...Or Why Rabbits Are Awful Holiday Gifts...
(c) Gryph- if you repost this article, please post with a link back to my website.
Every year in the US hundreds of unwanted rabbits are dropped off at animal shelters or- even worse- dumped out in the wild to fend for themselves, and all because someone thought it was a good idea to give someone a pet they know nothing about. Most of these animals are purchased on a whim from pet stores or breeders because they are cute. This is a very, very bad idea.
Don't get me wrong, I think rabbits make excellent pets. Unfortunately they aren't ideal gifts for the holidays. Thousands of rabbits are sold as Easter/Christmas/Valentine gifts, often as an impulse buy, and every year I am contacted by people looking to re-home their rabbits as soon as the glow fades and the novelty wears off. Since rabbits are silent and will be in a cage or hutch most of the time, they can’t protest when someone forgets their breakfast or when they need to have their cage cleaned.
Rabbits can make excellent companions; however, there are some supplies that a rabbit owner really ought to have on hand prior to purchasing a rabbit whether the rabbit will be an indoor pet or an outdoor pet. Rabbits can also be litter trained, but it's often more difficult to accomplish than litter training a cat since it's not in a rabbit's nature to scratch and bury their waste. Quite frankly, rabbits can be a lot of work. They are adorable and make fun pets, but they also require a lot of care and patience. Anyone looking to add a rabbit to their family would be advised to do some research before purchasing one. For more information, check out this article.
Rabbits are naturally inquisitive and like to nibble, so you can expect walls, door trims, carpet, furniture, and anything else to be fair game and tasty. Indoor rabbits are at risk of electrocution if there is even one exposed cord that they might possibly be able to chew on. Outdoor rabbits are at risk to predators if they aren't in secure cages or hutches. Rabbits are also naturally prey animals, so sharing space with a dog or a cat (or several) can be a stress on a rabbit.
While rabbits can absolutely be affectionate, they are not necessarily "hug-able" or cuddly. They don't often like to be held, and sometimes they will try bolt out of a person's arms. Their claws are sharp even when kept trimmed, and in addition to scratching someone, they can injure themselves when trying to get escape attention. Being prey animals, they prefer to be 'four on the floor,' which can be disappointing to adults and children alike.
Don't get me wrong, I think rabbits make excellent pets. Unfortunately they aren't ideal gifts for the holidays. Thousands of rabbits are sold as Easter/Christmas/Valentine gifts, often as an impulse buy, and every year I am contacted by people looking to re-home their rabbits as soon as the glow fades and the novelty wears off. Since rabbits are silent and will be in a cage or hutch most of the time, they can’t protest when someone forgets their breakfast or when they need to have their cage cleaned.
Rabbits can make excellent companions; however, there are some supplies that a rabbit owner really ought to have on hand prior to purchasing a rabbit whether the rabbit will be an indoor pet or an outdoor pet. Rabbits can also be litter trained, but it's often more difficult to accomplish than litter training a cat since it's not in a rabbit's nature to scratch and bury their waste. Quite frankly, rabbits can be a lot of work. They are adorable and make fun pets, but they also require a lot of care and patience. Anyone looking to add a rabbit to their family would be advised to do some research before purchasing one. For more information, check out this article.
Rabbits are naturally inquisitive and like to nibble, so you can expect walls, door trims, carpet, furniture, and anything else to be fair game and tasty. Indoor rabbits are at risk of electrocution if there is even one exposed cord that they might possibly be able to chew on. Outdoor rabbits are at risk to predators if they aren't in secure cages or hutches. Rabbits are also naturally prey animals, so sharing space with a dog or a cat (or several) can be a stress on a rabbit.
While rabbits can absolutely be affectionate, they are not necessarily "hug-able" or cuddly. They don't often like to be held, and sometimes they will try bolt out of a person's arms. Their claws are sharp even when kept trimmed, and in addition to scratching someone, they can injure themselves when trying to get escape attention. Being prey animals, they prefer to be 'four on the floor,' which can be disappointing to adults and children alike.