Considerations Before Purchasing a Rabbit

Considerations Before Purchasing a Rabbit

Rabbits have been popular pets in Western countries since the 1800s. Rabbits adapt well to indoor living conditions and may even be litter box-trained. Rabbits, like any pets, need a great deal of care and attention.

People often buy rabbits from breeders. Many individuals choose breeders because they are concerned that certain pet shops offer cross-bred rabbits. A breeder with a litter of baby bunnies for sale may be discovered in the newspaper classifieds under "Pets" or "Livestock." Some are available via rabbit breeders' club publications or rabbit-related journals, which sometimes contain a breeder directory. Many breeders now market their stock online, thanks to the Internet.

It is often preferable to choose a local rabbit breeder rather than send bunnies long distances, since this may be stressful for the animal. Smaller breeds of rabbits, such as the Netherland dwarf, Holland lop, and Mini-Rex, are almost always available at pet stores. These breeds, while being smaller than 'regular' rabbits, have long and healthy lives. It's worth noting that smaller breeds of rabbits are more prone to tooth disorders like malocclusion.

Adult rabbits, who may already be spayed or neutered and tame from handling, may be found in rabbit rescue groups or a local humane society. Though the majority of rescued rabbits are healthy, some may need particular care due to health ailments or behavioral issues caused by earlier maltreatment.

Play and Training

Pet rabbits may be taught to urinate and defecate in a litter box or on a piece of newspaper in a specified area of the house. The litter box may either be put within the rabbit's cage or the rabbit can be taught to use the cage as a litter box. When a rabbit is spayed or neutered, litter training becomes considerably simpler.

Rabbits cannot learn vocal orders like dogs, but they can detect various voice patterns. For example, if a rabbit is misbehaving, such as biting, just emit a high-pitched or high-bass noise to communicate the message. Rabbits may be trained to know their names, although they recognize the pattern of sounds rather than the words. Rabbits are bright creatures that like games and toys.

If rooms have been rabbit-proofed (that is, harmful chewable things such as electric lines have been removed from the pet's reach), it is feasible to let a rabbit run free in the house. Rabbits have a habit of chewing on things in their environment, especially wires, but they may be educated not to chew.

If a rabbit is permitted to wander the home, it must be difficult for the rabbit to gnaw or get into harmful or expensive goods. They do not have the same cognition as a dog or a cat and often do not comprehend if physically chastised; instead, they will get afraid or bewildered if any type of punishment is employed, since they do not realize the harm they have caused. When all of this is considered, rabbits make terrific home pets.

Companionship

Other bunnies

When paired with another rabbit of the same gender, unneutered rabbits frequently fight. Fighting is often caused by sexual mounting, which is performed by rabbits of both sexes on other rabbits of either sexes; this activity stresses the rabbit being mounted and might cause it to become hostile against its cagemate. Unneutered rabbits of different sexes will reproduce quickly; thus, even if they do not fight, a pet owner should not leave them together.

Because of these issues, it was formerly preferable to keep rabbits in separate cages. However, spaying and neutering pet rabbits is becoming more prevalent, enabling male and female rabbits to coexist. Fighting may occur even with paired, altered rabbits. Keeping rabbits in pairs may help to reduce behavioral issues (such as general hostility, biting, or withdrawal) that might emerge when rabbits are kept alone.

Animal shelters often have pairs of bonded and desexed rabbits available for adoption, generally one of each gender. These have typically had all of their primary costs (desexing) taken care of, and they will seldom fight or bother each other, taking the hassle out of bonding two distinct rabbits.

Pigs in chains

Some literature suggests combining rabbits and guinea pigs to suit their social demands. While this method has worked for some individuals, the current opinion is that rabbits should never be housed in the same cage as guinea pigs. A rabbit may readily annoy or damage a guinea pig, causing significant pain or even death. It might be intentional or due to being frightened, since the rabbit is bigger and stronger than a guinea pig and can gravely damage it. Because they have different dietary needs, it is recommended to feed rabbits and guinea pigs separately. Guinea pigs need more vitamin C in their diets than rabbits. Scurvy may be caused by a lack of Vitamin C.

Furthermore, guinea pigs often exhibit minimal interest in social behaviors that are important for the rabbit's well-being, such as grooming, limiting the intended advantage of living the guinea pig and rabbit together in the first place.

Cats and dogs

Dogs should never be left alone with rabbits because their predatory impulses (or overenthusiastic play) might lead to the dog attacking the rabbit impulsively. Cats, on the other hand, are of nearly equal size and may become close and safe prospective companions if appropriately introduced to the rabbit. In fact, when a cat is brought into a house with a resident rabbit, the rabbit can occasionally behave violently to establish his territory, while the cat, who is unconcerned, will usually give the point to the resident.