Rabbits are prey animals and domesticated rabbits (i.e. the ones we have as pets) have essentially “bred out” means to survive independently, so I think more so than a pet dog or cat, pet rabbits require more work daily and consistently. For example, a kitten or puppy are lots of work, but they may gain some independence to do “their own thing” once their older, but I feel like rabbits stay pretty plateau’d in what you need to do to care for them (this is my opinion). Litterbox cleaning, grooming, socializing to a degree (depending on the rabbit), cleaning up hay bits everywhere, keeping the environment consistently “rabbit-proofed”, preparing the food everyday… In my experience with dogs and cats, eventually you can let them do their thing in your home and they know the drill. With me, at least with my rabbits, I still need to be fairly vigilant.. For fear that my furniture, possessions, and carpet be destroyed, haha. I think people who have non-carpeted homes or rabbit free-roam area have less worry (in fact, prior to me moving to where I am now, we were on laminate flooring and my supervision with my rabbit was less needed), but regardless there are still tasks that are ongoing and may take more time than estimated with rabbits. That being said, owners come up with their own systems and routines to make the process of daily maintenance and care go more quickly, so it’s not as if we are rabbit-focused 24/7.
In honesty, I am weary of pet rabbits for new parents. Unlike dogs or cats, who I believe, due to how long they’ve been domesticated, their cognitive abilities, and their status as non-prey animals, they can better learn boundaries and some nuances? For rabbits, I have found their minds are pretty…. one-lane. You can teach rabbits tricks and cues and they can pick up when they’re doing things they shouldn’t (and will strategically stop if they see you hovering…. very sneaky rabbits), but I feel they would be less empathetic to new parents than a dog or cat. Their priority is themselves. They are not a human’s “best friend” like a dog– they are for numero uno, which is them. That being said, if you have a large space for the rabbit, there could be some negotiation where they send more time in that confined space so you can delegate your focus time more. At the same time though, understanding the rabbit needs some of your time as well.
As Hazel mentioned, there is also an “incompatibility” between pet rabbits and small children. Even with parents who understand the tendencies of rabbits, children literally don’t have the executive functioning to restrain themselves to such sweet, cute, adorable, fluffy things. It’s in their nature. So while it’s not impossible, know that even rescues can be weary of adopting a rabbit to a household with young children. You don’t have children yet, but knowing this is a hesitation many rescues have informs you about historically how bad that mix has been in some unfortunate cases.
…. with all this harrowing information though, I don’t want to say you shouldn’t adopt a rabbit. It comes from a place where rabbits are so heavily, heavily, underestimated in what is required to take care of them. I believe if you converted what I have written to be informing someone about the responsibility to take care of a new dog or cat, no one would blink an eye at it as simply understand that, yes, it is a big undertaking. Unfortunately, pet rabbits are not readily seen that way, so while this may seem like a huge warning and indirect way of saying “No way, don’t do it”, it is me trying to really emphasize how much is needed to take care of a pet rabbit. It is the same, if not more, than a dog or cat, so if you have hesitancy about caring for a dog or cat while having a newborn child, this is an indicator that perhaps it’s not the best time for a rabbit either.
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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