To clarify, someone told you that having your rabbit be free roam makes him less like a rabbit? That’s my understanding of the post, going into my response.
The idea of a domesticated animal is somewhat changing, through breeding, an animal from being wild to more tame. A free roam domesticated rabbit is the same as a pet dog. A pet Beagle isn’t going out to sniff and hunt for prey. A pet border collie is (most of the time) not used to herd animals. A pet rabbit is not meant to be a wild rabbit. No pet rabbit would survive in the wild. You should not feel bad for sharing your home and heart to a pet rabbit if he’s healthy and happy.
I’m unsure what this person was insinuating, but, like, all wild rabbits do (mind you your rabbit is practically a different animal/species than a wild rabbit) is mate and search around for food. They aren’t hunting, playing with fellow rabbit siblings, traveling in packs… Nope. If your pet rabbit is happy and healthy, you’re doing well. You’re not a bad mom. Pet rabbits are different than wild rabbits. They can’t even breed with each other.
To frame it in a different way, that’s like saying “You should make your pug go out and hunt for its own food like a regular dog wood.” No. A pug is a bred species that 100% incapable of doing wild dog things.
You’re a bad rabbit mom if you neglect your rabbit. You’re a bad rabbit mom if you ignore your rabbit’s sign of ill health. You’re a bad rabbit mom is you close off to recommendations and suggestions without considering why they’re expressed.
You’ve considered what this person has said, and I think you should weigh it with little value. It seems to have come from a place of misinformation and ignorance about domestic rabbits.
The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.
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