Are Rabbits Hard Or Easy To Take Care Of?
There are numerous animals people can choose to keep as pets, such as dogs, cats, turtles, horses, rabbits, and many more. Some of them are easier to take care of, while others are harder to look after.
If you’re looking for a pet rabbit, a question might be lingering in your mind, are rabbits easy to take care of? For adults, rabbits are easier to take care of. When it comes to children, they’re pretty harder to look after. In both cases, rabbits have some ease and some difficulties to take care of.
Now, you might be wondering how easy or hard rabbits are to look after and what the easiest rabbit is to take care of. In this article, we’re going to talk about that to help you decide whether a rabbit is a right pet for you or not.
Read Also: Why Is My Rabbit Always Hungry? Full Blog
How Easy Is It To Take Care Of A Rabbit?
Rabbits are easier to take care of because they’re quiet, loving, and can easily be litter trained. They don’t usually need a lot of space to walk and sleep. They can even get along with other pets. Let’s check them out in detail.
1. Rabbits Are Quiet
Rabbits are quieter than other common pets, especially dogs and cats. However, they may just thump their hindfoot if got scared or aggressive. Typically, they don’t make much more noise than that.
If you own a pet rabbit, he/she won’t wake your baby up from the nap. Besides, rabbits are great pets for those who have sound sensitiveness. Your neighbors can’t complain about your bunny making too much noise.
2. Rabbits Are Indoor Pets
Rabbits are, in general, indoor pets. That’s why they can keep themselves safe from predators, such as large hawks, owls, coyotes, foxes, and bobcats. Besides, pesticides attack them a little.
You can provide your bunny with outdoor space or take him for a walk. Surprisingly, rabbits don’t require them. This is because rabbits can be great pets for those who are not active or don’t go outdoors.
3. Rabbits Can Live in A Small Place
As a general rule of thumb, the space that is enough for you is also enough for your rabbit. In general, rabbits don’t require a lot of space to live in. A cage or hutch measuring 4 feet × 2 feet is enough space for a pet bunny.
Unlike dogs and cats, rabbits don’t barrel into things and knock over tables. In addition, rabbits don’t mind sharing space with you and your family. If you live in a small apartment, petting a rabbit can be the best option.
4. Rabbits Require A Few Essentials
If you’re willing to pet a rabbit, there is a piece of good news for you. Rabbits don’t require a lot of pieces of stuff. They just need at least a 4 feet × 2 feet cage, a little bed, a pellet bowl, and a water bottle.
In order to let your bunny play, you have to give him some plastic baby toys, which can be chewed and tossed. Most importantly, your bunny requires a litter box. Make sure to place the box inside the cage.
5. Rabbits Can Easily Be Litter Trained
Similar to cats, rabbits can easily be litter trained. They usually take 8 to 15 days to thoroughly learn how to use a litter box. If your bunny is not litter trained, he might spray everywhere to mark their territory.
Cleaning a litter box is pretty simple; just empty the box first and then rinse it with soapy water. Don’t use bleach or ammonia because rabbits are sensitive to smells. If you use such chemicals, your bunny may avoid the box.
6. Rabbits Are Herbivores
Since rabbits are herbivores, feeding them is almost hassle-free. Good quality grass and hay and fresh, clean drinking water make up the majority of the diet. As a daily treat, rabbits love to feast on different types of vegetables.
Also, pellets, made from hay, are a part of a rabbit’s diet. Young rabbits require more than adults. In addition, rabbits can eat various fruits, especially bananas, grapes, oranges, cherries, berries, and apples (no seeds).
7. Rabbits Get Along Other Pets
Rabbits are social animals. They can get along with other rabbits, and even other pets, such as cats, birds, guinea pigs, and well-behaved dogs. All the pets can be good friends, but it takes time.
So, if you own a single rabbit, you have to give him/her plenty of attention. Otherwise, he/she feels bored, stressed, and lonely. We would recommend you keep a couple of pet rabbits together.
How Hard Is It To Look After A Rabbit?
Rabbits are harder to look after in some cases. For example, they require a lot of grooming, an expensive diet, plenty of love and attention, a lot of exercise, and a specific type of vet. Let’s check them out in detail.
1. Rabbits Have A Specific And Expensive Diet
Although rabbits’ diet is specific (they’re herbivorous), their diet is expensive. You cannot feed your bunny anything from your kitchen. You have to purchase pellets (alfalfa pellets for young ones) and different types of fruits.
Aside from pellets made of hay, you have to give your bunny hay and vegetables. Your bunny requires all these in multiple quantities. Besides, providing your bunny with different types of treats is time-consuming.
2. Rabbits Require A Lot Of Grooming
Rabbits are often thought of as low-maintenance pets, but they actually need quite a bit of grooming. Their fur can get matted and dirty, and they are constantly growing new nails.
Grooming helps keep your rabbit clean and healthy. It prevents their fur from getting matter, keeps their fur clean, and helps them stay cool in the summer. Although it’s a great way to bond with your bunny, it takes a lot of patience.
3. Rabbits Often Chew Things
Rabbits have to chew a lot so that their teeth don’t become too long. To help your bunny out, buy blocks and plastic baby toys. But the problem is your bunny may start chewing and licking things, like furniture and cords.
In order to prevent your bunny from chewing your valuable things, you can keep him/her somewhere else, especially in the cage with some treats and the litter box to pee and poop, particularly when you’re not at home.
4. Rabbits Can Be Very Fragile Pets
Rabbits’ bones are so weak. If you hold them too tight or in the wrong way, or they drop from too high, serious injuries could occur. Apart from that, they can easily get sick with abscesses, stomachs, and even cancer.
If your rabbit is injured or affected by a disease, then you have to take him/her for medical check-ups. For your information, a single medical check-up may require 25 to 55 USD, which is quite expensive for many rabbit owners.
5. Rabbits Require Special Vets
This brings us another issue of looking after rabbits. Most standard vets are for cats and dogs. When it comes to rabbits, rabbit owners have to look for special vets for treatment, and they’re more expensive.
Besides, these vets are not always out there. That’s why rabbit owners may have to travel long distances, which takes a lot of money and precious time. It’s necessary to know which vet is always available nearby for your bunny.
6. Rabbits Need A Lot Of Love And Attention
As bunnies are social animals, they require plenty of love and attention from humans or other rabbits. If you cannot give your bunny enough attention, he/she might feel bored and depressed.
Petting a second rabbit can help reduce the loneliness of your bunny. But you may have to spend quality time with both of them. Most importantly, maintaining two rabbits at the same time may require a lot of money.
Are Rabbits Expensive To Care For?
Yes, rabbits are pretty expensive to care for. On average, you may have to spend around 500 to 800 USD a year. The ongoing expenses of a rabbit range from 20 to 30 USD a month. A single medical check-up requires 25 to 55 USD.
As rabbits are prone to various diseases, you may have to take your bunny to a professional vet every now and then. If your bunny is healthy and under 5 years old, take a yearly check-up plan. Keep an additional fund for emergencies.
What Is The Easiest Breed Of Rabbit To Take Care Of?
There are some easy-to-take-care-of rabbit breeds, such as the chinchilla rabbit, the harlequin rabbit, the holland lop, the Himalayan rabbit, the lionhead rabbit, and the mini rex. In our opinion, the dwarf rabbit is the easiest to look after.
Aside from being small and compact, dwarf rabbits require low maintenance. Only a few hours of playtime and exercise every day is enough for them. So, this rabbit breed is perfect for first-time rabbit owners and busy families.
How To Take Care of A Rabbit
Rabbits can be relatively easy to take care of, but there are some essential things to remember to keep them healthy and happy. Here are some important tips you should follow:
1. Provide Your Bunny Exercise Every Day
A good rule of thumb is to provide at least 10 minutes of exercise per day for every pound your rabbit weighs. Let your rabbit run around in a safe, enclosed area, or provide a large cage with plenty of toys and space to run and jump.
2. Offer Your Bunny Healthy Diet
The best way of taking care of a rabbit is to provide him/her with a healthy diet, including hay, grass, fresh vegetables, and a small number of pellets. You should also offer your rabbit fresh water at all times.
3. Give Your Bunny A Comfortable Place To Live
A good rabbit home includes a spacious cage or hutch with plenty of room for your bunny to move around. The cage or hutch should also include a litter box and plenty of toys and chew toys.
4. Spend Some Time with Your Bunny Every Day
As rabbits are social animals, you should spend some time with your bunny every day to build a bond. This may include brushing your rabbit, playing with him/her, and just spending time talking to him/her.
5. Allow Your Bunny To Socialize
Rabbits need to be able to socialize and interact with other rabbits or their human companions. This helps them stay healthy and happy, so be sure to provide plenty of opportunities for your rabbit to play and interact.
Wrapping Up
Compared to other pets, rabbits are relatively easy to take care of. They don’t require a lot of space. Hay and fresh vegetables are mostly their diets. They just need some attention. If you can provide that, they will be great pets.
However, we hope you have enjoyed reading this article. We think that rabbits are easy to take care of. Do you think the same as we thought? Leave comments below. Keep in touch with us on Twitter, and Pinterest.
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