House rabbits

[midnightstar66]

DC have fallen in love with the idea of having rabbits and I'm keen too (other option was guinea pigs but I feel rabbits are more suitable, can be allowed to roam, can be house trained etc.) I've done a bit of research but please tell me everything I need to know. I know they are best kept in pairs. Current plan is to have a cage for when we are out and to let them free roam when we are home. Is it advisable still to have a run/pen too? Do males/females make better pets? Do you have your rabbits insured? Also struggling to find many for sale in the area that aren't from pets at home. I know they aren't the best place to get animals. Where do people get their rabbits from?

Wiring...
That's all I am saying..

Majority of wiring is behind the sofa so thankfully not a huge issue. The bits that aren't are in full view by tv. Definitely wouldn't leave rabbit out when i wasn't in the room

Rabbits are difficult for children to handle, they are prey animals and get frightened. Having had both I would 100% go for guinea pigs not rabbits.

I've got 2 rabbits. Please don't buy - adopt instead. My female bun was badly treated before I got her. She was extremely anxious and used to growl. Now she loves to be stroked and does little skips and flips and she's happy. So many rabbits are abandoned or mistreated so please don't buy but do adopt a pair. They need space to run and they are clean they always poop in the littler tray. Be careful of wires etc in a house. Mine are outdoors in a big pen. They need vaccinations etc but lots of info on line.

I've looked in to adopting, can't find much available- local sspca has a pair of unknown age and it says suitable for adults or families with teenagers only. Dc are both very quiet around animals. Dd10 has a royal python who she cares for exclusively. They are very shy snakes who dislike sudden movements and she's fantastic with her. Dd7 handles her regularly too. (Other pets would be in different room). Would still consider guinea pigs but they seemed a slightly less suitable pet for a flat. We had many growing up but they were outside pets. They were fairly smelly

We have 2 outdoor drabbits. Had house ones in the past. Prefer outdoor.. Every week we clean the run and empty a huge pile of sticks /leaves and natural wood finds in. They absolutely love exploring and reorganising their home!
All our house rabbits did was destroy things!

My son and his gf have a house rabbit. So far it's chewed through wires behind a settee and the settee itself, wires behind a sideboard, destroyed my DS's gaming PC, has eaten a pair of £200 boots and munched a set of expensive headphones. It has a pen in the kitchen with a cage and a run when they're out but has free run of the house when they're in. Good luck OP!

We have house rabbits. They need lots of space 24/7 so yes at the the very least would need a run. They get even more destructive if not enough space and activity given You need eyes in the back of your head as it is. It's not just wires (although ours love iPhone cables) but paper, cardboard and anything rubber (we have lost many remote buttons, Xbox controllers and other things, they love this texture). Also food. Even chocolate which they definitely like (I've lost choc orange segments before!!!) and one of our buns got feet covered in baked beans as he wanted a chip left over on a plate which was on a footstool. Ours are pretty much only out when we are in the room but still get up to mischief.

Having said all that, we love them and wouldn't be without. Will I replace them when the time comes.. I'm not sure. But they are part of our family. We got ours from just for pets but since buying them have realised it's not the best way. Not sure what to suggest if you can't adopt tho, breeders aren't ideal either. Maybe rescue from a local selling page/shpock/gumtree etc.

Good luck!

Oh and ours don't (yet) but I know other buns destroy carpets (ours occasionally nibbles our rug) wallpaper and sofas. It's a bit luck of the draw.

Sorry to repeat what others have said but please get them from a rescue. They will give you lots of advice and ensure best housing. Also they know the character of the rabbits so you will get a suitable match. It is usually cheaper too as you won't need to vaccinate and neuter yourself.

My other advice is larger breeds make better pets as they are less nervous and enjoy cuddles more. In my experience.

They are lovely pets and I really enjoy having mine around. We have four.

The Rabbit Welfare Association has loads of excellent information on caring for rabbits, including keeping them permanently indoors.

I agree with those suggesting adopting rather than buying them. Rabbit Rehome is an excellent website to look for rabbits needing homes in your area.

Unless you are an expert in rabbits I would say look to a pet sanctuary. Rabbits despite a loving nature sometimes can bite and scratch if not properly trained. They can chew through anything not just wires, but make their way into a couch!

They can be amazing pets and companions though, but if you regime one which is already at least semi house trained it would be better for you and bunny. They can educate you and help out with any mishaps x

Definitely look at rescue rabbits, and older rabbits are likely to be less destructive and more chilled out than youngsters. They also stay in rescue so much longer :(

My old pair moved indoors at 10 years old and spent most of their time sleeping. They were perfect indoors apart from a few toilet accidents. When I lost them I had a new younger pair who were 2 years old, they're now outside because they enjoyed laps of their bedroom at 3-4am and thumpathons at 5am and I need to sleep haha! The carpet and the skirting boards also took a beating.

You mentioned SSPCA so I take it you're in Scotland. Beloved Rabbits are just north of Glasgow in Kirkintilloch.
belovedrabbits.org/

Pets at home have an adoption corner where the animal is free and you just make a donation of your choice. Ours regularly has Guinea pigs, rabbits and hamsters.

Be aware that the Support Adoption rabbits won't have been as thoroughly health checked as from a proper rescue. They also won't have been vaccinated (some shops will do VHD2, some won't) and won't have been neutered unless they've come in neutered.

Some animals in that section are unsold stock moved over to make room for new stock in the regular sales pens.

Thanks for all your advice. Have taken everything on board and although there seems no rescue rabbits near me at the moment we aren't in a hurry. We are in Scotland but not especially close to Glasgow.

Rabbits are not not the cuddly pets that you see portrayed on social media. As they are prey animals they do not like being picked up, cuddled or touched in general and are therefore particularly bad pets for children. They can live 10-12 years and that's a pretty long commitment.

Also, I know that people say that rabbits can be house trained, but never perfectly and there will always be accidents. Even if they could be trained to use a litter tray, the smell would not be at all pleasant in your house.

Also, rabbits need fresh hay daily. They will track that hay through your whole house while they roam, also chewing on skirting boards, door frames, wires, remote controls, walls, furniture and everything and anything else that they fancy.

I have rabbits who live outdoors and keeping their housing clean is a daily task, and I can't even smell them from the house. Trying to keep your house clean and fresh smelling while you house rabbits inside would, I imagine, be a full time job.

Lastly, if all of the above doesn't put you off then please, please, please adopt your rabbits from a rescue centre. They will be neutered / spayed and vaccinated. Rabbits need two vaccinations every year - 1 for RHD and Myxi and the other for RHD2. You will also want to get a bonded pair as not just any rabbits can live together without fighting or breeding. It is notoriously hard to tell the sex of baby rabbits as well and pet shops often get it wrong, so you end up with accidental litters of buns. There are over 70,000 rabbits in rescue centres in the uk. Adopt, don't shop.

Good luck op, whatever you decide.

Ps - there are lots of FB groups for house rabbits, rabbit housing etc etc. I'd definitely advise that you join some of those groups for further research before committing to anything.

Pets at home have an adoption corner where the animal is free and you just make a donation of your choice. Ours regularly has Guinea pigs, rabbits and hamsters

No no no!
A million times No!!
We stupidly got a rabbit from PAH adoption corner years ago.
He was absolutely savage!
Literally used to run across the room to bite my 4 year old DS.
He would be happy being stroked or eating food from your hands one minute then savage you.
Although we were eventually able to persuade PAH to take him back they seriously dug their heels in about it.

I did have a rabbit before him who was an absolute delight.
He was from a home/hobby breeder and had been constantly touched and played with by children practically from birth.

If you want a rabbit, I’d definitely go with one from a breeder that is very well used to human contact.

I would strongly advise guineapigs over rabbits. Rabbits should never be confined to a cage they need 60sqf 24/7 so unless you can offer a spare room for them or have them 100% free roam then rabbits are not the pet for you. Never mind the Vets bills one of mine has a dental every 3 months, one went into stasis following a dental before Xmas and has £500 worth of treatment.

Guineapigs are much easier 🙂

I've had 10 over the years. I think ideally you need to have a garden even if you are primarily keeping them in the house.

I find (especially if you get them young or unneurered) they can be especially destructive unless they get a good run about outside a couple of times per day. Not true of all rabbits of course.

Some are not wire chewers. Especially if they are brought up around them from a very you age.

Get a rabbit that is food motivated! Very important! Most are but always check.
(Helps you get them places without lifting them) Also make sure they are comfortable (or as much as possible for rabbits) bring briefly lifted and carried.

I love rabbits but wouldn't get one again without garden access.

*being briefly

Had Guinea pigs to but have to say I find rabbits more rewarding (and far less smelly inside!).

Think in terms of things, rabbits are more work than cats. Because you have to watch them. But such rewarding pets if you get it right.

We have a geogeous house rabbit, he is a dwaf dutch and v.v. cuddly. Comes and snuggles when you watch TV and licks us.

I used to have house rabbits. They are wonderful, intelligent creatures but not particularly cuddly and, health wise, a bit delicate. Mine had a room to themselves when I wasn’t there, then free range round the house and a run for the garden. They also went for walks in the garden with a harness and lead which was very cute. They were easily litter trained, they are very clean animals, but their poo/pee did smell in the litter tray. They chewed quite a few things!

Do not get rabbits from breeders. They perpetuate the problem. Please take some time and source some from rescue. I drove 70 miles to source a rabbit that would bond with my male rabbit. They need money spending on them, vaccinations, care, if they get sick they go downhill super quick. They are not really great for children as they hate being picked up.

I’ve had our lop bunny for 3 months. He’s a house bunny. He is wonderful and we love him to pieces. He comes over and nudges us when he wants attention and loves having his ears rubbed. Does he nibble things? Yes. Our bookcase mostly so we have to barricade that off. And he loves pulling wallpaper off the wall. But if you give him a few different Suitable things to chew on for the most part he’s happy. A few times a day he will go nuts running around the room and doing binkys which is a joy to watch! He really makes us happy.

He doesn’t smell ever. He has a litter tray and we didn’t even really have to train him to use it.

He’s wonderful and I wouldn’t be without him.