How to Take Care of Your Bunny: A Comprehensive Guide for Pet Parents

Thinking about bringing a bunny into your home? Rabbits make wonderful pets, bringing joy and companionship. However, they do require specific care and attention to thrive. Before you welcome a fluffy friend, it’s essential to understand exactly what’s involved in responsible rabbit ownership. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know about how to take care of a bunny, ensuring a happy and healthy life for your new companion.

Key Aspects of Bunny Care

Commitment is Key: Rabbits are not low-maintenance pets. They need consistent care, love, and a significant time commitment from their owners. Be prepared for daily interaction, cleaning, and attention to their specific needs.
Lifespan: With proper care, bunnies can live for 10 years or even longer. Adopting a rabbit is a long-term commitment to their well-being.
Mental Enrichment: Beyond basic needs, bunnies need mental stimulation to prevent boredom and destructive behaviors. This includes providing chew toys, tunnels, and opportunities for digging and exploration.

Understanding Your Bunny: Species Overview

Long-Term Companions: Rabbits are a decade-long commitment, so consider this carefully before adoption. Their lifespan emphasizes the importance of consistent and dedicated care throughout their lives.
Crepuscular Nature: Bunnies are most active during dawn and dusk (crepuscular), not strictly nocturnal. However, they are adaptable and will often adjust their activity patterns to match their human family’s schedule.
Lagomorphs, Not Rodents: It’s a common misconception that rabbits are rodents. They are actually lagomorphs, a distinct order of mammals characterized by having four incisors in the upper jaw (rodents only have two).
Social and Intelligent: Bunnies are intelligent and social creatures. They require daily interaction, handling, playtime, and exercise outside of their living space to maintain their physical and mental health.
Supervised Freedom: When outside their enclosures, bunnies must be closely supervised in rabbit-proofed areas. This is crucial to prevent them from chewing on electrical wires, baseboards, or ingesting toxic substances.
Companionship with Other Bunnies: Rabbits are often happiest in pairs or small groups, especially if raised together from a young age. Introducing a new rabbit to a resident bunny requires careful, supervised introductions in neutral territory to avoid territorial disputes.
Fragile but Powerful: While bunnies possess strong hind legs, their skeletons are delicate, particularly their spines. Improper handling or a strong kick can lead to spinal injuries.
Gentle Handling is Essential: Always support a bunny’s entire body when holding them, especially their hindquarters. Never lift a rabbit by its ears or turn them onto their backs, as this can cause fear and injury.

Alt text: Two bonded rabbits cuddling, emphasizing the social nature of bunnies and their potential for companionship.

Essential Bunny Supplies Checklist

To ensure your bunny is happy and healthy, you’ll need to gather these essential supplies:

Appropriate Habitat: Choose a cage or enclosure that’s at least 24″ L x 24″ H for small to medium breeds, or 36″ W x 36″ H for larger breeds. Remember, bigger is always better!
High-Quality Rabbit Pellets: Select a reputable brand of rabbit pellets formulated for their age and breed.
Timothy Hay: This is the cornerstone of a bunny’s diet and should be available at all times.
Bunny-Safe Treats: Opt for healthy, rabbit-specific treats, offered in moderation.
Bedding Material: Paper-based bedding is ideal as it’s safe and absorbent. Avoid cedar or pine shavings.
Food and Water Bowls/Bottles: Choose sturdy, non-tippable bowls for food and either a water bottle or a heavy ceramic bowl for water.
Hideaway House: Bunnies need a safe, dark place to retreat and feel secure.
Hay Rack: Keeps hay clean and off the cage floor.
Chew Toys: Provide a variety of wood chews and toys to satisfy their natural chewing instincts.
Litter Pan: A corner litter pan designed for small animals.
Litter for Litter Pan: Paper-based litter is safest. Avoid clumping or clay litters.
Indoor Playpen: For safe exercise and playtime outside the cage.
Soft Brush: For regular grooming.
Nail Clippers: Specialized nail clippers for small animals.
Styptic Powder: To stop nail bleeding if you accidentally trim too short.
Enrichment Toys: Tunnels, balls, and puzzle toys to keep them mentally stimulated.

Step-by-Step Guide: How to Care for a Rabbit

So, how exactly do you take care of a bunny? Here’s a detailed breakdown of the essential aspects:

Safe and Clean Housing: Bunnies need a secure, clean habitat that protects them from drafts, extreme temperatures, and predators.
Nutritious Diet: A balanced diet is crucial for their health, primarily consisting of hay, supplemented with pellets and fresh greens.
Daily Exercise: Rabbits need daily opportunities to hop, run, and explore outside their enclosure.
Regular Grooming: Brushing, especially for long-haired breeds, and nail trims are important for their hygiene and comfort.
Annual Veterinary Check-ups: Regular vet visits are essential for preventative care and early detection of health issues.
Daily Social Interaction: Bunnies thrive on interaction. Spend time playing, grooming, and simply being present with your bunny each day.
Rabbit-Proofing Your Home: Protect your home and your bunny by rabbit-proofing areas where they will exercise. This includes covering wires, protecting furniture, and removing toxic plants.
Litter Box Training: Bunnies are naturally tidy and can be easily litter box trained, making cage cleaning much easier.
Observing Behavior: Pay close attention to your bunny’s daily behavior. Subtle changes can be early indicators of illness, as rabbits are prey animals and tend to hide signs of weakness.

Understanding Your Bunny’s Needs

To ensure your bunny is truly comfortable and healthy, it’s vital to understand their fundamental needs:

Unlimited Fresh Hay: Hay is the most critical component of a bunny’s diet. It’s essential for dental health, as the chewing action helps wear down their constantly growing teeth, preventing dental problems. Hay is also crucial for proper digestion and prevents gastrointestinal stasis.
Fresh, Clean Water: Bunnies must always have access to fresh, clean water to stay hydrated.
Spacious and Safe Enclosure: Their living space should have solid flooring to prevent sore hocks (foot ulcers) and be lined with thick, clean bedding for comfort and hygiene.
Stable Environmental Temperature: Bunnies are sensitive to extreme temperatures. Aim for a temperature range of 60–70°F (15-21°C), which is typical room temperature. Avoid placing their cage in direct sunlight or drafty areas.
Daily Supervised Exercise: Allow your bunny time outside their cage each day in a safe, enclosed area. This allows them to express natural behaviors like hopping, running, stretching, and playing, which is vital for physical and mental well-being and helps prevent obesity.

Creating the Perfect Bunny Home: Rabbit Housing

In their natural environment, bunnies live in meadows, woodlands, and grasslands, digging burrows for shelter. Replicating aspects of this in your home is key to their happiness.

Choosing the Right Bunny Enclosure

The ideal rabbit habitat should be spacious, at least four times the size of your bunny, allowing them to fully stretch out and move around comfortably.

Minimum Size Recommendations: A minimum of 24″ L x 24″ H (4 square feet) for small to medium breeds, and 36″ W x 36″ H (9 square feet) for large to giant breeds. Remember, bigger is always better – provide the largest space you can accommodate.
Essential Features: The enclosure should be well-ventilated, escape-proof, and have solid flooring to prevent injuries to their feet.
Outdoor Exercise Space: If possible, provide a safe, enclosed outdoor space where your bunny can exercise, play, and enjoy fresh air under supervision.

Alt text: A bunny happily exploring a large indoor pen, highlighting the importance of ample space for exercise and enrichment.

Setting Up Your Bunny’s Habitat

Temperature Considerations: Bunnies are comfortable in typical household temperatures but are prone to overheating in temperatures above 80°F (26°C). They have few sweat glands, making them vulnerable to heatstroke.
Location, Location, Location: Avoid placing the habitat in direct sunlight or drafty areas. Extreme temperature fluctuations can be harmful.

Bedding Essentials

Paper-Based Bedding: Use 1–2 inches of high-quality, paper-based bedding in the enclosure. Shredded or pelleted paper bedding is absorbent and safe for bunnies.
Avoid Wood Shavings: Never use cedar or pine shavings. These wood beddings contain oils that can irritate a bunny’s respiratory system and sensitive skin. Paper-based bedding is also digestible and less likely to cause gastrointestinal issues if ingested.

Décor and Enrichment Accessories

Hideout Box: Every bunny needs at least one hideout box to feel secure and have privacy. Use wood, edible materials like braided straw or wicker, or cardboard boxes designed for chewing.
Toys for Mental Stimulation: Provide a variety of enrichment toys to prevent boredom and encourage mental and physical activity. Rotate toys regularly to keep your bunny interested.
Hay Rack for Cleanliness: A hay rack keeps hay off the floor, preventing contamination from urine and feces, and encouraging neater eating.
Litter Box and Litter for Hygiene: Litter train your bunny using an appropriately sized litter box and paper-based, unscented litter. This greatly simplifies cage cleaning.

Maintaining a Clean and Healthy Environment

Regular cleaning is essential for your bunny’s health and well-being.

Daily Spot Cleaning: Remove soiled bedding and litter, and any uneaten fresh food daily.
Weekly Deep Cleaning: Clean the entire habitat thoroughly at least once a week, or more often if you have multiple bunnies.

Steps for Cleaning the Bunny Habitat:

Bunny Safety First: Allow your bunny to leave the enclosure on their own before cleaning. If you need to move them, gently coax them out and place them in a safe, temporary pet carrier or playpen.
Remove Old Bedding and Litter: Discard all old bedding and litter materials.
Clean the Enclosure and Accessories: Wash the habitat and all accessories (food bowls, water bottles, hideout box, litter pan) with hot, soapy water. You can use a pet-safe cleaner or a diluted bleach solution (1:10 bleach to water) for disinfection.
Rinse Thoroughly: Rinse everything meticulously with clean water to remove all traces of cleaning agents or bleach. Residual smells can be irritating or harmful to bunnies.
Dry Completely: Ensure the habitat and all accessories are completely dry before adding fresh bedding, clean accessories, and returning your bunny to their home.
Return Your Bunny to a Fresh Space: Place fresh bedding, clean accessories, and then gently return your bunny to their clean and refreshed habitat.

Bunny Socialization: Companionship and Interaction

Bunnies are social animals and can thrive in pairs.

Pairing Bunnies: Opposite-sex pairs can live together harmoniously if both are spayed or neutered. Same-sex pairs can also work if they are raised together from a young age.
Careful Introductions: Introducing two bunnies needs to be done slowly and under close supervision. Bunnies are territorial, and rushed introductions can lead to fighting and injuries.
Neutral Territory Introductions: Start introductions in a neutral space, using a barrier like a baby gate or wire mesh to allow them to see and sniff each other safely without direct contact.
Scent Swapping: After a few days, swap toys or bedding between their enclosures to help them get accustomed to each other’s scent.
Supervised Interactions: If they show calm and curious behavior, allow short, supervised interactions without the barrier. Be ready to separate them immediately if any aggression occurs and restart the introduction process more slowly.

Alt text: Two rabbits calmly sniffing each other through a wire barrier, illustrating a safe and gradual introduction process for bonding bunnies.

Exercise and Mental Enrichment for a Happy Bunny

Daily Exercise is Crucial: Bunnies need daily exercise outside of their enclosure to maintain physical and mental health.
Safe Playpen: Use a small-animal playpen to create a safe and spacious area for exercise. This allows them to run, jump, and explore, keeping their joints healthy and preventing boredom.
Mental Stimulation is Key: In addition to physical exercise, mental stimulation is equally important. Provide chew toys, tunnels, and cardboard dig boxes to encourage natural behaviors like digging, burrowing, and foraging.
Safe Toy Choices: When selecting toys, prioritize bunny-safe materials. Avoid small plastic toys or toys with detachable parts that could be ingested and cause choking.
Wood Safety: Not all wood is safe for bunnies. Avoid cedar and fresh pine, as they contain phenols that are potentially toxic. Also, avoid fruit tree branches from apricot, cherry, plum, avocado, and peach trees, as they contain toxic pits. Chemically treated wood should also be avoided.
Harmful Toy Materials: Avoid painted toys, laminated cardboard, and rubber/vinyl toys, as they can contain harmful chemicals.
Harness Training (with Caution): If you harness train your bunny for outdoor time, avoid areas where wild rabbits roam to prevent disease transmission (like rabbit hemorrhagic virus and tick-borne illnesses). Also, be cautious of pesticides on grass. If unsure, grow your own indoor grass for safe grazing.

Bunny Diet: Fueling Health and Happiness

A proper diet is foundational to your bunny’s health and longevity.

Variety is Important: Bunnies enjoy a variety of foods, including timothy hay, pellets, vegetables, fruits, and occasional treats. Fresh, clean water should always be available.
Hay as the Foundation: Unlimited timothy hay (or other grass hays like orchard, oat, or meadow hay) should make up the majority of their diet.
Alfalfa Hay Considerations: Alfalfa hay is richer in calcium, fat, and protein, making it suitable for young, growing bunnies and lactating or breeding rabbits. However, for adult bunnies, alfalfa hay should only be an occasional treat due to its potential to contribute to obesity and bladder stones.
Limited Pelleted Food: High-quality rabbit pellets should be offered in limited quantities. A general guideline is about ¼ cup of pellets per 5 pounds of body weight per day.
Treats, Vegetables, and Fruits in Moderation: These should be offered in small amounts, making up no more than 10% of their daily diet.
Safe Greens and Vegetables: Offer leafy greens, herbs, carrot tops, and chopped vegetables like bell peppers, cucumber, squash, celery, broccoli, and Brussels sprouts.
Fruits as Occasional Treats: High-fiber fruits like apples and pears can be given in very small portions. Due to their high carbohydrate content, excess fruit can disrupt their digestive system, causing diarrhea, bloating, and loss of appetite.
Foods to Avoid: Never give bunnies fruit seeds/pits or rhubarb.
Fresh Water Availability: Provide fresh, clean water daily in a non-tippable bowl or water bottle, depending on your bunny’s preference.

Alt text: A bunny contentedly eating timothy hay from a hay rack, emphasizing the importance of hay as the primary food source in a rabbit’s diet.

Bunny Grooming: Keeping Your Fluffy Friend Looking Their Best

Baths are Rarely Needed: Bunnies are naturally clean and groom themselves frequently. Baths are rarely necessary. Spot-clean only when needed using a mild, unmedicated soap or baby wipes.
Thorough Rinsing After Spot Cleaning: Always rinse thoroughly after using soap to remove any residue.
Support During Cleaning: Always support your bunny’s hind end during spot cleaning to prevent them from kicking and potentially injuring themselves.
Regular Brushing for Long-Haired Breeds: Long-haired breeds like Angora and Lionhead bunnies need brushing several times a week to prevent matting and hair ingestion. Use a soft brush.
Nail Trimming: Trim your bunny’s nails about once a month. If you accidentally cut the quick and the nail bleeds, use styptic powder or cornstarch to stop the bleeding.
Dental Health and Chewing: Provide hay, wooden toys, mineral blocks, and other safe chew items to help wear down their constantly growing teeth naturally.
Veterinary Dental Checks: Consult a vet if you notice signs of dental issues, such as overgrown teeth, excessive drooling, dropping food, or decreased appetite. Professional teeth trimming may be necessary.

Veterinary Care: Ensuring a Long and Healthy Life

Annual veterinary check-ups are crucial for preventative care and early disease detection.

Transportation to the Vet: Transport your bunny in a secure cat carrier or small animal travel cage.
Veterinary Information: Bring photos of your bunny’s enclosure, diet, and hay to help your vet assess their overall care.

Signs of a Healthy Bunny

Clean ears
Clear, bright eyes
Clean and dry nose
Clean, unmatted fur
Straight, aligned teeth (not overgrown)
Clean feet
Well-formed droppings

When to Seek Veterinary Care

Contact your veterinarian immediately if you observe any of these signs:

Debris in ears
Head tilt
Eye discharge
Nasal discharge
Hair loss or excessive scratching
Visible parasites (fleas, mites)
Uneven, overgrown, or misaligned teeth
Limping
Foot sores
Soft stool or diarrhea
Loss of appetite (inappetence)
Reduced stool production
Hunched posture or signs of abdominal pain
Weakness in hind legs or inability to use hind legs
Sneezing, coughing, difficulty breathing
Lumps, bumps, or growths
Discolored urine, straining to urinate, accidents outside the litter box
Panting

Common Bunny Illnesses

Gastrointestinal stasis (GI stasis)
Gastrointestinal obstruction
Paralysis (hind limb weakness or paralysis), often due to spinal issues
Dental malocclusion and dental disease
Cancer
Mites and fleas
Uterine disease (in unspayed females)
Bladder stones and other urinary tract diseases
Pododermatitis (sore hocks)
Ear infections
Respiratory infections
Heat stroke
Kidney disease
Skin fold dermatitis, especially in skin folds around the inguinal region.

How To Care for a Pet Bunny: Frequently Asked Questions

Is taking care of a pet bunny easy?

Like any pet, bunnies require dedicated care, love, and commitment. They have specific needs and can be more demanding than some other common pets. Research and preparation are key to successful bunny ownership.

What’s the average lifespan of a domestic rabbit?

Domestic rabbits typically live for 8–10 years, but with excellent care, some can live even longer, highlighting the long-term commitment involved in adopting a bunny.

Do bunnies enjoy being handled?

Some bunnies enjoy being handled, while others are more reserved and prefer gentle petting. Proper handling is crucial. Always approach bunnies calmly and support their body fully when picking them up to prevent spinal injuries. Place one hand under their chest and the other supporting their hindquarters and legs, holding them securely against your chest while supporting all four feet.

By following this comprehensive guide, you’ll be well-equipped to provide the best possible care for your bunny, ensuring a long, happy, and healthy life together. Remember, responsible bunny ownership is a rewarding journey filled with fluffy cuddles and endless bunny hops of joy!

WRITTEN BY: Maria Zayas, DVM Veterinarian