Guide to Owning Rabbits

Let me start by saying, rabbits are not the starter pets everyone thinks, and they definitely not for small children.

Cages are too small for rabbits, and outdoor hutches are dangerous. Rabbits won't be happy living in a cage. The ones from pet stores are not even suitable for a rat. They are much too small. Your new rabbit will be much happier in an exercise pen when they can't be supervised and having free roam when you can watch them. It's even better if you can rabbit proof your entire house so that it's safe to give them total free roam of the house. Just one room in the house is also suitable. Keeping your rabbit outdoors has too many risks. When the rabbit is outside and out of sight, it is easy to forget about them, to forget to feed and water them, to not pay attention to them, and that makes for an unhappy and lonely rabbit. There is also risk of predators. Rabbits are prey animals. Even if the hutch is secure enough that nothing can get to the rabbit, they could die of fright just seeing the predator. There is also higher risk of fly-strike, and parasite infections for rabbits kept outdoors. They could also fall victim to extreme weather conditions come winter and summer.

Research before you get them! This is important. Rabbits are not easy or cheap pets. They are fragile. A young child could easily break a rabbit's back just because they don't know the proper way to pick up the animal. They need a vet that specializes in rabbits or exotic pets, which aren't cheap either. Spaying and neutering is also important to keep the rabbit happy and healthy. Female rabbits are nearly guaranteed to develop reproductive cancers if left unspayed. Males get frustrated and more likely to be aggressive if left unnuetered. Not to mention, rabbits do best in pairs. It's easier to bond male/female pairs. This means they need to be neutered in order for them to not become aggressive toward each other, and to prevent unwanted litters.

Rabbits live for eight to fourteen years, the same as a small dog. If you decide to get one, be prepared to put in the time with them. When you get a pet, you are committing to care for them for the rest of their life. There are very few excuses that are good enough for dumping them on someone else after you get bored of them. Domestic Rabbits CANNOT survive in the wild either, so don't think about letting them "be free." If you really can't care for the animal anymore, drop them at your local animal control or contact a rabbit rescue.