When one thinks of rabbits as pets, you would think they are easy to care for because they are so small. However, that is not true. In order for a rabbit to be well cared for, you need to take time to make sure it has enough food, exercise, and attention. So when you plan and prepare for a rabbit, you will need to know what to do before getting a bunny, and get your home ready for it to live comfortably.Â
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Before you actually get your new rabbit, you need to prepare your home for it and yourself to take care of it for all of its life. Here are 8 tips on things you need to prepare for your new rabbit.
1. Cage
When you are buying a cage, make sure it’s long enough for the rabbit to hop across three times, and stand up without bumping its head. Also make sure you can fit in a litter box, a water bowl, and a hay hopper without it being crowded.
2. Vet
Find a good vet with rabbit experience. Make sure to find one before any emergencies happen, not after. It is important to take them for regular check-ups so that your rabbit can live its healthiest life.
3. Playpen
4. Food
Hay is the most important part of a rabbit’s meals. It should take up 80% of its meals. Your rabbit should have an unlimited amount of hay to eat throughout the day. The best hay for them to eat is Timothy hay, because it contains all balanced nutrients that rabbits need in their diet.
Next is fresh greens. 10% of veggies every day is sufficient. You should also research the different kinds of greens that are healthy for rabbits to eat, and the ones to avoid. Some good greens are lettuce, cilantro, and spinach (not too much though).
Last is 5% of pellets and 5% of treats. Pellets contain some great nutrients such as fiber, calcium, and protein. However, if they eat too much, they will be too full to eat hay, which is crucial for their health. That is why you should only give them a little bit of pellets each day.
For rabbits under one year old, give them pellets for young rabbits. If your bunny is over a year old you can introduce adult rabbit pellets into their meals.
Adding treats to your rabbit’s meal is a great way to give them variety. Some good treats are fruits, mint, and little nibbles from the pet store. Be careful not to give them too much, as rabbits have quite a sweet tooth that can get out of control if not monitored.
5. Food / Water Containers
The necessary food containers you need to get are a hay hopper, to contain the hay, a water bowl or bottle, and a bowl for veggies and pellets. It’s better if none of these are plastic; if it is plastic, it’s easy for the rabbit to chew to bits, and easy for germs to accumulate.Â
6. Toys
It is important to buy toys for your rabbit. Since their teeth never stop growing, they need to file them down often. Toys, next to hay, are a great solution to help care for their teeth, and stimulate their curious brains. You can buy them at your local pet store, or even make some yourself with cardboard.
7. A Place to Hide
Your rabbit will need a place for it to be alone and relax. You can get little hiding structures at the pet store, or make one out of a cardboard box.
8. Rabbit-Proof Home
Finally, you need to go over your home and make sure it is rabbit-proof. Some things to watch out for are wires, baseboards, and furniture. Move wires out of the way, or cover them; place the cage away from the baseboards and cover them with tape; and get toys so that your rabbit is more likely to leave your furniture alone and chew their own toys.
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After covering all these tips, you and your home are ready for a rabbit.
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What to do when you bring your rabbit home
When you bring your new pet home, first let him or her have some space. He will be confused about the change of surroundings, so he will need some time to calm down.Â
You can help your rabbit get more comfortable with you by just sitting on the floor and letting him come up to you. You can also give him treats (not too many) so that him can associate you with something positive.
Next, you will need to litter train him. Start by placing some of his droppings in the litter box to show your pet where he should go. Keep it and your rabbit in the cage until he gets the hang of going to the same spot to use the litter.
Rabbits will need some time to exercise every day. Let your rabbit out during the morning or the evening, since those are the times when they are most active.
Be sure to brush your rabbit gently, daily, especially during shedding seasons, to keep down the amount of shedded fur around the house.
And finally, keep spending time with your rabbit. Rabbits are social creatures, and the more time you spend with them, the happier they get. A happy rabbit is a healthy rabbit.
Once you have completed all of these steps from preparing for a rabbit to ensuring he is happy in your home, you will now be a perfect rabbit caretaker, and will be the center of your new bunny’s world!
