Pet rabbits can make wonderful companions as long as you understand what you are getting yourself into. Rabbits are not good pets for children and not a good pet for someone who wants a "lap pet." Rabbits generally want to be near you but not necessarily on you. They are also not the typical "low maintenance" pet many people want. That being said rabbits can make good pets with some basic understanding of what is needed to keep the rabbit happy and healthy. When thinking about a pet rabbit you first must consider if the rabbit is going to be an inside or outside pet and what kind of cage or hutch you will provide.
Inside vs. outside:
Inside Rabbits: Rabbits make good inside pets. They can be litter box trained but will still need an indoor cage to hide in. Rabbits need there own space and a large kennel works well for that. Rabbits also need to run and exercise everyday. Rabbits are social animals and pet rabbits need social interaction with their owner or other pet rabbits in order to be happy. Inside pet rabbits also need appropriate toys and something to chew on. A rabbits teeth continue to grow so they chew to keep them worn down. Your home will also need to be rabbit proofed so that your belongings and electrical cords are not destroyed.
Outside Rabbits: The problem with keeping a pet rabbit outside are all the environmental dangers, for example rain, snow, wind, and predators. Predators are probably the danger I would worry about the most. Dogs and raccoons will find ways into rabbit hutches. I've seen rabbits in the veterinary practice where I work following a dog attack. Many of these rabbits had to be euthanized due to the severity of their injuries (I'll spare you the details but the memory still keeps me up at night). These rabbits were kept in an outdoor rabbit hutch and the dogs were able to reach the bunnies from under the hutch through the wire bottom. Many times rabbits will die from fright, they are prey animals and can go into shock if unable to escape from a predator. The safest place to keep a pet rabbit is indoors if this is not possible consider keeping the rabbit in at night when most predators attack.
Rabbit cages or hutch:
If building a cage or rabbit hutch avoid wire bottoms. Rabbit feet are delicate and wire bottom cages can be painful. Consider using a solid bottom cage with a litter box in one corner. This style cage will be more comfortable for the rabbit and the litter box will make clean up relatively easy. Bigger is better for rabbits but the cage should be a minimum 4 times bigger then the rabbit. Also, avoid forcing your rabbit into or out of the cage. Instead let the rabbit hop out on its own and hop back in on its own. If it is time for bunny to go back in its cage then try to herd the rabbit in the direction of its cage and finally into the cage where treats and a clean litter box await, this way the cage is not a punishment and you are not invading the space doing clean up while the bunny is in the cage. Clean the cage while the bunny is out exploring the house and having exercise time. Make sure the bunny exercise area is rabbit proofed and safe with appropriate toys for bunnies.
Related Article: Signs of Illness in Pet Rabbits.
Charla Dawson - I work as a veterinary nurse in a busy veterinary hospital in Wichita, KS. I love my job but it can be difficult when the abuse cases come ...
