What to Know Before Adopting a Rabbit:

Parenting a house rabbit can be one of the greatest joys you will ever know. A hasty decision to keep a bunny can be a disaster and worst of all create unnecessary suffering for the rabbit. Before bringing one of these adorable creatures, who may seem docile to you, into your home, please realize that your household needs to accommodate the bunny, not the reverse.

Rabbits are by no means appropriate pets for kids of any age. They are very delicate, don't enjoy being handled despite popular beliefs, and are not docile. Rabbits are not easy or inexpensive to care for properly. Young children naturally grab what interests them in an effort to explore; the best way to strike utter terror in a rabbit is to grab them. Older children loose interest, after the novelty of the bunny wears off or as he grows bigger, especially if the rabbit is housed outdoors. Too often rabbits are purchased for the kids instead of being a whole family pet, with the adult upholding the primary tie and care-giving responsibilities .

Adopting a rabbit from a reputable shelter or rescue, most often, will ensure that the rabbit is already spayed or neutered, that the bunny will be housed indoors, and that you are provided with the proper education to care for your rabbit appropriately. So many times I have heard people say "no one told me that" when I share very basic rabbit care. This is usually the result of a bunny being purchased at a pet store or given to the family as a gift, two fatal mistakes. To my disgust I also hear stories of carelessness where the bunny dies, unneccesarily due to carelessness or lack of information. These situations almost always could been avoided by the person having simple rabbit care education, being willing to keep their bunny indoors or not having them in the first place.

Pet rabbits should never be kept outside under any circumstances for numerous physical and emotional safety reasons. Many rationalize that rabbits in the wild live outside- domestic rabbits are far different from wild rabbits and have separate needs. Humans, who are much sturdier then rabbits, once lived in the wild too and would have a very difficult time with the outdoor elements in this age. Rabbits are the most delicate creatures of all species. The outdoors presents hazards of extreme hot and cold which are potentially fatal. In all weather they can die of fright from a nearby predator. Even if the cage is secure and the predator is unable to access them, they can still litterally scare a bunny to death. Flies and mosquitoes are also fatal to rabbits. Mosquito carry a disease called mixamitosis, fatal to rabbits, for which there is no cure and the only prevention is indoor living. Flies can kill a bunny by giving them maggots which can also be fatal. An outdoor rabbit is also especially vulnerable to acts of cruelty and theft for sale to laboratories, both of which are not uncommon. This is why a well cared for house rabbit can live more then 10 years, whereas an outdoor rabbit is lucky to make it to five years old.

Beyond the physical need of a rabbit, the emotional well being of a rabbit is maximized by living with people. Domestic rabbits bond very closely with their human caregiver, sadly even if the caregiver is inadequate. They enjoy human contact and being part of your family or household and your daily activities. Furthermore, rabbits are shelter animals- being prey animals they feel safer inside as opposed to the wide open outdoors where they are vulnerable. Often well meaning folks, who enjoy the outdoors themselves, project their human needs and preferences on rabbits by believing that they are also happier in the great outdoors.

If I have convinced you that a pet bunny belongs inside the home please read on. If you don't please don't keep a rabbit as a pet; any outdoor rabbit up for adoption or for sale is set up for a life of misery, depression, loneliness, and danger.

With a few exceptions, rabbits are naturally communal and highly social. It is a good idea to adopt a pair or a companion for an existing bunny. A bunny does much better with at least one companion.

Rabbits are very delicate creature making them vulnerable to a variety of medical issues that are often quite costly. If a rabbit does not get immediate medical attention, when needed, it can become fatal fast. One of my rabbits Panda's rear molars have malocclusions. I have to get his back teeth trimmed regularly, which costs an average of $100 per clipping since this procedure requires anesthesia. I did not know this prior to adopting him; it is important to be prepared for any special needs a rabbit may have that will cost more then expected. I also have a blind bunny who needs regular appointments to our animal ophthalmologist, which cost $100 just to walk through the front door.

Having a rabbit indoors is a wonderful experience. For myself and thousands of others worldwide it has been an amazing life transformation. It is a joy known only to those who have lived it; still it is not for everyone, even the greatest animal lovers or professionals. Learning how to care for a domestic rabbit is like going to college for Associate of Science degree- lots of reading, and listening to your specialized vet is essential. A truly devoted bunny parent will also attend special rabbit care workshops. Information is crucial in having a healthy happy bunny who will live a long life. My devotion to my rabbits caused me to relocate so we could be near an exotic specialist, which is essential for a rabbit.

With few exceptions, rabbits can be very destructive. If you could see my books and many of my clothes this would be quite clear. If you are attached to material belongings, more then you are the bunny who is destroying them, it is best not bring home the bunny in the first place. Even with diligent bunny-proofing around the house, a smart and determined bunny will manage to get into just about anything- you have to be one step ahead of them, as much as possible. More importantly, you have to be willing to loose a few material belongings, spend money on household repairs or sacrifice part of your security deposit. Three of my rabbits managed to find their way up to the top of the refrigerator and rabbits are supposed to be afraid of heights!

Safety for a house rabbit requires skilled meticulousness. They like to dig and chew. This is a natural instinct for them. Chewing and digging keeps their teeth and toenails from overgrowing and satisfies their avid curiosity. A house bunny caregiver needs to have alternatives to satifsfy digging and chewing needs. The potential hazards for bunnies are cord chewing and carpet burrowing. Chewing cords can electrocute an innocent bunny on a mission of mischief. Cords need to be thoroughly covered and out of reach. Burrowing in the carpet also involves tearing with their teeth which causes them to ingest very harmful carpet fibers. Since rabbits are unable to spit up hair balls as cats are, they can get intestinal blockages that can be potentially fatal. When my bunny Sylvia-Star burrowed in the carpet causing her to stop eating and pooping I took her to the vet right away. When faced with this scenario, I personally did not expend any energy worrying about the carpet! Sylvia-Star is no longer allowed in the living room where the carpet is.

To keep your bunny out of trouble it is important to be very creative. Most of my bunnies have been so mischievous I honestly believe that is why fate brought them to me- because I am resourceful and no circumstance would ever cause me to give a bunny up. First of all you need lots of toys. Bunnies are highly intelligent creatures and need stimulation constantly. The more mischievous the bunny the more redirection they need. One way to redirect them is with toys. Hard plastic infant toys that can be rolled and tossed are a good start. There are also several businesses that cater to bunnies, like "The Busy Bunny" that make toys that can be safely chewed. My bunny Lilly-Moon loved to jump up on the counters and push bottles, cups and whatever else she could find onto the floor and watch as they hit the floor. To redirect her I put dozens of her toys on top of her habitat (cage)

For most of my rabbits I have had to create games for them to keep them occupied and out of trouble. I use cereal boxes and egg cartons to creatively hide their favorite food so that they have to sniff, search, toss, dig, and chew to get to it. It is much easier to keep a bunny out of trouble or harms way if they can be separated from dangerous temptations or things you would rather they not destroy.

Until recently, I lived in one room studios giving my bunnies access to just about everything. This makes bunny proofing very difficult and my love of my rabbits was my motivation to make it work. In my current apartment my naughty bunnies have their own room- everything in this room belongs to them and is for them. Corded items completely covered and are limited to necessity, like air filtration. (Panda has allergies) Their room is not carpeted. The only challenge in their room is the bed. Evem if they believe that it is their bed, it is where I have to sleep so I would prefer they not burry in it, although they do. Sylvia-Star, even though she is spayed, gets the overwhelming urge to burrow during springtime. I have to cover it with plywood when they aren't supervised to keep the mattress in tact.

If these facts have not completely deterred you from bringing a bunny into your home, I would say do more research (I have only scratched the surface) and consider adopting a bunny from a shelter or rescue. I recommend going through a rescue like your local House Rabbit Society chapter because they have the resources, that often a good shelter will use, to provide all necessary education. If you do decide to bring a rabbit (or two) into your home, accepting their destructive nature, you will fall in love fast and experience a joy like none other.

If you have any questions about House Rabbits that I have not covered feel free to ask in the comment section or consult with listed online resources.

Online resources are for further information and are not affiliated with Candice Silsby.