A close up shot of a little girl holding tender a cute rabbit outdoors
There are approximately 6.7 million pet rabbits in the United States.
Are you looking to join those ranks and add a furry companion to your brood? Congratulations! A pet bunny can make an excellent addition to your household.
Today, we’re sharing a short guide to getting everything set up for your new family member.
1. Prepare Your Home
A pet rabbit can live comfortably indoors, either in a bunny-proof room or in a separate, confined space. This may be a dog pen, a cage or simply a gated-off area within a larger room.
If you do go the latter route, be sure that anywhere you place your bunny is spacious enough for him to hop around with ease. It’s critical that they get plenty of exercises, so if your cage is small, you’ll need to take your rabbit outside every few hours.
Bunny-Proofing 101
While it isn’t as extensive an effort as child-proofing, safeguarding your home against tiny nibblers is still a feat.
Begin by covering and protecting all wires near the ground with protective sleeves. Or, lift them a few feet up so tiny whiskers can’t flutter past them.
The same goes for your baseboards, bookshelves, beds, houseplants and anything else lying on or near the floor. Cover hardware with plastic guards or furring strips to keep them in pristine condition. Remember, bunnies love to chew!
2. Stock Up on Hay
No bunny care guide is complete without an overview of what your new pet should eat.
In general, rabbits love fresh hay. When you’re looking to up the nutrition component, you can also mix in fresh vegetables or bunny food, such as fibrous pellets.
Stick with alfalfa for babies and oat hay, timothy hay or grass hay for adults.
To make feeding time as clean and easy as possible, it’s worth it to invest in a hay feeder. This will keep the hay dry and accessible at all times. Also, remember to provide your pet access to fresh water at all times.
3. Create a Litter Box
For the most part, your rabbit’s natural instincts will lead it to use the restroom in the same area, time and again. Set up a cat litter box in this spot, which will usually be around the feeding station.
At the bottom of the box, sprinkle newspaper pellet litter that’s verified safe for rabbits.
Never use clay clumping litter or aromatic wood shavings, as these substances are dangerous if swallowed. Finish the setup by layering hay on top of the litter.
4. Keep Up with Grooming
Rabbits are among some of the most low-maintenance small animals around, but they still require their fair share of grooming.
A few times each year, they’ll go through a shedding cycle. When this happens, use a pet brush to remove extra hair and keep your bunny comfortable. If he accidentally ingests that fur, it could lead to myriad digestive concerns.
It’s also helpful to learn how to clip your bunny’s toenails, as they can curl under and snag carpets and rugs if they get too long.
5. Set Up Entertainment
As social creatures, rabbits tend to bore easily. To keep their minds engaged and help them stay physically fit, create entertainment zones or obstacle courses inside their pen for them to maneuver.
One easy project is to cut a few holes in a cardboard box to make a makeshift bunny mansion! Let your bunny nibble a new window in the back or a new front door.
Enjoying Your New Pet Bunny
Now that you know how easy they are to care for, are you ready to invest in a new pet bunny?
Fluffy, friendly and downright cute, they can add an element of personality and fun into your home. Once you know what to buy and how to set everything up, you’ll be good to go for years.
Looking for more information on how to look, feel, work and play better? You’ve come to the right spot.
Check out our blog for helpful lifestyle advice to benefit both you and your pets, such as this article on wireless dog fences!