at is Housing Guidelines, which will help you appreciate the kind of housing and space that a rabbit requires. This is VERY different to that which most people commonly think is acceptable. In fact, rabbits need as much room as a dog in order to be happy and healthy.
... so grab a cuppa and have a read of and view the following...
Copyright Jen Herd/Westley's World 2020
It’s an important question because there are a lot of myths about what rabbits are like as pets, so it’s important to know what’s involved. But it’s just as important to think about the following question…
Think you want a rabbit?Think you want a rabbit? - RWAF
How do you build a relationship with your rabbit? Won’t it just happen, like with a puppy or kitten?
How to bond with your Rabbit - House Rabbit Society
This video demonstrates some really good handling technique and is perfect for new rabbit owners.
Rabbits bring enormous joy into our lives and we wish you many
years of happiness together. This guide will help answer any
questions you have about settling your rabbits into your home,
and how best to care for them.
SPCA Rabbit Care Guide (NZ)
Rabbits can make wonderful pets – so long as you keep
them in the right way! Watching rabbits running, jumping,
playing, grooming each other and just being all-round
joyful creatures is a real delight. But they must be looked
after properly: rabbits are hugely misunderstood pets and
thousands suffer from neglect through lack
of knowledge of their needs as a species.
The RWAF guide to rabbit care