Is a Rabbit The Right Pet For Me?

Rabbits are a popular pet choice for many people; they are usually available in plentiful supplies, they don't cost much to buy, and their small size makes them an ideal house pet.

Many potential buyers have a preconceived notion that rabbits are short-lived, cuddly animals who don't require much care or attention.

Oftentimes, the new pet owner discovers these notions are not true, and soon finds he or she is not prepared to deal with their rabbit's behaviors and care requirements, and for such a long time! - so some of these rabbits eventually end up surrendered to shelters and rescues.

A pet rabbit is a long term commitment - read through the following points to see if a rabbit is the right pet choice for you.....

• Rabbits live a long time!  Some live as long as 10+ years, but most seem to fall within the 6-8 year mark.  Are you prepared to make such a long commitment?
• Adolescent rabbits (3 months to 1 year+) can exhibit some very annoying behaviors such as urine spraying, biting, scratching, and aggressiveness.  Are you prepared to tolerate this natural behavior?
• Rabbits are deceivingly cute and gentle looking - but in reality, they can be difficult to handle, generally do not like being held, and can quickly defend themselves by biting and scratching - for these reasons and more, they are not a good choice for a young child's pet.
• Rabbits are very sensitive creatures and are affected negatively by simple stresses such as changes in diet, changes in cage locations, unusual noises and frightening events.  Are you the type of person who is 'attune' to your pet's emotional state?  And can you consistently provide a regular care schedule in a calm environment to ward off stress?
• Although vet visits and immunizations are not required for rabbits, you will undoubtedly need the services of a vet at some point in your rabbit's life - even if just for spaying/neutering - should an illness or other health issue arise, are you willing to take your rabbit to a vet and are you prepared for the financial costs?
• Many landlords consider rabbits to be in the same category as cats and dogs, and may refuse to allow rabbits on their property - if you rent, what will you do if you cannot find housing that will accept your rabbit?

These are just some things to think about when considering a rabbit as a pet.  The biggest issue is the time commitment; are you really ready to accept responsibility for such a long-term pet?  This means that you must provide housing, unfailing daily care, and veterinary attention if needed, even when you are ill, even when you are broke or face some other difficulty!

Take a serious look at what direction you think your life will take over the next eight to ten years; do you plan to go off to college?  Are you planning a job transfer or other reason to move?  Is your job or career in jeopardy?  Will you be selling your home then renting?  Looking ahead and evaluating potential life changes, and how your pet will fit in to these changes, may help you decide now if you can really commit to buying a pet.

Of course, you may not know everything that might happen in your future, but many people do plan ahead and know of upcoming major changes, such as those mentioned in the previous paragraph, and you must take these changes into consideration when deciding to buy a pet now.

Rabbits are not disposable pets - you should not buy a rabbit if you believe you can just 'let if go in the wild' or 'dump' it at a shelter when your life becomes difficult, changes, or you or your kids tire of your pet.

If you know you are able to make this commitment and want a pet rabbit - please read through the rest of our articles and take the time to learn as much as you can before you purchase your new pet rabbit! 

We have a printable booklet that covers basic rabbit care and behavior in more detail- please take a look at this, it may help you decide if you are up to the challenge of owning a pet rabbit!  This booklet has over 20 pages and will take a few minutes to load on your computer, depending upon your internet connection.