OT-Bunny for a pet

[ChrisAlli]

Do any of you have a rabbit for a pet? How are they to take care of? Can they stay outside all year, that sounds stupid, and I've heard they are really smart and can be trained to use a litter box and walk on a leash?

 

[tebi73]

We have a pet bunny. We have only had her since December, but she is really easy to take care of. We keep her outside in the hutch that my friend's dad built for our guinea pig (the guinea pig stayed outside all the time too & it lived to be 6 years old). She is not litter trained, but my friend has one from the same litter as ours and she does have him litter trained. He runs loose in their house and goes back in his little crate when he has to pee or poo. We also have a leash & harness for ours, but she doesn't really like it too much. She is pretty calm, so we just let her loose in the yard while we are outside with her and she doesn't try to run off. We also flip a big laundry basket upside down & put her under it if we need to run back inside for a bit and she has always just stayed there & ate grass! Our bunny HATES carrots!

 

[Our 2 Princesses]

We have a Sable Point Lionhead bunny 1 year old and had one that passed away last summer. Keep in mind that bunnies can be prone to get sick and if not taken to the vet for medical treatment pretty much right away, can die quickly. Bunny vets are usually very pricey. They need to be on a correct diet. Bunnies should definitely be neutered or spayed. If not they can get aggressive or destructive. The males will spray like male cats do and the females can be very prone to uterine cancer. Also, you need to watch them around electrical cords because they usually love to chew through them and can be electrocuted. After all that though, bunnies are wonderful. We have an indoor rabbit who we let out in the family room (with his litter box) and he is just so cute when he does his happy dances. They are very clean and usually very snuggly. There is nothing like little bunny kisses or when they "purr" by grinding their teeth softly when they are happy and content. (Grinding their teeth loudly usually means they are in a lot of pain.) I would go to the library and get out a book about taking care of a rabbit before you actually get the bunny. If you do get one, I hope you enjoy yours as much as we do!

 

[ChrisAlli]

I saw them for sale at a farmers market and they were just too cute. However, we have to house cats, so a bunny in the house would FREAK them out. That's why I was wondering if they could stay outside.

I'll do more research, but the more I think about it I don't think I could keep it outside in the winter. I'd feel bad and not sure if it would be OK in the house for the winter.

 

[Our 2 Princesses]

I saw them for sale at a farmers market and they were just too cute. However, we have to house cats, so a bunny in the house would FREAK them out. That's why I was wondering if they could stay outside.

I'll do more research, but the more I think about it I don't think I could keep it outside in the winter. I'd feel bad and not sure if it would be OK in the house for the winter.

Bunnies are generally not as healthy nor do they live as long when their home is outside.

 

[HALEYSMOMMOM]

We have one. Bunnies can withstand cold well, but not heat. Often I will let her in from our sunroom, (her house), when it is hot. Our kids looove her! We got her when she was a baby, and I highly recommend that. It makes them more comfortable with you. We also have adopted one and he was just so timid.

 

[Luv Bunnies]

I'm a bunny person! I've had pet bunnies off and on for over 30 years and have kept up on the current recommendations regarding how to keep bunnies happy and healthy.

In the past, bunnies were kept in hutches outside. This is no longer recommended for a variety of reasons. They don't tolerate temperature changes well. Heat is especially deadly to them but they don't do well in extreme cold either. There are many predators in an outdoor environment including dogs, cats, racoons, possums, even squirrels. Even if these animals can't get to your rabbit or wouldn't hurt him even if they did, the rabbit doesn't know that. They scare very easily and can have heart attacks just by seeing another animal and feeling threatened. There are also a variety of diseases a rabbit can catch just by being outside, mostly brought by insects. For these reasons (and more) rabbits should always be kept indoors.

We also know now that rabbits are very social creatures. They are much happier when they are able to live as part of the family. They quickly become depressed when left for much of the time on their own. They need more socialization than they are able to get when left outside and visited briefly by humans. They also tend to be friendlier and more trusting of humans when living indoors. Our two rabbits' cages are in our entry way between the front door and the kitchen. We also pass them anytime we're coming or going from the stairway. Everyone talks to them as they pass by and we all stop to pet them several times a day. A healthy, indoor rabbit can live anywhere from 10-15 years. Outdoor rabbits generally won't live that long.

We've also learned that rabbits must be spayed and neutered for better behavior and for their health. It's now known that 85% of female rabbits will suffer from reproductive cancer by the age of 5 if they are not spayed. That's a slow and painful death that can be easily prevented. Spaying and neutering will calm down a teenaged rabbit and keep the males from biting and spraying when they get overly excited. If you get a pet rabbit, be sure to have it spayed or neutered around 5-6 months of age.

Rabbits can easily be litterbox trained and most will do it on their own. They are very neat animals and will tend to do their business in one corner of their cage. As soon as you determine where they like to do it, just put a litterbox in that corner. Bunny will be happy to use it and keep his cage clean. Always look for a rabbit-approved litter. Cat litter (especially clay-based) is not OK for rabbits. Check with a pet store for a paper-based pellet-type litter.

We learned about diet the hard way with one of our rabbits several years ago. We were feeding him alfalfa pellets and alfalfa hay and he developed a kidney stone from too much calcium. We learned that rabbits should eat timothy pellets and timothy hay for better health. There are several safe fruits and vegetables that can also be fed in small quantities. A good website is www.houserabbitsociety.org. They have a section on nutrition that lists safe foods for rabbits to eat. Rabbit play time should always be indoors. There are too many poisionous plants outside and the aforementioned predators. Also, I hear so many stories about rabbits that esaped under fences and through open gates. We confine our rabbits to play in our family room and kitchen. They come out one at a time and the rooms are bunny-proofed (no exposed cords, etc.).

The absolute best place to get a bunny is through your local humane society or rabbit rescue agency (the House Rabbit Society mentioned above lists several). These bunnies have all been checked by vets. Those that are old enough will be spayed or neutered before you're allowed to take them home. They've also been socialized and had their personalities evaluated. The agency will be able to help you choose a rabbit that will fit into your household the best. I would advise against buying a baby bunny from a pet store. First, there are many, many wonderful rabbits at shelters that face euthanasia if they're not adopted. Pet store bunnies tend to come from over-bred females and many face health problems later in life. Plus, an older rabbit has already established his personality and you will know what to expect from him. Teenage rabbits (5 - 9 months) get very weird. They get an influx of hormones and many start biting and chewing. Spaying and neutering will reduce this behavior but many people get fed up with teenage bunny behavior and end up giving the bunny away.

I know this is long, but I hope it's helped. I love bunnies and think they make wonderful pets. However, it's important to understand that they do take just as much work as dogs and cats. If you're willing to keep a bunny indoors and make a 10-15 year commitment, go and find the right bunny for you!

 

[eclairemom]

I had a french lop when I was a young girl and she was housebroken to her cage. Even if she was outside playing with me she would go running up the steps and scratch on the door to get to her cage. She was an inside rabbit till she decided to eat my moms house plants and started chewing on electrical cords then she got put outside. She still used her cage to potty in that sat inside of her large hutch.

 

[ChrisAlli]

Luv Bunnies;;;;; Thank you so much for your insight.

I think for now we'll stick with our cats, but maybe later I would definately consider an INSIDE bunny.

 

[Ciciwoowoo]

i have 2 bunnies, and they are a challenge! One thing I learned from them, they do not enjoy being picked up or cuddled. They like to come to you on THEIR terms. You can buy cord protectors to bunny-proof the house. They are very easy to litter train.

It is expensive to keep a bunny! My "hay-heads" eat an awful lot! Timothy hay, pellets, and fresh veggies. I had my girl bunny fixed so I could put the two of them together. Also, the number one killer of girl bunnies is female cancer, so it will help her to live a long princess life!

I would encourage anyone who wants a bunny to adopt from a rescue rather than buying from a pet store. There are a lot of bunnies who need a home, and often the come already fixed, a big expense! I love my bunnies, but they are not like cats or dogs. They are unique.

Oh, ps... I did hear you should not keep the bunnies outside. Very bad for them.

 

[Ciciwoowoo]

Do any of you have a rabbit for a pet? How are they to take care of? Can they stay outside all year, that sounds stupid, and I've heard they are really smart and can be trained to use a litter box and walk on a leash?

Oh, PS...

I bought one of those cute little leashes for my buns... I think they laughed their cute fuzzy tails off at the idea of me trying to walk them. They are independent and wanted NOTHING to do with it!!! Princess BunBun was far too regal for it, and Flopsy just laid there like a lump. He finally got mad at me and "thumped" me. (He thumps his foot when you make him mad!)

 

[raraloveseeyore]

We have a velveteen rabbit. He is very gentle and very loving. When we let him out we do have to watch him because he likes to chew on things. He was easy to litter train and goes back to his cage to do his business. This is our third bunny and I love them now. When my husband brought the first one home I freaked and yelled "get that rodent out of my house"!!!!!

 

[kacaju]

we have 3 cats 2 dogs and a bunny and they get along when they are in the house!!
The bunny has a hutch outside which he is in during the summer and once the kids go to school he comes in the house for the fall, winter and most of spring. He is out during the summer when we spend most of our day in the pool and in the yard.
He is litter box trained and our cats are actually afraid of him!!

 

[islandtimect]

Perfect timing for this topic - we're getting our DD a bunny when school ends in 2 weeks, and I just picked up books on house rabbits at our library. Where can you buy cord protectors so the rabbits won't eat electrical wires? How much does spayed/neutoring cost? Has anyone bought a rabbit from a reliable pet store and want to share their experience?

thanks so much!

 

[kacaju]

We got our rabbit from our 4-H Fair. The kids raise these animals as part of their project for the year. They make great pets since they are raised by kids!