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 Rabbit Care Sheet
A: Housing As a general rule, a cage should be at least 4 times the size of your bunny. Rabbits were not designed to live on wire floors -- they’re hard on their feet (which have no pads, like dogs or cats). If you are using a cage with a wire floor, provide a carpet or board for your rabbit to rest on. When your rabbit is better trained, and when your house is bunny-proofed, your rabbit can be allowed free run of the home (or part of it). Rabbits love to chew, so before letting your bunny out of the cage, be sure that electrical cords are out of reach. By providing your rabbit with lots of toys, you can prevent any destruction that may occur to your home. Toys Rabbits like to chew on wood. Most pet stores sell chew toys that are safe for bunnies. Be sure that any wood you offer to your rabbit is untreated and sterilized. Salt wheels, most cat toys (without soft foam or small pieces that could be chewed off), and towels to dig in are also appropriate toys. Rabbits especially enjoy cardboard boxes with lots of holes to climb in and out of and empty paper-towel rolls to chew on and toss. Spaying/Neutering Altered rabbits are healthier and live longer than unaltered rabbits. They are at a lower risk for ovarian, uterine, and mammarian cancer. Altered rabbits make better companions because they are calmer, more loving, and dependable once the undeniable urge to mate has been removed. They are less prone to destructive behavior such as chewing and digging and aggressive behavior such as biting and growling. Litter training will be easier and more reliable. Spaying and neutering is a safe procedure when preformed by an experienced rabbit veterinarian. Litter-box Training Rabbits are clean animals by nature, and they will choose one place to deposit their urine and most of their pills. Simply place the litter box in the place the rabbit chooses to go. When rabbits reach the age of 4-6 months, they begin marking their territory. After your rabbit is neutered, he will be more likely to use his litter box. As you choose the appropriate type of litter, keep in mind that your rabbit will choose to spend lots of time in the litter box. Rabbits will always nibble some of the litter. Since rabbit urine has a very strong odor, you will want to clean the litter box often. Also, the rabbit may choose not to use a litter box that is soiled. The deodorant crystals in some clumping litters are toxic, and clumping litters will clump in the rabbit’s digestive tract, which could lead to death. As a general rule, do not use cat litter. Avoid cedar shavings, which are toxic to rabbits. Newspapers are absorbent, but do not control odor. Litters made from paper pulp or recycled paper, such as CAREfresh, are very good at absorbing and cutting down on odor. These litters are also harmless if ingested. Use white vinegar to rinse boxes out. If urine has already dried, a product called “Nature’s Miracle” will remove the stain and odor. Once your rabbit is using the box in the cage, you can open the door and allow her to run freely in a small room. A handful of hay in the litter box will encourage her to go back. Keep in mind that your rabbit will never be as accurate with litter training as a dog or a cat. For this reason, if you plan to allow your rabbit free reign of a large open space, provide more than one litter box for him to use. Diet A rabbits diet should be made up of pellets, unlimited fresh hay (some alfalfa, mostly timothy or oat), unlimited water, and fresh vegetables. Anything beyond that is a “treat” and should be given in limited quantities. Dark leafy vegetables and root vegetables will provide your rabbit with essential vitamins and minerals. Avoid iceberg lettuce, as it does not have a high nutritional content. Grooming Your rabbit will need to have her toenails clipped regularly. Cut them just in front of the vein at an angle parallel to the ground. Rabbits shed their coats every three months, with every other month being a “heavy” shed. Rabbits groom themselves frequently, but this means that they are prone to hairballs. You will want to purchase a small cat brush or a rabbit brush to eliminate excess hair from the coat. Malt-based hairball preventatives are available at your local pet store.  | New Puppy FAQ's | Rabbit Care Sheet | Guinea Pig Care Sheet | Hypoglcemia Care | | Return Home | Puppies and Kittens | Events Schedule | Our Services | Great Links | FAQ Page | Contact Us | Puppy and Kitty feedback | |
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