Rabbits are a group of small, curious, social mammals in the Lagomorphia family. Many people mistakenly believe that they are easy, low-maintenance pets. They’re not. They are every bit as big a commitment as a dog or cat and they require and deserve the same level of care and attention. Rabbits get dumped at shelters and rescues, and even in the wild*, at alarming rates, which is why it is crucial to do your homework before you decide whether to add a rabbit to your family. The three most important things to consider are:
Rabbits are NOT appropriate pets for young children
because they’re fragile. A rabbit's bones only account for about 8% of its body weight. Mishandling or dropping a rabbit can easily break its back. Rabbits do best in an environment without a lot of kinetic movement. An active small child can really scare or agitate a rabbit; and a sudden, loud noise can even kill a rabbit from fear (so you should be careful about using vacuum cleaners and hair dryers around them).
Rabbits are social animals who need a lot of attention.
Your bunny relies on you for company, and they can be very cuddle hungry. Rabbits don't do well in isolation. They develop separation anxiety so if you're gone for long stretches at a time, a bunny is not for you. Many people get another rabbit as a companion, but you should remember that another rabbit is twice the responsibility. Consider your work/time restrictions and priorities.
Rabbits need specialized veterinary care.
An experienced ‘exotic’ veterinarian is a necessity. Check on the availability and cost of local veterinarians who treat rabbits and make sure there is one near you. It can be difficult to find a vet that services rabbits; and they are expensive. Rabbits should be spayed or neutered, preferably at around 6 months of age, for their own health and to prevent spraying urine. If you get a male-female it is vital that you get them sterilized before they can multiply. Rabbits multiply like CRAZY.
Disadvantages
Rabbits have specialized dietary needs and delicate gastrointestinal tracts.
80% of their diet consists of hay (they need a constant supply) along with a few vegetables, leafy greens and water. Unfortunately, there are a lot of foods they love that are not good for them in any sizable quantity, such as carrots and fruit. Rabbits don’t have any eating sense. That’s why rabbit-proofing your house is a necessity (no dangling wiring on the floor, no shoelaces/shoes/socks, etc.).
Rabbits need plenty of space.
Although they will tolerate being locked in a cage, you should give them as much freedom as possible for their personality and affection to develop. All rabbits need at least an hour of floor time per day to jump around, to run, to stretch, to experience other stimuli and to deepen their bond with you. Ideally, they should be allowed to roam throughout the house when you’re at home and be confined to a large room (that contains a large cage, litter box, hiding areas, blankets, hay, water, sticks to chew on and toys to play with) when you're not there.
Rabbits can be very messy and destructive.
Their enclosures must be cleaned at least weekly. Hay and litter will get scattered around and you will be constantly cleaning up stray bits of hay. Even bunnies that are litter box trained will scatter poop sometimes as a way of marking territory. Because they have an instinctive need to chew and they can’t differentiate between chew toys and your furniture, baseboards, or electrical cords, they are potentially very destructive. They will chew on anything.
Rabbits can be territorial and aggressive.
If they feel that you are in their space, they will not hesitate to fight you, and they fight dirty. They can and will bite you hard enough to draw blood.
Advantages:
Rabbits are one of the most environmentally friendly pets you can have.
They eat hay and otherwise discarded vegetables (bunny favorites are the parts of vegetables that humans don’t eat, such as carrot tops and cilantro stems) and their waste can be used to fertilize gardens. Having a vegan pet may also improve your own diet because it forces you to always have fresh food in the house.
Rabbits can be very affectionate and loving.
Since they are prey to bigger animals in the wild, they are nervous when lifted and held and it takes time for them to learn to trust you, but many will affectionately nose bump your ankles and enjoy being touched when they’re on the ground. They may hop in bed or on the couch with you and demand to be petted. When you have company, they will likely interact with people if no one is moving too fast. The average rabbit’s temperament has been described as between that of a cat and a dog (affectionate, yet also needing plenty of alone time). You can even train them to respond to their names.
Rabbits are quiet most of the time.
No barking, howling, meowing, or yowling (but you may hear some snuffles and grunts here and there).
Rabbits are fastidious about their own hygiene. If you keep their living area clean, they don't smell; and they never need a bath
Rabbits are easy to litter train.
You might occasionally have some random poop here and there, but, fortunately, rabbit poop is not offensive compared to other feces and it’s easily cleaned.
Rabbit acrobatics are fun to watch.
They do leaps, kicks and zoomies around the room, bouncing off the furniture, and binkying, which is an adorable rabbit behavior described as leaping straight up in the air and doing a sort of half twist. It’s a sure sign of a happy bunny.
Rabbits are ideal for busy families
Rabbits are ideal for busy families because they are most active in the early morning and twilight, when families are home, and they nap most of the rest of the time.
They can live up to 12 years
For many people, the advantages of owning a rabbit outweigh the disadvantages. If you are one of those people, you should still consider fostering before making a commitment.
After the decision is made, please adopt! Adoption is easy. There are many rabbits available for free or for a very small amount of money that need homes. It saves you money that you would otherwise spend just to get the animal home, and it gives an animal a second chance. Most bunnies are easily adaptable to a new environment.
Before bringing your bunny home, you need to get prepared, as follows: Locate an ‘exotic’ veterinarian; bunny proof your entire home (make sure there are no unprotected cords or cables on the floor that a bunny might mistake for roots, block cords and outlets with furniture so the rabbit cannot reach them, cover any carpet areas that your bunny is tempted to chew with a large ceramic tile or a plastic office chair mat, use plastic or decorative wood corner protectors on your baseboards and corners), prepare a special room that includes a large cage (with a hiding box & litter box inside); toys, rabbit food (good quality hay, leafy vegetables, etc.) and water.
Domestic rabbits are not wild animals, and they are not equipped to survive in the wild because they lack survival skills. Dumping a domestic rabbit in the wild is a death sentence