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Small pets

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Original poster

Are Rabbits really that expensive?

49 replies

lljkk · 10/04/2011 10:26

I'm not keen on one, but DD is asking.
Are these costs realistic?

Looking like way too much commitment. What do you find? TIA.

OP posts:

RedbinD · 10/04/2011 20:42

One of our cats keeps bringing rabbits home. I don't think she wants them as pets though.

RumourOfAHurricane · 10/04/2011 20:43

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

RedbinD · 10/04/2011 20:45

No such thing as a lucky rabbits foot when she's around. Pure bred Siamese hooligan.

KnickersOnOnesHead · 10/04/2011 21:13

Chinese Dwarf Hamsters are great but probably not best for a child. They are very small, fast and great escape artists

KatharineClifton · 10/04/2011 22:14

How old is your DD? Hamsters aren't great pets for kids either. Their ribs are far too easily broken by a child trying to hold onto it as it tries to get away. And they are nocturnal.

Original poster

lljkk · 11/04/2011 05:46

DD is 9yo, most the way to 10yo.
I don't like hammies either, tell the truth, but if any pet might put her off being so casual in her desires, make her realise that animals aren't status icons & toys, ungrateful little determined noisy smelly biter and escape artist hammy should do it nicely.
We have had fancy mice and they are BRILL, I would much prefer her to get some more mice over any other pet option (maybe I will manage to talk her into it).

OP posts:

Insert1x50p · 11/04/2011 05:51

I like rabbits but think you have to get a pair, or a rabbit and a guinea pig, just so they have a bit of company.

Top free feed tip- they LOVE dandelion leaves.

sleepywombat · 11/04/2011 06:05

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

TheMonster · 11/04/2011 10:45

Insert - can they eat the flowers too?

I wouldn't recommend a hamster as a pet for a child either. They are noisy at night, and they make your house smell if they aren't religiously cleaned out.

BleachedWhale · 11/04/2011 10:53

I think guinea pigs are a much better pet than rabbits.
You should keep more than one rabbit because they are highly social, but you need to get two that have been together since birth as bonding territorial adults is a job for experienced rabbit keepers if you don't want them to injure each other badly.
They are difficult for children to handle - the claws scratch, they bite, you must make sure they get plenty of excercise in a big run every day, you need a run and hutch with fox proof wire.
Our vaccinations cost more than that, but we spend less on greens as we pick grass, dandelions etc for them.

KatharineClifton · 11/04/2011 16:13

'or a rabbit and a guinea pig' - no, no, no!

OP - can't you just say no rather than having a pet in your house that nobody will want?

Insert1x50p · 12/04/2011 05:01

or a rabbit and a guinea pig' - no, no, no!

Really? What's the issue? I've often seen them kept together with no problems so thought it was ok.

A2363 · 22/04/2011 22:03

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

sharbie · 22/04/2011 22:06

a friend of mine has baby rabbits she may want to find homes for

redbin - is yours a redpoint like mine??

rabbitlover123 · 19/07/2011 10:57

we got a rabbit about 2-3 months ago and we baught the hutch for £40, its a big hutch but had no run so we built one and the cost for all the wood and mesh came to about £10-£20 the food lasts about a month and its a normal sized bag from the pet shop that costs about £3 we fed her 50g in the morning and 50g at night when she was a young bunny but now we just feed her a hand full in the morning and a hand full at night. the bowl costed £4 and the water bottle costed £4 because its the biggest one we could get and she just goes to it whenever she needs a drink and we fill it up every morning. the toys, well you cant really set a price on the toys because its different whatever you choose to get your rabbit but we have a few things and her favourite are the rabbit rattle, £4, she loves it and throws it in the air and catches it. we are planning to get her a friend soon, we are thinking a guinea pig because rabbits and guinea pigs are good companions to rabbits and rabbits need a friend. hope thats helped you abit :)

alexflower · 19/07/2011 17:40

Please really consider all the implications of owning a rabbit, they are not cheap and (from experience working in a boarding facility for small animals) far too many people own them without taking the time to leanr their needs. Rabbits NEED vaccinated against myxomatosis whether they are indoor or outdoor rabbits, not vaccinating your rabbits is asking for trouble and irresponsible as if they contract myxo they will likely die. Rabbits also need socialised so that they are tame and easy to handle otherwise they are usually skittish and will kick and bite as they are scared. Like others have said this will make them difficult for a child to handle. I would recommend them for kids age 13 + as they will be old enough to understand how to care for them and that handling them takes daily work.

Also guinea pigs and rabbits should not be kept together for reasons A2363 has already stated :)

Carrotsandcelery · 19/07/2011 17:46

I would not get a rabbit. We have four and they are very difficult pets to keep, they can be hormonal and stroppy and they are difficult to handle.

We also have guinea pigs and they are much better pets. They are entertaining, easy to handle, less smelly than rabbits, and very, very cute.

If you get either rabbits or guinea pigs please get a pair or rabbits or a pair of guinea pigs as they are sociable creatures.

Please also look in rescue centres first rather than encouraging the breeders.

wisecamel · 19/07/2011 19:59

I love rabbits. We had a pair from a rescue centre a year ago and one died just last week. They are so much more interesting than guinea pigs IMO and so joyful - as a pair they leapt about, chased each other, groomed each other and slept on top of each other. I had a neutered pair. When we went in to the garden they always came to see what we were up to. The run is big enough to sit inside with the paper or a book while they jump on and around you.

BUT, they are not cheap to keep. When my rabbit got sick, it went to the local animal hospital to be on a drip overnight as I couldn't go to bed knowing that it was out in the garden in pain. It died that night. Fee £80.

They had Myxi jabs twice a year each and VHD annually. (not even really sure what VHD is, so I may be a bit of a sucker with this one!) £15 per jab.

Also, they dug burrows all over the lawn. One would stand guard while the other was digging and then they would swap over. The lawn is wrecked, but so lovely to watch them.

Realise that I am sounding like a lunatic so will stop, but rabbits always bring a smile to my face when I see them and am now looking for a friend for my boy, so another rescue rabbit.

wisecamel · 19/07/2011 20:03

They are mine though - I don't expect the DCs to take care of them.

Carrotsandcelery · 19/07/2011 20:49

I love my rabbits too wisecamel but as you say, they are really my rabbits as the dcs just can't really handle them.

They do everything required for the guinea pigs though apart from pay for their care.

milkyjo · 21/08/2011 19:47

I have spent a lot on vet bills for my rabbits over the years. My first who is now 6 has terrible overgrowing front teeth and needs them burring every month at a cost of about £16 each time. I got a rescue female after his friend died of an unknown illness a few years ago. She had been used for breeding and humped my poor boy until he was bald and bleeding! Found she'd got a tumour in her uterus as she hadn't been speyed and op cost £100 due to being exploritive as well as a spey. Also myxi is rife where we are and so they need vaccs every 6 months for that and VHD once a year. Food costs are relatively low as they should really just eat grass/hay with only a few pellets and leftover veg cuttings. Rabbits can live up to 10 years so you need commitment, and also if you go away who will look after them. As we had recently moved and didn't know our neighbours enough to have them look after them, when we went on holiday they went to small animal boarding for a week at a cost of £55! However, with all the expense I love my rabbits so much, especially my boy as we've had him for 6 years since he was a kit.

NHScutback · 22/08/2011 22:02

As others have said food costs are minimal if you buy in bulk (farm hay etc) but the real costs are neutering and the 3 jabs a year to prevent infection. Plus worming twice a year. If they get sick they're classed as exotics and cost a fortune. They are lovely though, my 4 are litter trained and easy to clean out twice a week (more in summer). The hutches / shed can be expensive, they need big with attached runs. No good for small kids, buy the pet you want as people have said.

Meglet · 22/08/2011 22:05

They are when they steal your biscuits as mine used to do.

My rabbit was great but g-pigs are easier pets, still take a lot of care but with less fuss and diva behaviour.

Fatshionista · 22/08/2011 22:08

I have a dwarf lop eared bunny and she has a fairly big hutch (a small upstairs enclosed area and a run) and she gets to run around the garden for a few hours every day or indoors if it's very cold or wet. We spend about £2.50 a week on food, £3 on hay and £2 on sawdust so not too much and I just lump it in with the dog food and the shopping.

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