Its easy to find a rabbit, you can go to a breeder, a pet store or RSPCA or your local rescue shelter nearly always have rabbits.
If you are looking for a certain breed you may want to go to a breeder, a pet store sells rabbits fairly cheap and will nearly always have them available, RSPCA or your local animal shelter also have rabbits available adopting is a good choice you can get different age rabbits and RSPCA can tell you about their personality and what kind of family they are suited to.
RABBIT CARE:
rabbits are fairly easy to look after, you can house a rabbit alone although it is recommended you keep them in pairs because they are social animals and enjoy having a friend.
Rabbits need a large enough cage so they can easily move around, have a place to eat, drink and sleep.
Its important that some part of the cage is covered so the rabbit can go there to feel safe if its scared, or to get out of bad weather conditions.
Rabbits also need plenty of exercise some breeds will be more active than others. For exercise you can let them jump around your backyard under supervision, or you could get a rabbit run that you can move around the grass which is great for hot days for your rabbit to relax on the grass in the shade.
The cage itself should be in a place that isn't going to get too hot in summer or too cold/wet in winter.
THINGS YOU NEED INSIDE THE CAGE:
first of all you will need a water bottle, bottles are the best form to provide water for your rabbit, unlike a water bowl they can't be knocked over and your rabbit won't get dehydrated. The water should be changed daily.
Food: there are many different types of food bowls, try and get one that's heavy so you're rabbit can't knock it over and make a mess, or one that attach's to the side of the cage.
Bedding: rabbits need a soft absorbent bedding in their cage, I use pet hay, you can get this at most pet stores. (and rabbits also like to eat it )
toys: some rabbits will like to play with toys, others won't. You can get wooden blocks and other toys for your rabbit to chew on.
NUTRITION:
rabbits should be fed a commercial rabbit mix with a variety of grains,seeds and vegetables.
Fresh fruit and vegetables should be offered to your rabbits as well.
GROOMING: if you have a longhaired rabbit you will need to groom it, some rabbits enjoy being brushed others don't. So if you need to groom your rabbit, try getting it used to being groomed small amounts at a time & give it rewards :)
CLEANING THE CAGE:
The cage should be cleaned out weekly, to do this you should remove the rabbit and put it somewhere safe.
You should then remove the water, food and any toys. Remove the bedding in the cage and then the cage should be scrubbed out and hosed down. You can buy pet disinfected from most petstores and find one that is safe for small animals.
QUESTIONS:
Can I have a male and female rabbit together?
You can house a male and female together, but its best to get them neutered or spayed.
spaying your female rabbit can have many benefits it can reduce aggression and helps prevent them developing cancer. Its recommended to de-sex both male and female rabbits if you wish to house them together unless of course you are using them for breeding.
Can I house a rabbit with a Guinea pig?
Guinea pigs and rabbits have been known to get alone, but its best they aren't housed together.
Rabbits are much stronger than guinea pigs and can often hurt a Guinea pig accidentally and severely injure it.
Guinea pigs also have different nutritional needs to rabbits.
How much do rabbits cost to keep?
Rabbits are cheap to look after once you get past the intial cost.
When you first get your rabbit you are going to need cage you can buy cages from as little as $50 to over $100 the cage you choose is up to you and what you can afford.
rabbits in pet stores depending on their breed can be priced from $25-$50
adopting a rabbit from an animal shelter can be more expensive, this is usually because you are also paying for any vet treatment/check ups they may have had and vaccinations. But its worth the price when you are helping an animal in need of a new home. Adoption fee is usually around $75 depending on the rabbit.
can rabbits be kept indoors?
Yes! lots of rabbit owners are now keeping rabbits indoors, rabbits are easily litter trained and love to be a part of a family. You can have your rabbit indoors in a cage, pen or just running around. Just make sure there is no areas the rabbit might harm itself or chew on something left lying around.
do rabbits bite?
rabbits rarely bite, I have had my rabbit for 4 years and she has never bit me. She is also always around young children who pat her and pull her ears but have never bitten them either. Rabbits usually only bite if they are scared or have been hurt. So if young children are around make sure they are supervised and don't do anything to hurt or scare the rabbit. Rabbits are very trusting animals, once part of your family and they feel safe they shouldn't be afraid of you and should be great pets.
will rabbits get along with cats and dogs?
lots of people own both rabbits and cats/dogs. Its important that your rabbits cage is secure, that here is no way a dog or cat may get to your rabbit and the rabbit has a wooden or enclosed part of the cage it can go in a hide if it is scared.
Many rabbits get along fine with cats and dogs. When you first get a rabbit your cats or dog might be very interested in it, once they realise they can't get it they will most likely lose interest. When the dog or cat is used to you having a rabbit try holding the rabbit on your lap and letting your dog or cat have a look or sniff.
My cats get along fine with my rabbit, the cats sleep on top of the rabbit cage and the rabbit doesn't care at all. I got my rabbit as a baby and already had 2 cats... at first the cats watched her a lot and lost interest it never seemed to bother the rabbit.
Now my rabbit can run around the back yard and my cats don't chase her. Although I wouldn't leave them alone together!
I don't own a dog at the moment, but we used to have a small poodle x dog and she didn't bother the rabbit either. We often have family friends that bring their dogs over they have a : border collie, dalmatian and a cocker spaniel. And once again they don't take any notice to the rabbit. But it all depends on the animal. so just introduce slowly and supervise :)
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