Rabbits - how much attention do they need?

[littlepinkpixie]

I'm thinking about getting a rabbit. Have had rabbits before, but when I was a child, so never been the responsible one before .

There are a couple of things that Im not sure about.

1. are rabbits ever at risk from cats? In the past it hasnt been a problem for me, as had smallish cats, but I now have 2 very large male cats, would they attack a pet rabbit? (wouldnt ever be leaving them alone together, but I imagine it would only take an instant for things to go badly wrong?)

2. How long can you leave a rabbit without it going out or getting fresh food? I fairly often go away for 1 night (leave early morning, return evening next day) Would a rabbit be OK with that or would I need to get someone to feed it.

It would be an adult rabbit, so not a baby.

Thanks

LOl at 'not being the responsible one before'!

I had a rabbit a few years ago when I lived at home, a gorgeous huge white angora. She was free range in the garden (she had a kennel), the cats and pigeons were scared of her and she was house trained, she had the dining room at night. She used to jump on the sofas and watch TV and steal food if it was at floor level . But TBH she was a massive commitment and I won't get another until we have a bigger house and much older DC's. I think she was so friendly because she was never cooped up in a hutch, I don't think its a good idea to confine a rabbit, I'm sure that's what make them arsey. I wouldn't have left her overnight, I think they are quite social animals.

I have guinea pigs these days, much easier, just as cute and don't require constant attention. Better keeping the lawn short too, the rabbit just ate all my favourite flowers .

They don't like being left alone for long. If in a cage you need 2. 1 is okay as a house rabbit only.

Depends on the cats i guess.
We have an outdoor rabbit and she can run in the garden with the dog there, but the dog is very good.
We often leave our rabbit overnight, she is very fat so we only feed her every other day anyway and clean her hutch twice a week, although i try to swap the newspaper she uses for her litter every day.
I think she would be fine.

1. I've seen a cat attack a rabbit before so I think it could happen. My cat certainly eyes my rabbits up like she would like to eat them if she could get them.

2. You would be fine leaving a rabbit(s) for that length of time.

If going to be kept in a hutch/run you ideally need 2 rabbits. They're very social creatures and would be lonely on their own.

They need a big hutch - minimum size of 5ftx2ft plus a run. My rabbits have a 5ftx2ft hutch and a 8ftx6ft run. The hutch is in the run so they can access it all day.

They need to eat lots of hay - 80% of their diet should be hay.

If you get 2 rabbits then be aware that they will probably need neutering/spaying even if both the same sex as they can get very grumpy/hormonal and fight. My vet charges £49 to spay a rabbit and £40 to neuter.

They need a mixi vacc every 6 months. Also a VHD vacc every year is recommended.

they can have problems with teeth and digestion (might be certain breeds, not sure). I think they are more work than you'd expect from something generally marketed as a good children's pet.

We have got two male rabbits,in seperate hutches,I think males fight if in together,our cats are scared of them,they thump there back legs if the cats get too near

My advice is don't get a rabbit. Agree wtih EffiePerine that they are much harder work than you might expect, at least if you want to look after them properly. IME they can have a lot of things wrong with them and they cost us a fortune in vet bills. Our cats have ever only cost us the yearly check-up. You have to clean them out every day, especially in summer when the flies are around and you then have to check their bottoms for flies too. I also found that I always felt guilty going away on a hot summer's day because they could get heat stroke in their hutches.

Your cats will see the new rabbit as an intruder on their territory without careful supervised introduction, which could take a long time to implement. Fighting between them could still take place even though you think they are getting on fine. There is a possibility that the cats might come off worse as rabbits have wicked teeth and claws, and a powerful kick from the back legs.

Agree with other posters that rabbits are quite hard work nowadays, when I had pet rabbits as a child in the 1960's, no-one had their rabbits neutered, vaccinated etc. If you can't supply the fresh food daily, because you're away, you really need someone to do it for you, and check on the rabbit, refill the water bottle, clean the soiled area of the hutch, check securely penned in and so on. consider who will care for rabbit when you're on a long holiday.

little i breed and show rabbits you dont have to have 2 rabbits that is something that the rspca and pet shops tell people to off load more rabbits. yes they are social animals so as long as they have regular attention they are happy and as pets only having one they would get more attention than 2 so they will be even happier. as regards going away at night if you get them into the habit of being fed at night and having fresh hay in the morning they will be more than happy just make sure you put a bit extra hay in to last them. rabbits drink most of there water at night so when you go away buy a bigger whater bottle and make sure it is full right up and it will last them. my experiance of cats with rabbits is the cats tend to be scared of them as the rabbits can do more damage. the easiest way to keep them clean is to clean out there dirty corners daily and then do a full clean once a week. hth if i can be of any futher help please fell free to ask.

my rabbits are easy to look after, they're separated too as they fought like mad.

if you do get them, get pet insurance! A friend's rabbits have to have their teeth ground (under GA) every month or so sa they can't eat otherwise. Gets v expensive. And apparantly if they don;t eat for 24 hours it can be very serious (something to do with digestive systems)

Thanks for all the advice. still not sure. The reason that I ask is because someone I know has a rabbit that they cant look after anymore.
I have a lovely garden for a rabbit - smallish, but walled, so when we were out in the garden the rabbit would be able to hop about freely.
I dont want to take on a rabbit though and not be able to look after it well.
I suppose that if I'm not sure I really shouldnt get one.

lapin do u mean u need lots of rabbits lol

"sorry can't resist a rabbit thread"

But we can resist you littlelapin

my rabbit is a house rabbit and he gets on just fine with my two cats, in fact he loves one of them and wants to have rabbit kittens with her lol, she however does not feel the same way. I will pop a pic in my profile so you can see!

I agree rabbits are more work than you'd think. We got one a year ago and have just sent him off into foster care (another, soft-hearted rabbit-loving mumsnetter). THey are much more work than guinea pigs, hamsters, gerbils, rats or cats. (we've had all of those).

Our rabbit was adorable. Fluffy and friendly. as long as things all went his way. They are drama queens with strong likes and dislikes. And if life isn't perfect, they mope. Visibly. Honestly, DP and I have spent a considerable amount of time servicing this rabbit's moods in the last year. What he really wanted was to be a house rabbit, free ranging in our house. We felt he should be a garden rabbit. He would really strop about it.

guinea pigs and hamsters, in contrast, are ever so easy.

I recently got a french lop rabbit, he's lovely but he will grow very large. Will be getting him a girlfriend when he's neutered (so going to get a massive hutch of 8ft long x 3 1/2 deep ft x 5ft tall 2 tiers). I found this site very useful.

doing well thanks lapin hows you.

We've had guineas and rabbits. Guineas are by far the easiest to care for and very sweet natured and amenable.
Having said that, rabbits are gorgeous, but need more space. The RSPCA recently had a report about rabbits being the most mistreated of all pets- left in tiny hutches on their own and ignored, when they need space to exercise tose long back legs, and company( they naturally would be in colonies ...)
Fennel, I love the idea of you and dp servicing your rabbit's moods
Our male rabbit had one of the neighbours cats on her back in the garden ..often....they need to be neutered

Our gentle male rabbit lived peacefully with a number of female and baby guinea pigs. Without attempting to shag them. In his new foster home he's living with 2 male guinea pigs - the bigger guinea pig is endlessly attempting to bugger him. Rabbit just tolerates it. he's a sweetie. (but yes he needed space, and company, that's why we got him a guinea pig (who arrived pregnant, now we have lots of guinea pigs), and built him various runs and pens, and brought him in and out of the house to keep him happy.

We've thought about getting rabbits to keep with our guins. We have an enormous walk in run, with a door, which used to have grass but they've wrecked it really.
Fennel, did your rabbits dig everywhere? That would be my one misgiving, ours used to when we loivd in london. He dug out of the back garden ( which he had the whole bloody run of, not massive, but big) and escaped into the dentists next dor. the dentist left a patient with their mouth clamped open to help us catch him; he was a total shit.
Guineas however , don't have the bastard nature really do they? They are very accomodating and grateful and excited with new food to try - rabbits, they sneer...

the rabbit was a shit not the dentist who was extremely helpful considering the cicumstances.....