Since you are in school, I assume you are student who is mostly financially-dependent on a parent or guardian, and potentially still living at their home part-time or occasionally. That in mind, getting a rabbit needs to be a decision made by both you and them, with the knowledge that a rabbit, one or two, can be very expensive and requires a lot of work. It may require re-arrangement of your home and with this, the acceptance of everyone in the home to re-arrange. Rabbits are not a child’s pet, and not in a way saying you’re a child, but the phrase more so means a pet rabbit’s primary caretaker needs to be financially stable, have the ability to transport the rabbit to a rabbit-experienced vet, and have the means to regular purchase needed supplies. Unfortunately, we run into many rabbit owners who are young and while they try their best to take care of the rabbit, the best option is to re-home it because the parent(s)/guardian(s) are not willing to spend money or make re-arrangements to help the rabbit be both happy and healthy. For example, a rabbit cannot go to a dog/cat vet— rabbits need to go to exotic vets, which are normally more expensive. In a large majority of situations, rabbits need to be spayed or neutered, and these operations can cost anywhere from $50 to $500, depending on the exotic vets in your area. Medications, and even general exams for rabbits tend to run higher as well, which is a result of the training and specialization required for a vet to be licensed as an “exotic” vet. If you live on your own, thinking about the financial end is more important.
Speaking from experience, I had a rabbit when I was too young. Her name was Daisy, and between my inability to comprehend what the internet/books told me she needed (I focused on “Oh, we can make a hutch! That’s fun!”), in addition to the lack-of-engagement my parents’ had toward her care, she did not live a good life. She lived less than a year, and I am very guilt-ridden about the entire experience. I now own Wick, where the time commitment (and finances) dedicated to him overshadow that of Daisy ten-fold. He is very happy and very healthy, and by having him, it really solidified for me how important “everyone being on board” is for rabbit care. It’s definitely possible for a student to have a pet rabbit, but I think it’s imperative that it’s a team effort if you live at home with your family. Focusing on school and being the sole caretaker for a rabbit is a lot, and not possible if you want the best care for your rabbit.
I recommend the following steps if you are enthusiastic about getting a pet rabbit:
1) Research what is necessary for a rabbit, in terms of daily, monthly, and yearly maintenance. See if pet stores or online vendors are able to provide all the necessary items you need.
2) Speak with your household (if applicable) to see if it’s possible to uphold those responsibilities consistently. If you cannot, someone else needs to help. You mention being worried about next school year. A rabbit will live upwards of 10 years, so you need to think whether you and your family can make that commitment. If you move, will the rabbit go with you? If you go on vacation or have a more stressful week, is someone going to be around to take care of your rabbit?
3) Research if there are exotic vets in your area. If there are not, this can be a pretty big deal for treating your rabbit if he/she becomes ill. Rabbits are fragile animals who need routine (in diet and lifestyle) and relatively no-stress environments, so having an exotic vet in proximity is important.
4) Examine your home and see if there is space to have a rabbit. A rabbit should not be in a cage 24/7. The ideal is being free-roam (similar to a dog/cat), and for this to occur, time and money needs to be spent to bunny-proof the living areas. X-pens are a common alternative— they are larger than a cage, expandable, but still restrict your rabbit to a safe space.
5) If you and your family feel you are ready to have a rabbit, adopt at a shelter or rescue. There are so many rabbits in need of a home, and these places can provide medical history/the rabbit may already be fixed.
In terms of one rabbit versus two, generally two is better under the condition that they are both already “bonded”. Bonded does not mean 1) they are siblings, 2) they grew up together, or 3) they seem to get along. Bonded rabbits are rabbits who are both fixed (spayed/neutered), and they have gone through a several-month process of pre-bonding, dates, and supervised time together. If you do not get bonded rabbits, you need to do all of this yourself in order to have two rabbits. Shelters and rescues do have bonded rabbits, so those are an option. A single rabbit can still be happy as long as there’s someone at home while you’re away at school to be around with the rabbit. Rabbits don’t necessarily like being interacted with 24/7 like a dog, but presence and general engagement from a family is good.
There is plenty of great information on this site regarding rabbit care. I recommend reading it to see what you can expect: https://binkybunny.com/BUNNYINFO/tabid/53/Default.aspx
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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