CHINCHILLA
1. AMERICAN CHINCHILLA
2. GIANT CHINCHILLA
LOP
3. AMERICAN FUZZY LOP
4. ENGLISH LOP
5. FRENCH LOP
6. HOLLAND LOP
DWARF
7. NETHERLAND DWARF
8. DWARF HOTOT
ANGORA
9. ENGLISH ANGORA
10. FRENCH ANGORA
11. GIANT ANGORA
12. SATIN ANGORA
REX
13. MINI REX
14. STANDARD REX
D' ARGENT
15. CREME D' ARGENT
16. CHAMPAGNE D' ARGENT
FROM REGION:
17. NEW ZEALAND
18. DUTCH
19. HIMALAYAN
20. BELGIAN HARE
21. ENGLISH SPOT
22. BRITANNIA PETITE
23. AMERICAN SABLE
24. FLORIDA WHITE
OTHERS:
25. HAVANA
26. CINNAMON
27. BEVEREN
28. HARLEQUIN
29. LILAC
30. POLISH
31. SATIN
32. TAN
33. THRIANTA
34. SILVER FOX
35. SILVER MARTIN
36. PALOMINO
37. RHINELANDER
38. JERSEY WOOLY
INI LOUIE, JENIS APA YAK.. :D
PART II : BEFRIEND BUNNIES
RABBIT BREED
Size Matters
Although the individual personality of the pet rabbit your choose should be the final deciding factor, size and weight always seems to be a huge factor in selecting pet rabbits. If you want a tiny indoor rabbit, a huge breed just won't do. Here's the breakdown of breeds by weight:
All-Important Personality
Individual rabbits have personalities as individual as they are. But there are tendencies within breeds. Breeds are listed below as either being relaxed, curious, or excitable. Please note that excitable rabbits can still be great pets for those who are comfortable and experienced with animals. The excitable breeds can be a lot of fun to watch. I prefer the curios breeds; I find them to have good balance between calm and excitement. Others only want calm breeds and enjoy them immensely.
* Some reports of higher than average biting, others report very calm
** Highly variable
*** Reputation for biting
Basic Body Type
Once you've chosen the basic size and personality of the rabbit, you will want to consider the looks of the bunny. Different body type rabbits can look dramatically different from each other.
Rabbits come in four basic body types: Semi-arch (also called Mandolin), compact, full arch, and commercial type. There is actually a fifth type, but it is comprised solely of Himalayans which are cylindrical in type.
Semi-arched rabbit breeds arch from the shoulders over the hips. They are lower at the shoulder and higher at the hips when they lie down naturally. Some semi-arched breeds are American, Flemish Giant and Giant Chinchilla.
Compact rabbits are generally lighter and shorter than commercial types and have full massive-looking bodies, compared to their actual size. Holland lops, Netherland dwarfs, and Dutch are part of this group.
Full arch type rabbits have a very dramatic, dignified look to them. They are generally narrow, very upright, and have long front legs. Belgian Hares, Britannia Petite and Tans are examples of full arch type rabbits.
Commercial types were developed for meat, but often the rabbits make great pets because of their personalities. Their type is wide and not too long, similar to compact rabbits, but larger and heavier. Harlequins, Giant Angora, Satins, and Rex are part of this group.
Other Considerations
Larger rabbits require larger cages, eat more, and produce larger amounts of waste. They do tend to be calmer in personality, however.
Mini Rex tend to have long, sharp toe nails or at least they seem that way because of the shorter fur which exposes the nails more.
Checkered Giants, Britannia Petites, and Mini Lops have reputations as biters.
Belgian Hares should be housed in a solid-bottom rather than wire-bottom cages. Their spines are delicate. I do not recommend Belgian Hares for beginners.
Dutch and Himalayan are good choices for younger children both due to their size and to their very calm personalities.
Jersey Wooly may be the best choice of wool breeds for a pet rabbit. American Fuzzy Lop is another good choice if you want a long-haired pet rabbit.
English lops are also extremely calm. Their nails must be kept short to keep them from damaging their long ears. Their ears need special care in cold weather since as putting tube socks on them!
Lionheads are just beginning to be developed, so their makeup is still highly variable and not well established. Thrianta, a red rabbit, is also a new breed and may be difficult to locate.
Some of the more popular breeds for pets include Holland Lops, Netherland Dwarfs, Mini Rex, Dutch, Jersey Wooly, Mini Lops, and American Fuzzy Lops.
A RABBIT MAKES THE BEST FAMILY PET
If you lead the typical modern lifestyle, these days you may feel that there is no room in your life for a pet.
Pets are expensive, demanding, and can bother the neighbors.
But take a few minutes to consider a rabbit:
A Pet Rabbit Is Not Demanding - Relatively Speaking
Pet rabbits really can be happy without inordinate amounts of attention from you. If you have soccer practice tonight and can't play for an hour, your pet rabbit will be content anyway. That's not true with some other types of pets.
In addition to dozens of rabbits, we have six Chihuahuas. I absolutely love them. But leaving the room for ten minutes is reason enough for joyous reunion celebrations. Our Chihuahuas, like most dogs, need a lot of our time and attention to be happy.
My mother has two indoor cats. When she travels, her cats get sulky and generally act out while she's gone and immediately after she returns home.
My rabbits definitely prefer me to the substitute caregivers they have when I travel, but they never get sulky over it or have poor behavior because I'm gone.
Pet Rabbits Are Most Active When You Are Most Likely To Be Home
Rabbits are most active around dawn and dusk. So, if you make your rabbit a small part of your morning routine, he or she should be active and willing to participate.
When you get home from work, rabbits are up and ready to play, if you have the time. If you feel guilty about all of the time your pet rabbit is alone, don't bother. He or she was probably napping or at least settled a great deal of the time anyway.
Rabbits Do Not Require As Many Trips To The Vet
You have a busy life and you do not need any more tasks on your to-do list. That's fine. Rabbits won't add a bunch of trips to the vet. Rabbits, being caged animals, do not require vaccinations for rabies and other diseases. In fact, few vaccinations have even been developed for rabbits and none are approved in the US.
While dogs and cats require a series of visits as puppies and kittens plus annual checks-ups and expensive heart-worm medication, rabbits do not.
You will want to take your rabbit to the vet to be spayed or neutered.
Your rabbit, like any pet, may develop a condition that should be treated by a veterinarian. But you are not automatically in for a half dozen vet trips just because you adopted a new pet rabbit.
Rabbits Are Quiet
Before I really got into rabbits, I had no idea how many different sounds a rabbit can make. They growl, grunt, moan, squeal, hum, and buzz. Except for a squeal that means they think they are in mortal danger, all of the sounds the make are quiet sounds. Even if you live in an apartment, your pet rabbit's sounds will not bother the neighbors, a sleeping baby, or even a grumpy visiting relative.
Rabbits Do Not Need To Be Walked
Through rain and snow and heat, your indoor dog must be walked or at least let in and let out. Although you can harness a rabbit and allow him or her to walk around outside, it's not a requirement. Too tired to walk Fluffy tonight? No problem if Fluffy is a rabbit.
Big Personality In A Small Package
While they are many more great reasons to consider rabbits for pets, don't forget about their wonderful personalities. They are curious and can be very affectionate. Rabbits are entertaining and very beautiful. They have great capacity for developing relationships with specific people. You get all of that in a small, easy-to-handle package! What else could you ask for?
RABBIT COMMUNICATION
Rabbits are not passive creatures that simply nibble and hop. They are very complicated and have many ways of communicating with you, if you just know how to listen.
Body Language
Any time your rabbit is upset, you may see him thumping the ground on the bottom of his cage. This communication is designed to warn other rabbits who may feel the thumping.
If your rabbit is upset, take steps to remedy the problem. Rabbits can thump hard enough to break their own backs.
Perhaps your bunny has started circling your feet. You can find this behavior cute or annoying, depending on whether you are trying to walk! You will see this behavior emerge when your rabbit is a few months old and is reaching sexual maturity. It means, "Why not come over to my place; we'll put on some music, see where the evening leads us."
Some people think that a rabbit is trying to get salt from your skin when they lick you. Not so! Their feed has all of the salt they need. Instead, it means I accept you; I esteem you.
Loud grinding of the teeth, especially accompanied by drooling, is a sign of intense pain. Get your rabbit help right away.
Have you ever seen your rabbit walk across the floor and suddenly jump up, twist, and then land gracefully? It looks like they were so full of the joy of life that they just couldn't contain it. And that's it, more or less.
Chinning is performed mostly by males. They have glands under their chin which produces a scent detectable by rabbits. A rabbit who is chinning is saying "I own this," or "you belong to me."
Stretching out, even on their backs, is a sign of restfulness. But I must admit, I've awaken many a napping rabbit just to make sure they were alive. When they relax, they really relax.
A rabbit who is very annoyed may nip at you or look like they are going to. You should take this warning seriously since the next attack could be more serious. Most rabbit bites that people sustain from rabbits, and those are rare, are actually warning bites. A real rabbit attack is very vicious and includes their latching on and digging in with their hind feet.
Lunging or whirling around quickly on you, perhaps butting you with their head is a sign of serious annoyance. Give your bunny some time out to chill before continuing, or make sure your rabbit is secure if you must do something he doesn't like, such as treat an injury or give medication.
Females, whether bred or not, may engage in nesting behaviors. They can gather hay in their mouths or pull fur from their bodies and put it into a pile. If your rabbit has been with another rabbit, regardless of the sex you've been told it is, and she exhibits these symptoms, give her a nesting box filled with hay or straw. You wouldn't be the first family to get babies from two "females."
Mounting behaviors in rabbits are pretty obvious. A rabbit may mount another rabbit, regardless of the sex of either party. They may mount your arm. Watch out because biting into the fur of the female is part of the mating ritual for rabbits. They may also mount pillows or toys.
A female who lies flat and lifts her tail is presenting herself for breeding.
Rabbit Sounds
Humming is probably the best sound that a rabbit makes. Mostly males hum and not every male hums. And those males that hum, don't hum for just anyone. If a rabbit hums or buzzes for you, consider yourself special.
Just about nothing sounds worse to me than a rabbit scream. Luckily, a very small percentage of rabbits have screamed in my presence, and most of those were false alarms. If your rabbit screams, he is absolutely terrified or in terrible pain. He needs comfort and assurance.
Growling is done most frequently, in my experience, by does who want to be bred or who are bred. It's a warning that you should heed. It often precedes an attack. Sometimes the growl will sound more like a chirping that becomes more rapid.
Rabbits have many more subtle ways of communicating with you. You'll learn the angle of the head, the use of the ears, and the pose of the body mean various things for your rabbit and you. Just be aware that your rabbit is constantly communicating, and pretty soon, you'll be fluent in rabbit.
NEW PET BUNNY RABBIT
When you first bring your pet rabbit home, it is best to leave him or her in the cage for two or three days. He or she has a lot to get use to:
*new sounds,
*new smells,
*new cage,
*new diet, and
*new people.
All of that newness is stressful for your rabbit.
New pet rabbit owners have literally stressed their rabbit into serious illness by handling them too much (especially young ones), taking them too many places, and introducing too many changes just as soon as they come home.
Pet Rabbits Recognize Your Voice
Be sure to talk to your rabbit. Your pet rabbit will recognize you by your voice. You will find that your pet rabbit is startled by yells, squeals, and sudden noises, but can often be calmed by your voice alone.
Out Of The Rabbit Cage
When he has had a chance to settle in, you can open the cage door and allow your new pet rabbit to come out on his own. If she doesn't come out right away, just linger outside the open cage door for about fifteen minutes at a time until she determines that you are okay.
As he starts coming to the door, talk sweetly to him and rub his ears, or the side of his cheek, or between his eyes.
How To Hold Your Pet Rabbit
After you have started developing a relationship with your pet rabbit on his terms, it is okay to begin picking him up. You may find that your pet rabbit never really enjoys being held, though. That's not to say that he won't choose to crawl onto your lap!
Rabbits are prey in the wild and their natural instincts tell them that being captured is not okay. You may find that your pet rabbit reacts better if you approach him on his level, rather than from above, like a wolf would.
Try to avoid chasing your rabbit. It is better to give him limited room to roam until he learns to get back into his cage easily. A chased rabbit can get upset enough to have a heart attack or break his back.
When you hold her, bring her close to your body and hold her snuggly without pressing too hard. Just like babies, pet rabbits feel more secure and scramble less when they are held confidently. You can hold a pet rabbit in the crook of your arm on his back like a baby. You can hold him firmly on your chest or in the crook of your arm with his face tucked in. This hold is especially good if he's nervous.
It is fine, and sometimes a good idea, to hold a rabbit's ears firmly while you hold him. He's not likely to want to leave those behind! However, never, ever let your rabbit's weight be held by his ears. And don't pick up your rabbit by the scruff of the neck except in an emergency.
Some some pet rabbits are snugglers. Others like to hop on and off your lap on their own schedules. Still others will always want to have their feet on the floor when they interact with you.
Be patient and invest time into your rabbit. Make a body massage (not just petting the fur) be a part of your interaction. Your rabbit will love you for it.
Size Matters
Although the individual personality of the pet rabbit your choose should be the final deciding factor, size and weight always seems to be a huge factor in selecting pet rabbits. If you want a tiny indoor rabbit, a huge breed just won't do. Here's the breakdown of breeds by weight:
All-Important Personality
Individual rabbits have personalities as individual as they are. But there are tendencies within breeds. Breeds are listed below as either being relaxed, curious, or excitable. Please note that excitable rabbits can still be great pets for those who are comfortable and experienced with animals. The excitable breeds can be a lot of fun to watch. I prefer the curios breeds; I find them to have good balance between calm and excitement. Others only want calm breeds and enjoy them immensely.
* Some reports of higher than average biting, others report very calm
** Highly variable
*** Reputation for biting
Basic Body Type
Once you've chosen the basic size and personality of the rabbit, you will want to consider the looks of the bunny. Different body type rabbits can look dramatically different from each other.
Rabbits come in four basic body types: Semi-arch (also called Mandolin), compact, full arch, and commercial type. There is actually a fifth type, but it is comprised solely of Himalayans which are cylindrical in type.
Semi-arched rabbit breeds arch from the shoulders over the hips. They are lower at the shoulder and higher at the hips when they lie down naturally. Some semi-arched breeds are American, Flemish Giant and Giant Chinchilla.
Compact rabbits are generally lighter and shorter than commercial types and have full massive-looking bodies, compared to their actual size. Holland lops, Netherland dwarfs, and Dutch are part of this group.
Full arch type rabbits have a very dramatic, dignified look to them. They are generally narrow, very upright, and have long front legs. Belgian Hares, Britannia Petite and Tans are examples of full arch type rabbits.
Commercial types were developed for meat, but often the rabbits make great pets because of their personalities. Their type is wide and not too long, similar to compact rabbits, but larger and heavier. Harlequins, Giant Angora, Satins, and Rex are part of this group.
Other Considerations
Larger rabbits require larger cages, eat more, and produce larger amounts of waste. They do tend to be calmer in personality, however.
Mini Rex tend to have long, sharp toe nails or at least they seem that way because of the shorter fur which exposes the nails more.
Checkered Giants, Britannia Petites, and Mini Lops have reputations as biters.
Belgian Hares should be housed in a solid-bottom rather than wire-bottom cages. Their spines are delicate. I do not recommend Belgian Hares for beginners.
Dutch and Himalayan are good choices for younger children both due to their size and to their very calm personalities.
Jersey Wooly may be the best choice of wool breeds for a pet rabbit. American Fuzzy Lop is another good choice if you want a long-haired pet rabbit.
English lops are also extremely calm. Their nails must be kept short to keep them from damaging their long ears. Their ears need special care in cold weather since as putting tube socks on them!
Lionheads are just beginning to be developed, so their makeup is still highly variable and not well established. Thrianta, a red rabbit, is also a new breed and may be difficult to locate.
Some of the more popular breeds for pets include Holland Lops, Netherland Dwarfs, Mini Rex, Dutch, Jersey Wooly, Mini Lops, and American Fuzzy Lops.
A RABBIT MAKES THE BEST FAMILY PET
If you lead the typical modern lifestyle, these days you may feel that there is no room in your life for a pet.
Pets are expensive, demanding, and can bother the neighbors.
But take a few minutes to consider a rabbit:
A Pet Rabbit Is Not Demanding - Relatively Speaking
Pet rabbits really can be happy without inordinate amounts of attention from you. If you have soccer practice tonight and can't play for an hour, your pet rabbit will be content anyway. That's not true with some other types of pets.
In addition to dozens of rabbits, we have six Chihuahuas. I absolutely love them. But leaving the room for ten minutes is reason enough for joyous reunion celebrations. Our Chihuahuas, like most dogs, need a lot of our time and attention to be happy.
My mother has two indoor cats. When she travels, her cats get sulky and generally act out while she's gone and immediately after she returns home.
My rabbits definitely prefer me to the substitute caregivers they have when I travel, but they never get sulky over it or have poor behavior because I'm gone.
Pet Rabbits Are Most Active When You Are Most Likely To Be Home
Rabbits are most active around dawn and dusk. So, if you make your rabbit a small part of your morning routine, he or she should be active and willing to participate.
When you get home from work, rabbits are up and ready to play, if you have the time. If you feel guilty about all of the time your pet rabbit is alone, don't bother. He or she was probably napping or at least settled a great deal of the time anyway.
Rabbits Do Not Require As Many Trips To The Vet
You have a busy life and you do not need any more tasks on your to-do list. That's fine. Rabbits won't add a bunch of trips to the vet. Rabbits, being caged animals, do not require vaccinations for rabies and other diseases. In fact, few vaccinations have even been developed for rabbits and none are approved in the US.
While dogs and cats require a series of visits as puppies and kittens plus annual checks-ups and expensive heart-worm medication, rabbits do not.
You will want to take your rabbit to the vet to be spayed or neutered.
Your rabbit, like any pet, may develop a condition that should be treated by a veterinarian. But you are not automatically in for a half dozen vet trips just because you adopted a new pet rabbit.
Rabbits Are Quiet
Before I really got into rabbits, I had no idea how many different sounds a rabbit can make. They growl, grunt, moan, squeal, hum, and buzz. Except for a squeal that means they think they are in mortal danger, all of the sounds the make are quiet sounds. Even if you live in an apartment, your pet rabbit's sounds will not bother the neighbors, a sleeping baby, or even a grumpy visiting relative.
Rabbits Do Not Need To Be Walked
Through rain and snow and heat, your indoor dog must be walked or at least let in and let out. Although you can harness a rabbit and allow him or her to walk around outside, it's not a requirement. Too tired to walk Fluffy tonight? No problem if Fluffy is a rabbit.
Big Personality In A Small Package
While they are many more great reasons to consider rabbits for pets, don't forget about their wonderful personalities. They are curious and can be very affectionate. Rabbits are entertaining and very beautiful. They have great capacity for developing relationships with specific people. You get all of that in a small, easy-to-handle package! What else could you ask for?
RABBIT COMMUNICATION
Rabbits are not passive creatures that simply nibble and hop. They are very complicated and have many ways of communicating with you, if you just know how to listen.
Body Language
Any time your rabbit is upset, you may see him thumping the ground on the bottom of his cage. This communication is designed to warn other rabbits who may feel the thumping.
If your rabbit is upset, take steps to remedy the problem. Rabbits can thump hard enough to break their own backs.
Perhaps your bunny has started circling your feet. You can find this behavior cute or annoying, depending on whether you are trying to walk! You will see this behavior emerge when your rabbit is a few months old and is reaching sexual maturity. It means, "Why not come over to my place; we'll put on some music, see where the evening leads us."
Some people think that a rabbit is trying to get salt from your skin when they lick you. Not so! Their feed has all of the salt they need. Instead, it means I accept you; I esteem you.
Loud grinding of the teeth, especially accompanied by drooling, is a sign of intense pain. Get your rabbit help right away.
Have you ever seen your rabbit walk across the floor and suddenly jump up, twist, and then land gracefully? It looks like they were so full of the joy of life that they just couldn't contain it. And that's it, more or less.
Chinning is performed mostly by males. They have glands under their chin which produces a scent detectable by rabbits. A rabbit who is chinning is saying "I own this," or "you belong to me."
Stretching out, even on their backs, is a sign of restfulness. But I must admit, I've awaken many a napping rabbit just to make sure they were alive. When they relax, they really relax.
A rabbit who is very annoyed may nip at you or look like they are going to. You should take this warning seriously since the next attack could be more serious. Most rabbit bites that people sustain from rabbits, and those are rare, are actually warning bites. A real rabbit attack is very vicious and includes their latching on and digging in with their hind feet.
Lunging or whirling around quickly on you, perhaps butting you with their head is a sign of serious annoyance. Give your bunny some time out to chill before continuing, or make sure your rabbit is secure if you must do something he doesn't like, such as treat an injury or give medication.
Females, whether bred or not, may engage in nesting behaviors. They can gather hay in their mouths or pull fur from their bodies and put it into a pile. If your rabbit has been with another rabbit, regardless of the sex you've been told it is, and she exhibits these symptoms, give her a nesting box filled with hay or straw. You wouldn't be the first family to get babies from two "females."
Mounting behaviors in rabbits are pretty obvious. A rabbit may mount another rabbit, regardless of the sex of either party. They may mount your arm. Watch out because biting into the fur of the female is part of the mating ritual for rabbits. They may also mount pillows or toys.
A female who lies flat and lifts her tail is presenting herself for breeding.
Rabbit Sounds
Humming is probably the best sound that a rabbit makes. Mostly males hum and not every male hums. And those males that hum, don't hum for just anyone. If a rabbit hums or buzzes for you, consider yourself special.
Just about nothing sounds worse to me than a rabbit scream. Luckily, a very small percentage of rabbits have screamed in my presence, and most of those were false alarms. If your rabbit screams, he is absolutely terrified or in terrible pain. He needs comfort and assurance.
Growling is done most frequently, in my experience, by does who want to be bred or who are bred. It's a warning that you should heed. It often precedes an attack. Sometimes the growl will sound more like a chirping that becomes more rapid.
Rabbits have many more subtle ways of communicating with you. You'll learn the angle of the head, the use of the ears, and the pose of the body mean various things for your rabbit and you. Just be aware that your rabbit is constantly communicating, and pretty soon, you'll be fluent in rabbit.
NEW PET BUNNY RABBIT
When you first bring your pet rabbit home, it is best to leave him or her in the cage for two or three days. He or she has a lot to get use to:
*new sounds,
*new smells,
*new cage,
*new diet, and
*new people.
All of that newness is stressful for your rabbit.
New pet rabbit owners have literally stressed their rabbit into serious illness by handling them too much (especially young ones), taking them too many places, and introducing too many changes just as soon as they come home.
Pet Rabbits Recognize Your Voice
Be sure to talk to your rabbit. Your pet rabbit will recognize you by your voice. You will find that your pet rabbit is startled by yells, squeals, and sudden noises, but can often be calmed by your voice alone.
Out Of The Rabbit Cage
When he has had a chance to settle in, you can open the cage door and allow your new pet rabbit to come out on his own. If she doesn't come out right away, just linger outside the open cage door for about fifteen minutes at a time until she determines that you are okay.
As he starts coming to the door, talk sweetly to him and rub his ears, or the side of his cheek, or between his eyes.
How To Hold Your Pet Rabbit
After you have started developing a relationship with your pet rabbit on his terms, it is okay to begin picking him up. You may find that your pet rabbit never really enjoys being held, though. That's not to say that he won't choose to crawl onto your lap!
Rabbits are prey in the wild and their natural instincts tell them that being captured is not okay. You may find that your pet rabbit reacts better if you approach him on his level, rather than from above, like a wolf would.
Try to avoid chasing your rabbit. It is better to give him limited room to roam until he learns to get back into his cage easily. A chased rabbit can get upset enough to have a heart attack or break his back.
When you hold her, bring her close to your body and hold her snuggly without pressing too hard. Just like babies, pet rabbits feel more secure and scramble less when they are held confidently. You can hold a pet rabbit in the crook of your arm on his back like a baby. You can hold him firmly on your chest or in the crook of your arm with his face tucked in. This hold is especially good if he's nervous.
It is fine, and sometimes a good idea, to hold a rabbit's ears firmly while you hold him. He's not likely to want to leave those behind! However, never, ever let your rabbit's weight be held by his ears. And don't pick up your rabbit by the scruff of the neck except in an emergency.
Some some pet rabbits are snugglers. Others like to hop on and off your lap on their own schedules. Still others will always want to have their feet on the floor when they interact with you.
Be patient and invest time into your rabbit. Make a body massage (not just petting the fur) be a part of your interaction. Your rabbit will love you for it.
PART III : BUNNIES MYTHOLOGY
Rabbits are Okay in Small Cages
Wrong! Think about wild bunnies, they do little but run around. To keep a rabbit in a small run or cage all day and night is unimaginable cruelty. Would you do that to a cat? No, of course you wouldn't. Rabbits need to be able to run and jump and play
Lettuce and Carrots are Rabbit Food
Wrong! Rabbits should be fed a diet consisting largely of hay and water. Lettuce can be deadly to rabbits, and most keepers avoid it entirely. Carrots are okay as a treat, but in the wild bunnies would never eat carrots at all!
Rabbits are Stupid
Wrong! Rabbits are quite intelligent animals, on a par with cats when it comes to smarts and personality. They need attention, toys, and playtime in order to be happy.
Rabbits Don't Drink Water
Wrong! Rabbits need access to a constant supply of clean, fresh water, much like any other pet. This old wives tale is responsible for some horrible bunny deaths.
You Can Put Any Rabbits Together
Wrong! Rabbits are quite territorial animals, and like to have their own space. In the wild, bunnies will have their own private burrows, and then have larger communal areas. For this reason, most rabbits will not take kindly to having a stranger shoved into what they consider to be 'their' space, and doing so will often result in bad fights, and very stressed bunnies.
If you take the time to introduce bunnies properly, they can become very strong friends, but just shoving strange rabbits into the same cage is a bad idea.
Rabbits Have to Live Outside
Wrong! As people learn more about rabbits and come to appreciate them for the charming little souls they are more and more house rabbits are emerging around the world. These bunnies laze about on the couch, go to the toilet in a litter tray, and are as much a part of the family as a cat might be.
Rabbits are Unfriendly And Don't Need Affection or Attention
Wrong! Rabbits should be handled often, and come to thrive on affection, often hopping up to their owners for a nice head rub. Badly handled rabbits, or rabbits which are never handled do tend to be scared of people. Because people once used to just shove rabbits into a hutch in the back garden and toss food at them occasionally, rabbits have earned a reputation for being vicious and mean. Properly handled and cared for, they will only occasionally be vicious and mean.
Wrong! Think about wild bunnies, they do little but run around. To keep a rabbit in a small run or cage all day and night is unimaginable cruelty. Would you do that to a cat? No, of course you wouldn't. Rabbits need to be able to run and jump and play
Lettuce and Carrots are Rabbit Food
Wrong! Rabbits should be fed a diet consisting largely of hay and water. Lettuce can be deadly to rabbits, and most keepers avoid it entirely. Carrots are okay as a treat, but in the wild bunnies would never eat carrots at all!
Rabbits are Stupid
Wrong! Rabbits are quite intelligent animals, on a par with cats when it comes to smarts and personality. They need attention, toys, and playtime in order to be happy.
Rabbits Don't Drink Water
Wrong! Rabbits need access to a constant supply of clean, fresh water, much like any other pet. This old wives tale is responsible for some horrible bunny deaths.
You Can Put Any Rabbits Together
Wrong! Rabbits are quite territorial animals, and like to have their own space. In the wild, bunnies will have their own private burrows, and then have larger communal areas. For this reason, most rabbits will not take kindly to having a stranger shoved into what they consider to be 'their' space, and doing so will often result in bad fights, and very stressed bunnies.
If you take the time to introduce bunnies properly, they can become very strong friends, but just shoving strange rabbits into the same cage is a bad idea.
Rabbits Have to Live Outside
Wrong! As people learn more about rabbits and come to appreciate them for the charming little souls they are more and more house rabbits are emerging around the world. These bunnies laze about on the couch, go to the toilet in a litter tray, and are as much a part of the family as a cat might be.
Rabbits are Unfriendly And Don't Need Affection or Attention
Wrong! Rabbits should be handled often, and come to thrive on affection, often hopping up to their owners for a nice head rub. Badly handled rabbits, or rabbits which are never handled do tend to be scared of people. Because people once used to just shove rabbits into a hutch in the back garden and toss food at them occasionally, rabbits have earned a reputation for being vicious and mean. Properly handled and cared for, they will only occasionally be vicious and mean.
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