Rabbits are popular companion animals and are offered for adoption at many animal shelters, but careful consideration of their needs is essential before bringing one into your home. Keep in mind that no pet should be adopted on impulse or offered as a gift without the caregiver’s full knowledge of what will be necessary for the animal’s well-being.
Do rabbits require special care?
Rabbits are a prey species and as such have different, often subtler, behavior patterns than dogs and cats. Greeting behaviors may be more subdued and expressions of pain or discomfort may be less obvious. Rabbits also have specific needs for a safe and fulfilling home environment that require time and commitment. Naturally, they require proper veterinary care and should be spayed or neutered at the appropriate age to diminish aggressive and territorial behaviors and urine spraying.
Pet rabbits should be safely housed indoors in a rabbit cage at least five times their size to provide plenty of room to move around. Wire cage floors should be covered with cardboard, and a cardboard box for hiding is also a good idea. The room where the rabbit will live also should offer privacy for the animal and a constant cool but comfortable temperature.
