Are You Bunny-Bound?
If you're considering getting a rabbit, here's what you should know before you hop to it.
The gray rabbit is available for adoption from Orange County Animal Care. Her ID is A1144464.
Orange County Animal Care
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Rabbits are often a first pet for a child or a step up from a hamster or guinea pig, but they are complicated creatures who require more attention, training and care than you might think. They can also live 8 to 12 years or more, so they are a long-term commitment.
Far from being low-maintenance pets that don't need a lot of interaction, rabbits require as much as or more care than a cat and just a bit less than a dog.
The good news is that they can be housetrained and are capable of learning endearing or entertaining tricks—including running an agility course—but their special needs include plenty of space to play, dig and kick, certain dietary restrictions, and training to become satisfactory housemates.
Rabbits are easy to care for in that their exercise needs can be met indoors. No need to take a rabbit for a walk. They do need space to play, though.
Hopping, Digging, Periscoping
A rabbit's natural behaviors, meaning activities that it is physically driven to do, include chewing, jumping up on things, digging and, yes, hopping around. The cages most often sold as hutches for rabbits rarely offer the amount of space they need to be active, says Mary Cvetan, co-founder of the Pittsburgh House Rabbit Society.
To keep a rabbit happy and physically fit, look for an exercise pen that is at least four feet wide by four feet high. That amount of space can contain a large litter box, a large cardboard box for the rabbit to hide in or hop on top of, and some toys. It also provides plenty of room for the rabbit to "periscope" (bob up and down) and play.
Place the pen in an indoor area where the carpet can be protected from scrabbling bunny paws, and make sure the rabbit has a safe and approved place to dig.
One of the advantages of rabbits as pets is that they can learn to use a litter box. Because they are herbivores who eat a vegan diet, their poop doesn't stink.
"You should never be able to smell a dirty litter box," Cvetan says. "That includes urine. If you're using the right litter, no one's going to know you have a rabbit in the house."
If a rabbit stops using its litter box, it's usually because something is wrong. The rabbit may have an injury, such as a sore on its paw, that makes it unwilling to dig in the litter, or it may have some other health problem that is causing the change in behavior. A trip to the veterinarian is in order. In cases where no physical problem can be identified, a change in the environment may have the bunny on edge.
Be sure to spay female rabbits, especially if they have a male partner. There's a reason some ancient societies considered rabbits fertility symbols. Females can get pregnant every 30 days and even while giving birth. They are also susceptible to uterine cancer if they are unspayed. A spayed female has a much longer lifespan than one that is unspayed.
The idea that rabbits are quiet pets is appealing. It's true that they aren't going to bark and annoy the neighbors, but it doesn't mean that rabbits don't make noise. They can thump loudly, and the sound of their digging is often an early-morning wake-up call for rabbit owners, whether they want one or not.
Careful With Carrots
Feeding a rabbit is simple. You're just going to give him carrots, right? Wrong! Peter Rabbit notwithstanding, carrots are high in sugar and quickly cause dietary upset. Rabbits are herbivores with distinct dietary needs. They need to eat grasses such as hay or timothy every day, along with some leafy greens such as cilantro, kale, dandelion greens or red leaf lettuce.
Pelleted diets are available but should be limited to one-quarter cup per day in addition to the hay and greens. Choose plain pellets, not the brands that look like a rabbit version of Lucky Charms cereal. It's easy to overfeed rabbits, but it's not good for them.
Keep treats to a minimum, and avoid giving anything with sugar, honey or seeds. Dairy products are out, too, so no yogurt drops. Too much sugar in a rabbit's diet causes painful and messy diarrhea. If you really want to give a sweet treat, Cvetan recommends high-fiber fruits such as a piece of organic apple that is mostly peel or a bit of strawberry with the green top still attached. Fruits such as bananas and carrots are too high in sugar. Whatever you give, the amount should be no larger than the joint end of your pinky finger.
Like any pet, rabbits may do things their owners don't like, such as jumping on the furniture, digging in the carpet, and biting. Training takes time, Cvetan says, but learning to understand a rabbit's body language allows you to teach it to replace unwanted activities with other behaviors instead, including tricks and activities such as running across a room and jumping over a hurdle, spinning in circles, or bobbing up and down like a prairie dog. Rabbits also love to run and twist in the air, then land facing a different direction, an activity that rabbit lovers call "binking."
"When they do it, it looks very joyful," Cvetan says. "They're awesome creatures."
February is Adopt a Shelter Rabbit Month. Orange County Animal Care currently has 18 bunnies available for adoption. Visit the OCAC facility at 561 The City Drive South in Orange, open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., 7 p.m. on Wednesdays.
Have you ever had a pet rabbit? Would you recommend one as a pet?
Tell us in the comments.
Janet Whitcomb
7:44 pm on Thursday, February 23, 2012
At various times during my teenage years I had seven pet rabbits. Each was different in personality, etc., but six of them were a special pleasure to have--the seventh and I were at loggerheads--and I would recommend bunnies to anyone who understands several things: 1) they live, max, five or six years, 2) they can be litterbox trained but this varies from bunny to bunny, and 3) they do love to dig and gnaw, so you have to be ready to give them options and keep them away from things that you don't want destroyed or that might hurt them.
As for small children being given bunnies . . . well, I cringe, unless the child has a patient and quiet nature and understands that bunnies are not for chasing. I remember one of my friend's children getting a baby bunny. Katie loved the bunny, but she also shrieked a lot, so Baby Bunny didn't have a chance. About three weeks later Mom went out to clean the cage--right, that was another problem, the child was not made responsible--and found four little paws up in the air. The End.
Mary Cvetan
8:00 am on Friday, February 24, 2012
Hi Janet, great comment, but I disagree about the life span. They live 8-12 years and longer. My first rabbit died at age 11 from pneumonia -- otherwise very healthy. I've had dozens of bunnies visit my house and I cannot think of a single one that died at age six. That's mid-life! I even had one here who was --14 years old -- and full of life until his final hour. Sweet little Toby. We just got one at the shelter who is 10 years old. She is vibrant. So ... this animal a long-term commitment. (And yes, far too much for a CHILD to handle!) ...Mary Cvetan, Co-founder, Pittsburgh House Rabbit Club
Janet Whitcomb
1:08 pm on Friday, February 24, 2012
Sorry about the life span goof, Mary! Our bunnies never went beyond six or perhaps seven years of age, although Harvey—a big white rabbit, of course!—was a stray, so we weren’t sure how old he was when he passed away. Our enchanting Siamese bunny, Samantha (named after the nose-wriggling Bewitched character), was the longest-lived, and I recall that she was either six or seven at the time.
We'd had cats first, and they typically lived into their teens. But as Sammy matured and became less energetic, my mom did brace me for the possibility she would not be as long-lived as our cats. That was, unfortunately, our experience with Sam and the subsequent six—and hopefully not a self-fulfilling prophecy—so I am heartened to learn that bunnies can live longer than I originally thought. Thank you for the correction!
By the way, one of my favorites was a Dutch male dwarf, Baxter, whom we later realized was epileptic. He was a sweetheart of a bunny—more like a puppy, as he'd always run up when called—but despite our care and vigilance, he passed away around the age of three.
Another problem we encountered: our local veterinarians typically were more focused on dogs and cats, and some flat-out told us rabbits were not within their venue. But all of this was some time ago, and I would imagine vet care for bunnies has become more prevalent.
Anyway, the bottom line, regarding ownership? Bunnies make terrific pets, but NOT for small, excitable children!
Mary Cvetan
2:06 pm on Friday, February 24, 2012
Janet, You're right, it has a lot to do with vet care. Rabbit medicine has improved so, so much, even in the short time I've lived with them (10 years). I've worked with hundreds of rabbit owners and have taken many late-night panicked calls about sick bunnies. In dogs and cats, anorexia is not an immediate emergency ... in rabbits, who are herbivores that cannot vomit, sudden lack of eating is a very urgent medical problem and often fatal. I know a rabbit who is in remission from cancer!! It's really wonderful to watch owners and vets learn and keep these awesome pets going into their true golden years.
Myfanwy Abernethy
4:40 am on Thursday, March 1, 2012
Hi. I have a +-9wk old bunny. A week ago she was found by the neighbour's cat (through electric fencing!) I think the cat literally "lucked" upon her as she was hiding in our shed where bunny is allowed to freely wander. Long story short, Rufus (she) is alive and well. Very responsive and loving the attention, but has not yet been able to stand on her own. The vet first gave anti-biotics for the cat bite and now an anti-inflammatory as her front legs and shoulder area appear immobile. There does not seem to be any neurological damage. I'm feeding her the usual amount of pellets she ate before(+-65g) throughout the day when I'm home and only when she takes it - pellet by pellet - as I don't want to over-feed her, but I am afraid she is losing weight and will not have the strength to stand when/if the time comes for her to do so. How can I ensure her safe and correct recovery?
Mary Cvetan
7:17 am on Thursday, March 1, 2012
Hi Myfanwy ... did your vet take an X-ray to check for broken bones? If you are in CA you might want to contact the national House Rabbit Society ... they have chapters in your state and may have someone near you who can help. Most vets are not qualified to treat rabbits, and even the rabbit vets I use vary in their ability to diagnose and treat difficult cases like yours. I am so sorry this happened to your bunny and this is why I beg people to keep their rabbits inside unless someone is outside supervising them. Cats and raccoons are very wily and determined, and I've heard so many stories like yours over the years. Keep your bunny's face clean for her ... she won't be able to wash it with her front paws. Don't use soap!! Just moisten your fingertips with water and run it over her cheeks and eyes. Poor little bunny!!! I'm glad she has a loving human.