Rabbits are lovely pets to have. A rabbit is tame and playful, and yet also social. However, it does take a lot of work to take care of a rabbit. Like all pets, rabbits need a clean, healthy environment and the right kind of food in order to thrive.

Establishing a Home

Some rabbit breeders prefer outdoor living quarters, as it allows rabbits to experience fresh air and sunshine, however, keeping your rabbit outdoor can increase the risk of predation. They might benefit more from being indoors and around humans.

If you decide to keep your rabbits outdoors, it's important that they are kept out of the sun, cold and rain.

Outdoor rabbits need to be given extra bedding when it's cold out. If temperatures dip below freezing, consider moving the rabbit cage to a more protected environment, like a garage or shed.

Be aware that being outdoors leaves rabbits vulnerable to predators.

Rabbits can also catch diseases if they're housed outside.

Pens should be large enough for your rodent animals to stand upright, lie down, and run around freely.

If you don't have room for your rabbit pets to run indoors this may not be the best pet for you. You can put a run in your house yard for rabbit running free and keep the run in the shade and supply water.

Try to keep your rabbit in a cool, low-humidity environment, Set up your rabbit's pen in a quiet part of the house, and be sure that your rabbits won't be harassed by other animals.

Caring for Your Rabbits

1) Feed your rabbit a healthy diet.

A rabbit's diet should consist of grass and timothy hay or oat hay. More specifically, a rabbit should have an unlimited supply of hay. Leafy greens and the occasional low sugar vegetable are treats. Make sure that you get your rabbit the right kind of pellets. Use a rabbit feeder bin or rabbit feeders to stock the rabbit feeds so that your rabbit can get food easy.

2) Give your rabbit fresh water daily.

It's important to change your rabbit's water every day to prevent bacteria from growing. Use a rabbit waterermade of ceramic, metal rabbit water bowl, or rabbit nipple drinkersas these are easier to clean. Some pet owners prefer rabbit nipple drinking bottlesbecause they cannot be easily tipped over in the rodent cage too.

3) Empty your rabbit's litter box every 1-3 days.

This will not only reduce the risk of unpleasant odors, but it will also keep your rabbit healthy and happy.

4) Remember that rabbits are coprophagic.

Rabbits excrete two kinds of droppings: fecal pellets and cecotropes  The digestive system of rabbits requires that the animal eats its cecotropes in order to adequately absorb and digest the nutrients found in food.

5) Clean your rabbit's cage once every week.

Use white vinegar to clean your rabbit's litter box, or soak it for stains that are tough to remove.

Spot cleaning should be done daily. Clean the cage out while your rabbits are in the run.

Change soiled bedding daily. Straw makes an excellent bedding material and is easy to change every day.

Clean out the food bowl and change the food daily.

6) Give your rabbit plenty of attention. Rabbits are social animals, and you will need to handle your rabbit gently and frequently in order for it to grow comfortable being picked up.

Grooming Your Rabbit

1) Brush your rabbit at least once every week.

Wool rabbits need their coats blown and brushed daily and never blow out coat with hot air. Carefully brush out mats, but never tug on the delicate skin. You can alternatively shear the coat to less maintained. Pay special attention to a wool breed's feet as wool grows on the foot in heavily wooled rabbit breeds. The wool can mat up and part the protective hair on the feet, leading to sores.

2) Remove rabbit mats with a mat splitter or mat rake.

3) Trim your rabbit's nails as needed. If you are uncomfortable doing this on your own, you may take your rabbit to a veterinarian or to an animal groomer to have this done.

4) Do not bathe your rabbit. Bathing can be very traumatic, and is unnecessary, as rabbits tend to groom themselves. If you notice a soiled area on your rabbit, you may want to spot-wash it with a wet towel, but do not submerge your rabbit in water as it can lead to shock.

Tips

Give your pet time to exercise. This will make them happy and refreshed. Also, pets are like human beings. They need exercise every day too.If your rabbit is in its run, it is safe for your pet to eat dandelions (if they do not have pesticides on them). Know what plants are safe for rabbits to eat and which can be toxic.

When you clean out your rabbit's water bottle, make sure to clean the rabbit nipples well with warm water to prevent anything from growing in it.

Warnings

Rabbits don't need baths, and they often find them stressful. It can also cause hypothermia.

Do not give your rabbit too much fruit or vegetables, as it can cause diarrhea.

If your rabbit isn't fixed, you can go to the vet and schedule an appointment to reduce hormonal aggression. Also, it helps with territorial behavior, and smell.

The best "cage" for a rabbit is a doggy pen since they are very spacious.

Do not use information from the House Rabbit Society without verifying with other sources!!

Never cut your rabbit's hair unless it's a wool breed. If you're afraid to give your rabbit a haircut, have a breeder who's experienced do it for you. You can learn from them as well, and they can teach you as they do it.

Never feed rabbits chocolate. It is deadly.

If you free roam a rabbit, Please make sure that your home is rabbit-proofed, no exposed wires, nothing that they could hurt themselves on, etc.

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