Ten things to check before you adopt a house rabbit
Adopting a House Rabbit.
It is a major commitment to welcome a new arrival to your home.
Below are ten things to check before you adopt a house rabbit from Farplace Animal Rescue or any rescue centre.
- If you rent the house, does your landlord agree to you having rabbits?
- Does everyone in the household agree with you? Rabbits are part of the family and can live 10 years or more, so make sure everyone is on-board before you commit to them.
- Make sure you adopt two (or more) bonded rabbits. They are social animals and form close relationships if the bonding is done right.
- Make sure your rabbits are neutered before you adopt them. This will prevent unwanted litters, a lot of behavioural problems and will stop uterine cancer in females.
- Bunny-Proof their room(s), making sure there are no chewing hazards. Bunnies can’t resist electric wires, landline phone wires and houseplants.
- Do you have a rabbit-savvy vet? Not all vets are experienced with rabbits. Rabbits need annual vaccination boosters, but emergencies can happen too.
- Do you have the right food for your rabbits? Rabbits eat hay. LOTS of good quality hay. They also appreciate a varied diet of herbs and a small quantity of pellets. Don’t forget water – provided in both a bowl and a water bottle.
- Do you have bunny-safe toys? A treat ball stuffed with pellets, or a willow tunnel are just two of the fun toys your rabbits will enjoy.
- Is the accommodation big enough? We recommend a minimum 10ft x 6ft overall space with a run height of 3ft. In metric that is approx. 3m x 2m with a height of 1m. Giant rabbits will need more than this.
- Have you planned for unexpected vet fees? Some people take out a pet insurance policy to help cushion the blow of emergency bills. Others prefer to have a dedicated bank account.