How should I prepare for my first house rabbit? Even though it’s an exciting moment for you to bring a bunny into your life, you have to be prepared. Make sure you have a few things in place BEFORE this happens to make it a stress-free as possible:
- An appropriate cage.
- Appropriate food.
- Clean bowls for food and water.
- A good-sized litter box/pan.
- A few other basic supplies on hand such as lots of toys, cuddy-holes to hide and play in. Chew sticks are also important since their teeth grow continuously all their lives.
What should I do when I first bring my rabbit home?
Rabbit-Proof
You could keep a rabbit in a cardboard box or other temporary quarters for a little while. Preparation will make it much easier and more comfortable for the rabbit. Just make sure their play area is rabbit-proof. This means no wires within reach or furniture to nibble on.
Handle With Care
Since rabbits are social animals, they need a bit of attention and care to thrive. A good way to make sure a rabbit’s fur doesn’t get matted is by grooming, especially with certain breeds. You also must be careful of what you feed them due to their sensitive digestive systems. You have to remember to be careful while handling them to avoid injuring them. Rabbits have fragile skeletons.
Keep Them Clean
Rabbits are naturally clean animals. You have to ensure that you remove soiled litter and constantly keep their food and water fresh every day. Lining their living space with paper is a good idea – easier to clean up messes. Rabbits can be trained to use in a litter box for business moments. However, they may leave a few droppings here and there to mark their territory, particularly when they get excited. Bunny droppings are usually dry and odorless, and can easily be cleaned up with a vacuum.
How long does it take for a rabbit to get used to a new home?
Every bunny adjusts differently to a new home, however, don’t get disheartened if it takes several days. You have to be patient and give your new companion enough time, space, and a calm atmosphere. Some rabbits may settle down as soon as a day, while it will take others a few weeks to relax. On average, it generally takes around 6 months for a rabbit to finally feel settled in its new home. Just keep in mind that a rabbit is naturally a bit more sensitive to aspects of living in a home. You’ll have to make sure the rabbit has a place to relax but is not completely isolated from the family. Rabbits need interaction and lots of exercise. They often get frightened by excited shouting and sudden movements of young children, while making excellent pets for older children. Don’t forget to check out our Youtube video on preparing for your first pet rabbit.
Train Your Rabbit
Another point to remember is litter training. Check with the previous owner if the rabbit has been trained to “go” in the right place. If not, this could also cause some stress while you try to train your new bunny. Perhaps, try to get the same kind of bedding the previous owner used or something similar.
Having Other Animals Around
Having other pets in the house could make the adjustment period more stressful. Rabbits can get along with cats and dogs, but they should never be left unmonitored. Another issue to remember is that cats and dogs also carry certain parasites that can be dangerous to rabbits.
Can bunnies be left alone during the day?
Rabbits are the ideal kind of pet for someone who has to work during the day. They are active during the morning and evening and adapt to being in a cage or pen during the day. While a big cage might be sufficient, a better option could be placing the cage in a puppy pen. This allows them some room to romp around, along with a few toys to play with.
Starting with a single rabbit could be the best for a first-time owner. Adopting a pair of already bonded rabbits would be better if you plan to leave them alone during the day. Having a pair of rabbits eases the effect of loneliness on your bunnies while you’re away. However, since not all rabbits bond easily, sourcing your bunnies from a rescue group or breeder is a better option.
The most important thing is to never let your bunny feel lonely and neglected. Spend more time at home grooming, talking, playing, and interacting to help build a strong bond.
What do I need for an indoor rabbit?
A cage.
You need to get an appropriate cage – this depends on the size of the rabbit you are getting. It has to be big enough for a litter box. along with food and water dishes. On the other hand, have enough room for the rabbit to stretch out. An 18× 30 cage is good enough for a rabbit under four pounds, larger ones if the rabbit is bigger. If you want your rabbit to be out loose in the house, then you could get a slightly smaller cage. A good cage should have an easy-to-clean floor. It should also have a small door that can be left open, and a large enough door for a litter.
Types of cages.
The majority of cages for rabbits are for people who breed rabbits. They are usually made of galvanized steel and have wire floors with a pan for collecting waste underneath. While not very visually pleasing, they do have the advantage of being inexpensive and easily modified. Place cardboard or a piece of wood over part of the floor. This will help its feet not be hurt by the wire. This will make the litter area distinct. It would be a good idea to purchase urine guards for the cage. These are bands of galvanized steel that attach to the lower part of the cage. They help keep urine and droppings in the cage. Rabbits often have the habit of backing up to the very edge of a cage or pan to urinate. This urine will get on the wall and floor if the sides are not high.
More visually appealing cages made specifically for house rabbits are becoming easier to find online. These cages are usually more expensive made of epoxy-coated wire in different colors. Some have high plastic sides and wheels for easy moving. You could also look at cages made for other pets such as guinea pig or ferret cages.
Another type of cage to look at getting is a transport cage for taking your rabbit to the vet. These cages are usually quite inexpensive and come in very handy for emergency trips.
Avoid Excessive Heat
Where you decide to locate your bunny in your home is also important. Avoid placing a rabbit too close to a radiator, or woodstove, neither in a cold, drafty spot. Avoid placing a rabbit near a television or audio system speakers since loud noises can stress rabbits. Smoke can be a problem and may cause respiratory problems in rabbits. The cage should not be near a fireplace or exposed to someone who smokes. Rabbits like to be located in places they can watch household activity, just not a high traffic area. It is best to put the cage where they are free to explore new territory.
Litter Boxes
It is a good idea to get at least two litter boxes before you bring your rabbit home. Use one for the cage and one for the room where you let him out to explore. Choosing a litter box with high sides has been shown to work the best for bunnies. Rabbits like to kick and push litter out and back up and urinate over the edge of the pan. Ferret litter pans could work for smaller rabbits and high-sided cat litter boxes for large rabbits. Litter pans made for rabbits are available, but difficult to find, particularly for larger rabbits.
Litter
It is difficult to find good litter in quantity locally when getting ready to welcome your rabbit. Most cat litters contain additives, and along with self-clumping litters, are not recommended. These could harm or even kill the rabbit since most rabbits tend to nibble at their litter. Cedar and pine shavings contain phenols that may affect a rabbit’s respiratory system and liver over time. These can reduce the effectiveness of drugs used to treat rabbits. Some owners prefer to use corncob beddings sold for bird litter. These are not very effective to control odor well. There have been claims that it might block a rabbit’s digestive system if consumed.
A plain clay cat litter with no additives works if your rabbit does not consume or dig it up. However, it can clog the digestive tract and the dust could make the rabbit more susceptible to respiratory issues. Litter made from aspen is safe and inexpensive. Newspaper litters also work but don’t control odor well. Hay and peat moss are options that can be used as litter.
The best litters specifically formulated for rabbits are difficult to find unless you live in a large city or order online.
Food and Water Dishes
Heavy crockery dishes make the best rabbit dishes because rabbits tend to kick their dishes and dump the contents. Some plastic dog dishes with wide bases to prevent tipping also work great. Make sure the plastic is hard enough to prevent the rabbit from chewing on it it. Water can be provided in either a bowl or a water bottle.
Feed
Choosing the correct feed for a rabbit is something that can be rather complicated in the beginning. It’s best to start on a good high-protein high-fiber pellet and some hay. Rabbit pellets with 14-18 percent crude protein are good, but pellets with 18-21 percent crude protein are even better. However, pellet mixes with grains and dried fruit are not usually recommended for rabbits. High sugar and calcium content in these mixes could contribute to digestive and kidney and bladder problems. They can be given as an occasional treat, however. It’s always best to ask the previous caretaker what they have been feeding the rabbit you adopt. Mix some of your pellets in with the old, gradually increasing what you’ve bought. This will help prevent any digestive problems from the change in diet. Hay should also be provided for the rabbit. You can purchase small sacks of grass hay at a feed or pet store and get larger quantities online. You can use hay racks that hang on the sides of a cage or tissue boxes as a hay holder.
Toys
A good idea is to place toys in the rabbit’s cage to help with boredom. This will also distract them from chewing on furniture. Hard plastic baby toys often make good bunny toys. Cat and bird toys are also great options. These only work if the plastic is hard enough to prevent the bunny from chewing and eating it. Rabbits tend to like toys that make noise, such as cat and bird toys with bells inside.
Hopefully, this article helps you prepare for your first rabbit. Preparation is key to a successful pet rabbit experience.