Rabbits, as herbivores, must have diets high in fiber to keep their digestive systems healthy and working properly. Hay provides good digestive health as well as physical and mental stimulation. The two main types of hay are grass hay and legume hay. Grass hay is the better of the two because of its high nutrient […]
Rabbits
The domestic Rabbit originated with the European Rabbit. The Rabbit’s natural habitats are Europe, Africa and parts of Asia. There are more than 45 breeds of Rabbits. Different breeds have different personalities and characteristics. A female rabbit is known as a doe and a male rabbit is a buck. For show purposes, rabbits are divided into body types; Compact Body Type, Commercial Body Type, Full Arch Body Type, Semio Arch Body Type and Cylindrical Body Type.
Rabbits are small mammals in the family Leporidae of other Lagomorpha, and technically not rodents, although they are often classified together in pet shops and similar. They live in many areas around the world and they live in groups. A group of burrows is called a warren. Rabbits usually live in meadows, woods, forests, thickets and grasslands but they will also inhabit deserts and wetlands too.
As you know, rabbits have long ears. Their ears can be more 10cm long and the ears can adapt for detecting predators. Rabbits’ fur is long and soft. Rabbits also have two set of incisor teeth. The hind legs, longer than the front ones, are very powerful. The little tail resembles a powder puff. The medium length fur is very soft. Colors vary with the breed. Life span can be more than 10 years.
Rabbits are prey animals and will freeze and observe when they are confronted with a threat. They like to explore new territory.
Although rabbits are timid but they are so lovely, many people like them. I hope you will like them too.
Although it is popularly thought that rabbits eat a diet of mainly carrots and lettuce, in truth only 5% of their diet should be made up of fresh vegetables. In the wild they don’t eat primarily vegetables, and if they have too much it can cause diarrhea and tooth decay. They need to eat a lot of hay, around their size in hay per day, and also some kibble.
Rabbits are very social and must be kept in same sex pairs. It is important to spay a female rabbit, as otherwise they have a high chance of contracting uterine cancer and are unlikely to live beyond 4 years old. They enjoy being stroked. If they like you, they will groom you in return by licking you! They don’t usually like being picked up, so it’s good to let them hop over to you.
Rabbits should NEVER be housed with Guinea Pigs for the following reasons:
Rabbits are a lot stronger than guinea pigs, they can easily hurt/kill a guinea pig without meaning to, simply by kicking out with their back legs.
Also rabbits do tend to bully guinea pigs.
They also have differing dietary requirements, so unless you intend to feed them separately you will be neglecting one pet’s needs: Guinea pigs need additional Vitamin C in their diets or they can become sick. But rabbits don’t, and too much vitamin C can make a rabbit ill.
This is the most important reason: Rabbits carry bordatella, a disease which is fatal to guinea pigs.
Cancer in Rabbits
Cancer in rabbits is relatively rare, but it does occur. The most common forms are skin cancer and uterine cancer. Up to 85% of female rabbits develop uterine cancer by the time they are 4 years old. The best treatment is prevention – spay your female rabbit. Surgical removal of tumors is the usual treatment. […]
Rabbit Hutches
Do you want a rabbit hutch or a cage? Cages are made of bars on all sides. This provides excellent ventilation and waste managing properties, but rabbits are docile, shy creature and they like being able to hide away, as attested by their predilection for burrowing. Hutches are often made of wire mesh on only […]
Rabbit Housing, Indoors and Outdoors
Even if your rabbit is allowed the freedom of the house a cage is necessary as a nesting and comfort area. If your rabbit spends a great deal of time in the cage it should be as large as you can afford. A solid floor is best as wire floors can cause discomfort and injury […]
Litterbox Training Your Rabbit
Rabbits certainly can be litter-trained. It just takes patience and some time. The advantage of training your rabbit to use a litter box is that your pet can be allowed more freedom in the house and you don’t have to worry about soiling. The first thing to remember is always to reward your pet with […]
Rabbit-Proof Your House
The purpose of rabbit-proofing your home is to protect your rabbit from harm as well as to protect your belongings. If your rabbit has the run of the whole house, rabbit-proofing will have to be extensive. You can also choose to give him free reign only in one room or in an enclosed area, and […]
Lagomorphs
Lagomorphs are members of the taxonomic order of Lagomorpha, which includes rabbits, hares and pikas. Originally these animals were classified as rodents but it has since been discovered that they have unique characteristics which differ from those in the rodent order. The main differences are: Lagomorphs have four incisors in the upper jaw, while rodents […]
Rabbits
The domestic Rabbit originated with the European Rabbit. The Rabbit’s natural habitats are Europe, Africa and parts of Asia. There are more than 45 breeds of Rabbits. Different breeds have different personalities and characteristics. A female rabbit is known as a doe and a male rabbit is a buck. For show purposes, rabbits are divided […]
Choosing a Rabbit
When choosing a pet rabbit, the first step is deciding on a breed. If you have children, consider a medium to large size breed. These rabbits will be better at coping if they are stressed by the children’s actions. If you have a cat in the house, it is best to get a rabbit the […]
Caring for a Senior Rabbit
Rabbits may live into their teens and will slow down and be considered elderly at about 5-8 years old. Since pet rabbits are living longer these days, people who adopt rabbits can expect to be caring for an aging pet at some point. Rescue organizations sometimes offer older rabbits for adoption. Senior rabbits may suffer […]