It’s not an accident that people often choose rabbits as the symbol of cuteness. They are soft, they are fully, and they have eyes that sparkle like marbles.
If you want to enjoy the accompany of such a wholesome looking animal, you are not the first.
With that said, you should not adopt a rabbit before knowing all the important things that ensure them a comfortable and nourishing environment.
Below, we have the most asked questions regarding keeping and raising a rabbit.
We hope that you will find invaluable information for your pet here.
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Questions about rabbits living conditions
I’m thinking about getting a bunny rabbit as a pet. What should I know?
However, there are many things that make bunny rabbit an unsuitable choice for first-time pet owners.
The biggest reason of all is that they are really fragile. Their bones are more delicate than other conventional house pets.
On the other hand, they are made by nature to prey, therefore the escaping gear of these little ones are always turned on high.
In the first days of sharing a home with you, bunny rabbits will strive to get away from your touch and handling, so much that they can break their own backs.
You should consider both indoor cages and outdoor rabbit hutches as well to make the rabbit comfortable and sleep happily.
Why do rabbits stomp their feet?
Rabbits have a natural reaction which is thumping their back foot.
It indicates that they sense danger somewhere around them from the smell, noise or sight.
The action of standing on four feet in a tip-toe position, ears raising up and feet thumping is employed by rabbits to warn their peers that there is something urgent going on.
Some rabbits thump both of their hind feet together, while some only thump one foot on the ground and it means the same time.
The rabbit will keep the thumping posture until they are convinced that the danger wears away.
The reason they have the thumping habit is that despite being preys in their natural habitat, these animals are not vocal.
They use thumping as their way to communicate with each other about the danger. They may thump for any length of time, from several minutes to more than an hour.
For the owner, the thumping may not indicate imminent danger, because rabbits fear many things.
From a lit cigarette to the crackling sounds of the wood fire, to the shadow of a bird or a cat nearby can all spell doom for them.
Should the thumping happen too frequently, you’ll want to relieve the animal stress by removing them from the area with perceived danger.
Comfort and reassure the pet in their new home, and check for signs that may make them fall into stressed states.
Read More about rabbit bedding concerns and FAQs
What not to feed rabbits?
Because rabbits have sensitive digestive tracks, so it’s important that you don’t feed the animal anything that may disrupt their system.
As far as fiber and cellulose go, rabbits might be the most adaptable one in the animal world.
However, it’s this very unique feature of their digestive systems that make them vulnerable to many other types of food.
The most common bad food for rabbits in households are high-carb food, including cookies, bread, pasta and crackers; avocado (because it’s a fatty fruit), cereal (which leads to tooth and tummy disruptions); some vegetables like iceberg lettuce or silverbeet (because they cause bloating or make the animal suffer from colic).
Oatmeal is another seemingly wholesome food that may contribute to digestive problems of rabbits.
Although they have no component that might cause disruption, the food is too filling without giving your rabbit any real nutrient that they need, which can lead to malnutrition in rabbits.
A lot of rabbit owners also enjoy the company of hamsters, and as a result, use one type of food for the two animals.
However, they should note that these two species require a drastically different diet.
While rabbits thrive on a special menu with high fiber, hamster food contains more protein and fat than the bunnies need.
Therefore, at best, mutual food would do nothing for your rabbit’s nutrition. At worst, it would cause many harmful or even fatal consequences.
What foods are toxic to rabbits?
In the question above, we have discussed the food that will cause inconvenience and disruption to a rabbit digestive system.
Other than this food, there are some other that are right out toxic, for example, rhubarb (which is a common garden plant), chocolate, avocado and yogurt (because they lead to the overgrowth of bacteria in their intestinal tract)
Can rabbits eat peppers?
Because rabbits love vegetables, and peppers are common species plant for households, many people may wonder if it is safe to feed peppers to rabbits.
The answer is yes, because the plant is low in calories, has many beneficial nutrients and can be used to make the animal diet plan more varied.
However, this is not the case with hot peppers, cayenne, and chili. The hot substances will make the animal nose run and their eyes water.
In fact, pepper spray or powder are used to repel or deter rabbits from gardens!
What do rabbits eat and drink?
The best menu for a domesticated rabbit should resemble its menu in the wild.
That makes hay the most important component to include in the animal diet.
The hay does not only supply our animal with fiber to help their digestive tract become smooth, but it also wears down their teeth so that the teeth won’t grow too long.
Other than that, they also do well with a variety of grass, vegetables, and even flowers, moreover, hay feeders can bring more energy in the rabbits.
Nowadays, we have commercial ready-made pellets and treats, which are also fine to feed your bunny if they are low in sugar and fat.
To treat your bunny ever once in a while, bits of fruits will be your best bet.
Rabbits also drink fresh water. They like to drink from a bowl, which resembles the way they drink groundwater in their natural habitat.
But to keep the hygiene, owners prefer water bottles for rabbits.
There are many things that can go wrong with a rabbit life
As we have discussed above, there are many factors that can cause disruption to a rabbit life. Including elements in their surroundings and diets.
It is imperative that you study well enough before adopting one, or make adjustments to your rabbit existing living conditions.