New to rabbit's need advice

[Rose petal]

Hi all

I am new to rabbit's and have a few questions.

I was brought up around dogs and I had always wanted one I did loads of research and read loads on dog behavior/ training ect and had even chosen my breed in golden retrievers however before I was able to get my own dog I was hit with a bad cold that left me with permanent damage to my ears and am now stuck with tinnitus which is ringing in my ears 24/7 and I did struggle in the beginning but I've learned to live with it now but I have to protect my ears and any loud noise over 80dbl can cause spikes which is were my tinnitus increase's in loudness.

The reason I'm telling you all this is because my original plan was to get a dog but every dog even quieter breeds like Goldens bark and barking is very loud most are around 85-100dbl some are louder so having a dog would be a huge risk to my ears and having to live with frequent spikes everytime a dog barks.

So as devastated as I was I chose to not get a dog but I'm very lonely being autuistic I don't have any friends as I find it very hard to be social.

I was suggested a cat but I'm scared of cats.

Other than dogs I've always liked rabbits and it appears they are really quiet so may be perfect for me.

I was wondering if you could tell me the pros and cons of being a rabbit owner and what their like? Are they affectionate do they love their owners? Are rabbits playful?

I've seen videos saying rabbits love their owners and are affectionate just not cuddly which is fine.

 

[InspectorMorse]

Hi all

I am new to rabbit's and have a few questions.

I was brought up around dogs and I had always wanted one I did loads of research and read loads on dog behavior/ training ect and had even chosen my breed in golden retrievers however before I was able to get my own dog I was hit with a bad cold that left me with permanent damage to my ears and am now stuck with tinnitus which is ringing in my ears 24/7 and I did struggle in the beginning but I've learned to live with it now but I have to protect my ears and any loud noise over 80dbl can cause spikes which is were my tinnitus increase's in loudness.

The reason I'm telling you all this is because my original plan was to get a dog but every dog even quieter breeds like Goldens bark and barking is very loud most are around 85-100dbl some are louder so having a dog would be a huge risk to my ears and having to live with frequent spikes everytime a dog barks.

So as devastated as I was I chose to not get a dog but I'm very lonely being autuistic I don't have any friends as I find it very hard to be social.

I was suggested a cat but I'm scared of cats.

Other than dogs I've always liked rabbits and it appears they are really quiet so may be perfect for me.

I was wondering if you could tell me the pros and cons of being a rabbit owner and what their like? Are they affectionate do they love their owners? Are rabbits playful?

I've seen videos saying rabbits love their owners and are affectionate just not cuddly which is fine.

Hello

First of all it’s fantastic to read of someone being so responsible and researching about obtaining a Rabbit before actually obtaining one. Rabbits make wonderful pets, but they are certainly not ‘low maintenance’ . The Rabbit Welfare Association and Fund provide the best source of up to date and reliable information about everything related to Pet Rabbits, including this advice for anyone considering obtaining them

https://rabbitwelfare.co.uk/think-you-want-a-rabbit/

I have had Rabbits for 26 years, I lead a hermit like life and have no family and very few friends. I can’t imagine life without Rabbits now

 

[joey&boo]

I've had house bunnies for many years, my first was in 1993 & my biggest gap without about 2 months, they are my world I like that they are quiet too - although some of their activities most certainly are not eg chewing on wooden furniture in the middle of the night

What I love about rabbits (pro's)

They are just amazing to watch, its like a zen mindfulness exercise. Even just watching them sleep & dream. They are laugh out loud funny with their antics. To me its a positive they are herbivores. They are really easy to feed - loads of good quality hay, a few greens, herbs & a tiny amount of nuggets. Their poop is lovely but wee stinky. I've always found them to be affectionate in the end, some instantly have cosied up to me & groomed me, other took longer, sometimes years. The last bunny I lost only got affectionate with me when she was old & wonky, no longer had a partner & needed lots of daily hands on care. They do generally bond with you but all bunnies are different - thats another thing I love about them. For me I love foraging, its good for my mental health & really rewarding to be able to "provide" for them. They can be very sassy & judgemental :lol: Young to middle age rabbits binky & do bunny 500's you'll have seen in your research. Watching your bunny express these happy behaviours is just the loveliest thing. I just asked other half what is the best thing about having rabbits & got the answer "loves"

What I don't like about having rabbits (bare in mind, as with above this is my own experience). I haven't been on holiday in over a decade as I'm too scared to leave them. I'm sure vet bills for rabbits are lower than for cats & dogs but they can still get very scary ...plus some rabbits spend a lot of time at the vets. I'd recommend insurance. Mess - hay, dried forage & poop everywhere. Some rabbits have impeccable litter habits apparently. None of these rabbits have been owned by me :lol: They can be destructive, especially when younger. You may or may not lose chunks of carpet, have wooden furniture chiselled, chargers snipped (rabbits like a quiet life too). I built my current home in a bunny proof way & don't leave stuff around, it comes naturally after so long. If you were really house proud house bunnies might not be for you. I don't know how these Instagram bunnies live in such spotless environments. Top of this list for me is finding good rabbit vets is hard. I have an ace one but its a 3 hour round trip & I don't drive. In emergencies thats too far. Bonding rabbits is another downside as it can be stressful although ultimately its the most rewarding thing. If you do decide to get a rabbit (or 2) I'd really recommend you adopt from a reputable rescue. This way they come health assessed, vaccinated, neutered & paired up already. Its cheaper & so less stressful - not forgetting you're doing a good thing for bunny kind

 

[Orenoko]

When a non-rabbity person asks me what it's like to own a rabbit I compare it in some ways to having a cat in that they can be quite independent and do their own thing, but also like companionship on their own terms. They can be litter trained and trained to do tricks (sometimes!) And are much more intelligent than the stereotypical image. I've always had indoor rabbits and think it's an easier way to build that relationship. I've been really lucky with my current rabbits as they're really non-destructive but I have had one who ate a hole in the middle of my very expensive sofa before, so be prepared for damage to something at some point! But that's potentially no different to a puppy. I would definitely agree about getting insurance, and also about having 2 rabbits as they have company when you're not around. The only thing I hate is that you can't walk them like you can with a dog!

 

[Shimmer]

Rabbits like the company of other rabbits and shoudn't be kept on their own. They are fabulous to watch when they interact with other rabbits, but may not be as interested in humans. Most don't like to be handled much.
Don't underestimate the amount of space they need. They also dig and chew.
They need lots of hay to eat. Hay should be at least 80% of their diet.
Rabbits are not cheap pets - mine cost about as much as the dogs when you take everything into consideration (mainly vet fees and accommodation). They are quite fragile and can get ill very suddenly, which requires urgent vet attention. As prey animals, they hide illness symptoms, so if they seem 'off', they are usually quite poorly.
They need annual vaccinations. Neutering is required for health reasons, and to enable bonding with another rabbit(s). Look for a vet that has regular experience with rabbits.
Rabbits don't vocalise, other than the odd grunt. Lifespan is usually quoted as 8-10+ years, but can be unpredictable.

Cats are good company and easy to look after. If you are considering one (or two), I wouldn't get a kitten - they have very sharp teeth & claws and get into / up everything. They are much calmer at about 6 months to a year old. They adapt to indoor only living if they have company (yours or another cat). They are better company than rabbits, if you are looking for something to cuddle up with. They don't need much specialist equipment (bowls and litter tray). They will find their own bed - I've never had one use a bed I've bought forthem. Neutering, annual vaccinations & worming required.

Guinea pigs are fabulous beasts. They are easy to handle and are always pleased to see you - mainly because that means FOOD. They just eat. They squeak and chatter, but it's not loud. They are a bit messy as they wee and poo anywhere - they don't litter train like rabbits. They don't need annual vaccinations and don't cause as much damage as rabbits - mainly because they can't jump and cause chaos everywhere, and are easily distracted by FOOD. Girls can be kept in groups. Boys can either be in pairs, or one neutered boy with a harem of girls. GPigs are not routinely neutered as it doesn't affect their behaviour or health, and it's a specialist job from an anatomy point of view and because they don't do well with general anaesthetics. Girls are very easy to bond. Boy groups are not recommended as they tend to be very unstable relationships. They reliably live for 6-8 years. I've had very few (if any) health issues with mine, to the point where my vet wasn't sure if I still had any GPigs (they borrowed them for the trainee nurses to practice handling).

Rats are also good company and highly intelligent. I've never kept any, so can't really add any details.

 

[Lord Trellis]

When getting a bunny its important to know there diet because they have a very sensitive gut and too much of the wrong stuff such as carrots and rabbit nuggets can lead to serious issues. Rabbits need vaccinations yearly to protect them from certain illnesses and they require a rabbit savvy vet as you can't just take a rabbit to any vet as most vets only deal with cats and dogs today. There are only a small handful of rabbit vets around, I've found that avian vets that deal with pet birds also specialize in rabbits and other small animals so its always worth asking avian vets if they deal with rabbits.

Rabbits should always have plenty of hay to eat and one egg cup full of bunny nuggets a day. Hay makes up 80% of there diet

Rabbits like to run about a lot so its important not to keep them in any sort of cage for too long. Rabbits will chew wires pretty much almost instantly so there are things you have to do before letting your bunny run free around the home. They will also chew furniture, baseboards and door frames. Rabbits do better in pairs as they are social animals.

When buying or adopting a rabbit make sure they are spayed/neutered. Rabbits breed very quickly and they can have up to 10 babies per month depending on the size of the rabbit.

You can get rabbits for free on pets4homes in the adoption section. There are plenty of nice neutered and spayed pairs looking for homes that are free just make sure you go to the adoption section not the selling/buying section.

I do find rabbits are easy to care for, that being easier than a dog. Rabbits like routine and they can be litter trained. they will pee on couches and on beds regardless even when litter trained. When cleaning out there litter tray use hot water and white vinegar. You can also clean pee stains with white vinegar. I always line the litter trays with a bit of old hay that they haven't eaten from the previous day. They can be messy animals so expect to be sweeping/wiping up after them on a daily basis. Its easy once you get into the routine of doing it.