Getting a rabbit is a really big decision. I mean really big. There is a ton of misinformation out there. The info readily available to the general public is usually very inaccurate, so you’re not going to have access to this information unless you’re really looking for it.
Deciding to bring a rabbit home is a big commitment, so to help you understand this and decide if getting a rabbit is really best for you, stick around and I’ll go through 10 questions you should ask yourself before taking that next step!
Am I ready for a 10+ year commitment?
Rabbits can live 10 - 12 years when properly cared for.
Are you in a place in your life right now where you can fully make the commitment to keep your rabbit for this length of time?
Are there going to be major changes in your life or situation where you will not be able to bring your rabbit along with you? (i.e. are you in high school going off to college soon? If so, will you be able to bring your rabbit? Are your parents on board with keeping the rabbit while you’re away?)
If you’re not ready for a longer commitment, but you finish this video feeling confident you could care for a rabbit, you should consider adoption. Adopting a rabbit, especially a senior rabbit, is a lovely thing to do. It also relieves you of making such a long-term commitment.
Am I old enough for a rabbit?
I’m jumping right into the meat and potatoes of this discussion. In my opinion, rabbits are not good pets for kids. Kids easily lose interest in rabbits as they are a very big time commitment and are not easy to care for.
I highly discourage any children from getting a rabbit, but definitely not anyone under the age of 14 or 15, as younger children are simply not responsible enough. I also generally find that children who get rabbits do not have the full support of their parents, and getting a rabbit is as big a commitment as getting a dog.
If you are at least 14, you should have the support of your parent or guardian before bringing a rabbit home. You should also have a plan for when or if you head off to college. Plan to bring your rabbit with you or be sure that your parents are committed to keeping the rabbit while you are away.
Rabbits also do not like to cuddle and will bite and scratch when they feel scared or threatened. This is a huge reason why children easily lose interest!
Do I have the time?
Rabbits are a huge time commitment as well. Having a rabbit requires daily cleaning, litter box training, and supervised free roaming time.
Here is a general breakdown of how much time you might spend on rabbit care each day:
15-20 minutes daily of cleaning / tidying (not including about 1 hr per week of deep cleaning your habitat). Rabbits are VERY messy, so it will be imperative for you to clean your rabbits cage twice daily, and once weekly of deep cleaning.
30 minutes of hay restocking / veggie prep
3 - 4 hours of closely supervised free-range play (unless the area is fully bunny proofed)
At least 1 hour of close bonding time (clicker training, cuddling, or hand feeding) so your rabbit can spend time with you
This totals at least 4 hours per day of specialized care for your rabbit.
Do I have the money?
Rabbits are arguably more expensive than dogs. When you first get a rabbit, you should expect to spend at least $150 - 500 on start up supplies (depending on your budget). (median will be about 300 plus the cost of the rabbit)
Rabbits also need to see the vet yearly, they need to be spayed and neutered, and they are prone to illness, so it’s likely they will require vet visits a few times a year and will also need medication when they are sick. Rabbits also need endless hay, fresh organic veggies, pellets, and clean litter. Those are monthly expenses that can add up to about $70-85 per month. With vet fees added on to that, you should budget for at least $1,000.00 per year.
Adopting a rabbit is a cheaper and more beneficial option to adopting a baby bunny, as many rabbits at rescues are already spayed / neutered when you adopt them. It saves you a lot of upfront costs, and an older (even if it's 1 or 2 years old!) rabbit will be more calm, better with litter training, and generally less destructive!
It also costs to bunny proof! If you’re planning to let your bunny free roam at all (you SHOULD), you will need to spend a little money bunny proofing to protect your home AND your rabbit!
Do I have the space?
Rabbits need at least an 10 - 12 square foot enclosure WITH additional free roaming time (at least 2 - 3 hours a day)
Rabbits SHOULD be housed inside, no matter what the climate is like where you live. I will have a separate video on this, but rabbits are prone to illnesses, and as prey animals, living outside can lead to high stress levels and early death. PLEASE do not house your rabbit outside.
Have I done my research?
As I mentioned earlier in the video, there is a lot of misinformation out there about rabbit care. Walking into a pet store and talking to the people that work there will 100% give you inaccurate information about care. If you’re here, you’re starting in the right place. There are great resources on youtube and other places online, but you should ALWAYS do your own research on reputable sites. I will have some linked in the description so that you can do your own reading. It’s important to remember that youtubers like me are just rabbit owners who have done their own research and are compiling that research into digestible bites. We’re not always right, and there are youtubers that unknowingly spread false information. It’s always best to research for yourself and talk to your veterinarian!
Do I mind a mess?
Rabbits are messy. They eat copious amounts of hay every single day. They hop around, kick poop out of their cage, have pee accidents, drag hay everywhere, and they can also be messy eaters. Rabbits will make an effort to keep themselves clean and groomed, but their environment? Not so much. You have to be ready to do daily and weekly deep cleaning to keep your home clean. There are precautions you can take to protect your home from the mess, but it will take a level of detail and learning from trial and error.
Rabbits are also very destructive (more so when they dont get enough exercise or stimulation!), so you have to be prepared that the chances are high that your rabbit will damage something in your home. If you are renting, you should take extra precautions to protect your home.
Can I provide a quiet, stress-free environment?
As mentioned earlier, rabbits are prey animals. This means they have many daily fears and rabbits can actually die of fear. If your home is loud (constantly barking dogs or screaming children) you should reconsider getting a rabbit and try a different, more resilient pet. If you live somewhere where noise levels are uncontrollably loud, you might not be able to provide the best home for a bunny!
Can I afford two?
Except in rare cases, rabbits do best in pairs. In fact, it should be a requirement unless your rabbit is one of the rare types that cannot be bonded to other rabbits.
Rabbits are herd animals, so they seek comfort and socialization from other rabbits. Having a friend will reduce stress, make your rabbit more calm and secure, and discourage destructive behavior.
Please remember that every rabbit and every situation is different. You should always apply things you learn in your research to your specific situation. It’s always better to adopt one rabbit than none!
Well, I kind of lied. I could only think of 9 good questions. If you guys have other things you think people should consider before getting a rabbit, please leave a comment!
Thanks for reading this week’s blog, and please be sure to check out the video version of this blog here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lCIInUa5Up8&t=26s
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