Home Your rabbit needs a comfortable and safe home that it can call its own. Make sure that your rabbit does not have a home or bed that is too cold or too hot. Avoid placing its home next to the heat or air conditioning vent, in direct sunlight, or near drafty windows or doors.
Water All living things need water. Wild rabbits learn from their parents how to find water. Pet rabbits cannot turn on the faucets to get water for themselves, so they rely on us to do it for them. It is very important that your house rabbit, or any of your pets, always have access to clean, fresh water every day. Rabbits will generally drink more water from a bowl than a water bottle.
Hay Your rabbit should have as much hay as it wants. When it becomes an adult rabbit, it needs a different kind of hay from Alfalfa. It needs grass hay. Grass hays are timothy, orchard, brome and oat (plus others). Grass hays help their stomachs and other parts work very well.
Pellets Rabbit pellets provide vitamins and minerals for your rabbit to stay healthy. Follow instructions on how many pellets it should have each day. If you want to give your rabbit other things to eat, ask your veterinarian to recommend other foods and treats.
Bathroom Area Rabbits need a bathroom area. Rabbits are very clean animals, and they like to go to the bathroom in the same area. A litter box, just like a cat’s, can be used. Select a litter that is specially made for rabbits. Don’t use clay-based cat litters.
Grooming Daily brushing will help your rabbits fur stay shiny and clean and is a fun way to interact with your pet. A rabbit will lick its body to clean itself but sometimes it needs help. A rabbit continually grows hair and brushing helps remove the hair, so your rabbit doesn’t swallow too much hair during cleaning.
Love If you are going to have a house rabbit as a pet, it needs lots of love and to play just like you. You can love it by petting it. Some rabbits like to be held and others do not. They like to be given lots of attention every day.
Playtime Playing with a rabbit is different than the way you play. Rabbits love to run and jump. Sometimes they leap into the air and kick their feet back. This is called a “binky.” Since they don’t have hands, they use their mouth, like a hand, to pick up things. Rabbits play with their mouths and their feet. Baby rattles are safe toys for your rabbit. Your rabbit can pick a rattle up with its mout and toss it. Some rabbits like to have their hay put in different places like in a cardboard tube. They can push it around like a ball—they like balls—and eat the hay out of it, too. Some like to find healthy treats hidden in their hay. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . For more information on care for and feeding your pet rabbit, please visit www.oxbowhay.com or the House Rabbit Society at www.rabbit.org.
