Step 1: Set Up Safe Indoor Housing
There are several options to house rabbits inside. They can live free-reign in a bunny proofread room/rooms, or they can be contained within a puppy pen, bunny condominium, or large lapin cage. If contained, their distance should always be big enough so they can hop around, and they should be let out of their pen for at least a few hours everyday for practice .
Make sure the basal placement of your lapin is not isolated from you and your class. A family room or living room is a good rate. Learn more about indoor rabbit caparison at Housing Your Pet Rabbit Indoors .
Step 2: Bunny Proof Your House
Rabbits need quad to run approximately and explore. In order to create a safe space for your bunny and to protect your belongings, you will need to thoroughly bunny validation the area. This includes covering all wires with plastic sleeves or flex tube, or lifting them 3-4 feet out of range of your rabbit.
If you don ’ thymine want your baseboards gnawed, you can cover them with credit card guards, 2x4s or furring strips. You ’ ll besides have to block off sealed areas since rabbits like to chew the undersides of beds, items on bookshelves, house plants, and more. Basically, your rabbit will try to chew everything in reach. Learn more at Bunny Proofing Your House .
Step 3: Provide Fresh Hay
A rabbit ’ mho diet should chiefly consist of hay. clean hay should be provided to rabbits at all times. Baby rabbits should be given alfalfa, and pornographic rabbits should be fed timothy hay, supergrass hay, or oat hay .
Using a big hay feeder is helpful because it keeps big amounts of hay dry, clean, and accessible. Learn more about the importance of hay and where to buy it at Hay for Rabbits : The Basis for a Healthy Diet .
Step 4: Provide Fresh Greens, Fiber-rich Pellets, and Fresh Water
Supplement your rabbit ’ randomness hay with fresh vegetables, fiber-rich pellets ( in limited quantities for adult rabbits ), and fresh water casual. You can learn more about what kinds of food to feed your bunny at What to Feed Your Pet Rabbit .
You can besides learn about growing many of your rabbit ’ sulfur favorite vegetables at Bunny Gardening for Beginners .
Step 5: Set Up a Litter Box
Rabbits have a natural dip to poop and pee in one area. Take advantage of this by setting up a medium-sized kat litter box or shallow storage bin near their food/water bowl and hay self-feeder .
Put a slender layer of rabbit-safe, recycle newspaper shot litter at the bottom of the bedding material box. Do not use clay/clumping cat litter or wood shavings, as they are not safe for rabbits. then put hay on exceed of the litter. Rabbits like to eat hay and stern at the same meter, so this will encourage good litter box habits. Learn more at Litter Training Your Pet Rabbit .
Step 6: Provide Enrichment
Rabbits can get bored easily. not only do they need space to exercise, they besides need mental stimulation. Cardboard castles are bang-up because rabbits spend hours chewing new windows and doorways. Cardboard castles besides provide a repose recourse for the lapin when necessary. Learn more at Building a Cardboard Castle for Your Bunny .
You can besides provide a assortment of toys for your lapin to pique his or her concern. Learn more at Enrichment for Your Pet Bunny, Logic Toys for Rabbits, and Playing with Your Pet Bunny .
Step 7: Groom Your Rabbit
Rabbits are naturally clean animals and wash themselves frequently. But you even need to groom your rabbit on a regular basis. Rabbits go through shedding cycles a copulate times a year. It ’ second crucial to brush your rabbit to remove all the excess fur. Otherwise, your rabbit could ingest it and have good digestive issues. Learn more about keeping your rabbit looking and feeling sharp in our article, Grooming Your House Rabbit .
regular nail clip is besides crucial because farseeing nails can get snagged on things or they can curl into your rabbit ’ mho paw. Learn how to clip your lapin ’ sulfur nails yourself at Clipping Your Rabbit ’ sulfur Nails .
Step 8: Bring Your Rabbit to a Rabbit-Savvy Vet
Rabbits are raven animals, and then their natural instinct is to hide any symptoms of illness. You must keep a alert eye to ensure your rabbit is eating, drink, pooping, and peeing regularly. If you notice any change in behavior, it is important to call a rabbit-savvy veterinarian immediately. Learn about common lapin diseases to look out for at our Rabbit Health department .
In addition to responding to illness, it is besides necessity to bring your rabbit in for regular veterinarian checkup. The vet can check the ears, eyes, teeth, and catgut to make certain the rabbit is in good health. ultimately, consider spaying or neutering your rabbit. Spaying/neutering can reduce aggressive behavior, improve litter box habits, and improve a lapin ’ sulfur overall health. Learn more at Spaying or Neutering Your Pet Bunny.
Find a rabbit-savvy vet in your area at the House Rabbit Society Veterinarian Index .
Step 9: Understand Rabbits’ Unique Language and Behavior
Pet rabbits are different from cats and dogs. It ’ mho essential to understand how rabbit think so you and your rabbit can live a felicitous life sentence together. Learn about their singular language at Binkies, Nose Bonks and Flops : Rabbit Behavior Explained and demystify unfavorable rabbit demeanor by reading avail ! My lapin Hates Me !. By catering to your lapin ’ mho natural inclinations, you can build a trustful, loving kinship with your bunny. See Building a kinship with Your Rabbit for more information .
Rabbit Supply Checklist
now that you have a effective overview of how to care for a pet lapin, you can visit our Rabbit Care, Rabbit Behavior, and Rabbit Health sections for more information .
About the Author
Abi Cushman is a seasoned house lapin owner and a contribute editor program of My House Rabbit.
When she ‘s not writing about bunnies for My House Rabbit, Abi writes and illustrates fishy books for kids, including Soaked ! ( Viking, 2020 ) and Animals Go Vroom ! ( Viking, 2021 ). And yes, there are bunnies in them.
Learn more at her web site, www.abicushman.com, or follow her on chitter : @ abicushman and Instagram : @ abi.cushman .
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