How Do You Care For Rabbits? 

Introduction

     What is fluffy, hops, and is famous at Easter? 

     A RABBIT! 

     If you have ever considered getting a pet rabbit, read my website to find lots of helpful information about everything you need to take care of your rabbit. 

Diet

     The three most important foods and drinks are pellets, hay, and water. Rabbits also need a variety of different plants like dandelions, clover and strawberry tops.

     Rabbits are foragers. That means they go from place to place searching for food to eat. So rabbits need a variety of food, not just pellets and hay. 

     They also need plants they are used to finding in the wild, like dandelions or willow branches. 

     However, do not feed your rabbit with plants found near the road, because that food might be contaminated by gasoline and road salt.  

Stomach Acids

     Did you know that if a rabbit is sick and it does not eat, its stomach acid will dissolve their stomach and kill them?

     That’s why rabbits need to be always eating! 

Predators

     Domestic rabbits do not know what will hurt them. Predators such as hawks or crows will kill your rabbit and the rabbit won’t live very long. Cats and dogs may also hurt or kill rabbits.

     Rabbits are very aware, so new surroundings are scary for your rabbit. It will be very skittish and nervous at first. Once the rabbit gets used to its new home, it will not be that scared any more. 

Outdoors

     Rabbits in the wild are not in a small space but in a big space. Rabbits have strong back legs, so in the wild rabbits can run from predators. 

     Make sure your pet rabbit has some space for running, jumping, and exercise, because that is what they are used to in the wild.

      If you leave your rabbit unsupervised outdoors in a pen without a roof or lid, your rabbit will escape by hopping out or digging. It might chew on poison or wires, or get attacked by a predator.

     Also, if your rabbit lives outside, it might get rabies or ticks or an infection. You have to watch over them carefully to keep them safe.      

Housing

     If you have a rabbit and it is always kept in a small cage without being let out, your rabbit will become sad and unhealthy.

     A rabbit should have a cage big enough for the rabbit to run around and with space to lay down.

     When a rabbit has a wire bottom cage, it will be very uncomfortable. It is like if you had to stand on the heater all day. Your feet would hurt and get indented.

     So if your rabbit has to stand on wire bottom cages all day, it will get sores, damaged feet, and blisters.

Supplies

     Rabbits are curious and playful, so they need heavy bowls so that the rabbits don't dump over their food. During the winter, you can also get heated bowls so their water doesn't freeze.

     If you can't find good bowls, you can get bowls and water bottles that attach right to their cages.

    Rabbits also need something to chew and scratch. Cardboard boxes are very fun and useful for rabbits, because they can crawl inside and chew on the cardboard. 

     Rabbits will also play with small balls or cat toys. Most simple cat toys are OK for rabbits, but don't give them cat toys with small parts, feathers, wires, or bells.

Handling

     Pick up your rabbit by their sides, not by the scruff. Put their front legs on your shoulder and put your hand on their back. Your other hand should go under their hind legs.

     Rabbits are not cats! It is very painful and may cause a serious injury if you pick up your rabbit by the scruff.

Grooming

     To take care of rabbits, you need to clip their nails or else the rabbit's nails will grow too long and break. This can hurt the rabbit.

     A rabbit's long fur will cause the rabbit to have a hairball. But if you brush your rabbit’s fur, the rabbit will stay happy. 

     Long-haired rabbits, like Angoras and Lionhead rabbits, need to be brushed more often.  

Care

     Rabbits need something to wear their teeth down and they can do this by eating. Their teeth never stop growing so they have to be worn down instead.

     If a rabbit's teeth get too long, then the rabbit cannot eat or drink, so it will die. So it's very important that your rabbit has something healthy to chew on.  

Breeding

     Young rabbits can be challenging to breed. If you have questions or problems, you should ask for help from an expert or vet.

     Rabbits of the same breed can’t be in the same area. Girls will fight and boys will fight but boy and girl rabbits in the same area will cause more litters to be born very quickly.

     A female can have up to six babies in each litter, and a first time mother might kill her own babies.

     A mother rabbit can give birth to a new litter every 30 days, so a few rabbits can multiply very quickly if you don't keep them separated. 

Author’s Note

     I was inspired to create my website because I wanted to be a better rabbit mommy.

     I never realized that you could hurt your rabbit by picking it up by the scruff. 

     I accidentally hurt my rabbit Bea because I picked her up by the scruff. Then I read information online about the safe ways to hold a rabbit, and now I do it right.

    That inspired me to want to learn more about caring for rabbits and to share my information with you!