Do rabbits make good pets?

[ChocolateBanjo]

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?

April lodge guinea pig rescue in Kent has lots of useful guinea pig info.

Sorry to hijack.

We've got two bunnies. Agree with all the above. They are hard work but can be very rewarding.

What do you do when one dies? I don't think we'd want to get another but I know they like to be sociable?

@TroysMammy I don't think I've ever heard a rat owner say anything bad about their ratties, all glowing reviews! The only thing I'm concerned about is them being a bit smelly, but I suppose if I keep them clean it'll be fine.

@Bramblespoint Hopefully someone with more bunny experience than me can help you with that! It must be difficult because you don't want the bun to be alone but equally you can end up in a neverending cycles of buns ...

What about a chinchilla? I had various rodents as pets when I was a kid and I had a chinchilla in my late teens and 20s.

He was hilarious and pretty easy to keep. Although he did destroy my brand new bedroom carpet by pulling out threads one by one until there was a massive bald patch.

@Foreverlexicon I've never thought of chinchillas. They're super cute but for some reason I thought they might be biters - not sure why as I've never 'met' one! Are they good to handle?

Our Rats are brilliant! Like minature dogs. They're so happy to see us and love playing with us and are very affectionate.
Ours have a fleece lined cage, we wash the fleece twice weekly, they don't smell. They are toilet trained and use a litter tray when they're out of their cage. If you put a stone in their litter tray they scent it with their urine and wee in that spot.

Gives pigs are B what you are looking for op. They can live indoors, don't need vaccinating or neutering and are are just adorable.

I have two indoor bunnies. They have a rabbit cage which i fill with horse wood pellet bedding. They do all their wees and 99% of the poos in there. Doesn’t smell at all.
They are brilliant little personalities, very different from each other. The boy is more chilled then his sister.

Mine never ever bit. He wasn’t super keen to be held but would come for chin scratches or would sit on me to play with my hair or zips. He had SO much personality. I lost him when he was 8 after he had a seizure but they usually live 15-20 years.

Many are cuddly though and ride around on shoulders and stuff - have a look on YouTube.

@Foreverlexicon

Mine never ever bit. He wasn’t super keen to be held but would come for chin scratches or would sit on me to play with my hair or zips. He had SO much personality. I lost him when he was 8 after he had a seizure but they usually live 15-20 years.

Many are cuddly though and ride around on shoulders and stuff - have a look on YouTube.

He sounds lovely but rabbits don't not usually live 15-20 years!!

8-10years is more realistic with healthy buns making it to 13ish

Un-spayed females often die below 5 years.

@Veterinari I think that was about Chinchillas which certainly live longer than rabbits.

I love my rabbits but they are hard work. I have rescues. My girl was a stray and highly aggressive until she was spayed, she’s now very friendly but will tell you when she’s done with you. My boy was a mishandled baby, picked up by his ears, then spent a year in rescue because he’s albino, he’s a very soft gentle boy but doesn’t like being touched. Every bun has a different personality and there’s no guarantees dependent on breed. They are definitely high maintenance but also make me laugh every day.

I've read that they're quite interactive, intelligent and enjoy spending time with you.

All of the above.

Rabbits are not easy pets and I wouldn't say they are dog like although I haven't had a dog. There are some helpful Facebook tours where you can see others posts about their rabbits and ask questions such as Rabbit Support UK and Rabbit Forum UK.

Your home will need bunny proofing and most rabbits do not like to be picked up snd cuddled BUT they also make very rewarding pets. I have three. If you can keep them in the house then the more you will get from having them. They can be litter trained. Two is better than one but I would recommend going to a rescue and getting a rescue bunny or bonded pair.

Also mine haven't never bitten me or been aggressive. An aggressive rabbit is the exception rather than the rule and there is usually a reason if they are like that.

Oh just don’t do it. Nightmare

One of my rabbits actively seeks cuddle and enjoys them
The other tolerates them. Both were handled often from day 1 which really helped.

We have two mini lops and just got a third. They are very sweet natured and all love to be cuddled. They have a hutch and run in the shed and an Eglu with a run outside. They need attention and time to run around every day but are so worth it.

A wise MNetter described rabbits as "Vegan Cats" which I think is a brilliant description.
I have never kept rabbits but lots of guinea-pigs have lived out their spoiled lardy lives chez 70 .
My DD used to help look after the School Rabbits (they had a lovely outdoor secure set up with Rabbit Sheds) but she much preferred her pigs .

IMO , if you want rabbits you will not be satisfied with guinea-pigs . They are so different , and the more I read about rabbits the more I was glad we got guineas .

Guinea-pigs are very vunerable , completely dependant . Rabbits can choose if they want to go out in their run . Guinea-pigs would go out , catch a chill and get ill. We had to check the grass was bone dry before they went out .

Post guinea-pigs now , my DH wanted cats . (I wouldn't get cats when we had the pigs) .

They are easier in many respects . They can let themselves in/out . They learn the routines and are home for supper and locking their door .
They are extremely tidy , use the tray not the garden.

But they are not cuddly -they like to be with us but on their terms .
Bit like Carnivorous Rabbits

A wise MNetter described rabbits as "Vegan Cats”

It’s a fun description, but I can’t say I agree: cats treat us as inferiors, dogs as superior, but to rabbits, we’re equals.

Anyway, I went and looked up the thread where they were so described, and came across this, which is worth reprinting:

“They are wonderful little creatures when their needs are met. It's the owners that are the problem.”

Cats definately treat us as Staff

But I think the Vegan Cat reference was more that rabbits need more care than a lot of people realise .
They are statistically the most neglected domestic pet , many bought " for the kiddies" bought as a cuddly Easter present and often not living up to the Fluffy Bunny ideal .
Kept in a too small hutch . Alone . And not wanting to 'play' .
You;d never treat a cat like that . Rabbits certainly don;t deserve that

But you can put a guinea-pig in your cardigan and say "let's go and see whats in the fridge"

cats treat us as inferiors, dogs as superior, but to rabbits, we’re equals.

Absolutely, with lots of grumpiness which makes them all the more adorable ❤️

We have a house rabbit that is actually quite like a dog! She licks our hands, adores being stroked, sits next to me while I'm cooking waiting for bits of vegetable, waits for me at the top of the stairs in the mornings, spreads out in front of the fire... She gets a lot of daily attention though. She's also brilliant with my six year old.

On the downside we did originally have two and one died very suddenly (despite paying a fortune at the vets to try to save her) - we were heartbroken.

Chewing - yes annoying, she destroyed DP's shoes, have to remember to keep important things out of her reach!

Our rabbit has also started becoming aggressive to the dog (jealous I think) so we're going to have her spayed and I hope that will put an end to it!