Welcome!!
I have no idea what a C&C cage is But if it’s probably a good idea, especially if you rent, to put something under the cage (unless it’s a solid bottom with high sides) on the carpet-just so you get your deposit back!

Rabbits are great pets, and in one sense they are high maintenance and in another they are low; What I mean is, they do need daily attention, proper diet, vet visits etc. so they aren’t as easy as cats in some sense; However they don’t need to be walked every day, and their natural schedule (being awake early morning and late evening) works for pretty much most employees/students!

They should have a few hours out every day, more so if in a smaller cage. This may sound like a lot of time, but generally we ‘rabbit proof’ a room, a floor, or the whole house and let them out to play. They come to you for attention, play around on their own and lounge about. It’s not like it’s four hours walking a dog

It’s good to do your research first. Another thing to research is vets in your area. I found it astonishing that not all vets see rabbits! I mean they are sold in pet stores all the time, and there are under eleven vets in my city who will even see them! So it’s a good idea to find a good one first, or while your doing your other research. It makes it a lot less stressful should your rabbit get sick-you already know who to call. Here’s a great link on how to find one-http://www.rabbit.org/faq/sections/vet.html and a list of vets as well! http://www.rabbit.org/rabbit-center/resources/vets.html

I’d highly recommend you find a local SPCA/Humane Society/rabbit shelter and adopt-especially if your on a budget. Firstly you get the rabbit for the same price or less then most pet stores and breeders, they come litter trained usually; AND the biggie-they generally come spayed or neutered (which is also a surprisingly costly surgery-depending on where you live average price is 200$) so adopting can save you money big time, plus you’d be saving a bunny!

Hope I helped-Welcome!
And ‘ask away’ if you have any more questions!

welcome here! thanks for doing research before getting a pet! wow, a hedgehog! that must be really cool!

this is my two cents: since you say you’re a college student and low on money, i’d suggest not getting a bunny until you’re maybe done with school and working or the situation improves. rabbits are actually sort of expensive to care for. they need a specialized exotic vet and their diets consist of fresh veggies and hay, which can get pricey. i’m not trying to discourage you, but i’d say that if you’re not able to devote a good 50-75 dollars a month to the bunny, you might consider holding off. there will always be bunnies needing a home in the future.

there are some ways you can cut costs, like buying bulk hay and wood stove pellet litter, but then you need space to store it.

to answer your questions. some rabbits can live on carpet and they are fine, others are chewers or diggers and they will either destroy the carpet, or try and eat it which can cause a blockage and will require vet care. an option is to place a piece of linoleum down or construct a platform and cover with tiles. or hosue the bunny in a room (like the kitchen) where there is no carpet.

bunnies require 3 hours of outside cage playtime per day or 30 hours spread out thru the week (so maybe longer periods on weekends?) that is the minimum, many of our rabbits are allowed out for longer than that, sometimes up to 6-12 hours a day.

the best places for accurate house rabbit info are this site (lol!) and the House Rabbit Society http://www.rabbit.org/

here are some things to start with.  if you have any further questions, please ask…

Living with a House Rabbit… http://www.rabbit.org/care/living-with-a-house-rabbit.html

Diet… http://www.rabbit.org/faq/sections/diet.html

Spaying and Neutering…  http://www.rabbit.org/faq/sections/spay-neuter.html

Are You a Rabbit Person?… http://www.rabbit.org/adoption/right-person.html

Myths About Baby Rabbits… http://www.rabbit.org/adoption/baby-bunnies.html

and here’s a really good one form rabbit expert Dana Krempels!  Understanding Your First House Rabbit… http://www.bio.miami.edu/hare/firstrabbit.html

Hi IMperfection!

yeah, bunnies can really run into money sometimes. However, you could make this websites webcam your homepage and virtually adopt Binky Bunny’s Jack and Rucy. No furry snuggles, but all the fun watching without the mess for now.

Welcome!

Kathy

Hi. It’s so great that you are putting lots of thought into it and doing research before getting a bunny. Way too many people get into rabbit ownership without realizing how much work they are. And they can be a lot of work. In my opinion though, the work to care for them is totally worth it because they are such loving and fun pets. Most people don’t realize but they all have unique personalities, as much as cats or dogs.

I suggest deciding how much money you can spare per month to care for a bunny and then estimate the monthly costs and see if you can afford it. Check out prices on supplies in your area. I find the biggest expense (at least in the winter) is constantly having a supply of fresh greens. I have 3 rabbits so it can get very expensive. Obviously, if you look into a smaller bunny, like a mini, the food bill will be a bit smaller but sometimes the smaller breeds are not as cuddly and trusting so you’d have to decide what’s best for your situation.

I ditto all the input on costs.  Bunnies can be pricey, esp w/ vet care and quality veggies.  Since its winter the veggie access has been very low.  In spring/summer I can hit the farmer’s market, but you can’t get much in winter.  In winter I go to whole foods (aka whole paycheck) to get most of my bunny veggies.  Its pricey but they have awesome veggies during winter, better than my regular grocery store.

You may want to consider fostering a rabbit.  When you foster the vet care is provided, so you can get the experience w/o that added expense.  It’s a great way to see if a rabbit would be right for your lifestyle w/o having to make a huge life choice/decision.  Check out your local SPCA or rabbit rescue. 

Not all people feed their buns veggies everyday or in amounts recommended.  It can be a bit pricey getting set up with a bun.  You may need an xpen or those cube things you can make into shelves.  Well they can also be used to keep bunny out from under the couch and such.  Once you are set up though in the first couple of months the biggest expensive items you need are out of the way.  That leaves timothy pellets how much depends on how much bunny weighs.   Veggies are highly recommended and timmy or grass hay.  You can use some yard grass now n then for variety.  Unsprayed clean yardgrass.  Dandelions too.

spneuters can be expensive.  Some places humane society will do them for less $.  A lot of humane societies dont’ do rabbit spneuters. Though within an hour of yourself you can most likely find one.

Foster is a great idea.  Then if it works out you can adopt the bunny. 

Fostering IS a great idea – especially with some of the help they give in the basic set up.

I just bought Coco’s supply of veggies for 3 days – and it was about 7 dollars. I picked up litter today and it was @15 dollars. Litter lasts me about 2 weeks – but I have one Dutch Bun. I didn’t have to refresh my Yesterdays News this time – a big bag lasts me about 3 weeks – so that is another 15 or so.

Vet care was shockingly expensive – but needed. I spent 350 on her spay – that was after a physical and overall health screen which was about 80 dollars.

I buy four bags of Oxbow hay per month ( 24 dollars) and mix them up. When she had pellets ( she is now pellet free due to poopybutt) that was another 12-15 dollars per month.

I also bought a ton of small, cheapish throw rugs -as we have lovely hardwood floors. This way she can get “grip” as she runs around – and I don’t deeply care about the rugs – they can also be washed by machine ( instead of steam cleaning a carpet)

Coco is about 4.5 pounds – and eats more hay and veggies ( since she is off pellets) – she is also free range so she is not caged ( So that is extra $$ for all the bunny proofing which had to be done)

And now I am vaguely depressed about how much Money I am spending every month! It isn’t so shocking when I was just running around picking up stuff!!

Would I trade the Money for Coco? Nope. I love me my Coco.

Just a note about the vet care. I know the costs of vet care can vary from place to place. My lop had two ear infections in the last few months. 6 trips to the vet for ear checkups at $50.00 each ran me over $300.00. Some people are lucky and have rabbits that never need the vet but you have to make sure you can pay for the vet care if your bunny needs it.