Rabbit Care Guide for New Owners.

If you have a bunny as pet, you need to learn how to take care of him. Rabbits have certain needs that you need to fulfill so that they can live a happy, long, and healthy life.

Caring for a pet rabbit requires discipline and knowledge. Therefore, it is important to follow the rabbit care guide for new owners.

Types of Pet Rabbits

Rabbits are fun and adorable pets. Their quirky personalities and cute features make them ideal companions.

You can select the rabbit breed according to your preference. You can also adopt a bunny from an animal shelter. You can choose between small, large, and medium sized rabbits.

The Rex rabbits are small and athletic. They are popular for their thick and dense fur. The Mini Lop rabbits are medium sized with adorable ears.

The Holland Lop breed has floppy ears and medium-thick hide. Other popular rabbit breeds are Dutch rabbit, Florida White, and Himalayan rabbit.

Related: 12 Top Pet Rabbit Breeds That Are Popular-Cute-Child Friendly

Rabbit Pet Care Basics

If you know the basics of rabbit care, you will have a great time with your pet bunny.

Here Are The 10 Simple and Easy Ways of Looking After Rabbits

1. Safe Indoor Housing

If you have a pet rabbit, you need to keep it indoors. Caring for a rabbit outdoors is tough and demanding. Outdoors is suitable only for wild rabbits.

You need to provide safe and cozy indoor housing to your pet rabbit. You can keep your rabbit in a large cage or in a bunny proof room.

Make sure that the rabbit house is large enough for the bunny to hop around comfortably. You must ensure that the rabbit is not isolated from you.

Read: Hamster as Pet: How to Know if a Hamster is the Right Pet for You

2. Bunny-Proof the House

One of the basics of rabbit care is to see that your rabbit can run around comfortably. Rabbits do not like to sit in one place.

The best way to care for an indoor rabbit is to bunny proof the entire house. It will not only keep your rabbit safe but also protect your belongings.

Bunny-proofing a house includes covering all the wires with flex tubing or plastic sleeves. You can also lift the wires three to four feet above the ground so that your bunny cannot touch them.

Rabbits have the habit of chewing everything they can find. They can chew house plants, undersides of beds, and items on bookshelves. So, you need to block off those areas when you are bunny proofing your house.

3. Take Care of the Rabbit’s Diet

One of the most important elements of rabbit care is providing nutritious food to your bunny. The most common rabbit food is fresh hay and vegetables.

You can also give fruits occasionally. However, you must research on which fruits and vegetables are safe for your rabbit. You can also find rabbit pellets in the market.

Rabbits have a sensitive digestive system. You should never give human processed food to them.

4. Keep the Rabbit Bedding Clean

Keeping the rabbit bedding clean is an important part of bunny care 101. Rabbits are natural grazers and have a great metabolism. As they cannot eat large meals, they keep eating throughout the day.

As they are always eating, they poop a lot too. This is the primary reason you need to keep their cages and bedding clean. The rabbit bedding should be preferable paper-based so that you can easily clean and replace it.

Check Out: Owls as Pets: Things to Know Before Getting a Pet Owl

5. Make Sure Your Rabbit Gets Daily Exercise

Rabbits need daily exercise. A healthy rabbit is an active rabbit. Rabbits are most active in the mornings and the evenings.

Do not let them stay inside the cage always. Make sure your rabbit is active and hops around happily.

6. Groom Your Bunny

Grooming a rabbit is an important part of rabbit care. Although rabbits clean themselves, you need to groom them too.

Take out some time to brush away their loose fur. You can refer to a bunny guide for clipping the nails of your rabbit.

7. Take Your Bunny for Regular Health Checkups

If you notice any change in your rabbit’s behavior and health, you should take him immediately to a veterinarian. Apart from emergencies, make sure to take your rabbit for regular health checkups.

This will keep your rabbit healthy and prevent diseases. Moreover, the veterinarian will know your rabbit which will help him in treatment during an emergency.

Also See: Buying a Horse: Things to Know Before You Buy a Horse

8. Get a Good Litter Box

You must get a good and comfortable litter box for your rabbit. You can also place several litter boxes at the corners when you are bunny proofing your house. This will let the rabbit hop around the entire house.

You can experiment with various litter boxes such as silica cat litter box or wood litter box. Avoid boxes made of clay.

9. Food Bowl and Water Bowl

One of the basics of rabbit care is to serve food and water to your rabbit in a nice bowl. As rabbits can accidentally tip over the food bowl, make sure the bowl is made of ceramic or any other heavy material.

Some rabbit cages contain water bottles. However, it is a better idea to keep a water bowl for your rabbit so that he can drink water comfortably.

10. Spend Time with Your Rabbit

Finally, the most important tip for rabbit care is to spend time with your rabbit. Rabbits need companionship. They can get depressed if they don’t have a company.

You must spend at least two hours every day with your bunny outside the rabbit cage. Play with your rabbit during this time. You can give him rolling toys and cardboard tubes to play with.

You need to be gentle with your rabbit. Children can scare a pet rabbit if they scream and yell around him.

Read: First Time Cat Owners: Important Things to do Before Bringing a Cat Home

Wrapping It Up

Whether you are buying a rabbit or going for rabbit adoption, you must know how to take care of a bunny. Although rabbits are an endearing addition to any family, they need a long-term commitment.

Before getting a rabbit, you need to make certain preparations so that your rabbit stays happy and healthy. You have to be particular about your rabbit’s diet, cage, bedding, and litter box. You also need to spend quality time with your pet bunny.