Alot of things can go very wrong with a bunny in a very short time. And we can’t always control that with hay and brushing unfortunately. It really depends on the bunny. Some have stomachs of iron, others can barely eat without going into stasis. They are very variable, really. Spaying and neutering is a must, due to high cancer rates, bunny proofing is a must unless you want destroyed furniture and chewed through cords. Some bunnies are very anti social, others crave attention. Some like being petted, others will show great disapproval at being touched at all. Some are scared of open spaces and prefer being in a smaller area. Others hate being penned up and demand to be out.

So really, it does depend on the rabbit. They are all different, but all do require lots of care, and quick vet care if they need it, which can be very very expensive. But, all my rabbits have been a joy to have, even if Monkey does greatly disapprove of anyone touching her

Rabbits are indeed pricey.

If a rabbit is spayed/neutered, they can live up to 8-10 years+. Some unexpected things can happen inbetween.

All rabbits are different. Their personalities will VARY BIG TIME.

I spent about $300.00 on getting a kennel, x-pen, food, toys. A bunny is a big investment. The cheapest thing was bunny herself. But, the love that they give is quite different from a dog or cat

I make weekly shopping trips to the grocery store to get a head of romaine and cilantro. I buy hay every couple of weeks. Rabbit owners have to be shoppers

I’ve always had cats my entire life. I had a rabbit but it wasn’t my responsiblity.Since I’m older and am able to take responsiblity,  I am a owner of a 1 year old dwarf and she herself IS a FULL TIME JOB! But I wouldn’t trade it for the world.

Rabbit personalites don’t really fully come out until they are fixed, and near a year. So keeping an mind open of a senior bunny would be nice too Their personalities are fully developed.

From what you’ve said, it sounds like a bunny could very possibly be a good pet for you. You can get a pen and keep in in the part of the house where you spend the most time, usually the living or family room, but when you’re home the bunny can be out and about with you. Some rabbits (after they are altered and have proven themselves) can even be allowed out 24/7 with adequate bunny-proofing.

Rabbit medicine has come a long way. So while things can go wrong healthwise, there are usually treatments that can be given. The question is moreso… can you afford long term treatment if necessary? One of the biggest expenses are teeth. If rabbit teeth are malaligned, they may require tooth trims several times a years. These trims average about $200 each time. Spay/neuter is not cheap (averages about $200), but that is only a one time cost, and greatly reduces the risk of cancer.

My best piece of advice to you would be to hook up with a local rabbit rescue that will allow you to come and interact with the rabbits. As my friends here have said, rabbit personalities can vary so greatly, a rescue would be able to help you find the one that is right for you! As an added bonus, the rescue will probably have already spay/neutered the bunny and will have some kind of health history on them. So you can ask them if the bun has had problems in the past with digestion or with teeth or with respiratory infections, etc…

I won’t repeat what’s been said about costs and healthcare, because I guarantee it’s great advice!

I like what you said about not needing constant attention and physical affection… every bunny is different, but there are some characteristics that you can usually count on most bunnies having, such as panicking in water and disliking being picked up and held in the air. Obviously there are some wild and crazy buns out there who love to swim and be held, but most don’t.

I can tell you about our buns! Remy is outrageously cute, and whenever we so much as look at him we either smile or laugh. His facial expressions are classic. He zooms around and binkies and when we have company he comes out to meet them and smell them and check out everything. He is a *most* curious bun. But he’s not especially touchy-feely… he does love to be pet, and the other day I was kissing his head and he started making happy little grunting noises… but usually he likes to play the clown without being held or touched.

Momo, on the other hand, *loves* to be touched. She loves to be kissed, petted, and scratched, and we even roughhouse together on the couch. Every time I lean my head down to her, she licks my nose. She insists on it. I’ll try to kiss her nose, and she ignores me and goes straight for my own. A very touchy-feely bun.

We adore both of them!

Who knows what kind of bun you might end up with… but it’s good not to expect a pet that will snuggle with you and want to be held. It’s likely your bun will want space, especially during the first year. Buns can take a long time to warm up to you, but when they do it is heaven!

I’ve had my Felony since he was 4 weeks old. He just had his 4th birthday in October. As the caretaker of many different animals during my life, I would say I have fretted the most over Felony. Rabbits definitely require more attention and care than cats. You always have to keep an eye on the poops (Rabbit people are obsessed with poops bc it tells so much about the rabbit’s health). You also need to make sure you have a large enough space that can be bunny proofed (cords covered, cardboard stapled to baseboards) because if you have a chewer, those teeth can do some damage. Also if you have a bunny that just will not behave, you may have to build a habitat of some type as the commercial cages they sell for rabbits are in now way large enough to keep for any amount of time. So make sure you have room for that just in case. There is also a habitat page here with some GREAT ideas.
You also need to make sure you have enough money to cover costs. Everyone here has GREAT tips to save money (wood stove pellets for litter) but you must be able to purchase fresh greens weekly and cover costs in case an emergency arises.
Rabbits definitely have varied personalities, but no one that has met Felony hasn’t fallen in love with him. He’s a weirdo rabbit though and doesn’t chew, has pretty great litter box habits, and doesn’t mind being picked up. If you are willing to take the time to get things set up appropriately then a house rabbit is pretty awesome.

From what you’ve said, I think a bunny could be a great pet for you! I think they are more care than cats – I spend time washing lettuce, sweeping up hay and bits of cardboard, etc. They will also take over your house and soon enough your living room will be covered with cardboard tunnels and houses 😉 They’re not pets for the super neat, but at least their mess is generally toys.

They can’t be left alone for days at a time like cats, so I would put them above cats as far as care required, but I think they require far less care than a dog. I tend to disagree with some of the BB posters in that I don’t think bunnies require that much care. Sure, I spend tons of time with them and care for them extremely well, but I’ve had dogs too and the dogs were far more work! I like that they are fine home alone all day, then they become active as I’m getting home from work. Or, I can stay out after work and not worry about getting home late – they’re pretty flexible about hours (though of course they’d prefer you to come home at the same time every day and let them out)

As far as health problems go, I guess it does depend on the rabbit – some have stasis issues and others have teeth issues – but in general I think they’re healthy. Certainly not like the rats you described. As with any animal there are things that can go wrong and vet care may be required, but on average they’re not as delicate as some guides indicate. If you are vigilant and know what to watch for, there’s no need to fret or worry all of the time.

Good luck with your decision! In many ways I think bunnies are similar to cats (at least in their varied personality, because some are affectionate, some are aloof, etc). They’re wonderful little pets and so much more interactive than rodents since they can come out and run around your home like a cat or a dog would.

eta: The reason they’re the third most euthanized pet is because they are one of the most popular after dogs and cats and many end up in shelters where they are put down. It doesn’t mean anything about their general healthiness!

Unfortunately, the reason why bunnies are put down a lot is because many irresponsible owners don’t want to foot the bill for illnesses

Well, I guess when I say I ‘fret’ over him, it’s more that I’m certain to always check his poops and his food levels. Unlike dogs and cats, you can’t really tell when rabbit doesn’t feel well. You can really only tell something is wrong by making sure they are eating normally and pooping normally. Rabbits hide illness very well. I love Felony to death and I’d have to agree that dogs are more work than a healthy bunny. YOu don’t have to worry about walking them, or taking them out. I guess most of the work is in the beginning making sure everything is bunny proofed, which in the end won’t matter bc they’ll find something you didn’t think of bunny proofing and get into that anyway (Isn’t that right, Frankie?!?)

Also, they are euthanized so much bc they reproduce so quickly. So many people see a cute little bunny at easter, get it and then the terrible teens hit at 4-6 months and they toss them at the humane society.

I agree with hooty Looking at poops and checking that bunny has eaten is a daily must watch for. And with hiding their illnesses. Rabbits require a yearly exam and make sure to find a good vet that knows his/her stuff in exotic animals!

Also, bunnies need their nails trimmed. There are ways to learn how to do it, or a vet can do it

it is sad

i think it takes special people to own animals. the responsbilities aren’t for everyone.

my grandma ALWAYS has had cats since she was young. she has 3 now, and she spent a 4 year period without cats, and i can quote her as saying

‘it was the loneliest time of my life.’

It is very sad! So many people think that it’s ok to release unwanted bunnies into the wild, when obviously it’s the worst thing you could do for a domestic animal. They’re also seen as “disposable” pets by many, similar to how rodents are considered. Rodents only live a few years though so people just stick it out, but once they realize how long rabbits live they get sick of them and turn them over to shelters. Very sad.

Another thing to keep in mind if you are a teen… what are you going to do with them if you go to college? Most dorms do not allow pets.

teens with bunnies, theres really only 2 of us on here, myself and mocha, and i myst say, NOTHING BUT TROUBLE from parents. please please PLEASE foster them FIRST! lets your parents see what its like to have a bunny, you seem like a good match, but your parents will be hot and cold about this, I PROMISE. Bunnies are more work than “parents” realise, sometimes they stink, they make messes, vet bills (my mom doesnt think my girls need to go to the vet or be spayed, so i pay for eerything, and money gets real tight, real quick.) Alot of people think bunnies can live outside, nuh uhh <- for teen bunnymums, this is the BIGGEST issue. It goes father than the, yes you can get one, no you can't. it is a constant battle and if your parents dont like something about the bunnies, it puts alot of stress on the parent-teen relationship.

now im not saying dont get them, but do i ‘trial’ run before adopting, it will make life easier.

There are several college students that live at home, work, and have rabbits (where are you lintini??) And I’ll be doing online classes next year and work. It all works out nicely I’m glad I get to do homework with my bunny around.

I have the master bedroom of the house. My dad and I will be downsizing to an apartment whenever our house is sold. We have an apartment in mind, and the sunroom will be my bunnys. And she’ll have free roam of the living room when I’m home

Just make sure that you have enough to provide them with fresh vegetables every single day, no matter what. Bunny digestive systems don’t tolerate sudden changes well at all, so you can’t skimp on food.

For instance, the shelter will probably give you a generic pellet for your new girls, and when you start buying a better one you will have to integrate it very gradually over a couple of weeks to give their systems time to get used to it.

Bunnies are a bit delicate…

Here’s a great grocery list for appropriate bunny vegetables:

http://www.rabbit.org/graphics/homepage/bunnyshoppinglist.jpg

: D

Sounds like you’ve thought it all through then

I focused on the bad stuff, I like doing that so that people who really aren’t sure if they can handle it will back out before they do bring home a bunny. But sounds like you should be a good bunny parent

I knit excessively!  Nicetomeetcha

I’ll just copy and paste it –

As for insurance, I’m not really sure… can some of our other BB’ers answer this?

Cheers!

Hi! Welcome! I am Mocha ” the other teen” and it can be extremely hard to have bunny’s when living with your parents. But it sounds like your parents are OK with new pets.
How many other kinds of pets do you have or had?

Someone here on BinkyBunny drew it for me! I am sure you will be great with them! I can’t wait to know you better!

There is pet insurance. There is vpi or aspca. Its tends to be around 15 or so dollars a month, depending on how many rabbits you have. I’m not sure if spays or neuters are covered or not.

I don’t have any experience with the cat-rabbit relation, but I’ve heard it can be difficult. If the bunnies are in your room, you should probably make sure the cat does not get in your room. That’s my only concern.

It sounds like you have everything figured out pretty well. Continue hanging out around the site if any other questions come up.

I loved Mir’s idea of fostering the pair first. Even just a month will let you know if they are the right bunnies for you. Why are you thinking of a pair and not a single bun?

Pet insurance is available and can be a good option. Just keep in mind that, unlike human health insurance, pet insurance requires you to pay the vet up front, then you get reimbursed if the procedure qualifies. Personally, I think it’s cheaper in the long run to have an emergency fund set up and pay for the vet out of pocket. Insurance can get expensive if you pay $15 a month and never need to use it, so you can end up paying more than you would’ve for the vet care (or need it, but the procedure doesn’t qualify). Just look into it carefully and figure out what types of things qualify first (for example, do yearly check ups qualify?). Then again, if you do have a bunny who needs a large amount of care over time, it can really save you money.

Oh, you don’t have to convince us that bunnies do best in pairs. They are indeed social creatures and it is great to see them together

I think you will be a great bunny mum. I have a cat as well and used to have a dog, and yes, I have not worried so much about health issues than with my bunnies. But that’s just part of the love And half of mine have never had any health issues at all (knock on wood). The cat and the bunnies do just fine together. My cat thinks they are a bit annoying for sniffing his tail, but then he just leaves when it gets too much.

I have no suggestion on how much you should bid. I guess I would say $50…am I being stingy? I mean, you are not a wealthy person with a fulltime-job, you are a young person who just wants to change the lives for two bunnies. So, to you even a small amount of money is much, and you are doing something great by just adopting.

Oh yes, I know bunnies do well in pairs. It’s just uncommon that someone would choose a pair without having already had rabbits. Most people would prefer to start with a single bun to see how it goes. But if you’re committed, and the extra money is not an issue, then I see no reason to not get a pair.

it seems like you will make a great bunny mom good for you for finding this site and investigating before making the decision. i think the advice here is excellent and like beka, i encourage you to stick around. especially to post pics

re: cats and rabbits… personally i think that carefully supervised ‘bonding’ is a good idea ONLY so that both the buns and the cat become familiar with each other. inevitably there will be some contact or at the very least they will smell each other. as a general rule i think that prey animals and predator animals as pets should not ever be left unsupervised together (my bun and dog are VERY accustomed to each other but i never leave them alone together).

a cautionary tale: one concern with rabbits is that they have paper thin skin that is very easily punctured by claws or teeth. finding puncture wounds can be tricky because, unless bleeding profusely, their hair covers it up. i know this from experience. fortunately when i did find the wound it had healed on its own but i was lucky.

Posted By babybunsmum on 12/07/2010 08:39 AM
it seems like you will make a great bunny mom good for you for finding this site and investigating before making the decision. i think the advice here is excellent and like beka, i encourage you to stick around. especially to post pics

re: cats and rabbits… personally i think that carefully supervised ‘bonding’ is a good idea ONLY so that both the buns and the cat become familiar with each other. inevitably there will be some contact or at the very least they will smell each other. as a general rule i think that prey animals and predator animals as pets should not ever be left unsupervised together (my bun and dog are VERY accustomed to each other but i never leave them alone together).

a cautionary tale: one concern with rabbits is that they have paper thin skin that is very easily punctured by claws or teeth. finding puncture wounds can be tricky because, unless bleeding profusely, their hair covers it up. i know this from experience. fortunately when i did find the wound it had healed on its own but i was lucky.

YES. the injuries, i have two un bonded un spayed females, and they fight sometimes when they get out together (do not keep unbonded/un altered rabbbits together) and the marks are EXTRAMLY difficult to find, so be cautious when it comes to bonded rabbits in a new environment, because they might become stressed

RE: cats.
My bunnies and my cats are good together, i never ‘bonded them’ but i recomend introducing them supervised. my cats catch wild rabbits birds mice, etc. but never touch my rabbits. so it depends on the cat, mine are allowed unsupervised with the rabbits, but im also 110% sure my cats wouldnt touch them.

I have five cats and two bunny’s so I have to make sure they like each other because my cats sometimes get into my room and get in there pen. One of my cats is really good with them, another just wants to drink there water, and two of them are scared of them, and one is just a brat and likes to tick my off by going in there. so it really depends on the cat. I am sure they will be fine.

Hmm…. with the kitten you might want to consider Soft Paws.
http://www.softpaws.com/
Often times they don’t have complete mastery of their claws, so this could prevent any nasty scratches on the bunny.

Oh no, don’t use soft paws. I would let the kitten be a kitten and just make sure that all his hunting instincts and need for play is being met by giving him/her proper toys.

By the way, when you guys are so concerned about cats, what type of cats do you have in the US? They sound like killer cats Here the most common is european house cat (europé without pedigree), but I assume that it is mostly found in Europe (hence the name…). I would never worry about this breed. But if you go for a cat like a ragdoll or holy birma, which is my understanding is quite a popular cat breed in the US, you won’t have any problems either, I would suspect. My parents have four european house cats and they are left unsupervised with the rabbits. But the cats find the rabbits a bit scary and try to avoid them as much as possible.

^^^Cats in the Unites States ARE killer cats. We have lions and tigers routinely as house pets.

LOL… j/k.