Is A Pet Rabbit Right For Me?

Rabbits are naturally fairly shy animals, and it will take time for them to get to know and trust you. They also get lonely very easily and can become very unhappy if they do not have regular company.

Spend time with your pet rabbit, stroking and grooming it, and playing with it. Doing this regularly will increase the bond between you and your rabbit, and will help to keep your rabbit happy.

Pet Rabbits Need Space

Rabbits are energetic animals, and need to have space to run around and get some exercise at least once a day. This can be in an enclosed run in the garden that is large enough to run around in, just being allowed out in a secure garden with constant supervision, or being allowed to run around in the house with your supervision.

Pet Rabbits Need Care

Rabbits are intelligent animals, but they can not look after themselves in the domestic environment. A pet rabbit relies on you to give it a safe and clean place to live and provide the correct food and a supply of fresh water to drink. This means allowing time & commitment regularly for feeding and cleaning.

Pet rabbits also need to be handled carefully, and generally do not like being picked up or carried. They have fairly weak skeletons that can easily be damaged by mis-handling them, or by the rabbit struggling whilst being carried.

Pet Rabbits Need Money (or How Much Do Pet Rabbits Cost??)

Pet rabbits do not generally cost much to buy, sometimes even nothing at all if you adopt a bunny from a rescue centre. Providing everything that your pet rabbit needs will cost significantly more money.

Approximate costs for buying what your pet rabbit needs (in pounds sterling):

• Cage or hutch: £50 – £200 or more. Indoor cages start at around £50, with outdoor hutches and runs starting at around £80-100. You need a cage or hutch big enough for the size of rabbit.
• Accessories: £50. Food bowl, water bottle, brush, claw clippers, toys, carrying basket.
• Food: £2 – £5 per week. Hay, dried food and small amounts of fresh food.
• Bedding: £2 – £3 per week. Wood shavings, straw or other rabbit bedding.
• Neutering: £40 – £80. Male rabbits usually a little cheaper than female rabbits.
• Vaccinations: £20 – £50 per year. Myxomatosis and VHD.
• Other Medical Expenses: Vets fees vary depending on the illness or injury, and can cost hundreds of pounds for serious illness or injury. Rabbit insurance can cost around £40 – £50 per year.

These are to give you an indication of what you will need, and the costs involved. For more accurate information, contact your local pet shops and vets.

Pet Rabbits Need Children to be Supervised

Rabbits make excellent pets for a family, and are often associated with children. Children should be taught to treat the pet rabbit gently and calmly, and to interact with the rabbit on the ground. Due to the ease with which rabbits can be injured by mis-handling, it is best not to allow children to pick the rabbit up. The larger breeds of rabbit are too big to be picked up by small children, and are also generally calmer, which makes them ideal as family pets.