How to Create a Bond with Rabbits

Set aside a comfortable space for the rabbit. Your rabbit may not like being cuddled because it doesn’t feel safe in your home yet. You can help your rabbit acclimate by creating a quiet, comfortable space that can protect your rabbit from other pets in the house. You can even put the rabbit in a cage and put it in a separate room to create a sense of security, free from disturbances and shocks, although such a position will result in less interaction with people and may ultimately result in less human interaction. make it harder for rabbits to acclimate to your home. ^[15]

• Choose an area in your home that allows your rabbit to interact and observe everyone in the family on a daily basis, but still be discreet enough that the rabbit won’t be scared by the chaos of daily life. ^[16]
• Make sure to maintain a comfortable temperature in your rabbit’s room. Most rabbit breeds need a stable temperature between 15.5 and 21 degrees Celsius. Temperatures above or below this range can be fatal to rabbits. ^[17]
• Place the rabbit cage in a place that won’t get direct sunlight. A shady environment will help regulate the temperature and help keep the rabbit from overheating. ^[18]

Create a play space for the rabbit. Exercise is an important part of a rabbit’s life, and playtime is often the best exercise time. If the rabbit’s cage is not large enough for the rabbit to run around, you should create an enclosed space (preferably indoors) for the rabbit to run around and play inside. ^[19]

• The rabbit’s playground must be safe. Remove all electrical cords and other household items that you do not want your rabbit to chew on. If it’s an outdoor playground, make sure it’s fenced off so the rabbits can’t jump out. ^[20]
• Keep an eye on your rabbit whenever you let it out of the cage. Rabbits are curious animals and can easily get hurt or run into danger. ^[21]

Feed your rabbit with a suitable diet. One of the ways to make your rabbit like you is to feed it what it needs most.

• Rabbits need a constant source of hay, such as timothy grass (Phleum pratense) or pineapple grass (Bromus) to ensure their gastrointestinal health. ^[22]
• Feed your rabbit a pelleted formula with at least 15-19 percent protein and 18 percent fiber. Rabbits older than 6 months need to eat 1/8 – 1/4 cup of pellets per 2.5 kg of body weight per day. (Thus, a 5 kg rabbit, for example, should be fed 1/4 – 1/2 cup of food per day.) ^[23]
• Provide fresh vegetables for rabbits. Dark green lettuce, radish leaves, and carrot leaves are usually rabbit favorites. Rabbits should eat at least 2 cups of green vegetables for every 3 kg of weight. (So, for example, a 6 kg rabbit would need at least 4 cups of greens per day.) ^[24]
• Make sure your rabbit always has fresh and clean water to drink. You can use a special water bottle for rabbits or a sturdy water bowl that is not prone to tipping over. ^[25]

Give your rabbit lots of toys. Rabbits love to play. You can buy special toys for rabbits or make your own.

• Rabbits often need toys that can gnaw, dig, and hide. Empty cardboard boxes are great toys to start with, but you can get creative when buying toys to enrich your rabbit’s playtime. ^[26]

Patient. Let the rabbit out of the cage to run around and explore. You will find that at first rabbits like to hide in dark places like under sofas, beds or cupboards. But rabbits are curious little animals that will eventually succumb to the temptation to go out and explore their new home. You just need to give the rabbit time.

• When your rabbit is brave enough to come out of hiding and look around, sit quietly (preferably on the floor) and let the rabbit come close to you. Rabbits are extremely cute and have soft fur that makes you just want to pick them up and pet them, but don’t forget that rabbits are prey in the wild, and for the first day or two it won’t know you. eat it or not! So you should let it come to you first. Do not turn away if the rabbit sniffs and butts his nose at you. That’s a good sign that the rabbit is starting to trust you.

Know how to hold a rabbit properly. This step is often overlooked but is an important part of bonding with your rabbit. If done incorrectly, you can make the rabbit uncomfortable, struggling and trying to get out. This can hurt both you and your rabbit, as any strong impact can cause injury to your rabbit’s neck and spine.

• Hold gently but hold firmly. Do not squeeze the rabbit, but be sure to hold it firmly enough so that the rabbit does not fall or get out of hand. Use minimal force to hold the rabbit securely in the arm. ^[27]
• Support the rabbit’s back and bottom. This is an important step in handling your rabbit and should not be skipped. ^[28]

Let the rabbit come close to you. If the rabbit is still not comfortable being held, it will certainly not like to be grabbed and dragged out of the cage. Instead of pulling the rabbit out of its little house, let it come to you. Open the cage door and wait until your rabbit wants to go outside and explore.

Spend time alone. This is especially important if you’ve just brought your rabbit home, as it takes time to acclimate and get used to the people and place it will be home to. ^[29]

• Retreat to a quiet place with closed doors, just you and your rabbit, no animals and nothing to distract your pet rabbit. ^[30]
• Give the rabbit a reward. This can dispel a stressed animal’s suspicions, and is good for your rabbit as well. Use a healthy treat like a baby carrot, a small slice of apple or banana, or a teaspoon of oats. Feed the rabbit a piece on the floor, then try to feed it from the palm of your hand. ^[31]
• Do this every day until your rabbit becomes comfortable around you. Repetition and routine are key to getting your rabbit used to it. ^[32]

Do not push the rabbit. If your rabbit isn’t used to your family and isn’t comfortable with people cuddling, don’t try to pet it. This will only traumatize the rabbit and possibly make it afraid of you. ^[33] The fact that some rabbits never get used to being held, because rabbits are inherently prey in the wild. ^[34] If your rabbit won’t let you touch it, there are other ways you can bond with and soothe a scared rabbit.

• Use a gentle voice to calm the rabbit. Talk to your rabbit often and let it get used to your voice. ^[35] Rabbits are social animals and they get bored sitting in their cage all day. Sometimes, just by talking to your rabbit, you can get it to lie down and gently grind its teeth in satisfaction!
• Never scold a rabbit. Rabbits are not trainable or disciplined like other pets. They won’t understand why you yelled at them, and raising your voice at the rabbit will only scare it away.
• Hold out your hand for the rabbit to sniff. If you’re not used to being around you, your rabbit will need to get used to your look, smell, and voice before it gets used to being picked up. ^[36]
• Never make sudden movements around a rabbit. It may get scared and run back to the cage.

Try mimicking rabbits. Some people may be shy about trying this at home, especially in front of other people. But some rabbit experts recommend that pretending to wash your face and nod like a rabbit can help dispel the suspicion of a scared newcomer. When the rabbit sees people acting like him, the rabbit will feel more secure in the new home. ^[37]