Lunar Year of the Rabbit care for ‘rewarding’ pets
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Latest Lunar New Year celebrates Year of the Rabbit and, while those born in that year are believed to have a number of different personality traits from patience and ambition to style and beauty, pet rabbits are known to love companionship of their own species with space to play, run and hop.
PDSA vet Nurse Nina Downing said: “Rabbits remain a popular choice of pet for many families, with an estimated one million in the UK, according to the latest stats from our PDSA Animal Wellbeing (PAW) Report.
“Whichever pet you choose to bring into your family, it’s vital that you do your research so that you can feel sure that you can meet the individual species needs and prepare their and your home before their arrival.”
Living space
Rabbits can live indoors or outdoors but a hutch is not at all enough. They need lots of space and boredom busters to keep them busy and active. Whichever you choose, it’s really important that their living space is large and tall enough for them to run around, lie down and fully stretch out plus jump as high as they want. They need a secure, sheltered and safe space to relax, sleep, eat and drink, as well as a large exercise area, which is free from anything dangerous such as wires, toxic garden plants or small ornaments.
Bedding and toys
Your rabbits need comfortable, absorbent and clean bedding such as newspaper, non-clumping wood-based cat litter pellets and soft straw. Pet rabbits can get bored easily, so you’ll need to give them places to hide and explore. Tunnels, boxes, balls and a large litter tray full of soil will keep them entertained for hours!
Companions
Rabbits are very sociable animals that should never be kept alone. It’s vitally important that they have the company of at least one other neutered rabbit to stop them getting bored and lonely. We recommend keeping neutered pairs, ideally one male and one female.
Diet
The best diet for your bunnies is one that is as close to a wild rabbit’s diet as possible. They must have constant access to feeding hay/ Even outdoor rabbits will need this in addition to fresh grass as rabbits naturally graze a vast area, which is almost impossible to recreate in captivity. Rabbits also need leafy greens, vegetables and herbs twice daily as well as fresh drinking water.
Low maintenance?
You may think a rabbit is an easier pet to look after than say a dog but rabbusy bits are active, animals that need as much stimulation as other pets. For more about bunnies visit pdsa. org.uk/rabbits site. Rabbits, if given the right environment and their needs met, can be rewarding and delightful pets.