Quick Take
- Rabbits are the third most surrendered animal to shelters, and understanding the reason why might change how you think about them as pets. See the neglect problem →
- Introducing rabbits incorrectly can lead to serious fights and injuries. Understand rabbit pairing →
- Common feeding mistakes can damage a rabbit’s health. See the ideal rabbit diet →
- There's a critical first step when bringing a rescue rabbit home that most new owners skip, and this one overlooked step shapes the entire relationship. See the first steps home →
This year, International Rabbit Day is celebrated on 26th September (the fourth Saturday of September). We’d like to take this opportunity to highlight the crucial need for rabbit care and protection. We will explore rabbit behavior and how this relates to their welfare needs. We will also reveal why they make poor children’s pets despite their popularity.
Pet Rabbits in the US
Figures from the American Veterinary Medical Association estimate that around one million U.S. households have a pet rabbit. Approximately 22 percent of these are owned by Gen Z, and another 20 percent are owned by Millennials. At the same time, they are the third most common animal surrendered to rescue organizations and animal shelters, and there is a lot of confusion about how to properly care for them.
Rabbits can live up to 12 years and are a commitment in terms of both time and money. Children can certainly help to care for them, but an adult must take primary responsibility. Sadly, many pet rabbits end up in inadequate hutches at the bottom of the garden, lonely, bored, and malnourished. They are wonderful creatures and deserve so much better. Many rabbits live in hutches that are too small, given an inappropriate diet that damages their health, with no mental stimulation and no companionship. Sadly, many also have health conditions that their owners don’t notice and leave untreated.
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Pet Rabbit Welfare Needs
Rabbit owners often fail to fulfill their pet’s welfare needs because they simply do not understand animal behavior.
The first thing to be aware of is that rabbits are social animals. If they are kept alone, they suffer both stress and loneliness. In the wild, they live in colonies. As pets, they need to be kept as neutered pairs or compatible groups. This can take time and skill to achieve and is a lot more complex than just putting a few rabbits together in a run. That is likely to end in fights and injuries.
Rabbits need companions.
©Opat Suvi/Shutterstock.com
Also, rabbits are very active animals. They like to have the free run of a larger area such as your house or your garden. However, this must be a safe space for them, away from hazards. Cages and hutches are fine as a sleeping area, but they are only part of a bigger setup!
Rabbit Routines and Feeding
It’s best to make your rabbit’s diet as close to their natural one as possible. So, they need mainly grass or hay. You can supplement this with a little commercial rabbit food and some fresh green vegetables. They also love to chew and dig, so things like apple or willow twigs and dig boxes are important.
It’s good to have a routine, as this makes it easier to ensure that you have not forgotten anything. Pick a time of day when you will feed them, change their water, clean out their enclosure, and check for any health issues. Then, in the evening, you can provide more hay and check their water again.
Enrichment Is Vital
Rabbits can get bored and need enrichment activities to keep them occupied. Many like to climb into boxes, rolled-up cardboard, and tubes. You can hide some commercial food or other titbits for them to find.
Many rabbits like to interact with their owners, but some don’t. It’s important that you don’t frighten the rabbit, and children need to treat the rabbit with respect. They are not toys and should never be picked up or handled roughly. Loud noises and sudden movements can also startle rabbits and make them stressed.
How to Be a Responsible Rabbit Owner
Do your research before you decide to get pet rabbits. Do you have the time, money, and resources to care for more than one rabbit, and do you understand their welfare needs and how you will meet them? Rehoming rabbits from a rescue center is by far the most ethical option. Staff at the rescue center will give you plenty of advice and insights into your new pets’ personalities and needs.
Get your pet rabbit from a rescue center.
©A S M Almas/iStock via Getty Images
It can take a while for rabbits to adjust to their new home. To start, they need a quiet and confined pen so that they can get used to the change. Hideouts (somewhere that the rabbits feel safe) are essential. Keep everything calm and allow the rabbits to approach you at their own pace. It’s best to avoid handling them at all in the first few days. Feed them the same food that they were eating at the rescue center so there are no drastic changes in diet.
Once your bunnies have settled in, you can gradually expand their living space and handle them more. Your rabbit friends can provide you with years of companionship.
