Bunnies - not just for Easter

Bunnies - not just for Easter says Della Smith

My name is Della and I run a website called Best4bunny and produce a magazine by the same name. If you haven’t already guessed Best4bunny is all about rabbits.

While rabbits are very popular pets, sadly, they are also the most neglected and abandoned. I believe this is because they are so misunderstood when it comes to their care and individual needs. I have shared my life with rabbits for more than 40 years and decided to do something about helping to educate people. So I created my website Best4bunny.com followed by the Best4bunny magazine. Both are full of fun and easy-to-follow friendly advice on rabbit care, whether people are new to rabbits or experienced. The response has been amazing. I still can’t believe Best4bunny has over 46K followers on Facebook.

Here’s my advice if you are thinking of bringing a rabbit (or two) into your life...

Rabbits do make great pets but you must be well prepared for them and it is so important to educate yourself on how to care for them.

Rabbits are prey animals and will naturally be shy, reserved and maybe even aggressive, until they learn to trust you. Once they do trust you, they will become confident and their personalities will shine, but you do have to be patient. Rabbits do not make ideal starter pets for young children. They are complex animals to care for and are far too much responsibility for children alone to look after. So always make sure the whole family will care for the rabbit.

All rabbits will need to be spayed/neutered, even if they live alone or live with another rabbit that is the same sex. When rabbits reach maturity (around 2 to 5 months old) their hormones will kick in and their behaviour can change dramatically. Young rabbits are likely to start fighting with each other at this age. Having them neutered/spayed will calm down their hormones and behaviour.

Rabbits need space and lots of it to be happy and healthy. No rabbit should live in a small cramped hutch or cage.

Rabbits are social animals and hate to be alone. They should ideally live in pairs, but they will need to be neutered/spayed and properly bonded to be able to live together. If you can only have one, then have them live indoors with you as a house rabbit. They will enjoy your company – but make sure you rabbitproof your house first. Rabbits can live up to 12+ years, so please consider adopting adult rabbits. They are just as cute and playful as baby rabbits and there are far too many in rescues, waiting for their forever home. You can find a local rescue at rabbitrehome.org.uk

Here’s a little advice on how to care for rabbits...

Rabbits are very clean animals and love a clean home, so regular cleaning will be needed. If you won’t lie down in their home, don’t expect your rabbit to either!

Rabbits need to eat lots of hay each and every day to stay healthy, so always provide them with a continuous supply of good quality hay. A rabbit’s diet should be 80% hay, 10% pellets, 10% vegetables and fresh water. They have sensitive stomachs and new foods always need to be introduced slowly. Did you know carrots are actually bad for rabbits? They are high in sugar and should only be fed as a small treat.

Grooming your rabbit regularly is very important (especially when they are moulting). They clean themselves many times a day and if they digest too much fur they can become seriously ill very quickly.

Rabbits need to keep their minds active to be happy. A bored rabbit can become disruptive and aggressive. Keep them entertained with plenty of exercise and lots of rabbit-friendly toys.

Rabbits need vaccinations and health checks every year. They are classed as exotic animals and most vets don’t know as much about them, as they do cats and dogs! Look for a vet that specialises in exotic pets.

To purchase a magazine or to find lots more information on caring for rabbits the right way visit www.best4bunny.com

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