How to Take Care of House Rabbits

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This article was co-written by Jamie Freyer, DVM. Dr. Jamie Freyer is a licensed veterinarian in Washington. With over 10 years of clinical and clinical experience, she specializes in veterinary medicine and surgery, animal behavior and animal genetics. Dr. Freyer holds a bachelor’s degree in life sciences from the University of Portland and a veterinarian degree from Oregon State University.

There are 13 references cited in this article that you can view at the bottom of the page.

This article has been viewed 46,506 times.

A pet rabbit in the house can entertain your family. However, this animal also needs to be cared for with the same care as cats and dogs. Rabbits typically have a lifespan of 8 to 12 years, so they require a long-term responsibility. ^{[1] X Research Resources} There are a few rules to follow and a few things to prepare for before you decide to adopt a rabbit. When you have everything ready, you can learn how to take care of a rabbit in the house.

Table of Contents

Buy supplies for rabbits

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Buy a cage large enough for your rabbit to move around comfortably. Although the rabbit will be outside the cage most of the time, it also needs a safe haven. It is where the rabbit sleeps at night and also where it retreats when it senses danger or is disturbed. ^{[2] X Research Source}

You can buy spacious rabbit cages, even dog fences. As long as your rabbit feels safe in it.

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Buy bedding material to spread on the bottom of the cage. There are many types of barn lining materials. You can try different varieties to see which one your rabbit likes best. Popular choices are shredded paper, straw, and hay. Avoid using shavings as they can be inhaled by rabbits. ^{[3] X Research Sources}

If shavings are used, do not use shavings of pine, cedar, and other scented woods.

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Prepare a litter box for the rabbit. Rabbits living in the house need a box to go to the toilet. There is no single litter box that is perfect for every rabbit. Your rabbit may prefer a covered box, and the wall height may vary, as some boxes are too tall, some too low for him. Initially, you can use a cat litter box that is large enough for the rabbit to maneuver around comfortably. ^{[4] X Research Sources}

Consider preparing a few boxes so your rabbit can run around the house without having to go all the way to the other end of the house to deal with his needs.
The materials used in the litter box can also be changed depending on the rabbit’s preferences. You should try a few different types. Common materials include: silica cat litter, shredded paper, shavings (except pine or cedar shavings), straw, and hay.
Make sure the material used in the litter box does not clump and is not made of clay. These can be harmful to your rabbit when swallowed or inhaled.

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Buy heavy duty ceramic food bowls. Rabbits need their own bowls too. You need to choose a bowl with a heavy material, such as a ceramic bowl. That way the bowl will always stand, because rabbits often have a habit of overturning the bowl. ^{[5] X Research Sources}

In addition, the rabbit’s bowl must also be high enough to prevent food from falling out and low enough for the rabbit to poke its head in to eat easily.

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Prepare a water bottle or water bowl. Bottles of water are often included with the cage, but buying a few more is also a good idea. It’s more natural to give your rabbit water in a bowl, but the bowl can be overturned rather than fixed like a water bottle. ^{[6] X Research Sources}

Bottles of water can make rabbits uncomfortable. If you find that your rabbit doesn’t like the water bottle, switch to a heavy ceramic bowl to hold the water for the rabbit to drink.

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Provide plenty of hay for rabbits to eat. The best food for rabbits is fresh grass or hay, which is suitable for the rabbit’s intestinal tract. Ideally, you should feed your rabbit mostly fresh green hay. It is important to use quality hay. With most rabbit breeds, timothy hay is the best. ^{[7] X Research Sources}

The hay will provide fiber for the rabbit’s digestive system to function properly.
You can also use hay to line your rabbit’s litter box.
The hay also gives the rabbit room to dig. Rabbits love to dig through hay, especially when you hide a rabbit’s favorite food in it, such as apple pieces or Cheerios breakfast cereal. You can also use shredded paper to make digging for rabbits. ^{[8] X Research Sources}

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Feed the rabbit with pellets, fruits and vegetables in addition to the hay. Supplement your rabbit’s diet with pellets, fruits and vegetables. Common vegetables include: broccoli, collard greens, carrot leaves, turnip leaves, coriander, whole basket, Brussels sprouts, kale, cabbage, and other greens. ^{[9] X Research Source}

Avoid letting your rabbit eat pellets all day, as it can make your rabbit overweight and unhealthy. You should also not give your rabbit food that has bright colors, nuts, seeds, and fruit mixed in it. These foods are often high in sugar and carbohydrates.
If you’re not sure what vegetables to feed your rabbit, ask your veterinarian or rabbit breeder for advice.
Avoid adding vitamins to your rabbit’s diet. Really healthy rabbits do not need additional vitamins.
Contrary to popular belief, overeating carrots can be very harmful to rabbits. Rabbits love to eat carrots as a treat, but you shouldn’t give them carrots every day. Weekly feeding is fine.

Choose rabbits to raise

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Make sure you have the time and energy to take care of a rabbit. A pet rabbit is not an animal that requires little care. They require you to invest time, money and care no less than dogs or cats. Rabbits need water bowls, high-quality food, and litter boxes, and they need just as much exercise as dogs. In addition, they also need your attention on a daily basis. ^{[11] X Research Source}

This animal has its own personality and requires special care. Consider adopting an animal that requires less care if you don’t have the time and money to raise a pet rabbit.
You should spend at least 3 hours a day playing with your rabbit outside the cage, in addition to the time when it is in the cage. Rabbits will feel lonely and depressed if they do not interact with humans every day.
If you can’t give your rabbit that much time each day, you should consider getting another rabbit. Remember to leave your rabbit alone before letting them get to know each other properly so that they make friends. Rabbits do not like to share space, unless they have a special bond.

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Decide what breed of rabbit you want to raise. There are many factors to consider when choosing a rabbit to adopt. Think about what kind of rabbit you like in particular or if you want to keep a certain breed of purebred rabbit. There are many breeds of rabbits with different sizes and colors as well as temperaments. You also need to decide on both the sex and age of the rabbit you want to keep. ^{[12] X Research Source}

Get to know all the rabbit breeds if you’re not sure which breed you want to keep.

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Visit shelters, pet stores and breeders to pick a rabbit. Depending on the type of rabbit, you may need to go to different places. If you don’t care much about any particular factor, you can go to animal shelters to pick up a rabbit there. The additional benefit of rabbits in shelters is that they’ve passed the annoying “puberty” age and are often spayed. ^{[13] X Research Source}

You can also buy rabbits at pet stores. The quality of rabbits in these places can vary, so you should look for salons with well-kept pets and knowledgeable staff.
If you’re buying a particular breed of rabbit, you can find rabbit breeders you want to keep. You should also learn about that breed of rabbit. These rabbits are usually friendlier when you bring them home because they have been used to people since birth.

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Observe how the baby rabbits interact with their parents and other rabbits. If you’re planning to buy a baby rabbit, you’ll need to follow some specific guidelines.

If you notice something unusual, ask your rabbit parents about their temperament. The mother rabbit may react differently because you are a stranger or because you are near her cubs.

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Choose a friendly bunny if you want to raise a baby rabbit. When choosing rabbits, observe the size, color, temperament, and physical condition of the parent rabbit. Observe all the bunnies and see how they react to you. Don’t choose a rabbit that snuggles close to its mother even if you feel sorry for it, as such rabbits will often be unfriendly when they grow up. Pick a stuffed bunny that comes close to you and sniffs you. In addition, you also need to check the health of the baby rabbit and pay attention to the following characteristics: ^{[14] X Research Source}

Eyes are clean, bright, and free of discharge, discharge, or foreign bodies in or near the eye.
The ears are clean, not clogged with earwax, and have no odors.
Hair is clean, tangle-free and odor-free.
No ticks, fleas or other parasites on the skin.
The hair around the anus should not be lumpy or wet, as this could be a sign that the rabbit has a health problem.
Clever, energetic, but not bouncing around or shaking.
Not showing signs of illness, such as sneezing, runny nose, hair loss, or teething problems.

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Raise an adult rabbit if you want peace of mind about its temperament. Go to the rescue center to find an adult rabbit to adopt. Wherever you go to pick rabbits, you should see all the adult rabbits there. Watch the rabbits to make sure they’re happy and alert. Avoid choosing rabbits that look annoyed or aggressive. You also need to choose a healthy rabbit. ^{[15] X Research Source}

Healthy adult rabbits have the same characteristics as healthy baby rabbits. Check for any external signs of your rabbit’s health, including eyes, ears, and fur.
An animal shelter is a great place to adopt an adult rabbit. Rabbits in these places are often spayed or spayed. Moreover, when you adopt a rabbit at the rescue camp, you also give the rabbit a home.

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Choose the rabbit you like best. Once you have checked the overall health of the rabbits, you can choose the rabbit you like. Make sure you have leisure time to choose. The rabbit will live with you for another 8 years, so you need to find a suitable rabbit. Try playing with it and see if it suits you. Notice if the rabbit likes you. ^{[16] X Research Source}

Remember that the rabbit can be a little shy and scared at first because of the strangeness. You just need to check its general signs of temperament and friendliness.
Once you’ve found a rabbit you like, there are a few more things you need to know before bringing it home, including the rabbit’s eating habits, rabbit cage, and litter box.

Create a bond with the rabbit

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Monitor your rabbit carefully after bringing it home. When you first bring your rabbit home, you need to monitor how it interacts with its surroundings. Notice where the rabbit goes to the bathroom, its behavior with other members of the household, its response to toys, its likes and dislikes, and its response to the room. ^{[17] X Research Source}

Don’t worry if your rabbit just sits in the corner, eating and sleeping when you bring it home. Don’t disturb it. Your bunny is just adjusting to his new environment.
For the first few days, you should leave the rabbit in the cage. Take time each day to sit by the rabbit’s cage and talk to it in a soft voice.

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Release the rabbit out of the cage to let it explore. When the rabbit seems to be getting used to you, you can let it out of the cage. Close all doors of the room. If there is a path without a door, block it temporarily, then release the rabbit from the cage. Do not lift the rabbit; You just need to open the cage door and wait for it to jump out on its own. ^{[18] X Research Sources}

Sit in the middle of the room and do something quietly, such as reading, listening to soothing music, or writing.
Have some vegetables ready to feed your rabbit if it comes close to you curiously.

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Allow the rabbit to interact with you. When the rabbit jumps out of the cage, let it run around on its own. Don’t try to call it in and don’t move too much. Eventually the rabbit will jump to you, curiously observing who you are and what you’re doing. When the rabbit approaches, let it inhale your breath, then give the rabbit a thumb-sized piece of vegetable. ^{[19] X Research Source}

If your rabbit seems wary, sit still and talk quietly to it. Don’t move suddenly lest it be scared.

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Wait for the rabbit to approach you. If the rabbit hesitates a bit and slowly approaches, wait for it. If it comes close but doesn’t pick up the vegetables, you can simply put the vegetables on the floor and continue your work. Just ignore it until it comes to get the food. Leave your rabbit alone to enjoy the vegetables you bring him. ^{[20] X Research Sources}

After the rabbit has eaten the first piece of vegetable, give it another small piece. If it comes to eat again, sit still and talk to it gently.

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Pet the rabbit when it’s finished eating. When the rabbit comes to you and eats, you can slowly stroke its head after it has finished eating. If the rabbit is still or has its head lowered, continue petting it. If it pulls back or runs away, stop and get back to your work. You have to wait for it to come close again and try again. ^{[21] X Research Source}

If you are bitten by a rabbit, scream out loud. That way your rabbit will know it has hurt you.

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Keep trying even if the rabbit doesn’t like it at first. If you have trouble getting along with your rabbit, don’t give up! Continue to alternately feed the rabbit a small piece of vegetable, petting it, and ignoring it. If it comes close to you, try feeding it again. If the rabbit nuzzles your head, it means it wants your attention. Pet the rabbit when it does.

Do this over and over every few days until you form a bond with your new pet rabbit.

Keeping rabbits healthy and safe

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Find a veterinarian who has experience caring for rabbits. When raising rabbits, you need a veterinarian who can provide the care your rabbit may need. Look for a doctor who has experience with rabbits and small animals, as caring for rabbits is different from caring for cats or dogs. When you bring your rabbit home, you should take it to the vet for a check-up to make sure it’s healthy. ^{[22] X Research Source}

Take your rabbit for regular check-ups, just like any other pet.
This will make things easier if you need to take your rabbit to the emergency room, as the vet already knows your rabbit well.

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Hold the rabbit properly. Make sure everyone in the house knows how to lift the rabbit properly. To lift the rabbit, use one arm along the rabbit’s body, one hand under the rabbit’s bottom. When lifting the rabbit, let the rabbit rest against your side for more stability. ^{[23] X Research Sources}

Rabbits can struggle when scared. They may try to escape from things they find scary. Rabbits can break their own backs and often lead to life-threatening paralysis if lifted incorrectly.

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Clean the house so that the rabbit is safe. Before bringing your rabbit home, you need to clean up anything that could harm your rabbit when it runs around the house. Rabbits can nibble on wires if they see them. Make sure power cords, computer cables, and any other cables are covered or inaccessible. Buy plastic cables or plastic pipes to wrap the wires neatly. ^{[24] X Research Source}

You can also thread wires or cables behind furniture or mount along walls out of reach of rabbits.
Never thread power cords or cables under carpeting. This may cause a fire.

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Avoid petting your rabbit too much. Despite their adorable appearance, rabbits don’t like to be cuddled or cuddled too much. In fact, rabbits are often afraid of being hugged, especially when you bend over and try to pick them up. Rabbits are prey in nature, so your movements evoke the rabbit’s instinctive fear of being hunted by hawks or other birds. ^{[25] X Research Sources}

A small number of rabbits will also allow you to pet them for a long time, but most just love to be petted for a little bit. Sometimes rabbits even nibble on your hand when you stop.
Each individual has a different response. Depend on the rabbit’s personality and find the most appropriate way to approach and pick up the rabbit.

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Teach children in the house how to interact with rabbits. Children can scare rabbits, especially naughty ones. Rabbits will feel like they are being attacked by predators if there are screaming children around. Never let your child chase a rabbit around the house or try to pick it up after chasing it. Rabbits will panic and may squirm. ^{[26] X Research Sources}

Many children are not gentle and can hurt a rabbit by cuddling it. Teach your child to be gentle with rabbits and to talk in a low voice when around rabbits. Do not buy rabbits for children under 5 years old.

Advice

If you plan to raise a female rabbit and a male rabbit at the same time, you will need to have them spayed. Remember that even rabbits born in the same litter can mate. In addition, female rabbits can reach sexual maturity at 5 months of age. If you don’t castrate the male rabbit, he will spray urine all over the place and will try to mate with all other rabbit breeds.
Check your rabbit’s teeth once a month. If your rabbit’s teeth are misaligned, drooling a lot or having trouble eating, you should take your rabbit to the vet.
Keep your rabbit from overheating. Rabbits always wear fur, so they will be more comfortable in a cool place.
Never scare rabbits, as they can have a fatal heart attack.
Make sure your home is safe for rabbits before bringing your rabbit home.
Feed your rabbit only 1 tablespoon of the reward food per day; otherwise, they can get sick from having too much sugar in their body.

Steps

Buy supplies for rabbits

Choose rabbits to raise

Create a bond with the rabbit

Keeping rabbits healthy and safe

Advice

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