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Small pets

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Original poster

Do rabbits make good pets?

47 replies

ChocolateBanjo · 30/12/2020 17:41

I want to get a little furry companion but I'm not sure what to get. I've had hamsters before and they were lovely, but not particularly interactive. I'm thinking of getting a rabbit, in particular a mini lop, to live inside as I've read that they're quite interactive, intelligent and enjoy spending time with you. I basically want something dog-like that isn't actually a dog!

I've also heard people say that rabbits can be a bit aggressive, territorial and generally a bit of a nightmare. Has anyone had any good/bad rabbit experiences?

OP posts:

weaselwords · 30/12/2020 17:46

They make good pets for adults but not children. Most I’ve had haven’t liked being picked up but have been happy to come to me on their terms and quite affectionate and playful. They do like a lot of space and the does particularly like to dig. They also can be escape artists if have the run of the garden. I’ve never had house rabbits as mine have always chewed cables but my sister in law had a house trained one.

dingledongle · 30/12/2020 17:47

I considered rabbits, as I had themas a child, but researched guinea pigs, never regretted getting my two. They make lovely pets and don't have the longevity of rabbits.

Mine died aged 8 and 5 .

Lovely animals 😊

SassenachWitch · 30/12/2020 17:54

I have a rabbit, did have 2, but we lost 1 recently, I love(d) them dearly, but will never have another. They’re quite a complex pet, require a lot of care, should ideally be kept in pairs, need plenty of space 24 hours a day, are prone to becoming seriously ill very quickly and without warning.

I’d say you don’t get much back for what you have to put in, they don’t tend to be cuddly, snuggly lap sitters (I know some are but generally they prefer the company of another rabbit over a human).

Join Rabbit Support Group UK on Facebook, it’s a very informative group, much more useful than Google.

I’m not trying to put you off the idea, but make sure you know what you're getting into, I find mine really hard work, and I worry about my remaining boy constantly. He’s 7.5 now and despite my daily persistence I’m lucky if he lets me stroke his head, he’s always hated me I do love him though.

AnnieAreYouOkHun · 30/12/2020 17:57

Rabbits make amazing pets. We had an indoor rabbit who was handled a lot from the start and was really tame, he also was very easy to toilet train. He was a lovely family pet and lived until he was 8.

Hailtomyteeth · 30/12/2020 18:10

Fuck no. I had four house rabbits for nine years. They destroyed my home. They aren't cuddly (boys are cuddlier than girls) and their food, bedding etc attracts mice. They scratch (i have a five inch scar from my best beloved boy) and give the nastiest bites. My feisty girl always went for the skin between my forefinger and thumb, and locked down so that if i withdrew my hand she'd be there, hanging in mid-air, holding on by her teeth. They are very tying. You can't leave them for long because they can sicken and die within four hours. Vets think of them as 'exotics' so charge more and see you as a money pit, demanding monthly tooth filing etc.

There are reliable forums - RabbitCareAndSupport on proboards is good, and rabbits united on rabbitrehome, not facebook. Don't do it, but if you have to, get a lot of advice.

Ylfa · 30/12/2020 19:20

The only dog-like pet I’ve got who isn’t an actual dog is a horse 🤔 but I do also have two house bunnies and they’re very very very horse-like: trickle feeders who eat loads of hay, can be skittish (prey animals), need loads of room to fling themselves around, like being brushed, are supposed to live outside but quite happy indoors!

scully29 · 30/12/2020 19:27

They are cute but need a lot of space to be happy and you have to have two legally, and need quite a lot of care - not kids pets. They ideally need to be free range in a completely enclosed garden where they can graze all day as they are grazing animals same as horses, but be in a warm safe shed at night. They dont go in at night themselves like chickens do but they need to be put in as they are so at risk. They are incredibly vulnerable. They need to be kept clean especially in summer due to high risk of flystrike. Often not keen on being picked up as they are prey animals. Try rabbitwelfare.co.uk/ before you consider them.

TroysMammy · 30/12/2020 19:29

I had a mini lop. He was extremely jealous of my cat having any interaction with me. He once bit and chased him. He also bit me, I still have a scar. He was also nasty to the hoover, chewed the bottom of my living room door when he wanted to open it. Found it exhilarating when he was told off for chewing the skirting board, he would kick his heels in delight and scarper back to his cage. I had him castrated so he wouldn't mark his territory and leave poo everywhere.

It was funny when I got rid of my carpet for a wooden floor because he couldn't get a grip, would run on the spot for a few seconds then with the power of a torpedo he would be off.

When he died, and the cat a few years later, I buried them in different parts of the garden.

statetrooperstacey · 30/12/2020 19:31

Go for Guinea pigs. Friendly, squeaky Cuddly lower maintenance don’t really smell and they’re not at all aggressive, lovely pets

Bluewavescrashing · 30/12/2020 19:33

Yes if you have a lot of time and a lot of space. They should not be put in a hutch but should live in a pen indoors or outdoors (if temperatures allow) however changing temperatures suddenly can shock their system. My dwarf bunnies are 1kg each and live in an 8ft x 4ft pen with plenty of space to stand on their hind legs. They also free roam for several hours a day, supervised as they like to chew. With lots of tentative handling they have become loving and cuddly pets but it has taken a lot of time. Too many rabbits end up at the bottom of the garden in a tiny hutch, bored and lonely. They should live in neutered pairs. Mine are incredibly tame and cuddly but I still won't let DCs pick them up as they are very fragile.

LarryUnderwood · 30/12/2020 19:34

I had rabbits as a kid. They look much nicer than they are really, they just aren't interested in people generally. I now have chickens, they are brilliant - pretty low maintenance and very entertaining.

Bluewavescrashing · 30/12/2020 19:34

In the summer by bunnies free roam in the garden during the day but only because it is fully walled and they are tame enough to catch easily.

Bluewavescrashing · 30/12/2020 19:35

I had rabbits as a kid. They look much nicer than they are really, they just aren't interested in people generally.

I disagree with this. With the right setup and care they can be extremely loving pets.

Bluewavescrashing · 30/12/2020 19:37

If you put in the time they will gone to you for pets, sit on your lap, groom you sit on your shoulder for ages.

Aquamarine1029 · 30/12/2020 19:38

Get a cat. The caging of these small animals like rabbits and guinea pigs is awful, and they do not make good pets. They stink your house up and shit constantly.

purplepandas · 30/12/2020 19:40

We have adopted two rabbits recently (and had many pre kids). I love them as pets. Ours live in a converted shed with attached run. It's not a cheap set up and agree that they can sicken easily. I adore them but they need another rabbit for company (neutered obv). Agree that Rabbits United is a good source of info as are rescue sites which give you lots of good info re their needs. I have had house rabbits pre kids but could not face the damage now. Mine are very happy in the shed (not in a hutch), they need space and hidey holes etc.

Julestherabbit · 30/12/2020 19:44

We got mini lops for our 9 yo in August. I really wasn’t expecting to even like them, but I’ve totally fallen in love with them, esp the boy. He is such a character. Ours are outside rabbits, but come in for a run around and a snuggle every day. (They don’t live inside as we also have a dog, even though she ignores them). The boy was snuggled on me purring last week(yes, rabbits pur). They did but in the beginning but haven’t since they got used to daily handling. Invest in a good hutch and run. We started with the usual petsathome rubbish, which blew over in a storm and has just been a nightmare, but have upgraded to an omlett eglu hutch, which is child friendly and a complete game changer for us and the rabbit. Good luck.

Veterinari · 30/12/2020 19:45

@ChocolateBanjo
Rabbits MUST be housed with other rabbits to meet their social welfare needs, they need a LOT of space and care. As a prey species they dislike being lifted up. Dwarf breeds have squashed skulls so can suffer from ocular and dental disease (like squash faced dogs).

Have a good read of the RWAF website for their care and husbandry info

rabbitwelfare.co.uk

Angel2702 · 30/12/2020 19:54

We used to help out with local rescue and had lots of rabbits. Wouldn’t get them again, they are a lot of work, generally expensive with vets etc, need to be kept in pairs with a lot of space, need regular vaccinations.

We now have guinea pigs and a cat. Cat is by far the easiest pet we’ve had.

lovelemoncurd · 30/12/2020 19:54

I have two outdoor rabbits. If you are going to cater for them properly then they need space. I have an outdoor run for them plus an indoor house. They are cute but not a pet for a child. They need too much care and can be costly if they get ill. I adopted a rabbit and she is very touchy at times but has got much better and friendlier over the years. She was mistreated previously so who can blame her. They need the company of another rabbit.

ISeeTheLight · 30/12/2020 19:54

I used to share a house with someone who had two rabbits. I wouldn't want rabbits if you paid me. They poor everywhere, one of them was really aggressive and would actually growl at you (never knew rabbits could growl), the other was scared of everything that moved. The aggressive one bit through loads of cables incl. the telephone wire. Give me a dog or cat (or even a ferret) any day.

Bluewavescrashing · 30/12/2020 20:18

Part of the appeal of bunnies is their grumpiness! They are just adorable but you need to be willing to give them loads of attention to make them like you just a little bit. It's so worth it though.

DumpedByText · 30/12/2020 20:46

We have two Netherland Dwarf rabbits. We've had them for 12 weeks now and they take a lot of work.

They are outside and need to be fed twice a day, put in the run for hours and cleaned out weekly and spot cleaned in the week.

They eat loads of veg, we have a hay subscription as cheap hay is horrible and they make a real mess. I've had to separate mine as turns out one is a boy! They can't be neutered for another 6 weeks so it's like double the work.

Having said that they are cute, mine are friendly and will come for cuddles when we bring them inside. However it's a lot of work for not much reward in my opinion.

My daughter is their main carer thankfully, she's 13 and adores them. When I add up the hutch, run, toys, food, hay, hutch and run covers they've cost £600! 😲

Original poster

ChocolateBanjo · 30/12/2020 20:55

Thanks everyone! Seems to be quite a range of opinions on here, but in general it does sound like rabbits can be quite difficult and high maintenance. I will look into guinea pigs as I had them a while ago and they were quite sweet! Rats are also a possibility, but too many bad experiences with cats when younger so sadly they're not getting a look in.

OP posts:

TroysMammy · 30/12/2020 21:05

As you've mentioned rats, yesssss. I've had rats who would only toilet in their cage and come when they are called. Will sit on your shoulder and chatter in your ear.

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