There are several factors to consider when deciding whether to purchase a rabbit for your next pet. Pet rabbits (not fur, meat, or breeding) are becoming more popular, but many people mindlessly jump past the overwhelmingly cute pack of fur they see at the pet store.
Can you answer ‘Yes’ to each of the 5 questions below?
1. Are you ready for a 10-12 year commitment?
Some rabbits can live up to 10 or 12 years, especially if they are indoor rabbits. Are you ready to commit to having your bun for that length of time?
2. Are you ready for the daily commitment?
Rabbits are not ‘disposable’ pets. They are as dependent as a dog or a cat. Possibly even more so, as they cannot have free access to the house or yard like a cat or dog does. You will need to:
- Feed your bun every day
- Check and change your water daily.
- Clean his cage and litter box every 1-2 days.
- Supervise his exercise for 2-3 hours every day outside the cage.
- Spend time playing, grooming, and hanging out each day.
3. Are you ready to chew?
Rabbits need to chew constantly, and despite your best efforts to supervise and offer things to chew on, there may be times when your bunny still manages to chew on your power cords (dangerous) or your favorite piece of furniture (infuriating). Are you prepared to be patient when this happens?
4. Are you willing to let your bun live (or spend time) inside your house?
Rabbits are social creatures, and unless you have more than one rabbit, you can’t leave them alone outside. In the wild they live in burrows of up to 40 rabbits, so living a life alone outside is cruel. Yes, many people have only one rabbit that they keep outside, but is this the life you are willing to offer your bun?
5. Can you afford it?
Rabbits may not cost as much in food as a dog, for example, but you’ll still need to pay for setup (cage, etc.), hay, vegetables, pellets, vet visits, grooming supplies, toys, etc. Can you afford this?
Having a chignon is an amazing experience and the purpose of this article is not to discourage you from choosing one. Rather, it’s simply getting you to make an informed decision to get a bow, as no pet should be bought on impulse.
There are thousands of rabbits currently in shelters that have been sent there because their owners weren’t ready for them, couldn’t deal with behaviors like chewing, etc. Keeping pet rabbits can be an amazing experience, but we don’t want your bow tie to become another statistic at the local shelter.