How do I convince my parents to let me have a bunny?

[Vegan_Bunny]

I don't think you should get a bun as yet. £25 a month won't cover the basic costs of rabbit care, I'm afraid. I get about £100 a week and most of that goes on the rabbits. Emergency vet bills can be in the £100's and it is highly likely that you would need to take a rabbit at some point to an emergency vet. Most people have already covered the problems surrounding keeping rabbits. If I knew now what I knew when I first got my bunny, Fiver, I probably would have realised that rabbits were too costly and stressy to have. Now, I am hooked and will never escape. :lol: It is highly likely that you will end up having a rabbit with some kind of dental issues. The majority of rabbits will need at least one dental in their life time and they can be very costly. Out of 4 bunnies that I have owned, 3 of them have needed dentals. 2 of them regularly and one who is most likely going to need them regularly as she gets older.
Bear in mind that some bunnies can't be caged. My buns bar bite horrifically and get very frustrated when being confined, no matter how big it is, so I have had to give them my whole room to free range in. They have destroyed most of my furniture and I can't have anything in my room because they'll chew it. :lol: My room is constantly full of dust, fur and hay, no matter how much I hoover and sweep up. :roll: If you like your room to be tidy and have things in it, then rabbits are certainly not the animal for you.

Definitely spend lots of time on this forum. You will realise how difficult it is to keep rabbits happy and healthy, and just how much they cost. If you still feel that rabbits are what you want, then you can maybe visit a decent rescue (as others have suggested) and spend time with the rabbits, learning how to care for them and exactly what their needs are. There is no need to rush into giving a pair of rabbits a home. You have plenty of time to learn and decide. Even if you decide to get older buns, they may still live for a quite a lot longer and may also be more costly. Also bear in mind that very few rabbits will allow you to pick them up. Only Fiver is comfortable with being picked up, and even then when I put him down he will flick his back feet at me. (This is him telling me he isn't happy with my behaviour). :lol:

Bunnies are very rewarding animals to have. Their personalities are amazing and they are so mischievous and naughty. Don't expect a rabbit to ever do what you want them to. To a rabbit you are the lowest in the hierarchy, so you will be treated as a slave. :lol:

 

[aaammmyyy]

I will spend more time on the forum it has really helped! I haven't bought anything yet just been looking. I didn't know if Netherlands were aggressive or not that's just what it said on the internet (by the way I can just picture your bunnies I bet their really cute!) I have been to the RSPCA and really want to go back and ask more question! Thank you for the advice millz777

I will say that I find netherlands quite shy, but once they settle in they become less shy, and then after a month or two they come completely out their shells - but ive only ever had three netherlands crossed with mini lops so!

thats really great that you're going to the rpsca to ask questions, it shows your parents that you are really serious about learning about the responsibilities!

I would like to add that £25-30 a month really wont cover the costs of a rabbit, if I were you id keep saving!

Bunnies are really hard work! and just to say, you can rescue young rabbits too - if you get a pair of year old rabbits and they both live for say 12 years, thats 11 years you would have cared for that rabbit for...a very long time!

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[nessar]

I'm afraid £25-30 a month won't cover the costs of rabbit care. If you are going to get rabbits you will have to make sure that your parents are willing to pay for them.

As I said earlier, have a look at this thread for the costs of keeping rabbits: http://forums.rabbitrehome.org.uk/s...w-much-do-you-spend-on-your-rabbits-challenge

In April, I spent about £263 on the rabbits - that is a pretty standard month for me and I have two rabbits. I rarely spend less than £100.

I'm not trying to put you off, you just need to know what you're getting yourself into. Rabbits are lovely pets but they can be very expensive, so you will need your parents on board.

 

[happybun]

i really am trying to put you off. you want us to help you persuade your parents to do something they don't want to do for themselves, when it will be them paying, their house destroyed, them left with the rabbit/s when your life gets really busy.

it isn't fair on your parents.

i'm glad you like rabbits. i like them. i've had rabbits on and off for over fifty years. mostly i've been an ok-not-great rabbit keeper. rabbits are pretty. but they are not easy or cheap to keep. and they do live a long, long time if not treated badly. so wait until you are fully grown up, with your own home, and a proper income, and until you are the one who really makes the decisions. if you still want rabbits, have them then.

 

[William]

If you had a separate amount of money saved up for vet bills (I think you said you have £400 saved up? Keep saving since rabbits can be costly, especially if they need dentals), then £25-30 a month might cover 2 buns for the basics like feed costs.

I think I spend about $20 a month on hay for 3 buns but that's because I buy bagged store hay, a bale of good quality timothy hay would cost about $12 around here and last at least a month.

My pellets cost like $7 for a 25 lb bag that lasts for about 3 months.

I've had stasis episodes with Ben and Timmy, sometimes for no apparent reason, so I'm scared to feed them veg, but I've got some herbs that I'm growing for them. Some people buy herbs weekly at the grocery store but if you can grow them yourself that costs less. And you can forage if you learn about bunny safe plants.

I use newspaper and hay for their litterpan/bedding.

Toys and other little bits aren't usually bought monthly so that's not really something you have to factor in monthly.

I don't have mine insured but if you insure them then your insurance will cover a lot of the vet costs. Something to look into

 

[BattleKat]

We went to the RSPCA to have a look at some rabbits and found out lots of information on them. We did have a look at some of the rabbits there but there wasn't many. We were going to adopt a rabbit, because if the rabbits were adults then the wouldn't live as long( I know that sounds a but cruel but its not meant to). Thank you so much for your help millz777

Rescue centres often have pregnant rabbits or babies in, just so you know I bet you'll have rescues other than the RSPCA close by as well.
After I lost my last bunny I wanted to get another giant, and since they don't live as long I didn't really want to get one that was a few years old already. After a few months of waiting my perfect rabbit came along at a rescue near me - only 6 months old and the breed I was looking for.

I think in your situation it may be worth considering getting an older pair though. In a few years you'll start getting coursework and exams and if you want to be a vet you're going to have to study really hard, that means you might not have the time for rabbits any more. You might want to start spending your money on other things as well, like going out with your friends. If you get a pair of baby rabbits they could easily live until you're 22 (especially if you get dwarves, which live longer) and rabbits and university generally don't mix well, you have to be thinking long term.

£25 a month sounds like it would just about cover the essentials for a pair of rabbits if you can find cheap hay and veg (vaccines, pellets, hay, veg). It wouldn't cover insurance or vets bills though, or their holiday care and it would leave you nothing for fun stuff like treats and toys and making changes to their housing.

I think you're doing really well to come to this forum and ask for advice and it's great that you're reading everyone's replies so carefully.

What is it you like about rabbits as pets? They were nothing like I expected, I actually really wanted ferrets but my partner was against it. I'm hoping we're going to have some when the rabbits aren't with us any more, but since I got them when I was 21 I could be 33 by the time that happens :shock:

 

[sunnibunny]

I must admit, that your research and approach are admirable. I know many are warning you if the difficulties so you are prepared including myself, but im trying to speculate if i was in your position and also desiring rabbits so much, that i still would have got one despite what anyone said. The truth of it is, no matter how much ppl give advice and reasoning, the person learns truly by going through the experience themselves and learning from their mistake the hard way. Its the most effective way of learning, that being said, is there a compromise? Im not sure of the legal age requirement, but could you foster a rabbit? Depending on the arrangement, some rescues/vets pay for the medical treatment while you keep the rabbit until a permanent home comes for them (adoption). Thos way you can see what it is like to have a bunny as well as the realities of them. Just an idea and a possible compromise solution?!?

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[yaretzi]

It's fantastic that you've come on here to ask for advice and learn. I'm 24, and I got my two bunnies 5 years ago just after I moved out to go to college. I had to move house twice because of them, and it was difficult finding places that'd allow me to have pets. I made the thread that nessar posted earlier, and in 5 months and 3 days I've spent £571.05 on hay, pellets, veterinary care and other supplies. That also included at least 17 vets visits at £6.10 each because I have to travel 40 minutes to a good rabbit vet (they need to be an exotic specialist, with out of hours service that is also done by qualified exotics vets). I would say if you're still considering it you need to look into where the nearest rabbit vet is. You could post in rabbit chat here asking for a rabbit savvy vet in your area and people will give you recommendations. You then need to look into out of hours services, and ensure you have some way to get there if your rabbit needs emergency attention at night. Rabbits go downhill very quickly - if they stop eating they need to be seen by a good vet ASAP or they could be dead by the morning. I personally wouldn't get a rabbit if I couldn't drive, or didn't have parents that would take me no matter what time. Emergency vets visits can easily be £200+ just for the consulation, and admitting them overnight will cost upwards of £400-500. Insurance will cover it but that's a monthly cost to factor in, and you have to pay an excess (usually £50 with petplan, rising to about £70 when they're 4-5 or so, and after that they sometimes even want you to pay 10% of the claim also). If your rabbit gets ill, you need to be able to ensure that your parents or someone can take you to the vet as frequently as they need.

Personally, I wouldn't do it. But I know exactly what it's like to REALLY want a rabbit. I had the exact same thing, and as much as I love my pair I really didn't make a great decision - they've held me back from so many things, and cost me so much that I haven't been able to enjoy my early 20's. For instance, I really can't now do a graduate course in veterinary medicine because the cost of having 2 rabbits while studying is crippling. If you're thinking of becoming a vet I would really not recommend you go for it. Living on campus in halls will greatly help you with your course, and you won't be able to do that with 2 rabbits. Honestly, don't make the same 'mistake' that I did. They will hold you back a lot. I have been close to having to quit my degree at 2 separate points because of how much my rabbits cost me. 2 bunnies can easily cost you £1000+ a year, and that's not even factoring in buying accommodation or vets fees if you're not insured. While you're studying, that could easily be 1/4 of your total income. Plus you can't sleep over at friends after a night out, you can't go away for impromptu days/weekends away, it makes it difficult to have a relationship because you need to be at yours more often than at theirs.

I know you really want rabbits, not any other animal... but perhaps it might be worth considering guinea pigs? I feel that they're social and fun just like rabbits, but they're generally a bit cheaper, require slightly less size accommodation, and live less than half as long. I know when I was younger I was obsessed with getting a certain animal but in 6-12 months I'd discovered how amazing another species was. You'll probably always want rabbits, but I'd really save it for when you're older when you have the cash, the car, and the time. I wish I'd listened to anyone who'd told me the same thing when I was younger, but I doubt I would have.

 

[Hesperus]

Yaretzi raises a good point about needing a competant vet near by. Luckily I live a 3 minute walk from one! May be worth looking around before deciding.

 

[tonibun]

Just one more point and it's one which upsets many younger, and older people, and this is that rabbits do not like being handled, generally speaking. Being prey animals they are always wary of humans, unlike dogs or cats, and can scratch and bite if they don't want you to pick them up. This is one of the biggest consideratons, imo, you have to allow the rabbit to be what it wants to be, you can't force it to be super friendly, it has to be on the rabbit's terms not yours. You have to respect their wishes.

 

[Sarah1989]

It's fantastic that you've come on here to ask for advice and learn. I'm 24, and I got my two bunnies 5 years ago just after I moved out to go to college. I had to move house twice because of them, and it was difficult finding places that'd allow me to have pets. I made the thread that nessar posted earlier, and in 5 months and 3 days I've spent £571.05 on hay, pellets, veterinary care and other supplies. That also included at least 17 vets visits at £6.10 each because I have to travel 40 minutes to a good rabbit vet (they need to be an exotic specialist, with out of hours service that is also done by qualified exotics vets). I would say if you're still considering it you need to look into where the nearest rabbit vet is. You could post in rabbit chat here asking for a rabbit savvy vet in your area and people will give you recommendations. You then need to look into out of hours services, and ensure you have some way to get there if your rabbit needs emergency attention at night. Rabbits go downhill very quickly - if they stop eating they need to be seen by a good vet ASAP or they could be dead by the morning. I personally wouldn't get a rabbit if I couldn't drive, or didn't have parents that would take me no matter what time. Emergency vets visits can easily be £200+ just for the consulation, and admitting them overnight will cost upwards of £400-500. Insurance will cover it but that's a monthly cost to factor in, and you have to pay an excess (usually £50 with petplan, rising to about £70 when they're 4-5 or so, and after that they sometimes even want you to pay 10% of the claim also). If your rabbit gets ill, you need to be able to ensure that your parents or someone can take you to the vet as frequently as they need.

Personally, I wouldn't do it. But I know exactly what it's like to REALLY want a rabbit. I had the exact same thing, and as much as I love my pair I really didn't make a great decision - they've held me back from so many things, and cost me so much that I haven't been able to enjoy my early 20's. For instance, I really can't now do a graduate course in veterinary medicine because the cost of having 2 rabbits while studying is crippling. If you're thinking of becoming a vet I would really not recommend you go for it. Living on campus in halls will greatly help you with your course, and you won't be able to do that with 2 rabbits. Honestly, don't make the same 'mistake' that I did. They will hold you back a lot. I have been close to having to quit my degree at 2 separate points because of how much my rabbits cost me. 2 bunnies can easily cost you £1000+ a year, and that's not even factoring in buying accommodation or vets fees if you're not insured. While you're studying, that could easily be 1/4 of your total income. Plus you can't sleep over at friends after a night out, you can't go away for impromptu days/weekends away, it makes it difficult to have a relationship because you need to be at yours more often than at theirs.

I know you really want rabbits, not any other animal... but perhaps it might be worth considering guinea pigs? I feel that they're social and fun just like rabbits, but they're generally a bit cheaper, require slightly less size accommodation, and live less than half as long. I know when I was younger I was obsessed with getting a certain animal but in 6-12 months I'd discovered how amazing another species was. You'll probably always want rabbits, but I'd really save it for when you're older when you have the cash, the car, and the time. I wish I'd listened to anyone who'd told me the same thing when I was younger, but I doubt I would have.

Yaretzi raises a good point about needing a competant vet near by. Luckily I live a 3 minute walk from one! May be worth looking around before deciding.

I want to echo this re the good vet. True story that happened to me this week. I have a vet I can trust. Unfortunately they contract out their ooh care and it's Russian roulette if you get a good vet or not. In December 2011, this vet advised having my soul bunny pts and not knowing any better, I took their advice. Now I've found out that if that get had been rabbit savvy, Dexy may still be with me. I struggle with that knowledge everyday.

So last Monday night, my beautiful, 9 month old mini lion lop, Badger, suddenly seemed off colour. He'd been fine a few hours ago. It was 11.30pm and I didn't want a repeat of Dexter at the ooh vet as I don't trust them. My vet opened at 8.30am. So I waited. 7.30am I got up to check him & he'd died in the night. Now my remaining bunnies will be seen by a vet in Worksop - a 50 minute drive from me. But they are highly recommended by people on here and they do their own ooh care so I'll see the same vet no matter what time it is. No doubt this will save one of my bunnies lives one day. I just wish it could have saved Badger. The vet I currently used is 5 minutes from me. You can't choose your vet based on distance & convenience to you.

I'm 24, have my own house, car & work full time. I can make those choices. I will never have to choose between the cheaper option of pts or expensive treatment because my buns are the most important thing in my life & I'd do anything for them. I also have them insured to help pay this, but even if I didn't, I'd go without to pay for them. I'm not at the mercy of someone saying "no, it's not worth all that money, pts" like I know my parents would have done if this happened to me & my buns when I was your age. It breaks your heart, losing your bunny, and I personally don't know how I'd ever be able to with myself or my parents, knowing my bunny could be saved, but they just didn't want to pay for it.

Another true story. I got Blackavar one Friday last September as a former stud bunny from a BYB. He was £20. He was stressed and depressed & went into stasis. By the time I'd got him thought it, he'd been to the emergency get on Sunday morning, admitted Sunday night, collected Monday morning & back to my vets on Monday afternoon. I didn't have insurance then and it cost me about £300. Are your parents going to foot the bill & take your rabbit to the vet at 11pm at night, collect him at 8am and then back to the vets the same afternoon for a checkup?

I'm not trying to put you off, I just want you to be aware of what you're getting into. Until I joined this forum last July, I didn't have a clue how to care for rabbits although I thought I did. They're fiendishly expensive & demanding, contrary to popular belief. It's more like having a dog IMO. They take up a load of space & you have no idea if your cute baby bunny will grow up to be an evil psychopath like my Slipper, or sweet & affectionate & snuggly like Dexy, Badger, Blueberry or Blackavar. Get it right & there's nothing to beat the feeling of cuddling up with your bunny & knowing they love you as much as you love them. Then there's the ones that no matter what you do, love nothing more than biting you for no other reason then you being in their way or not feeding them fast enough.


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[mini lop1]

how about if you cant have a rabbit of your own for now, sponsoring a rescue rabbit, that way you will get updates and know you are helping a rabbit that needs on going healthcare by a rescue

 

[happybun]

please show your parents this thread!

 

[Millz777]

£25-£30 a month isn't enough, they're a lot more expensive than that. Also when you go on holiday they need to go to a boarding place or to stay with a friend, you can't just have someone come and feed them as they need a lot more care than that. They can get ill very quickly so someone needs to be there all the time, not just briefly whilst they feed them x

Ok thanks but that's how much I get and my parents would pay for some of it aswell! Millz777

 

[Millz777]

I don't think you should get a bun as yet. £25 a month won't cover the basic costs of rabbit care, I'm afraid. I get about £100 a week and most of that goes on the rabbits. Emergency vet bills can be in the £100's and it is highly likely that you would need to take a rabbit at some point to an emergency vet. Most people have already covered the problems surrounding keeping rabbits. If I knew now what I knew when I first got my bunny, Fiver, I probably would have realised that rabbits were too costly and stressy to have. Now, I am hooked and will never escape. :lol: It is highly likely that you will end up having a rabbit with some kind of dental issues. The majority of rabbits will need at least one dental in their life time and they can be very costly. Out of 4 bunnies that I have owned, 3 of them have needed dentals. 2 of them regularly and one who is most likely going to need them regularly as she gets older.
Bear in mind that some bunnies can't be caged. My buns bar bite horrifically and get very frustrated when being confined, no matter how big it is, so I have had to give them my whole room to free range in. They have destroyed most of my furniture and I can't have anything in my room because they'll chew it. :lol: My room is constantly full of dust, fur and hay, no matter how much I hoover and sweep up. :roll: If you like your room to be tidy and have things in it, then rabbits are certainly not the animal for you.

Definitely spend lots of time on this forum. You will realise how difficult it is to keep rabbits happy and healthy, and just how much they cost. If you still feel that rabbits are what you want, then you can maybe visit a decent rescue (as others have suggested) and spend time with the rabbits, learning how to care for them and exactly what their needs are. There is no need to rush into giving a pair of rabbits a home. You have plenty of time to learn and decide. Even if you decide to get older buns, they may still live for a quite a lot longer and may also be more costly. Also bear in mind that very few rabbits will allow you to pick them up. Only Fiver is comfortable with being picked up, and even then when I put him down he will flick his back feet at me. (This is him telling me he isn't happy with my behaviour). :lol:

Bunnies are very rewarding animals to have. Their personalities are amazing and they are so mischievous and naughty. Don't expect a rabbit to ever do what you want them to. To a rabbit you are the lowest in the hierarchy, so you will be treated as a slave. :lol:

Ok thanks for everything I am going to spend more time on the forum and find out more info. Millz777

 

[Millz777]

I will say that I find netherlands quite shy, but once they settle in they become less shy, and then after a month or two they come completely out their shells - but ive only ever had three netherlands crossed with mini lops so!

thats really great that you're going to the rpsca to ask questions, it shows your parents that you are really serious about learning about the responsibilities!

I would like to add that £25-30 a month really wont cover the costs of a rabbit, if I were you id keep saving!

Bunnies are really hard work! and just to say, you can rescue young rabbits too - if you get a pair of year old rabbits and they both live for say 12 years, thats 11 years you would have cared for that rabbit for...a very long time!

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Thank you for telling me this I have saved to almost £400! And this has taken me almost 1year and I know that bunnies live so long so that's why my mum suggested getting older bunnies. Millz777

 

[Millz777]

I'm afraid £25-30 a month won't cover the costs of rabbit care. If you are going to get rabbits you will have to make sure that your parents are willing to pay for them.

As I said earlier, have a look at this thread for the costs of keeping rabbits: http://forums.rabbitrehome.org.uk/s...w-much-do-you-spend-on-your-rabbits-challenge

In April, I spent about £263 on the rabbits - that is a pretty standard month for me and I have two rabbits. I rarely spend less than £100.

I'm not trying to put you off, you just need to know what you're getting yourself into. Rabbits are lovely pets but they can be very expensive, so you will need your parents on board.

Ok thank you. Millz777

 

[Millz777]

i really am trying to put you off. you want us to help you persuade your parents to do something they don't want to do for themselves, when it will be them paying, their house destroyed, them left with the rabbit/s when your life gets really busy.

it isn't fair on your parents.

i'm glad you like rabbits. i like them. i've had rabbits on and off for over fifty years. mostly i've been an ok-not-great rabbit keeper. rabbits are pretty. but they are not easy or cheap to keep. and they do live a long, long time if not treated badly. so wait until you are fully grown up, with your own home, and a proper income, and until you are the one who really makes the decisions. if you still want rabbits, have them then.

Ok. Millz777

 

[Millz777]

If you had a separate amount of money saved up for vet bills (I think you said you have £400 saved up? Keep saving since rabbits can be costly, especially if they need dentals), then £25-30 a month might cover 2 buns for the basics like feed costs.

I think I spend about $20 a month on hay for 3 buns but that's because I buy bagged store hay, a bale of good quality timothy hay would cost about $12 around here and last at least a month.

My pellets cost like $7 for a 25 lb bag that lasts for about 3 months.

I've had stasis episodes with Ben and Timmy, sometimes for no apparent reason, so I'm scared to feed them veg, but I've got some herbs that I'm growing for them. Some people buy herbs weekly at the grocery store but if you can grow them yourself that costs less. And you can forage if you learn about bunny safe plants.

I use newspaper and hay for their litterpan/bedding.

Toys and other little bits aren't usually bought monthly so that's not really something you have to factor in monthly.

I don't have mine insured but if you insure them then your insurance will cover a lot of the vet costs. Something to look into

Ok thanks that helps by giving me some amounts. Millz777

 

[Sarah]

As has already been said I would suggest fostering buns for a rescue. Rabbits are easy to look after badly and expensive and hard work to look after properly. I am fortunate that my current buns lol are healthy and I only have one dental bunny. One of my rabbits lived until he was 10, only seeing the vet for neutering and vaccs in his life, others have cost hundreds - there is no way of knowing. My annual vet bills have reached four figures on occasion.