Contents

How To Care For A Pet Rabbit

Owen Jones

Introduction

Table of Contents

1. Rabbits: Pro’s and Con’s

1 2. Things to Ponder Before Acquiring a Rabbit

2 3.Choosing a Pet Rabbit That's Right For You

3 4. Adopting A Rabbit

4 5. Neutering and Spaying

5 6. A Rabbit's Home is Its Hutch

6 7. Is It Rabbit Food?

7 8. How to Pick Up and Hold a Rabbit

8 9. What is Stress in Rabbits?

9 10. Tonic Immobility in Rabbits

10 11. Rabbit Illnesses

11 12.Dangerous and Poisonous Plants

12 13 The Most Popular Pure-bred Breeds of Rabbit

13 14. Training, Exercise, and Toys

14 15. Rabbit Accommodation 101

15 16. Caring for Your Rabbit

16 17 How to Pet a Rabbit

17 18. The Traits of Rabbit People

How To Care For A Pet Rabbit

Cute little bunnies make fantastic pets!

by

Owen Jones

Published by:

Megan Publishing Service

https://meganthemiscnception.com

Copyright Owen Jones September, 2022 ©

Introduction

Hello, and thank you for your interest in this book on how to take care of domestic rabbits. It has been designed and written to help you to choose whether a rabbit will be the right pet for you, and to help you look after it once you get it home.

It is said, and I have found it to be true, that rabbits are about as intelligent as your average cat or dog. They live approximately the same length of time too, but are less demanding and easier to feed. In fact, they are ideal for people who can’t get out much, or don’t want to keep meat in the fridge or even in the house, as they are one hundred percent vegetarian!

If you don’t know much about rabbits, you could be forgiven for thinking that a rabbit is a rabbit, is a rabbit, but in fact, there are 370 classes of rabbit (according to UK and USA rabbit organisations) and they come from 70 different countries. So, there is plenty of scope in size and colour. Not only that, but owners will tell you that each rabbit has its own distinctive personality, much like a cat or a dog. However, in general, we could say that rabbits are docile, placid and friendly, and don’t appreciate rough handling or play.

Rabbits are also the third most popular pet in the UK and the fourth in the USA, but third most popular with all age groups of twelve and above. So, you are in good company.

Why not dive right in and learn some more!

Best wishes,

Owen Jones

Table of Contents

1. Rabbits: Pro’s and Con’s

2. Things to Ponder Before Acquiring a Rabbit

3. Choosing a Pet Rabbit That’s Right For You

4. Adopting a Rabbit

5. Neutering and Spaying

6. A Rabbit’s Home Is Its Hutch

7. Is It Rabbit Food?

8. How to Pick Up and Hold a Rabbit

9. What is Stress in Rabbits?

10. Tonic Immobility in Rabbits

11. Rabbit Illnesses

12.Dangerous and Poisonous Plants

13. The Most Popular Pure-bred Breeds of Rabbit

14 Training, Exercise, and Toys

15 Rabbit Accommodation 101

16 Caring for Your Rabbit

17 How to Pet a Rabbit

18 The Traits of Rabbit People

1. Rabbits: Pro’s and Con’s

If you are looking for a pet, then it is reasonable to consider a rabbit. I did some research and discovered that rabbits are:

● * the third most popular pet in the UK

● * the fourth most popular pet in the USA

● * the second most popular pet with teens

● * the fourth most popular pet with singles

● * the third most popular pet with seniors

They don’t rank in the top ten in the world as a whole, and in Europe they come about fourth in the ‘small mammal’ group. Still, if you only take the figures in the list above, rabbits come (3+4+2+4+3)/5 = 3rd. Therefore, it is definitely advisable to consider getting a rabbit if you want a pet because they suit all age groups.

So, what are the pro’s and con’s of having a rabbit for a pet?

1. Rabbits don’t need to be taken for a walk. They get all the exercise they need hopping about your garden or your living room. This obviously suits those with little time, the wheelchair-bound, and those who just don’t get out much. The down side of this, is that the hutch will need to be cleaned out often - perhaps even daily. However, this task can be done from a wheelchair, and rabbits can be trained to use a litter tray, if you have the patience to teach them.

2. Many people say that rabbits are about as intelligent as the average cat or dog, and can learn their names. Furthermore, they often ‘perform tricks’ without being taught.

3. They have a lifespan of about 10-12 years, if treated well, which is comparable to a cat’s or a dog’s. They are herbivores, which basically means vegetarian, so are perfect for those who don’t want meat in their homes, and at a pinch, their food can be collected free from outside.

4. Some people are allergic to rabbit fur, but it doesn’t follow that if you are allergic to cats and dogs, you will have a problem with rabbits.

5. Rabbits are most active roughly at the same time as humans, unlike hamsters and many snakes and reptiles.

6. Rabbits will happily live indoors, but the owner has to be aware of his or her cleaning responsibilities. If they live indoors with you, they will have to have the run of the house or a room sometimes. This means that you will have to make that area escape-proof, and you will probably have to vacuum up the dry pellet droppings they seem to leave everywhere, if they have not been properly house-trained.

7. Rabbits are cheaper to feed than cats or dogs, but you will still have vet’s bills, because there are diseases that they are prone to, and will perhaps need worming regularly.

8. It is fair to say that young children cannot be given the responsibility of owning a rabbit. They will surely love the animals, but rabbits are smallish and should not be carried around like dolls, or pushed, pulled and poked even in fun. Rabbits will nip when threatened, and this could provoke a small child to react in anger. Notice that rabbits do not appear in a list of most popular pets for children.

9. Rabbits come in all sizes and colours, so you will not be restricted in choice. Furthermore, it seems that most countries have a breed peculiar to them, although Belgium and The Netherlands have rather a lot of famous, popular breeds for two such small countries. This means that the outdoor ambient temperature does not have to be a problem, if you take it into account when choosing your rabbit. An ordinary local rabbit is not expensive, so be sure to get one from a reputable source. It could save you money in vet’s bills later on.

10. Rabbits rarely ‘turn nasty’, as a dog or a cat can, and there are very few people who will be wary of your choice of pet. Children adore rabbits, and rabbits can be trusted with even very young children, as long as the children are gentle and not too rowdy. Not that the rabbits will retaliate, but they might get hurt. Rabbits are quiet, peaceful animals, and do not enjoy rough and tumble like dogs do.

It is wise, even imperative to think long and hard before entering into any long-term commitment, and so it is when considering buying a pet that will live for ten or more years. However, if you have decided to get a mammal with a personality, you won’t go far wrong with a rabbit or two, because they are naturally sociable animals, but will get lonely if you cannot devote sufficient time to them.

1 2. Things to Ponder Before Acquiring a Rabbit

Rabbits have been kept as pets in the West since the 19th Century. They can adjust well to indoor life, and can even be litter box trained like cats. However, just as with all pets, rabbits need a considerable amount of care and attention, if they are to live happy lives.

I think that most people who want a pet simply as a pet are not concerned whether it’s a pure breed or a cross. This is surely true for cats and dogs. Pure breeds are more expensive, and the common perception is that crosses are hardier and more intelligent.

I tend to agree with that, but people know more about cats and dogs ‘instinctively’ than they do about rabbits, and so sticking to a breed with all its recognised defects, might be safer. In general, thoroughbred rabbits are cheaper than thoroughbred cats and dogs too. Much cheaper.

So, buying from a local rabbit breeder is generally preferable to having an animal shipped a long distance and subjecting it to stress unnecessarily. A point to note here is that there are rescue rabbits. Especially in larger cities, although I suspect that dealing with a traumatised rabbit is not as ‘easy’ as caring for an animal with behavioural problems  due to abuse that most people are more used to.

While most rabbits can be house trained, and many owners are adamant that their rabbit knows its name, rabbits cannot learn voice commands like a dog, although they do recognize different patterns of the voice. Rabbits are sensitive and know when they are being reprimanded. It is better not to get angry with or shout at a rabbit. They are intelligent, and enjoy playing, although not in the same way as cats and dogs.

Owners frequently bring their pet rabbits indoors, but it is important to first make your home rabbit -proof. Your rabbit, much like a toddler or a puppy, will put most things in its mouth and chew them, including electric cables and expensive furnishings. Furthermore, they are attracted to holes and gaps and will escape if at all possible. Not because they are unhappy, but because they are inquisitive.

And they will not understand being punished for doing what comes naturally.

If you can’t make time for your rabbit on a regular basis, then you will need two of them because they need companionship. Imagine their life in a warren with hundreds of others. That having been said, unneutered rabbits frequently fight when paired with another rabbit of the same gender. Unneutered rabbits of opposite sexes will breed rapidly, so a pet owner should not leave them together, even if they do not fight.

Previously, because of this, it used to be the norm to keep rabbits caged individually. However, it is now more common to spay and neuter pet rabbits allowing male and female rabbits to live together. Fighting can still result, but it is far less common. 

A method that works well, is to adopt a different sex pair that has been desexed and bonded by professionals, since it removes the guesswork and stress from you and the rabbits.

If you already have a dog in the house, it is best to never leave the two alone together, since rabbits form part of a dog’s natural prey, even if your dog ‘is only playing’. They will probably get on fine, but it is up to you to make certain that your dog doesn’t go too far. Cats, however, often form loving friendships with adult rabbits, although a cat may kill and even eat a baby rabbit.

2 3.Choosing a Pet Rabbit That’s Right For You

Rabbits have a great deal to give as pets, but there is such a wide variety of them that how do you know where to begin? I hope that this chapter will help you make up your mind, or at least realise what sort of choice there is out there.

Looking through the books, and searching online for your ideal breed of rabbit can be a lot of fun, since there are currently 370 recognised breeds, and many of these are ‘available in several colours’. What I mean is that with cats and dogs, most breeds should be a certain colour, but it isn’t always like that with rabbits. It is up to you whether size or colour is the more important, but the largest species, the Flemish Giant often weighs 8kg (18lbs). (The longest Flemish Giant on record was Darius at 129cm (4ft 3in)). Whereas the smallest breed is the Netherlands Dwarf, which typically weighs between 500g and 1.2kg (1.1 to 2.5 pounds) and are only 12cm (5”) long. Or perhaps it’s the Columbia Basin Pygmy reputedly weighing less than 450g (a pound) in adulthood, but is very rare.

Despite all this choice, it may be better to see what is available locally, with the proviso that the animal comes from a reputable breeder, dealer, or trusted friend. A good place to start is a rabbit show, or possibly a general pet show. You will see some really stunning rabbits at these shows, but it is worth bearing in mind that the long-haired breeds such as Angoras and Jersey Woollies will require extra grooming. Nevertheless, grooming is a pleasant experience for both owner and rabbit, if you have the time. It is also great for bonding with your pet.

The question next most mulled over is the gender. Rabbits have personalities, and breeds have traits, so we can only speak in generalities on this subject. However, it has often been noted that does can become territorial as they mature, and may develop a tendency to nip in defence of their plot. This unwelcome obsession is greatly reduced by spaying her. Bucks, on the other hand, while not at all aggressive, can be sprayers much like cats and dogs marking out their territory. This is a seasonal problem, but can be eliminated completely by having them neutered. If such procedures are against your principles, then you may have a problem, but not necessarily.

Finally, it must be stressed how much care you should take over buying your rabbit. Pet shops are better than they were, but it is still better to actually visit the rabbit’s breeder. When face to face with the staff, you can inspect the conditions and talk to a real expert about diet, grooming, showing, veterinary procedures, and any other queries that you may have. You will have more choice at a breeders too. A pet shop may only stock three animals, but a breeder will have scores of them.

Choose a lively, inquisitive animal. Ask to see a litter of young rabbits in an open pen, and if you believe in such things, as I do, get down on your haunches and talk to the rabbits.

See which one of the litter chooses you.

3 4. Adopting A Rabbit

If you are not particularly bothered about the breed(ing) or lack of it in your future rabbit, you might like to help the animal kingdom out by adopting a pet. While it is true that some animals from sanctuaries do have problems, it is not always the case. Anyway, if you visit such a home, you will be able to see the rabbits for yourself, make your choice and talk with the handlers there.

You will probably be surprised at the quality and variety of rabbits available for adoption. The reasons why the rabbit is up for adoption are many: the death or sickness of the original owner; loss of interest by children; new employment routine; eviction; and now Covid-19. During lockdown and furlough many people took on a pet to keep them company, only to abandon it when they went back to work.

There are pure breeds up for adoption, but they tend to go quickly, leaving the mixed breeds behind. However, just as with cats and dogs, that should not put an animal-lover off. The mixed breeds or mongrels often have a special appeal all of their own. Their colour might not be uniform or their ears might not point in the right direction, but they are still loveable.

All things taken into account, the best approach to take is to go down to the shelter and mix in with the rabbits and their handlers. You ought to have two rabbits in your household, and very often the shelter will have inoculated, neutered and introduced pairs ready to go. This will save you a lot of fuss, anxiety and training. The choice can be astounding, because rabbits are abandoned or given up for adoption more than any other animal except cats and dogs.

You can even help a shelter that is pushed for space and volunteer staff by offering foster care for rabbits. Often, shelters and rescue organisations can match an owner with a rabbit, because they know their foster rabbits as individuals.

In other cases, like the UK’s RSPCA (Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals), or the PDSA (People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals), they will arrange for an Adoption Support Volunteer to visit you and your family at your home, where they will discuss with you any specific needs that your rabbits might have, and suggest any adjustments to your house, garden or lifestyle that may be needed to help you and your rescue rabbits settle into a safe, secure and happy life together.

Generally, the introduction of a new pet into a family or household is a happy, exciting event, although minor, common issues can arise. These organisations can then help you sort them out so that you and your rabbit can settle down to an enjoyable life together.

It is worth noting that before you will be allowed to adopt or foster a rabbit, you will have to prove that you will comply with The (UK) Animal Welfare Act 2006, which states five basic requirements:

a suitable place to live

a healthy diet, including clean, fresh water

the ability to behave normally

appropriate company

protection from pain, suffering, injury and disease

It