Getting A Pet Rabbit: What To Expect

Written by Abi Cushman

Rabbits make wonderful indoor pets. They are adorable and brimming with personality. But before you swoop into the shelter and pick out a cutie…

…there are a few things you should consider before getting a pet rabbit:

Can You Afford to Care for a Pet Bunny?

Let’s just say, rabbits aren’t cheap. Be prepared to spend money up front on the adoption fee/breeder price ($50 – $500), as well as housing, food, and bunny proofing supplies ($350).

In addition, be sure you can afford ongoing costs for a bunny on food (including fresh greens), litter (lots of poop!), and vet bills. Factor in spay/neuter fees if the bunny didn’t get the surgery while at the shelter/rescue. That all adds up!

For more details about costs, check out our article How Much Does a Pet Rabbit Cost?.

Where Will Your Pet Rabbit Live?

Rabbits are social animals. The location of a rabbit’s housing area within your home is an extremely important consideration.

Rabbits need quiet places to relax in, but they shouldn’t be completely secluded from the family. They thrive on social interaction, plenty of exercise, and lots of enrichment activities.

Take a look at our Rabbit Housing article for examples and photos of suitable indoor rabbit enclosures.

Are You Prepared to Bunny Proof Your Home?

If your bunny will have free rein in your house/apartment/room, you will absolutely need to bunny proof the area.

Even if you keep the bunny in an X-pen, cage, or condo, you still will need to safeguard your home when you let the rabbit out for exercise.

Rabbits are very curious and persistent creatures. They will find a way to get into your computer cables, wires, molding, couch piping, slightly frayed rug, etc. They will eat your most important documents.

Check out our Bunny Proofing article for tips on protecting your bunny and your things.

Did You Know that Bunnies Get Bored?

Rabbits will get into trouble if they’re bored. They’ll make their own fun by chewing your possessions if you don’t provide alternate forms of entertainment.

A great diversion for rabbits is a cardboard castle filled with empty toilet paper rolls, old phone books, and other paper products you find around the house.

Read our Enrichment article for more ideas.

What If Your Bunny Forgets Their Litter Box Training?

Most rabbit rescues will start the process of litter training the bunnies they take in. So a rescue bunny should have the basics down, but sometimes those good habits go down the drain once they move into their new home.

This is natural because the drastic change in environment can be very stressful. Litter training can be frustrating at times, but the key is persistence and consistent reinforcement of good habits.

Read our article about litter training to learn more.

Are You Okay with Hay in Your House?

The staple of a rabbit’s diet is hay. They need hay to wear down their ever-growing teeth and to ensure their digestive systems run smoothly.

And rabbits love rummaging through the hay to find the most delectable pieces. They don’t worry about being neat about it. That’s for you to clean up.

To that end, it is very important to ensure that hay allergies will not pose a problem for anyone in the household. Because yes, you and everyone else in the house will come in contact with it.

For a more detailed explanation of rabbit nutrition, see our article, What to Feed Your Pet Rabbit and Hay for Rabbits: Essential for Good Health.

Bonding with a Bunny

Rabbits can be quite affectionate animals, but personalities definitely vary from individual to individual. Most rabbits don’t particularly like being held/picked up, and some bunnies are more aloof than others.

Talk with a volunteer at a local rabbit rescue to learn more about which rabbit (or pair of rabbits) has a personality that would be a good fit for you and your family.

See our article, Building a Relationship with Your Pet Rabbit, for more information about taking steps to bond with a bunny.

Do You Travel A Lot?

Rabbits get very stressed out when traveling or when placed in unfamiliar environments, so you should have a good pet sitter on hand to watch the bunny if you go on vacation.

If you’re a big jet-setter, with the need or desire to move to various places around the world, rabbit ownership probably isn’t right for you. Very few airlines allow rabbits to fly in-cabin within the United States and abroad.

Oftentimes rabbits are subjected to multi-month-long quarantine periods upon arrival into other countries, and in many places, pet rabbits are not permitted in at all.

Children and Rabbits

Rabbits live 10+ years. Adopting a rabbit is a long-term commitment and should be a family decision.

When kids turn 18 and head off to college or look for work, it’s important that the rabbit still has a safe, loving home.

Read our article, Children and Pet Rabbits, for more information.

In Summary

While it’s easy to get swept up in the excitement of a new pet, here are the top things you should know before getting a bunny:

1. Rabbits aren’t cheap.
2. Bunnies should be housed inside your home in a place where they’ll get lots of social interaction and exercise.
3. Rabbits love chewing up wires, books, and rugs.
4. Bunnies are typically clean and can be litterbox trained, but sometimes they have oopsies.
5. There will be lots of hay in your house!
6. Rabbits typically dislike being picked up and cuddled.
7. Bunnies don’t like traveling.
8. Rabbits need an adult as their primary caregiver. They live 10+ years and are not good “children’s pets.”

Bottom line: Do your research before adding a bunny to your family! If you understand the unique needs of a rabbit, then you and your pet bunny can look forward to years of acrobatic binkies, bossy nose bonks, and fantastic flops together!

About the Author

Abi Cushman is a veteran house rabbit owner and a contributing editor of My House Rabbit. She currently shares her home with one mischievous dwarf bunny named Otis.

When she's not writing about bunnies for My House Rabbit, Abi writes and illustrates funny books for kids, including Soaked! (Viking) and Animals Go Vroom! (Viking). And yes, there are bunnies in them. Learn more at abicushman.com.

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