The rabbit is an adorable and fluffy animal that makes a great pet. But what do Rabbits need to survive and thrive in their environment? They need specific things like housing, handling, food, and engaging activities to survive.
In this blog post, we will explore the essential requirements for rabbits, including their diet, housing, exercise needs, and socialization. Whether you’re a new rabbit owner or considering getting one as a pet, understanding their basic needs is crucial for their well-being.
So let’s dive in and discover what it takes to keep your furry friend happy and healthy!
What Do Rabbits Need To Survive?
The best pets are rabbits. To survive, rabbits generally need the proper housing, exercise, socialization, and food. Some rabbit types, especially those with longer fur, may need to be groomed daily. Before buying a rabbit, you should know everything you need to take care of it.
Rabbits usually live for 5 to 8 years but can live as long as 12, based on their environment and breed. If you want to buy a rabbit, ensure you can take care of it for a long time.
How To Take Care Of Rabbits?
People thought rabbits were easy to care for, so many people who couldn’t care for them gave them to shelters. Check with your local animal shelter, small animal rescue group, or House Rabbit Society branch to see if you can adopt a rabbit. As part of their list of rabbit supplies, Rabbit Rescue and Rehab, the New York City branch of the House Rabbit Society, suggests the following:
House
Even though rabbits aren’t very big, they need much room to hop around or stretch out. Mary Cotter, who started Rabbit Rescue and Rehab and is vice president of the House Rabbit Society, says that your rabbit should live in a puppy playpen, but if you have to use a cage, get the biggest one you can.
The House Rabbit Society suggests buying a cage or box at least 4 feet long, 2 feet wide, and 4 feet tall. This gives the rabbit enough room for a litter box, toys, food, and water bowls to stand or lay down with its legs spread out. The bottom of the crate should be solid, and putting a mat, blanket, or towel on it will keep the rabbit from sliding around and give it a nice place to sit.
Travel case:
For taking your rabbit home or to the vet, you’ll need a hard plastic animal carrier lined on the bottom with something soft and absorbent.
Litter box and litter:
By nature, rabbits are clean and won’t go to the bathroom all over their cage. Instead, they’ll pick one part of the crate as their bathroom and always go there. Put the litter box or pan there once your rabbit has decided. Cotter says to put a layer of newspaper on the bottom of the box and then fill it with hay to the top. This gives the rabbit a “miniature yard” where it can sit, eat, and go to the bathroom while the hay soaks up the smell.
Food:
Hay, veggies, and pellets, among other things. Rabbits also need to drink enough water to keep their intestines healthy. Ensure that fresh and clean water is always available.
Bowls for food and water:
Rabbits are curious and playful, so they often tip and flip lightweight bowls as they move around and explore their living area. Rabbits will find it harder to spill heavy clay crocks or metal bowls.
Grooming tools:
When your rabbit sheds, you need a soft, rabbit-safe brush to remove the hair, and you should use safety nail clippers to trim its nails.
Toys:
Toys keep rabbits from getting bored, fat, and sad by giving them mental and physical exercise. Paper bags and cardboard boxes are good toys for rabbits because they can be crawled into, scratched, and chewed on. Small balls or cat toys that can be thrown around are also good, as are pet condos for climbing.
Play and exercise area:
Rabbits must be out of their crate for four to five hours daily to play, exercise, and interact. You’ll need a pretty big, rabbit-proof area for that. This area should be carpeted so that the rabbit doesn’t slip or slide and hurt itself as it runs and hops. Rabbits can hurt themselves if they slip or slide on a surface like hardwood or tile.
What To Feed Your Rabbits?
Rabbits need a mix of the following things in their food to stay healthy:
| Hay | 80% of diet |
| Veggies | 10% of diet |
| Water | Unlimited (at least 16 oz per day) |
| Treats | 5% of diet |
| Pellets | 0-5% of diet |
Hay:
Hay makes rabbits want to chew and wears down their teeth healthily, preventing oral disease. Hay is also suitable for digestion because it has a lot of fiber. Every day, the rabbit should have as much fresh grass hay as it wants, like Timothy, oat, coastal, brome, Bahia, or wheat hay.
Veggies:
Leafy green veggies add more vitamins and nutrients to the hay. The House Rabbit Society suggests giving your rabbit a mix of three different veggies like carrots, collard greens, beet greens, broccoli, and romaine lettuce daily.
Rabbit pellets give a rabbit more nutrients but should only be fed to boost its regular food. Rabbit Rescue and Rehab says to avoid grains with seeds, nuts, or corn because rabbits don’t need to eat these things, and they can cause health problems.
Water:
As was already said, rabbits should always be able to get fresh, clean water. Heard said sipper bottles could be used, but they should be checked often to ensure they are still working. Rabbits will chew on the sides, which can cause them to get stuck.
Treats:
Every pet gets a treat occasionally, but be careful about what you give your rabbit. Too many simple sugars or starches can upset the balance of germs in their guts, making them sick.
Pellets
You may have been told that dry rabbit seeds should make up a much bigger part of your rabbit’s diet than they should. In a strict sense, pellets aren’t even a necessary part of your rabbit’s food. However, they can be a simple way to give your rabbit extra nutrients, and most rabbits love them. About 5% of your rabbit’s daily food should come from these.
How to Keep a Rabbit Safe Around the House?
Rabbits are very curious and can get into trouble anywhere. They can open cabinets and chew on cleaning products. They will also chew on wood, rugs, and wires, which can cause them to die from electric shock.
To keep rabbits out of your pet’s play area, move flowers or cover them with sheets, and use flexible plastic tubing to protect cords and wires. Cotter says to put sports socks on the legs of any furniture that a rabbit can reach. They won’t stop your rabbit from chewing on the wood, but they can buy you a few minutes to get it interested in its things.
Rabbits are small and fragile, so you need to be very careful when you handle them. Adults should take care of a pet rabbit most of the time and watch closely when kids play with them, when you need to hold or carry a rabbit, hold its front half under its rib cage with one hand and its back end with the other, keeping it close to your body like a football. Keep their legs tucked under them to protect their backs, and never pick up a rabbit by the scruff between its ears.
What Type of Medical Care Do Rabbits Need?
In North America, there are no approved vaccines for rabbits. However, pet rabbits should see a vet at least once a year for a checkup, and when they are old enough, they should all be spayed or neutered. This helps stop uterine cancer in female rabbits, violent behaviors in male rabbits like mounting and spraying, and unplanned breeding.
Sometimes it takes work to find a vet who cares for rabbits and is good at helping them. The House Rabbit Society keeps a list of vets nationwide, and your local club or rescue group can also suggest a vet with rabbit experience.
Related: Why Is My Bunny Shaking?
FAQ
Can Rabbits Survive On Hay Alone?
Yes. The food rabbits should be as close as possible to what they would eat in the wild, mostly grass and hay. Rabbits could live on just hay and water, but we suggest giving them fresh leafy vegetables and a little commercial feed.
How Do Rabbits Survive Without Food?
Rabbits are grazers, which means they need to eat all the time. If they don’t eat for even 12 hours, they will likely get GI Stasis, which can be fatal. A rabbit can usually go about 3–4 days without eating.
Final Words
Rabbits are delightful pets that require specific care to thrive in their environment. Appropriate housing, handling, a balanced diet, and engaging activities are essential to ensure their survival and well-being.
You can create a safe and nurturing environment for your rabbit by meeting these essential needs. Remember, rabbits rely on us to provide everything they need for a happy and healthy life, so be sure to give them the care and attention they deserve.