Getting a house rabbit is an exciting time but there’s lots to think about beforehand and it’s important to be as prepared as possible.

House rabbit supply checklist

You’ll need to make sure you’re prepared with all the supplies your new furry friend will need. Here are some things that your list could include:

• Indoor Pen: Get a puppy pen 36 inches or higher so your rabbit can’t jump out.
• Food / water bowls: Ceramic dishes are heavy enough so your rabbit can’t tip them over.
• Hay feeder: This keeps hay fresh and available to your rabbit.
• Food (hay, pellets, vegetables, and water)
• Wire covers: Plastic sleeves and or flex tubing is a great option for covering/organising wires.
• Furniture protection: Large split flex tubing can fit over wooden table or chair legs.
• Toddler gates: Gates can help block off areas.
• Litter box: A medium-sized cat litter box without a lid is best.
• Rabbit-safe litter
• Chew toys
• Nail clippers

You will need to regularly trim your rabbits’ nails. If you are unsure, your vet can usually provide this service.

Are you ready for the long-term care and financial commitment?

Rabbits make wonderful indoor companions. They are most importantly very cute, but also clean, and quiet! However, before you jump into owning a bunny, make sure a rabbit is a good fit for your family.

First, ensure you’ve done your sums and can afford a new fuzzy pal. Costs include the purchase price; vet bills for spay/neuter surgery, annual checkups, any potential illnesses; housing and bunny proofing supplies; and food. Bunnies are a long term commitment and you need to ensure that you can afford to support them for the length of their lives.

Also, do your research on what it’s like to own a rabbit. Rabbits like to chew everything. So anywhere your rabbit goes must be bunny proofed. If not, you will be disappointed when belongings are chewed. Rabbits require daily exercise, so keeping them confined to a small space all the time will not be appropriate for their needs. Rabbits are not lap pets and generally don’t like being held.

Prepare Your House

The first step when you decide to bring a rabbit into your life is deciding where the bunny will live. Housing a rabbit indoors provides much-needed social interaction for the rabbit, along with protection from predators and severe weather.

A great place to house your rabbit is in a central area of your home. You can use a puppy pen to block off a corner of a family room. A puppy pen provides plenty of space for a litter box, food and water bowls and a hay box. The rabbit also still has plenty of room to hop around in.

You will need to rabbit proof the area in which your rabbit will play. All cords must be covered with wire protectors or lifted at least 3-4 feet out of reach. Your rabbit will also be drawn to wooden furniture legs and anything else that is remotely “chewable”. If you don’t want those things damaged, you will have to keep them out of reach or covered. Ideally, you should supervise all out-of-pen exercise.

What bunny should I get and where?

Picking your rabbit is an exciting time, a good thing to consider is a rescue shelter. Rescue shelters have baby bunnies, adult bunnies, senior bunnies, and pairs of bonded bunnies – in all breeds and sizes and varying personalities.

The added advantage of adopting a bunny through a rescue is that the volunteers often litter train the rabbits while in their care. Another consideration is that rabbits older than six months have already been spayed or neutered and this can considerably reduce your financial outlay.

Because rabbits are social creatures, you may want to consider adopting a bonded pair of rabbits. This is a good option for people who aren’t at home during the day. You won’t have to worry about your rabbit being lonely if he/she has a furry friend.

Vets

At the beginning of your pet’s life, it is very important to register with a local vet. This way, you can keep track of their medical records and be sure that they are as healthy as possible. A vet’s services are also essential in the event of an emergency or for routine checkups. They can advise on what needs to be done, give vaccinations when required, and administer injections if needed.