Cody and Lily's Helpful Hints about Raising Bunny Rabbits

The information listed below was collected from many web sites, personal experience, and from the mouth of a vet. We cannot guarantee the accuracy of this information. If you feel there is something not true about this information or have your own suggestions, please e-mail us! Thank You!

Rabbits make wonderful indoor pets! You will get the most enjoyment from your pet rabbit if he/she lives indoors.

Some rabbits can have foot problems if they live on a wire floor. This can be because of foot size or the sanitation of the cage. If your bunny lives on a wire floor and has sore feet it is recommended that you use a piece of drywall to provide an area of reliefe. The drywall absorbs moisture and can be chewed up without causing your rabbit harm.

The general rule of cage size for a rabbit is approximatly 2 square feet per pound of rabbit.

A rabbit should have areas to hide, stretch out, and jump in their cage. This is especially important if your bunny doesn't get a lot of time to run around the house.

VERY IMPORTANT!! Do not use cedar or pine shavings for a rabbit's cage (or any other small rodent)! The scent of the wood can cause serious liver problems. Suggested bedding materials are: aspen shavings (this is what Cody and Lily us and it is wonderful), timothy hay on top of newspaper, organic kitty litter, or a bedding made of paper. A product such as "Snuggle nest" makes a really nice bed for a bunny.

Be sure your bunny has plenty of timothy hay and alfalfa (for young rabbits the calories in alfalfa is very important). These provide the fiber needed for proper digestion and the prevention of hairballs.

Pellet food should be rationed, especially for an overweight bunny. Also, be sure not to buy too much pellet food at one time because it can go bad quickly and cause the bunny not to eat. Fresh pellets are greenish in color and do not have a moldy smell.

A constant supply of fresh water should be available to your bunny, wether it's in a bottle or in a dish.

A few good toys for bunnies include: Cat toys such as balls with bells inside of them, untreated straw baskets, boxes with holes cut into them, toilet paper rolls, rubber balls (unless the bunny chews on them), bird toys that hang from the top of the cage, hard plastic baby toys, and natural wood blocks.

Neutering/spaying is very highly recommended. Having your pet rabbit spayed or neutered will make them easier to littler box train, less likely to spray, controls the pet population, and makes your bunny a better pet. It also decreases a rabbit's chance of getting cancer as much as 95%. Cody and Lily have both been "fixed" and can now live longer, healthier lives.

Pet rabbits need hours of excercise each day, especially if they spend most of their time in their cage.