Aside from appearance, there are a number of considerations that you will have to make when it comes time to pick out your fuzzy friend at a pet store or other venue. This is important both to ensure that you select a healthy pet, and to make sure that you and he are compatible!

Now I’ll explain what you’ll need to think about prior to heading out to buy your pet rabbit, and what to look for when you’re actually selecting an animal from a breeder, adoption center or pet store.

Remember, while size, breed, fur type and color are mostly a matter of personal preference (as I’ve explained in the previous chapter), the considerations here are essential to bringing home and raising a healthy pet.

There are a few general points to think about when deciding whether a rabbit is the right type of pet for you and for the rest of your family, too.

Allergies

Many people in this country have pet allergies, often to dogs or cats. It is worth remembering that if you are allergic to cats, chances are you might well be allergic to rabbits. Of course, this is not always the case, and you may wish get an allergy test from your doctor before deciding to bring home a new pet. If you don’t want to go to a doctor for a test, you may want to visit a pet store or breeder and see how you feel after handling the animals.

Also keep in mind that it is not just the pet itself that you may be allergic to. Rabbits often consume hay, which could be problematic in households where a family member has hay allergies.

Children in the House

Do you have young children? If so, a rabbit may not be an ideal pet. For the most part, this has nothing to do with rabbits being a danger to the child. On the contrary, since young rabbits are delicate and relatively tiny, a child may very well do unintentional damage to the pet! For this reason, older children, who have a better sense of their own strength and understand how to treat animals nicely, may be better suited to a pet rabbit.

In any event, if you do choose to bring a pet rabbit into a home with young kids, always try to supervise interactions between your child and your pet to ensure that both remain safe and healthy. Children must be taught how to handle rabbits, and only if they are mature and responsible enough to be trusted with the fuzzy creature.

Money

Even if you adopt a rabbit for free rather than buying one, you should prepare for certain expenses.

A good-sized cage will cost you at least $30 USD or $40 USD, and this is an absolute essential. You can also expect to pay for other accessories, such as toys.

Feeding is another considerable expense. At minimum you will need to buy food pellets, hay and vegetables for your rabbit to consume. You may also need to supplement with vitamins. Then there is also the matter of the litter box and fresh litter, which can add up over time.

Moreover, you will need to take care of medical issues such as spaying (starting at $35) or neutering (a bit cheaper, starting at $25), as well as medical bills for checkups and any illnesses that arise. Of course, it is also possible in some cases to purchase or adopt pet rabbits that have already been spayed or neutered, but even then it is going to be essential to pay for various medical expenditures over the course of your pet’s lifetime.

Before bringing home a rabbit, make sure that you can commit to giving him the quality of lifestyle he deserves throughout his lifetime (5-15 years, depending on the rabbit’s breed and age and health at the time of purchase).

by Andrea Austin,
rabbits-n-bunnies.com rabbits-n-bunnies.com

We hope you enjoyed this article. If you would like more information on pet rabbit care, click on this link to get your FREE Rabbit Care Guide:
rabbits-n-bunnies.com/index.html Bunny Rabbits

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Tags: bunny rabbit

When you mention the word “rabbit” many people think of Bugs Bunny. In reality, rabbits are very different from their cartoon counterparts. Rabbits may be cute, fuzzy, and adorable, but that does not mean they enjoy cuddling up to humans or being picked up and carried around.

In fact, improper handling of your new pet can result in harm, so before you pick out your new pet rabbit, make sure you understand all the basics of rabbit animal behavior and care.

How to Handle Rabbits–Should you Pick Up Your Rabbit?

As creatures who walk on all four feet and whose bodies are low to the ground, rabbits tend to feel the most comfortable and safe while sitting or laying on the floor. Therefore, when picked up, rabbits may become nervous, panicked, or even downright terrified. When this happens, they may begin kicking out their hind-legs.

Why is this such a danger? Well, when your pet rabbit thrashes around he risks fracturing his back (remembers, rabbits bones, including spinal cords, are very fragile). If you pick up a rabbit and he starts to get nervous, put him down immediately and carefully, and do not try to physically restrain him.

Above all, never pick up a bunny rabbit by its ears. If you do pick up your rabbit, it should be done by carefully lifting from the scruff of the neck, then supporting the rest of the body with your other hand.

How to Pet a Rabbit

Since rabbits do not like to be picked up as much as other pet animals, you may not be able to pick up your bunny and pet him in your lap as you may want to. Respect your pet bunnies wish to stay closer to the ground. Instead of lifting him up, let him sit beside you, then pet him gently.

If your rabbit seems nervous, use one hand to gently cover his eyes, then stroke his back soothingly and calmly. This will help ease him back to a peaceful state.

Also, it is important to supervise your children while they are learning to pet their rabbits. Make sure they do not use too much pressure or try to pick up the animals, for the reasons described above. Set a good example by showing them how to treat the rabbit, then ask them to follow your lead.

How Rabbits Interact with Humans

Just because rabbits do not like to be held dont be fooled! They really are loving and sociable creatures, and they need (and want) your attention. In fact, one of the best reasons to keep your pet bunny housed inside your home is that he will feel like he is becoming a part of the family. Being around humans gives rabbits the idea that they are part of a group; they dislike being lonely and enjoy companionship.

As rabbits tend to be high-strung creatures, settling in with and getting to know a familiar and loving group of humans can really set their minds at ease and make them healthier and happier.

If you follow this advice, you will probably find that you will develop a close and satisfying relationship with your pet bunny. He will grow to trust you and show you various sides of his personality. He may very likely exhibit a sense of humor and compassionate feelings toward you … which as all animal lover’s know is a wonderful reward!

by Andrea Austin,
rabbits-n-bunnies.com Rabbits and Bunnies!

We hope you enjoyed this article. If you would like more information on pet rabbit care, click on this link to get your FREE Rabbit Care Guide:
rabbits-n-bunnies.com/index.html Pet Rabbit Care Guide

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Tags: bunny rabbit

One of the most important aspects of properly caring for your pet rabbit is providing him with a healthy, satisfying, and well-balanced diet. Fortunately, doing so is relatively easy, since there is general consensus about what is good for rabbits and a wide range of great food pellet options. Rabbits can also eat many of the fruits and veggies that you probably have on your dinner table every night (see below for recommendations and portions).

Hay

Hay is an essential component of a rabbit’s healthy diet. One reason why is that feeding a rabbit hay on a daily basis seems to reduce rabbits tendencies to pull out and consume or chew on their own hair, which leads to (sometimes very dangerous) hairballs.

Buy high-quality leafy grass hay, timothy hay or clover hay. Avoid alfalfa hay, as it can sometimes be problematic and has been shown to increase the risk of bladder stones.

FRESH Water

Like all creatures, rabbits need fresh water in order to survive. Change water daily or at least every two days. When you change the water, also wash the water bottle or dish thoroughly to get rid of bacteria.

You may want to use a water bottle that can hang on a cage, as this can reduce the messiness factor. If you prefer to use a bowl, make sure it is sturdy and heavy enough so that your rabbit won’t overturn it.

Yogurt?

Although it may sound funny, rabbits can actually benefit from yogurt just the same way that humans do. Yogurt is proven to reduce the bad bacteria in the body, balancing out the good bacteria in the process. Many pet rabbits seem to like yogurt and accept it as a part of a balanced daily diet.

Chew Toys

As you will quickly learn as a new rabbit owner, bunnies love to bite and chew on things. This is actually essential for good dental health, but the trick is to give them good substances to chew on so they won’t be tempted to eat up your furniture or other, more dangerous substances, like wires or electrical cords.

A dog’s chew toy (on the smaller side) can be a great alternative, one which most rabbits seem to enjoy a great deal. Two more natural options are a large bone from a piece of boiled meat, with the bone marrow taken out, or some apple tree branches (the twigs are great roughage and help keep the bunny’s intestines clean).

Rabbits tend to be quite sensitive when it comes to changes in their diet or feeding schedule. In fact, if there is a sudden change or interruption, a rabbit may lose his appetite or become ill.

Therefore, it’s important to be consistant. Establish a feeding routine that is easy for you to stick to each and every day. Set your timer and fix the feeding schedule into your own everyday routine. Make sure you have enough rabbit food (whether hay, pellets, veggies, etc.) on hand so that you don’t run out unexpectedly.

Feeding your rabbit a consistent, balanced and healthy diet is one of the best ways to ensure that your pet has a long and happy life as your prized companion.

by Andrea Austin,
rabbits-n-bunnies.com rabbits-n-bunnies.com

We hope you enjoyed this article. If you would like more information on pet rabbit care, click on this link to get your FREE Rabbit Care Guide:
rabbits-n-bunnies.com/index.html Bunny Rabbits

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Tags: bunny rabbit

Want to know more about your bunny and understand him/her better? This short article contains fascinating rabbit facts that every owner should know.

Fact #1: Rabbits are crepuscular (most active at dawn and twilight).

Fact #2: Neither wild nor domestic bunnies hibernate.

Fact #3: A rabbit may tear apart her cage out of mating frustration? If your bunny isn’t spayed or neutered, you should get her/him altered as soon as possible.

Fact #4: Bunnies can’t throw up. They can gag, but they can’t vomit.

Fact #5: Rabbit can snore!

Fact #6: Bunnies can jump 36 inches and higher. Bunnies are excellent at jumping.

Fact #7: Wild bunnies can be found on every continent except Australia and Antarctica. (While rabbits are not indigenous to Australia, there IS now a large population of feral rabbits brought to the continent by European ancestors.)

Fact #8: Wild rabbits sleep in burrows.

Fact #9: A group of bunnies is called a herd.

Fact #10: Less than 10 percent of all abandoned wild baby bunnies survive.

We also recommend you to read about “Rabbit Care Secrets”, the book with literally hundreds rabbit facts.

rabbitsecrets.com/R.htm Rabbit Care Secrets You can get the book here: rabbitsecrets.com/R.htm rabbitsecrets.com/R.htm is the book with literally hundreds of “word of mouth” tips and tricks - secrets which are next to impossible to find in books and pet stores. This is the gold which only comes from years and years of hands on experience… including all the hard to find Rabbit information people just can’t locate with internet searches or trips to the library!

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Tags: bunny rabbit

One thing a lot of people don’t realize is that most rabbits can be litter box trained, just like a cat!

Basically, what you want to do is take advantage of your bunny’s natural tendency to deposit their droppings in just one or two places

* Start off by confining your bunny in just one room (even if you intend to give him the run of the whole house). A tiled floor is best to start (maybe in your kitchen)

* Make sure that the litter tray is easily accessible on at least one side, but with high enough sides all around to prevent spillage.

* For the litter itself,avoid clay and clumping brands (very toxic), as well as pine and cedar scented ones (proven dangerous in many studies). Personally I’ve always liked ‘Yesterday’s News’ brand for it’s absorbancy and ease of cleaning… but Cell Sorb, and Gentle Touch are also good.

* A standard cat litter box works pretty well,… you might want a covered one if your bunny likes to push the litter out (rascals!)

* Confinement and supervision is critical for the early stages. (It’s much kinder to go through this for a few weeks early on in a bunny’s life so that it can have a life time of roaming about and interacting with the family). So you should start in one room, and confine your bunny to its cage (with the litter box) for a bit until you learn where (s)he likes to do the business. If it’s in the litter box - great! If not, no worries, just move the box over that way.

* After you’ve achieved success IN the cage, it’s time to provide freedom. The key here is to do it only a little at a time, step by step (and be willing to go back a step if bunny makes a mistake).

* So give bunny a limited area of freedom in the room, and make sure (s)he knows where the litter box is. (Spend some time getter bunny to come to the box with treats and praise).

* Watch for signs that ‘the business’ is going to happen soon, get bunny to the box when it’s going to happen, and give ample praise and treats when it does.

* Just like you did in the cage, if bunny is making mistakes,… think of it as his or her way of telling you “the box belongs over here,… not where you put it”… and just move the box for bunny.

* Sometimes you actually need to have two or threelitter boxes in a larger space for a while… then you remove one at a time

* Punishment is NOT a good idea for mistakes with rabbits. It’s better to simply withold the rewards and treats and praise until you get the behavior you want. (And use a lot of patience)

* Some people have trouble because they’re not really sure how to know when their bunny is about to go. Establishing regular feeding times, and other routines will help with this problem. (Mostly though, you’ll get used to your bunny’s signs if you pay attention for a few weeks)

* Once your bunny is using the little boxes outside of the cage, the idea is to slowly expand their allowed roaming area, until you can confidently see your bunny anywhere in the house without worrying about ‘little presents’ (and smells).

Please note that litter training is almost never perfect… there are usually a few pellets left near the box which can be easily wiped away. (Bunnies aren’t perfect… and neither are we, right?)

rabbitsecrets.com/R.htm Rabbit Care Secrets You can get the book here: rabbitsecrets.com/R.htm rabbitsecrets.com/R.htm is the book with literally hundreds of “word of mouth” tips and tricks - secrets which are next to impossible to find in books and pet stores. This is the gold which only comes from years and years of hands on experience… including all the hard to find Rabbit information people just can’t locate with internet searches or trips to the library!

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Tags: bunny rabbit