Somewhat new to rabbits but…

[emm_renn]

So I’ve had rabbits in the past (big mistake) but its been many many years since then and I have done TONS of research since then and I am thinking about getting another one.  Although I do read a lot about animals, I am completely new to owning a house animal.  I am a little nervous/excited to take on this responsibility.  I am a college student but close to my way outta here and I work at PetSmart! I guess I am just asking for advice and reassurance on a “first time” rabbit/animal owner.

[{Alli}]

Just be calm and when you’re looking for a rabbit to adopt, observe each one carefully until one “speaks to you.” Don’t force anything on the rabbit if they don’t want to do it like being picked up, etc. Just because one rabbit likes something doesn’t mean yours will. Also respect is key and so is patience and time.

[Flopsie]

I think you need to consider the costs and responsibilities, which i’m sure you have.

know that they can be costly due to them being “exotic” pets so vet bills might be high. Also, you’ll need to take time and energy to “bunny proof” your home or living area. And lastly, understand that they may not fit what most people think as “cuddle” animals.

If you have come to terms with that I think you should be ready!

[emm_renn]

Thank you both for answering. I have done much thinking and weighing the costs/benefits of owning a rabbit. I do work at petsmart so I will get discounts on the items and also vet care! I have heard that check ups would be free with the discount I receive.

[litheandgraphic]

I totally agree with what Flopsie and {Alli} have said. 

Obviously, you’ll want to save up as much money as possible before you even consider adopting so that you have an emergency fund for vet visits.

I recommend also making a budgeting list of all of the things you’d need / want to get for bunny, just so you know what to expect when you commit to the first-time costs and the continuous costs (eg. food, litter, etc).

It’s very good that you’re doing as much research as possible, of course. Just in case you need more resources, you should definitely take a close look at all of the info on the House Rabbit Society website, the many links under “Bunny Info” on this site. There’s also a number of books that I recommend, including Why Does My Rabbit…? by Anne McBride and The Bunny Lover’s Complete Guide to House Rabbits by “The Bunny Guy”. These are great resources. Also, check out the video series on YouTube with Mary Cotter and Amy Sedaris.

Also, as Flopsie suggested, it’s most important to be aware of rabbits’ nature and what kind of companions they can be. Rabbits have very individual personalities, and it’s up to you to find the one that matches yours the best. Some rabbits can be divas, some can be super mellow little nonchalant pals, some can be hyper intelligent, others more up for following your lead. Some rabbits need a partner, others are just fine by themselves!

Rabbits are prey species, which means that unlike cats and dogs, they are skittish and often nervous by default. New and unfamiliar things make them uneasy, they hide their symptoms of illness (which means we need to be super educated about how to recognize when something’s wrong), they can be aloof, hold grudges, and be little pains. They’re not usually cuddly by default like dogs or cats, they don’t really seek your approval like dogs do, they can be difficult to train, tend not to listen to you, and it’s in their nature to chew everything. It’s crucial to properly bunny-proof and provide the right kind of safe environment including food and toys so that they are happy, healthy, and don’t get into too much mischief!

That being said, and that all being stuff that you’ve probably already learned in your research… rabbits can be some of the most rewarding, empathetic, entertaining, adorable, supportive little companions you can have.

By the by, I strongly recommend that you look into adoption versus purchasing a rabbit. Adopting a rabbit – or any animal, really – is the best thing you can do for a number of reasons:

•  You’re saving a homeless animal! 
• If you go through your local rabbit rescue, if they’re any kind of knowledgeable, then they’ll be able to tell you the health history, behavior, attitude, likes/dislikes, and personality of the rabbit.
• You can usually visit with all the available rabbits and find which one you think is perfect for you.
• They will most likely already be spayed/neutered, which saves you the hefty cost of doing so yourself! Plus, you’ll know the kind of rabbit you’re bringing home as opposed to bringing home one whose personality might change post-spay/neuter.
• There’s a good chance that they can provide you with an awesome support network of rabbit experts and experienced owners who can help educate you and also help support you whenever you might need it, as well as give vet and product recommendations, etc.

Rabbits are wonderful, but they’re not for everyone. The best thing you can do is, if possible, visit as many rabbits as possible – or if this isn’t possible, then watch as many videos online as possible and read as many accounts here as possible, continue your research, be as financially and informatively prepared as possible, and be honest with yourself! I do hope you end up considering adopting a bunny, as they’re terrific, but I would personally be just as happy if you honestly determined that they aren’t right for you.

Good luck on your decision!  

[Flopsie]

Funny-Looking-Rabbit has provided very good and much more thorough information than I have, I definitely second all of that.

I should also elaborate too, that not only are rabbits more expensive, due to vet bills, but also rabbit savvy vets can be difficult to find depending on where you are.

Good luck!

[emm_renn]

Thank you for all of your information so far.  I wanted to get some personal experience from rabbit owners about the pros and cons of rabbits.  I can do as much research as I like, but there is no comparison until you actually own one.  I’m not too concerned with the vet prices because like I said I work at petsmart and we get discounts on banfield.  I also live in Indiana and I have seen a lot of vets for exotic animals.

[litheandgraphic]

That’s great! That may very well help cut down on the costs. You do want to be sure to find a rabbit vet who is qualified rabbit-savvy. A good way to do this is to check the rabbit.org vet listings on their site; they can tell you all their reliable rabbit vets in the area.

It’s true – nothing compares to actuakly having personal experience. I did the exact same things as you did when I was considering adopting a rabbit. (I went through a strange progression of wanting a hedgehog, then wanting rats, then wanting all sorts of other strange exotic pets before finally visiting with rabbits and absolutely loving them.)

[jerseygirl]

Posted By emm_renn on 10/04/2014 6:05 AM
Thank you for all of your information so far.  I wanted to get some personal experience from rabbit owners about the pros and cons of rabbits.  I can do as much research as I like, but there is no comparison until you actually own one.  I’m not too concerned with the vet prices because like I said I work at petsmart and we get discounts on banfield.  I also live in Indiana and I have seen a lot of vets for exotic animals.

So true. And even after owning one, its still ongoing learning. I know it has for me at least, seven years later!
You could try fostering or bunny-sitting for some real life experience if that interests you.

Welcome by the way!

[JackRabbit]

Pros:
They are the cutest things on earth
They are super soft
Watching a bunny binky can make ANYONE smile (I live for binkies – they are addictive!)
There is nothing like the love from a bunny who has learned to trust you
Bunny butts!
Being climbed on by a pile of fluff for a treat
Watching how adorable they are even when they do simple things like clean their faces and ears (I can melt at the sight of a lop cleaning its floppy ears)
This is a pro and a con — bunnitude!

Cons:
The majority of bunnies do not like to be picked up or cuddled (this can take alot of self-control on the human’s part)
They are more fragile than they look
Bunnies are way more expensive than dogs or cats (pellets, hay, litter, veggies, OMG vet bills, etc)
There is a big difference between an exotics vet and a general vet
Ugh, nail trims!
Bunnies hide illness so well and illnesses are often not caught until the bunny is critical
GI stasis
Bunnies can be destructive (chewing, digging, shredding)
Bunnies require time — cleaning (bowls, bottles, bunny areas, litterboxes), feeding, non-free roam bunnies require exercise time

When I list things out, the cons seem to outweigh the pros, and for alot of people they do and should. However, for me personally, Jersey’s siggy says it all!

[jerseygirl]

[emm_renn]

Bunnies are way more expensive

What is the reality of cost here? I am aware of the possible vet bills and I know what the hay/pellets/litter/veggies might cost, but how much in actuality do they ring up a month? I have seen estimations on websites, but I am just wondering how much you all spend on basic supplies?

[litheandgraphic]

Posted By emm_renn on 10/04/2014 6:56 PM

Bunnies are way more expensive

What is the reality of cost here? I am aware of the possible vet bills and I know what the hay/pellets/litter/veggies might cost, but how much in actuality do they ring up a month? I have seen estimations on websites, but I am just wondering how much you all spend on basic supplies?

I’ve tried to be as resourceful as possible to keep costs down. I would say that personally, my expenses probably break down as such:

MONTHLY

• Pellets: At the pet store across the street from my apartment, a bag of Oxbow Adult Basics Timothy hay pellets costs about $8. I probably use up a bag of it once every three months (at 1/8 – 1/4 cup a day), so this cost is super cheap at around $2/mo.
• Hay: I order my Oxbow Timothy Hay from Drs. Foster & Smith and typically get the 9 lbs. bag for around $25. 9 lbs lasts about three months, again, so that’s about $8/mo.
• Greens: Greens are a bit more costly since they need to be fresh. I usually shop for greens once every two weeks or so, sometimes more frequently – I manage to keep my greens fresh for a while. It’s more common for people to buy their greens weekly, and the average cost of buying a round of greens is around $10. So for me this is about a $10 cost every two weeks, which rounds out to about $20/mo.
• Treats: The only real treats Theodore gets on a regular basis are papaya enzyme tablets, because they’re good for his digestion – about one every other day. The bottle cost me $11 and I expect it to last me, surprise, about three months. 
• Litter: I buy paper-based litters such as CareFresh and I’m currently trying out Kaytee’s Clean & Cozy, a bag of which cost me $6 and I expect to last for about a month.

So, my monthly costs come out to around $36-$40 / mo., but the average is about $40-$60 / mo. for all this.

But the monthly costs aren’t what you should really, truly be budgeting for are emergency vet visits and yearly check-ups. If you live an area where myxomatosis is present (UK, Australia), then you will need to get your bunny injections for that. Otherwise, depending on the area in which you live, just getting in the door to a bunny-savvy vet can cost anywhere from $30 – $100. I live in New York City, and fortunately we have a great rabbit vet here at the NY Humane Society, and his appointments cost $50 just to see him, but there are other rabbit vets who charge $120 for visits.

Emergency bills can range anywhere from $200 on the very lowest end to the horrifying $800-$1000 mark, however, I will say that that’s more rare than typical. Many rabbits can develop chronic problems, however, for which the costs can add up quickly.

For more info on your average and typical costs, check out the BinkyBunny budgeting page.

[Boing]

Funny Looking Rabbit has laid out the actual costs really well. To that I would add random bills for destroyed stuff.

For a comparison, my cat costs about 15% of what my rabbit does per month. Cats are easily the cheapest pet, IMO, and the easiest for people to meet their needs.

[JackRabbit]

Wow! You guys are getting off cheap! I’m with you on the pellets and treats, but for my 3 . . .
Veggies – $20 to $35 per week (quality can be an issue so I end up buying more in order to get enough that’s usable — if picky me wouldn’t eat it then the buns don’t get it either)
Litter – $30 to $40 per week depending on where I buy it from (try to order in bulk online)

So, min $67 per month for veggies and litter per bunny, plus the other stuff. I spend @ $40 to $80 per month on hay for the buns and order it online from a few different places (20 lb boxes of timothy and orchard grass, any occasionally oat hay). My vet charges $80 to walk in the door, $22 per bun for nail trims. I’ve spent as little as $80 and as much as @ $700 on a vet visit (including tests). I also order “toys” online such as willow balls and baskets, tunnels, etc.

A big part of costs is where you live and the rest is how far overboard you go on bunny “stuff”!

[emm_renn]

So, min $67 per month

Dang Jackrabbit! why do you use so much litter? I am sure there are cheeper means than what you are use to. How many rabbits do you have?

[JackRabbit]

That is NOT what Jersey’s siggy said when I referred to it in my post!!! LOL!

[JackRabbit]

We do go through alot of litter! Trying to get hubby to lighten up a bit when he does nightly potties, but he wants to make sure the bunnies have nice dry tushies. We do have 4 litterboxes too, and one bunny who “helps” empty them! The one that gets the least amount of use (hallway) is also the one that Moshi likes to flip . . . unfortunately, I can’t velcro that one down.

[Flopsie]

JackRabbit for reference It might be helpful if the costs are broken down per rabbit otherwise it looks higher right? In assuming you have more than one rabbit which would increase costs. Correct?

[jerseygirl]

Haha! Took you long enough to realise JR. It’s ok, I’ve changed it back to former siggy.

My mind boggles at what you guys pay for some stuff! I don’t think I could afford my 6 at all.

emm_renn, I use newspaper in the litterbox. I change it often but its free! The buns are desexed and that helps with odour.
I’m also use lots of hay on the paper. I pay around $16 for a bale and it lasts 4-6weeks. That’s actually gone up in cost. Not so long ago it was $10. Some times of year it’s possible to get even cheaper.
I also buy pellets in bulk.

Vet fees are definitely the cost that can be hard to predict.
VPI in the US does pet insurance that covers rabbits. There is also things like CareCredit.

[emm_renn]

So in regards of being a new pet owner, is there like a magical time to get an animal? I feel as though I am financially ready and have done all the research I possibly can however I am still a college student on my way of graduating in a year or two and might be finishing my degree in a different university (if I get accepted). I do have a little stress in my life and was hoping to relieve it by bringing in a rabbit (but that is not the only reason I am wanting one). But when I speak with Rabbit Rescue groups they want to make sure that I am in a permanent home (obviously I am not). It is hard to wait, but if it would be best, I am willing to wait. What do you think?

[litheandgraphic]

Oh, I know so well what you mean. When I first started researching rabbits, I was living in a dorm (I am also a college student) and couldn’t have an animal right away, so I just satiated my rabbit cravings by visiting the ones at shelters and compiled information and read books. I had to wait for 8.5 months, when I moved to a pet-friendly apartment, before I could finally adopt one.

Where you live now, are you able to (allowed to) have pets?

Truthfully, the best thing would be to wait until after you move, so as to spare the bunny undue stress. I would just look at where you see yourself in 8-10 years, the average lifespan of a house rabbit.

[emm_renn]

Where you live now, are you able to (allowed to) have pets?

When I first asked about pets (when we decided to move) they said no to rabbits because the owner of the apartments didn’t like bunnies because they are considered “farm animals”, but then I remember right when we moved in they had just switch ownership so I had my friend call them to get a second answer and apparently they said yes to rabbits!

I would just look at where you see yourself in 8-10 years

To answer that question… Where I “see” myself and where I actually end up can be completely different. I am going for Animal Behavior when I switch schools (my current school does not have that particular major). As I stated before I am working at Petsmart and with that animal behavior major I could start out training dogs. But I could see myself doing numerous of other things.

[litheandgraphic]

Posted By emm_renn on 10/06/2014 9:47 AM

Where you live now, are you able to (allowed to) have pets?

When I first asked about pets (when we decided to move) they said no to rabbits because the owner of the apartments didn’t like bunnies because they are considered “farm animals”, but then I remember right when we moved in they had just switch ownership so I had my friend call them to get a second answer and apparently they said yes to rabbits!

I would just look at where you see yourself in 8-10 years

To answer that question… Where I “see” myself and where I actually end up can be completely different. I am going for Animal Behavior when I switch schools (my current school does not have that particular major). As I stated before I am working at Petsmart and with that animal behavior major I could start out training dogs. But I could see myself doing numerous of other things.

Sure – it’s really kind of an impossible question to answer for sure where you’re really going to be in that amount of time.

If your current building allows rabbits, and you won’t be moving for at least six months, then I would say it would be fine to adopt a bunny now. I think the most reasonable thing to do would actually be to wait until you do switch schools, or until you know whether or not you will be doing so. This way, you can plan a little more readily for where you’re going to be. 

There are certainly ways of making sure the bun(nies) is/are not too stressed if you do end up adopting one or a pair. It’s not like this is an impossible task. There are definitely people who have moved all around the country and have taken their rabbits with them. 

If you feel you are financially prepared and have done your research and are aware of the pros and cons of rabbit ownership, then the next thing I might suggest would be the magic that is fostering, or fostering-to-adopt.

Fostering a bunny is one of the best things you can do because it gives you a real sense of what it’s like to own a rabbit, helps out rabbit shelters, and is much less strings-attached that actually adopting a rabbit outright. You can also foster more than one rabbit – not at the same time if you don’t want – and get to know a few!

Plus, if you do decide that you love having one around and you want the rabbit that’s been staying with you, you can then decide to adopt them! 

Another even less committal thing you could do is to volunteer at a rabbit shelter for a few hours a week, if you have the time. This way you can get to know lots of different bunnies and experience how they are as animals, and then you can make your decision from there.

[emm_renn]

Fostering sounds like a good idea! I might try and see how that will work out. Thanks!

[litheandgraphic]

Posted By emm_renn on 10/06/2014 11:17 AM

Fostering sounds like a good idea! I might try and see how that will work out. Thanks!

Sure thing! It might be better for your current situation, anyhow, and most animal shelters / rabbit rescues are always looking for more fosters.

[Flopsie]

I think finances are an important aspect but I think what is most important is maturity.

Are you ready to be responsible for someone else? This is much like deciding to have a child. But in a way much more involved in the sense that the child will eventually grow up and come independent. A pet will always be dependent on you. So are you ready to take on that responsibility? Are you ready to make sure that the pet’s needs are always met? Because if you aren’t, then the pet is the one that suffers. It is important to have an accurate assessment of yourself. The other thing to note is that when things are going well, of course everyone can take care of a dependent, but when things get tough and hardship occurs, will you make sure to still meet the needs of the pet? If you feel ready and can take on this responsibility, then I think you can be ready for pet ownership. If you aren’t ready to take responsibility for someone else because you can’t meet your own needs, thats totally fine! Just make sure you take care of yourself and when you are ready, you’ll know it

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