Rabbit Care

The Realities of Living with a Rabbit

Each year post-Easter fun, the Montgomery County Humane Society (MCHS) receives a myriad of unwanted rabbits. Owners who were ill-prepared and now tired of daily care line up with sad looking children, cages and pellet bags in hand, to give up their “Easter” bunnies.

Good Samaritans also enter the office with domestic rabbits in cardboard boxes and laundry bins that they found outdoors; those that were set “free” by owners - a death sentence.

If you are thinking about bringing a pet bunny into your home this Easter, won’t you please make it a chocolate one or a cuddly stuffed toy instead? Or if you are determined to get a live rabbit, please do your research first and consider adopting a homeless bunny either from the Montgomery County Humane Society or another rescue organization which specialize in rabbits, such as RabbitWise or the House Rabbit Society.*

For the right people, rabbits are lovely indoor friends. They are affectionate, intelligent, curious, and can get along with cats and dogs if introduced properly. They can also quickly be litter box trained and move freely throughout a “bunny proofed” home.

Rabbits are social animals and can benefit from interaction with other animals. It’s a common myth that cats and dogs can’t get along with rabbits. If introduced properly, rabbits can coexist with both cats and dogs.

We strive to educate the community on pet needs and we like to steer people towards the right animals for their lifestyle. If you have young children (under 8) a rabbit may not be the best pet. Many rabbits will nibble or accidentally scratch, which can be scary to young children. Also, they are easily injured when dropped.

Rabbits can live 8 to 12 years and rely on owners for providing a proper diet, veterinary care, and safe environment. 80% of the rabbit's diet should be timothy hay, then fresh vegetables (ex: arugula, basil and boston lettuce), pellets, and finally treats (ex: carrots, bananas, and raisins).

What Parents Should Know

•Rabbits can be easily injured by mishandling, making them unsuitable companions for small or unsupervised children. They always need their hindquarters supported and should never be picked up by the ears.

•Rabbits are NOT low-maintenance pets!

•Rabbits are intelligent, social and creative beings with individual personalities, and insatiably curious. They can coexist with dogs, cats, and other small mammals if introduced properly and enjoy living with an appropriate rabbit companion.

•Initial estimated expenses including a rabbit, housing, litter and litter boxes, toys, a rabbit care book, and first vet exam are about $300 to $400. Annual expenses for food, litter, and routine vet care range from about $900 to $1100.

•You must "rabbit proof" your house because rabbits chew and dig. Failure to do so could result in a tragic end of your rabbit’s life.

•Rabbits need more than just pellets to lead happy and healthy lives. Their diet needs to be supplemented with a constant supply of Timothy Hay and one to two cups of fresh veggies per 5 pounds of rabbit per day. There are specific do’s and don’ts when it comes to appropriate vegetables (example: romaine and boston lettuce are acceptable, but iceberg lettuce is not).

•Rabbits come in different breeds and sizes. The larger they are, the larger habitat they need.

•Rabbits should never be bathed, seated in direct sunlight, or caged in high humidity areas such as bathrooms or basements.

Resources:

RabbitWise
E: rabbitwise@verizon.net
www.rabbitwise.org

Make Mine Chocolate!
E: mmcinfo@makeminechocolate.org
www.makeminechocolate.org

Recommended Reading:

Harriman, Marinell (1995). House Rabbit Handbook: How to Live With an Urban Rabbit (4th ed.) Alameda, CA: Drollery Press.
Smith, Kathy (revised 2003). Rabbit Health in the 21st Century: A Guide For Bunny Parents. Kansas City, MO: krsbunny@worldnet.att.net.

*MCHS Approved Rabbit Rescue Groups:

House Rabbit Society
Kathleen Wilsbach   (410) 889-4104
kwilsbach@mac.com or kathleen@rabbit.org
 
Rabbitwise, Inc.
www.rabbitwise.org
Lana Lehr (301) 350-1252
rabbitwise@verizon.net
 
Some Bunny Luvs Me
Lesly Flemming (301) 879-4504

Bunny Lu Adoptions  
(703) 355-9176
maryellen@bunnylu.org
askrabbitlady@hotmail.com
 
Rabbit Allies of Ct.         
www.rabbitalliesct.org
Catrin Frolich (203) 838-2483
info@rabbitalliesct.org