We could make a long list of reasons why to buy a pet rabbit, but before you actually buy yourself one, it’s important to get to know more about these little balls of fur with their cute noses and fluffy ears. Like any other pet, it’s crucial to evaluate their role in the family very carefully, to avoid unpleasant surprises. First of all, we need to know these special animals and their main characteristics.
Unlike what most people think, rabbits are not rodents, but lagomorphs, i.e. terrestrial herbivorous mammals, characterised by two pairs if incisor teeth, one longer, more external, and another, shorter, behind it.
When you decide to add a rabbit to your family, you need to take a few precautionary steps first. Some people prefer to leave their pets free to roam the house, but this means you must “petproof” your house first. For instance, rabbits love chewing on power cables, obviously dangerous things, and that means you must get rid of any such cable that they may be able to reach. Rabbits are diffident animals by nature, but once they learn to trust you, something that requires both time and patience, they can be excellent pets. They never sleep for too long: easy preys in nature, they tend to take several short naps instead. They spend most of the day hidden in their holes and hiding places, and prefer to go out in the late afternoon, when they will need to be entertained.
The perfect cage for a rabbit must therefore be sufficiently spacious to make it possible to place a shelter in it. It also needs all the other indispensable accessories, such as food and water bowls and the hay trough. Don’t forget toys: in their natural habitat, rabbits love running after other bunnies, so give yours plenty of balls and tunnels to play with, and, if possible, take it to a garden (make sure there are no dogs nearby) so it can stretch its legs. Just remember that the garden must be enclosed, as rabbits are a lot faster than we think. They also need to nibble, so give them some specific product for that purpose, such as small logs, cubes of mineral salts, or Ferplast’s innovative Tiny & Natural, made of natural non-nutritional materials, to keep your rabbit in perfect shape.
Like with any other pet, when you buy a rabbit you must keep in mind that it’ll need a place to stay when you go on holidays. Fortunately, there are several pet-friendly hotels all around the world, places that will welcome your long-eared friend while you relax for a few days.