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I'm thinking about getting a bunny..

Hi there!

So I'm new to this forum and signed up because I'm considering getting a bunny. I've never owned a rabbit before, though I've owned hamsters and a ferret. So I was curious to know what rabbits are like? I never had a close bond with my ferret as he was far too boisterous, so I'm looking for an animal who is a bit more laid back and enjoys cuddles and a bit of playtime - a bit like my hamsters were. From what I've seen and heard about, I'd assume rabbits are like giant versions of hamsters! People always say to me "Rabbits kick and scratch and hate to be picked up and cuddled. Most aren't affectionate." But this also sounds very familiar to what I hear about most hamsters, which I strongly disagree with. I believe any animal can be cuddly and loving and affectionate if the owner puts in the time to make the animal that way.

However, I'm looking for professional rabbit owners opinions on bunnies and what they're like! :) So here are some of my questions:

- Are rabbits like large hamsters?
- What are their cage requirements?
- How much do you spend on your rabbit a year?
- Do rabbits like to be cuddled?
- Are they affectionate animals who seek their owner's attention?
- How much out of cage time do they require?

Feel free to tell me anything I might of missed out that may be important! :)
 
My rabbit lives indoors and is never caged, he has his own area under the stairs with a hay box and litter tray etc and then has free access to the hall, kitchen, stairs and landing but I have just restricted access to the living room whilst we lay new floor. Ideally they should have another rabbit for company and in spring my rabbit will move into our 6x4ft shed hopefully with a girlfriend!
If your rabbit is kept in a hutch it should be at least 6ft with room for them to stand up and I'm guessing this would be the same for indoor rabbits that will be kept caged as well.
My rabbit likes to be stroked on his terms - sitting with him in the floor - he is not a lap bunny and doesn't like being picked up at all but he does like being fussed.
 
My rabbit wasn't what you would call a cuddly rabbit but he did love fuss and attention at ground level! I would sit for hours stroking him, which he loved.

He too lived indoors with no cage. He had a littertray and his food dish in the kitchen but was free to roam throughout the house. He was a Dwarf lop which is quite a large rabbit, not much smaller than my cat!

He also freeranged the garden daily when someone was home to keep an eye on him.

I spent around £20 per week on his food, including hay.

One thing to remember is that they are very delicate creatures who, due to being prey animals, hide any illness very well and an owner needs to be very intune with their rabbit to see any subtle signs of them being unwell. Vet bills can be very high due to the illnesses that can happen in rabbits.

They also need a yearly vaccination against VHD and Myxomatosis.

All this said, they are wonderful animals to own :)
 
Hi, and welcome! :)

ive recently had 2 bunnies from 8 weeks old, which are currently indoor bunnies, due to it being too cold for them and being so little. But i am looking to then move them into their 2 story hutch with a run attached in spring. It's vital they have plenty of room to jump about with lots of toys to play with! :) However with indoor bunnies, you will always have a closer relationship with them. Currently mine do have a cage, with a metal playpen around during the day. But do get unlimited access to our lounge and kitchen first thing in the morning before work and in the evening! Both my bunnies are very loving and when I sit on the floor, they always jump on my lap and love to be cuddled and stroked. They certainly do have great little personalitles, and sometimes can be right tinkers, but every rabbit is different. I'm a firm believer, of if you put in the effort with them, and give them lots of love & attention, you'll have a lovely bunny to enjoy! :)

Regarding prices, if you have them from little it's always best to get them sprayed & neutered.. Which for me down south, I'm probably looking around £180 for both bunnies but I have got a pretty savvy vet now! However if you get them from a rescue centre, they will normally do this for you including in your adoption fee before you have them! :)
Not sure if others agree, but you have annual vaccinations and of course any other treatment your bunny may require.

Hope this helps! :)
 
Mine are friendly, but one much more so than the other - it's very much down to personality, not species. Some never come to enjoy human contact no matter how much work you put in! And I would say that very few will enjoy being picked up, although plenty like a fuss on ground level. i would recommend getting adult buns from a rescue so you know what their personality is like before you take them on.

I love them, but they're hard work - they need a lot of space. Almost all pre made cages are too small sadly :(I wasted a lot of money before i realised. Luckily there are loads of oods pictures and ideas about housing here on the forum. I often read them and dream about the future when i have a bigger house. :lol:

Mine have a 6 x 4' pen in my room. I would love to get rid of the cage but it's for their own safety - when I'm not looking they always manage to eat something that's bad for them, like flooboards or radiator sealant! I let them out as much as I can but they still spend a fair amount of time bar chewing and eating my carpets. :?

Something I didn't think about before I got mine is that as they need to be kept in pairs (or groups!) you will always have the question of what to do when one dies - really the remaining one needs a new companion so you basically end up having a continuous rabbit cycle FOR EVER. :lol: Something to consider! :lol:
 
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Hello! Welcome to the forum, it's great that you're doing your research before leaping in and getting bunnies :D

On the whole, I would say that rabbits do not like being picked up and cuddled. Because they are the bottom of the food chain and basically exist as prey for other species, they have a very strong survival instinct and this drives their behaviour. So as a prey animal, being picked up and cuddled instinctively means that they are about to be carried off to be eaten. Of course some bunnies actively like being picked up and cuddled, but on the whole I would say this is the exception rather than the rule. In my experience, most of the people I have known who say that their rabbit likes cuddles are actually misinterpreting the rabbit's behaviour. What the owner views as the rabbit being calm and happy is often (not always!) a rabbit who is very frightened and who is hence sitting still because of their fear. Similarly, some owners say they cradle their rabbits on their backs and they fall asleep, and therefore assume they have a happy rabbit, but again this has been scientifically proven to be a fear response called tonic immobility - the rabbit is not relaxed at all but is 'playing dead' and will at some point flick out of the trance when it thinks the predator has loosened its grip. Of course with a lot of time and patience it is possible to get rabbits to be calm and to trust you, but because of their strong prey instincts, it's unlikely that you would truly convert a difficult rabbit into one that actually enjoys being cuddled...tolerates it, possibly, but not enjoys.

Having said all that, rabbits are amazing, intelligent and interesting creatures. If you could create an enclosure where rabbits have lots of interesting toys and things to do, and which is big enough for you to go and sit in, then you could have hours of fun interacting with them on their own level. I find that just by sitting on the floor and reading, by completely ignoring them they come up and clamber all over me. So they can be very friendly, but it's often on their own terms and with their feet firmly on the ground! They do need a lot of space - were you thinking indoors or outdoors? The main welfare associations suggest a minimum of a 6foot by 2 foot by 2 foot hutch for two average sized (2kg ish) bunnies, with an attached exercise space of at least 8 foot by 4 foot. Obviously indoor bunnies would need the equivalent but this is often more easily achieved by partitioning off a room e.g. with puppy panels, rather than by using a hutch type scenario.

Personally I would recommend that you consider getting two rabbits rather than one. Rabbits are social creatures and live and interact in large warrens so are best kept in neutered pairs, especially if they are to be kept outdoors where they will have less time interacting with the household in general. I would strongly recommend that you find a good local rabbit rescue centre and speak to them about any suitable rabbits they may have and their housing requirements, as these do vary. Baby rabbits will often be fine with being picked up and cuddled but this does change when they hit puberty, so the best way for you to find a good match for what you are looking for is to visit a rescue and meet some teenage/adult bunnies, as their personalities will have fully developed and they will therefore be more likely to be consistent in their behaviour and not suddenly change. Decent rabbit rescues will also have neutered and vaccinated their rabbits in advance of rehoming, so this takes the worry and expense of this away from you, and the adoption fee for most rescue rabbits will be substantially less than the cost of buying a rabbit and then paying for all that yourself! Vaccinations do need repeating once a year, prices seem to vary a lot between about £25 and £45 depending on where you are.

I hope this helps - I'm just trying to be realistic about bunnies as pets. I think they're fantastic, but not really if you want something that is going to want to sit and cuddle with you for hours!
 
I'm looking for an animal who is a bit more laid back and enjoys cuddles and a bit of playtime
then you definitely don't want rabbits. they are nervy, jumpy and don't like to be picked up.
I'd assume rabbits are like giant versions of hamsters
nothing like. hamsters are independent, hardy creatures who will look after themselves given half a chance. rabbits are demanding, needy babies who require constant care.
Rabbits kick and scratch and hate to be picked up and cuddled. Most aren't affectionate
people say this because its true
if the owner puts in the time to make the animal that way
rabbits can be trained, to an extent. but why make an animal do something which is against its nature? human babies can be trained to respond positively to pain, but its not something you'd want to do.
professional rabbit owners opinions
you want to hear from breeders?
Are rabbits like large hamsters?
no, they are not.
What are their cage requirements?
no cages. indoor rabbits will need either rabbit-proofed rooms or compounds. other people will give you the sizes. its much more than you imagine.
How much do you spend on your rabbit a year?
in a good year with no vet bills, well over a thousand pounds. I have four rabbits but keeping four isn't much more expensive than keeping two. I rarely buy treats.
Do rabbits like to be cuddled?
no
Are they affectionate animals who seek their owner's attention?
no. they will demand attention in the form of food, and do this by looking exceptionally cute and hungry, even if its two minutes since their last meal.
How much out of cage time do they require?
no cage. out of room or compound, as many hours of the day as you can manage. mine were happiest when they were constantly free range, but the damage to the house was phenomenal.
Feel free to tell me anything I might of missed out that may be important!
they will
a) take over your life. you won't be able to leave the house without worry and feeling guilty
b) destroy your home. they don't like carpets or wallpaper and will make every effort to remove them.
c) act like children - when they've gone quiet, you know they're up to something


all the above is honest and straight-forward, no exaggeration.
having had rabbits on and off for 53 years (the recent four -eight and a half years old - are my first house rabbits) I would strongly counsel you to avoid having rabbits and to stick to hamsters. i have kept many Syrian hamsters and find them to be delightful and far less destructive than rabbits.


eta: I suppose the most 'telling' thing to mention is that I would never have another rabbit.
 
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- Are rabbits like large hamsters?
I would say no

- What are their cage requirements?
Ideally they shouldn't be locked up in a cage but you can confine them to a space if needs be. My house bun has a small bedroom to himself and my outdoor buns are in a 8x6 shed with 6x4 run. They need plenty of room to move around just like a cat or dog

- How much do you spend on your rabbit a year?
Too much! However I find more rabbits doesn't necessary equal more expense for food and hay as I buy in bulk anyway. Vaccinations are £25 per bunny per year, plus any other vet care required,

- Do rabbits like to be cuddled?
No not really, one of mine absolutely hates being picked up and the other two will tolerate it but they don't particularly like being cuddled.

- Are they affectionate animals who seek their owner's attention?
Depending on the rabbit they can be but they're not like cats or dogs and many prefer to be left alone. They will come to you if they want something.

- How much out of cage time do they require?
As much as possible!
 
Rabbits are amazing but lots of hard work. I wouldn't recommend them as pets unless you've got your own place and your own funds. You need to be able to give them time and commitment. They are expensive as neutering and vaccinating is a must for health reasons and so they can live with a friend. They are messy - mine are indoor rabbits and hay gets everywhere! They need lots of space, they need company and lots of enrichment so they don't get bored. I had one single rabbit and then got my second from a rescue who bonded them together for me (introductions need to be done very carefully) and would never have a single rabbit again seeing how they interact together. Neither likes being picked up but they do love nose and ear rubs and make a purring sound like a cat when you do this. It is wonderful seeing them leap, run and bunny flop in happiness. My rabbits are my life - they are like my children, and that's the level of commitment needed when you keep rabbits the right way. This forum is full of loads of fantastic advice. So keep asking away.

If you do decide rabbits are for you, there are plenrt of rescues with bonded pairs waiting for loving homes. Rescuing a rabbit is an amazing and rewarding experience and by paying an adoption fee you get rabbits which are already bonded together and already neutered and vaccinated. You can find out about their personalities. Rescues will also do home checks so you can be reassured you've got the housing requirements right.
 
I can only agree with the above posts, rabbits are specialist animals with specialist needs particularity nutritionally and health wise. You really need to have a passion for the species to be able to overlook the fact that they are not cuddly and will only elicit affection on their own terms. They might be here one day and dead the next because internally they are very complex and fragile, many owners do not recognize the subtle signs of illness. They cost a fortune in food, maintenance and vet bills, they need annual vaccines, they need to be neutered and they need to be kept in social groups. They are very very destructive and can be very aggressive too. They really are not for children or petting. As Santa said they are at the bottom of the food chain and their behaviour supports this. If all of this does not put you off then I would recommend going to a rabbit rescue for a bonded pair. Breeders and pet shops are currently adding to a massive problem (rabbits are one of the most misunderstood, neglected and abandoned animals in the UK) and rabbits from these places are often poorly breed and suffer health problems due to poor genetics as a result of irresponsible breeding. Many bunnies don't live for very long as such.
Saying that a healthy well looked after rabbit can live for ten plus years so they are a long term commitment in terms of space, time and money. That is as much as any dog. As far as I know, only a dog will really give you affection back on the level most humans desire.
 
- Are rabbits like large hamsters? I've had 3 species of hamsters (syrians, russians and winter white). There's certainly similarities between hamsters and rabbits but no one species is really just like another species. It's like saying cats are like small dogs - cats have some similarities to dogs but they also have characteristics that are unique. Same with hamsters and rabbits.

Some hamster/rabbit similarities though are independent natures, loving to chew, loving food, getting into trouble when they're free ranging, being adventurous...this is all very general though because it really depends on the individuals. My rabbits aren't destructive, Ben and Timothy don't like very many foods (Jack on the other hand LOVES food but even he doesn't like a wide variety) and Timothy isn't particularly adventurous (he gets nervous about unfamiliar surroundings). They're not really troublemakers either but I'm sure if I let them loose in a non-rabbit proof room they'd do their fair share of trouble.:lol:


- What are their cage requirements? Other people have answered this well.

- How much do you spend on your rabbit a year? I'm not sure, but I'm of the opinion that they're pretty easy and cheap to care for when they're healthy. It's when they're ill that they become more difficult and expensive. Apart from vet bills they can be as cheap as you want them to be. You can buy bales of hay from a farmer, forage for weeds etc, grow your own herbs etc, and pellets are pretty cheap (especially considering that they don't eat much pellets).

Many of their toys/enrichment items can also be gotten free or cheap, and I don't find store bought rabbit toys to be very expensive anyway. Their accommodation can cost nothing if you keep them as free range house rabbits.

If they're free range, littertrained, the house/room they free range is rabbit proof and they're healthy then they're very easy to care for. But you shouldn't get rabbits if you're looking for an easy pet as they very well might turn out to be difficult due to being destructive, not littertraining, being unhealthy, not getting along with their partner (rabbits are social and should have rabbit companionship, and bonding can be difficult depending on the rabbits involved) etc. You might want to read on this forum a lot and see what some owners have to deal with and see if it's something you would want to deal with.


- Do rabbits like to be cuddled? Cuddliness really depends on the individual and it depends on what you mean by cuddled. If you mean picked up and hugged then no, most don't like that. My rabbits do enjoy cuddles and stroking and will climb up on my lap, stand on hind legs and beg when I walk by their cage (though this could be for food), and follow me around. I tend to sit on the floor or in a chair they can jump up into so that cuddling can be on their terms.

Mine are also very good about being held and never kick or scratch (some of my past rabbits would though) but they don't actually enjoy being held, most rabbits don't. So I only pick them up when necessary e.g. nail clippings, bum checks, carrying them outside for playtime etc.

I've had rabbits my whole life and IME they'll likely be cuddly if you spend enough time with them. I got all mine as babies and they were already tame and used to being handled, so maybe that helps. But even skittish rabbits can become cuddly with time, effort and patience.


- Are they affectionate animals who seek their owner's attention? See above.

- How much out of cage time do they require? I'm not sure what the guidelines are but I'd say provide as much free range time as possible. It's preferable that they don't have to be caged (so ideally you should look into rabbit proofing a room or area of the house, if possible). They're very active animals and if you have them in a C&C cage or puppy playpen or similar then they need a lot of time out to run around.

As far as I know, only a dog will really give you affection back on the level most humans desire.

Birds too (depending on species and individual) :) I find my ducks wayyy more affectionate than my dogs. The dogs want a certain amount of affection and then they're over it, my ducks on the other hand want constant cuddles and are my shadows :lol:
 
agree with above posters. Rabbits do need an awful lot of space. There are minimum requirements for cages/hutches, but I would really recommend a shed or free range of an indoor room but if keeping indoors, you will need to protect skirting boards/cables. If keeping outdoors and allowing into garden, you will need to rabbit proof your garden (don't underestimate the digging capability of some rabbits)

Rabbits also need lots and lots of hay - you can't give them too much.

I wouldn't recommend keeping a rabbit alone, unless you can keep it indoors and give him a lot of company. Even then, they may be happier with a friend.

I have 2 rabbits at the moment, one doesn't like humans (I am just required to clean out the shed and feed her). She will take a treat from my hand, but she will not allow me to pick her up, despite I have had her for 4 years! My other rabbit absolutely adores cuddles, but he isn't keen on being picked up.

The big things I think are lots of space, lots of hay, and keep a close eye on health. If they are at any point not eating, its an emergency and you need to get them to a vet ASAP.

Just as an aside, thinking about your requirements for cuddly pet, etc, I'm wondering if guinea pigs may be more suited to you. I also have 2 of those, and they are definitely more cuddly, and if you take the time, they will be happy to sit on your lap and chill/watch TV with you :lol: Again they need space and hay, and a close eye keeping on health.

Would also recommend whichever you go for, adopting from a rescue. There are many unwanted animals and its a wonderful gesture to give a home to one (or two).

Come back and let us know how you get on and if you do get a pet/pets, this is great place to get advice on rabbit care.

ETA - female rabbits need to be spayed to prevent pregnancy and also there is a very high chance of unspayed females developing uterine cancer - can't remember the exact stats, but someone will maybe be along shortly who can advice.
 
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First of all .... well done for researching first ...if more people did this rescues wouldn't be so full of bunnies all over the country .

Although I afree with many of the comments already made I have to add that rabbits vary so much that its wrong to make sweeping comments about them on a whole .

but
no .. most rabbits don't like cuddles ...but there are always exceptions one of which I have as a house bun . He spent an hour asleep on my knee last night .:love: but ones like this are few and far between.

Rabbits take more looking after than hamsters both from a husbandry side and a medical side .

I disagree when people say they arnt affectionate . Many are ....but again its down to personality and just as many arnt .

Accomodation can vary such a lot ... but remember rabbits need space . Many shop bought cages and hutches are too small . Happy rabbits are more likely to be healthy and friendly rabbits ...so go as big as you can .

Housebunnies are fun to have around but you have to consider their safety . One of my indoor buns follows me around like a puppy and is constantly under my feet . I have to be very careful he doesn't get stepped on .
They can also be destructive although ive been relatively lucky with mine only losing a patch of carpet and a small corner of my spfa ...oh and the odd telephone wire when ive been careless leaving a hall door open .

If after considering all the points you think you would like bunnies in your life please find a good rescue .
Go along and meet the bunnies .
Don't choose just on looks go for personality too .
Remember they are happier in bonded pairs and both should be neutered and vaccinated.

Good luck :thumb:
 
First of all .... well done for researching first ...if more people did this rescues wouldn't be so full of bunnies all over the country .

Although I afree with many of the comments already made I have to add that rabbits vary so much that its wrong to make sweeping comments about them on a whole .

but
no .. most rabbits don't like cuddles ...but there are always exceptions one of which I have as a house bun . He spent an hour asleep on my knee last night .:love: but ones like this are few and far between.

Rabbits take more looking after than hamsters both from a husbandry side and a medical side .

I disagree when people say they arnt affectionate . Many are ....but again its down to personality and just as many arnt .

Accomodation can vary such a lot ... but remember rabbits need space . Many shop bought cages and hutches are too small . Happy rabbits are more likely to be healthy and friendly rabbits ...so go as big as you can .

Housebunnies are fun to have around but you have to consider their safety . One of my indoor buns follows me around like a puppy and is constantly under my feet . I have to be very careful he doesn't get stepped on .
They can also be destructive although ive been relatively lucky with mine only losing a patch of carpet and a small corner of my spfa ...oh and the odd telephone wire when ive been careless leaving a hall door open .

If after considering all the points you think you would like bunnies in your life please find a good rescue .
Go along and meet the bunnies .
Don't choose just on looks go for personality too .
Remember they are happier in bonded pairs and both should be neutered and vaccinated.

Good luck :thumb:

This is a good point, I have to be very careful around my buns for this reason. They're always getting under my feet and moving quickly - a couple weeks ago I nearly stepped on Ben because as I stepped over something he shot out and almost under my foot! :( Stepping on a bunny could prove fatal because they have such delicate skeletons.
 
Hi there!

So I'm new to this forum and signed up because I'm considering getting a bunny. I've never owned a rabbit before, though I've owned hamsters and a ferret. So I was curious to know what rabbits are like? I never had a close bond with my ferret as he was far too boisterous, so I'm looking for an animal who is a bit more laid back and enjoys cuddles and a bit of playtime - a bit like my hamsters were. From what I've seen and heard about, I'd assume rabbits are like giant versions of hamsters! People always say to me "Rabbits kick and scratch and hate to be picked up and cuddled. Most aren't affectionate." But this also sounds very familiar to what I hear about most hamsters, which I strongly disagree with. I believe any animal can be cuddly and loving and affectionate if the owner puts in the time to make the animal that way.

However, I'm looking for professional rabbit owners opinions on bunnies and what they're like! :) So here are some of my questions:

- Are rabbits like large hamsters?
- What are their cage requirements?
- How much do you spend on your rabbit a year?
- Do rabbits like to be cuddled?
- Are they affectionate animals who seek their owner's attention?
- How much out of cage time do they require?

Feel free to tell me anything I might of missed out that may be important! :)

Rabbits require permanent access to a hutch of 6 x 2 x 2 ft and a run of 8 x 4 x 2 ft at least. If they're indoors it can be 8 x 4 x 2 ft as they don't need the extra sheltered area. In addition they will need time out of the cage, ideally a few hours a day. Housing them in anything less than this is cruel and inhumane, and this minimum is recommended by the RWAF (rabbit welfare association and fund) as well as the RSPCA. So their accommodation is a major minus point in terms of space, and cost.

I would say that rabbits aren't very much like hamsters, no. Many rabbits enjoy affection but rabbits hate to be picked up as they're prey animals. They often will tolerate it out of fear, however, which many owners take to assume they like it. Trancing/tonic immobility is something you may have seen in pictures/youtube videos etc, however it's a fear response and very cruel http://rabbitwelfare.blogspot.co.uk/2013/09/tonic-immobility.html. There is a huge amount of misinformation about regarding rabbits - their dietery needs, their housing needs, and their veterinary needs. Hamsters are different in regards to handling as, being omnivores they are naturally a bit more fiesty and inquisitive so may enjoy being picked up etc. Many rabbits are inquisitive too but they like to be on the ground, as they are very flighty and nervous. You can interact with rabbits well though by getting down on floor level with them and many will then approach you for cuddles once they know you, and you can play with them on the floor. You can also show affection and play with them by letting them have a run around outdoors (if the garden is secure, and you're supervising) - it's really fun to watch them run about and binky.

Some rabbits are very affectionate but some are more aloof. Mine are not especially affectionate - I've maybe had a lick off them about 10 times in over 5 years, however it's something that doesn't bother me as all animals show affection in different ways. Mine are always so excited to see me (because I bring food!). For me, I really enjoy watching them snuggling up together and digging around in their litter trays.

I made this thread a while ago and it should give you an idea of how expensive rabbits can be: http://forums.rabbitrehome.org.uk/s...w-much-do-you-spend-on-your-rabbits-challenge. Veterinary attention is quite common, and quite expensive. GI stasis happens to many bunnies at one point or another and if you spot the signs it's an emergency which requires immediate treatment. Insurance is something to consider, as emergency vets fees can be very expensive (£400+) and due to bad breeding many bunnies have complications which can cost a lot of money.

I'm not sure of your age but rabbits are a long term commitment of 10 years or more. If you are school or college aged and are considering uni it may well not be a good idea because of how expensive they can be, and how difficult of an animal they can prove to be. Leaving them with family is often not ideal as they require a lot of cleaning, a lot of money and a lot of effort and if these are missed they can die in all manner of ways - flystrike, stasis, lack of veterinary care etc. You can never skip giving fresh hay (3+ times a day), or veg, or pellets as rabbits graze constantly and if there is no access to food they will quickly descend into stasis. This means it's hard to leave them and you always have to plan ahead and plan around them. Plus you can go out to check on them in the morning before a job interview or something and find them not eating and you have to drop everything to take them to the vet - and not many employers or unis etc really see rabbits as a decent excuse. It doesn't sound like much when you first get them, but after a while it can be quite tedious and very restrictive. Rabbits really will suffer if left when they need to be attended to, and they can die quickly without veterinary attention if you're out of the house for any periods of time. Bunnies also hide their illnesses very well and it can be very tense wondering if something is wrong.

Rabbits need to be fed on a diet of 80-90% hay, 1-2 eggcups of pellets and a few bits of veg a day. Green veg and herbs are best, carrots and fruit are not ideal as they are too sugary. Some rabbits however have very delicate tummies so a hay only diet may be something that you might have to feed. You can get bales of hay fairly cheaply which generally give lovely fresh hay, as many pet shop hays are rubbish. However, if you have fussy bunnies you may end up having to buy expensive hay online from various places. Hay for pets is one of these: http://www.hay-for-pets.co.uk/. It's great hay, but it stretches my budget a lot so I'm grateful mine will eat baled hay. Pellets are generally not an expensive cost if you feed the right amount rather than the amount recommended on the packets (popular brands are science selective, burgess excel) and you can get veg cheaply too (especially if you feed things that you'd otherwise throw away, like cauliflower leaves, carrot tops and broccoli stalks). Treats are fairly readily available in most shops, but it can be a bit of struggle at first knowing what's appropriate. Obviously rabbits are entirely herbivorous so anything with honey, dairy etc in is inappropriate as are any seeds. Rosewood have an excellent range and they label well to let you know if you can feed it to bunnies.

Rabbits need to be housed in bonded pairs and cannot be split up. Both bunnies should be neutered and spayed, and the most common pairing is male/female but rescues may have male/male and female/female in if it's mother and daughter for instance. Rescues are a great place to adopt from as the rescue will know their personalities well, and could suggest a pair who have the qualities you like. They can also advise about housing/food/vets etc.

If a bonded partner in your pair dies, you will either need to rescue another partner or bring it inside to give it lots of attention. Bunnies are social animals and need company. If you're at school/working 9-5 and sleeping at nights that isn't enough company for the rabbit, so it's wise to consider whether you can give that if a bonded partner dies and you can't adopt another to bond with the existing one.

EDIT: Having buns indoors is lovely, but many are destructive and will cost you a lot in furniture. Having them outdoors is a decent solution but their housing can soon mount up too and they can destroy that too :roll:
 
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...to be honest the most 'cuddly' pets I've had were cats. And they were a lot less work. :lol: But I guess it depends on personality there aswell.
 
...to be honest the most 'cuddly' pets I've had were cats. And they were a lot less work. :lol: But I guess it depends on personality there aswell.

Agree with this!! I have both cats and rabbits and the cats are enormously less work, more cuddly (I wouldn't fancy sharing my bed with a rabbit and all its poop :lol:) and way cheaper! Rabbits require way more in the way of ongoing maintenance costs as they need bedding and toilet areas as well as shelters and food, and they are much more likely to need to go to the vet and treatment is more expensive. I'd estimate that I spend about twice as much on the rabbits in an average year as I do on the same number of cats.
 
Agree with this!! I have both cats and rabbits and the cats are enormously less work, more cuddly (I wouldn't fancy sharing my bed with a rabbit and all its poop :lol:) and way cheaper! Rabbits require way more in the way of ongoing maintenance costs as they need bedding and toilet areas as well as shelters and food, and they are much more likely to need to go to the vet and treatment is more expensive. I'd estimate that I spend about twice as much on the rabbits in an average year as I do on the same number of cats.

This is so true, in the 7 years I've had my cat, Sadie, she hasn't had to go to the vets (touch wood I don't jinx this!) other than to be speyed, vaccinated and checked over where as in less than a year of having Charlie and Lola buns I have had to rush them to the vets for 1. Lola choking and 2. Charlie not eating as well as both being neutered/speyed and having their vaccines.
I believe I have spent more on Charlie and Lola; food, housing (over £350), vets etc. this year then I have on Sadie in the last 7 years :shock:
 
Agree with this!! I have both cats and rabbits and the cats are enormously less work, more cuddly (I wouldn't fancy sharing my bed with a rabbit and all its poop :lol:) and way cheaper! Rabbits require way more in the way of ongoing maintenance costs as they need bedding and toilet areas as well as shelters and food, and they are much more likely to need to go to the vet and treatment is more expensive. I'd estimate that I spend about twice as much on the rabbits in an average year as I do on the same number of cats.

This depends though, I have pretty much the opposite experience (although I agree that cats are usually more cuddly). My rabbits' ongoing maintenance costs are nowhere near as expensive as my cats'. The rabbits don't use store bought bedding such as recycled paper - they have newspaper for their bedding/litterpans. Mine are indoor so no expensive shelter. Their food costs are tiny next to my cats' food cost (even though I get bagged hay instead of baled hay). High quality cat food is expensive and cats really should eat canned food or raw because they naturally don't drink enough. Kidney failure is common in older cats, our cat Figgie died of kidney failure. We have to compromise and feed quality dry food with not very high quality canned food (which is still expensive). And one is on raw due to intolerances. Ideally they'd all be on raw though. I actually think we could spend less on food if we skipped the canned and sourced less expensive meat, like going to butchers, finding some hunters that would give us what they don't use etc. We'd need chest freezers though and my parents don't want to go to the trouble right now. Hopefully in the future though.

I don't want to say much in regards to health because Ben is having tummy issues and one of my cats is poorly too. I'm afraid of jinxing myself. But I will say my cats have cost thousands in vet bills, my rabbits haven't. Although, IME cats usually don't require much vet treatment until they're older.

The cats require a lot of litterpans. They're bad about being picky on the litterpan and sometimes they'll just decide to go elsewhere. Emma did this yesterday because one of the cats apparently went in her litterpan (she hates this) and she peed on top of a bag of things, ruining about $4 of food. We also had problems last summer with some of them peeing/pooing wherever they wanted (usually on top of things or on clean blankets or laundry instead of just on the floor) because our air conditioner died and they got really hot/stressed. Stressed cats often won't use the litterpan.

Litter costs add up. Some of the litterpans have clay litter and other ones have the more expensive, clumping scoopable litter so that they can be scooped several times a day to keep the cats happy. Would be really nice if they could just use newspaper like the rabbits do.

I have many more cats than rabbits but even when I just had 2 cats the cats were more work. My cats are way more destructive and have ruined wallpaper, baseboards, doors, walls, windowsills, carpets, laminate flooring, lino, lots of furniture, the list goes on (but if you keep their claws trimmed they can't ruin things so badly). People get scratches from their claws and teeth. They're always getting into things, it's much harder to cat proof than rabbit proof because the cats will jump and climb up anywhere like on top of counters and cabinets, any type of furniture etc. Any breakables we don't want broken are in glass cases or put away (or in my bedroom or my brothers bedroom which are usually off limits to cats - my room is the parrot playtime room) because the cats will find a way to break them otherwise. And unbreakable items that are left out are often knocked down or stolen and played with. Some are obsessed with certain things too and if given the chance will eat them, like plastic bags. If you don't want them opening doors/cabinets/drawers you have to lock them. They climb and chew the artificial christmas tree and play with the ornaments, the christmas presents have to be rewrapped if they're left under the tree. One of our cats is very aggressive towards our dog Riley and my ducks if they go near him so we have to be careful of that. There's all sorts of things like that that my cats do that my rabbits don't.

I also think that ideally cats should be kept indoors with access to a cat enclosure outdoors (I'm currently working towards the cat enclosure but I'm not sure if it's doable because our neighbor's cat lives in our yard and passed his respiratory disease onto our outdoor cat. So the risk of them going up to the enclosure and giving the indoor cats the disease is worrying. But they tend to only have flare ups in the winter, so I guess I could just make sure I don't put the indoor cats in the enclosure when one of them is having a flare up:?). With rabbits you can keep them indoors and give them supervised playtime outdoors, no enclosure required. But in most cases you can't really supervise a cat outdoors unless it's on a harness.

This isn't to bash cats or anything - I love my cats and my rabbits and wouldn't trade any of them, hopefully I'll always have cats and rabbits in my life. I actually like the chaotic-ness that cats bring, to me it's boring if all the animals are perfect angels. I'm just saying that some cats can be quite difficult. Not all are - some of mine are quite good, the ones that do the most bad stuff are the kittens and they'll grow out of it. But it's something to be aware of. I actually used to say that cats are really easy but thinking about it they can be difficult, I'm just used to the craziness :lol:
 
I agree with many of the posts - they are incredibly hard work and the stresses from them being ill so often is enough to put me off having anymore.

However they can be extremely affectionate - depending on nature of individuals. Berry was always looking for cuddles from us - and not just for food. We knew the difference. He was completely free range in the living room and as such we knew his needs and he wanted to be with us and showed us a great deal of affection so I don't agree with the no affectionate rabbits comments at all.

Ultimately rabbits are extremely intelligent animals and as such have to be given the opportunities to allow their intelligence to grow and the stimulation to keep growing. :love:

Good luck with your search for a new family member and without wanting to sound patronising well done for researching before getting!! :thumb:
 
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