The Pet Rabbit here at your service.  It is my purpose to help you make a decision about whether or not to become the owner of a pet rabbit.  And if you already are an owner of a pet rabbit, then it is my hope I will be able to give you some insights that will help you enjoy your little friend even more.

 First of all, let me explain myself.  I’m a big “fraidy-cat”, I mean “fraidy-rabbit”.  Let’s face it, I’m among the lowest links in the food chain.  I have more predators after my body than Heinz has varieties.  I’m a very cautious creature (its hard-wired into my genes).  I get it from my relatives who live in the wild (feral rabbits), who, to help insure their survival spend hours a day grazing on roots, grass and vegetables under the cover of darkness.  This is why God has equipped us with large eyes on the side of our head.  These eyes are eight times more sensitive to light than yours, and each has 190 degrees field of vision so we can see behind us - a pretty cool trick, don’t you think?  This is why if you reach out with your hand to pet us in the nose area it will startle us because this is our blind spot.  Just aim for the top of our head and we will let you pet us, ... and pet us, ... and pet us - we love to be petted!  So, yes, I am a nervous type and  I frighten easily - that is, until I learn to trust you.

 We bunny rabbits are a sociable lot (sometimes 70 - 120 in a warren, with 3 - 10 in a family), not as sociable as dogs, but much more sociable than cats.  We domesticated bunnies love to interact with our owners, hear their voices, and entertain them.  We are not ornamental pets by any stretch of the imagination.  When you bring one of us home, please give us time to bond with you and your home.  The more we are outside of our cage and among you, the more our personalities flourish.  We need time to get accustomed to our new “designated” area which you have made safe for us by covering up electrical cords with plastic tubes and putting all plants out of reach (see Bunny Proofing page). 

Since we cannot help but chew and dig, we will need plenty of make-shift toys to occupy us (see Bunny Toys page).  Right away you will notice how we love to put our scent on everything we can, which is our way of communicating.  We do this with the scent glands under our chins (“chinning“), a scent you cannot detect.  We also have this need to memorize every detail in our living quarters in case we have to make a quick escape from a predator (those gene things again). 

And as much as we do like to be petted, we really don’t like being picked up.  But since you can’t resist (because we are so cute, soft and snuggly), be sure to pick us up in a secure manner.  Do this by putting one hand under our chest and the other under our rear, then with one motion scoop us up into your arms (don’t squeeze too hard - our backs and legs injure easily) and hold us closely to your chest with our head securely against your arm.  If we struggle by kicking our hind legs it is usually because we are afraid, so talk to us and assure us everything is OK.  You do not want our hind legs dangling - you could get scratched.  And of course, keep on with the petting (they don’t call me the “Pet Rabbit” for nothing).

Since we are prey animals we like to eat and play in the morning and in the evening.  We like routine.  We don't mind being quiet and restive during the day hours.  This makes us perfect pets for working people.  We also make great companions for elderly people.                                                                                                                                                                                                       Continued