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Pet Rabbit Care 101

September 7, 2018 by Mary Telesz

a newly owned rabbit in the backyard of a woman who is learning proper pet rabbit careIf you’re a new owner of a rabbit, you may be wondering how to properly take care of your new pet. Rabbits are not low-maintenance animals, and they require a similar amount of time, money, and care as cats and dogs. They are going to need a water bowl, high-quality rabbit food, toys, as much exercise as a dog, and a litter tray. Rabbits are animals with their own personalities, so you may have to personalize some of your care to match your rabbit’s personality. Rabbits are animals that are going to need your daily love and attention. Due to the amount of care that rabbits need, you’re not going to be able to leave them on their own for very long. If you have to go out of town, you should strongly consider hiring a pet sitter for your pet rabbit care needs.

Spend Time with Your Rabbit

If you don’t know a lot about rabbits, you might not realize that they need company and companionship from you – much like a dog would. If your rabbit is your only pet, you need to devote time every day to spend with them because rabbits that are alone too much can become very lonely and depressed. A good goal to aim for is to spend at least three hours a day with your rabbit. This time can be spent playing with them by giving them cardboard tubes, phone books, and rolling toys, all of which rabbits love. If you’re concerned about not being able to spend enough time with your rabbit every day, consider getting another rabbit. However, it’s very important in terms of pet rabbit care that the rabbits be housed separately until you have properly introduced them to each other and they have been allowed to form a bond. Rabbits do not like to share their space unless they have been specially bonded to the other rabbit.

While rabbits look adorable and cuddly, they actually don’t enjoy being cuddled or hugged too much. Rabbits can actually be very afraid of being hugged because it can sometimes replicate being hunted by hawks and other birds. To promote good pet rabbit care, you should be very careful to avoid leaning over them and trying to pick them up to avoid triggering this natural fear. This doesn’t mean you can’t stroke your rabbit, they just prefer it for shorter periods of time rather than longer periods. This is an aspect of having a rabbit that is going to depend heavily on the personality of your rabbit.

How to Interact with Your Rabbit

boy playing with a rabbit that his parents bought him and is being taught pet rabbit care by his parentsIt is very important to know how to pick up a rabbit properly as they are easily frightened animals and they will struggle when they feel they are in a frightening situation. This is extremely serious as rabbits can sometimes struggle so much that they break their own back in the process. Obviously, you want to avoid this happening to your new rabbit. To pick up a rabbit properly, scoop the rabbit up using one arm along the side of your body with the opposite hand under the rear end. As you lift your rabbit up, bring the rabbit into the side of your body to provide further support. If you have children in your home, it’s very important that you teach them pet rabbit care as well as how to interact with your rabbit properly. Rabbits can feel like they are being attacked by a predator if a child is yelling and screaming around them. Rabbits can also feel very threatened and could potentially lash out if they are chased.

As your rabbit seems to get used to you, you can start to let them out of their cage. You should close all doors is possible and block and exits that your rabbit may be able to go through. When you open the cage door it is very important not to lift your rabbit, but rather allow them to come to your on their own time. Sit in the middle of the room and do something quietly and give your rabbit as much time as they need. Don’t encourage them to come over to you, just allow them to explore the area and get comfortable. Just be sure not to move to quickly or you may scare them. If they approach you, you may try petting them at this point. If your rabbit lowers their head to the ground, you can continue. However, if your rabbit flinches or runs away, stop and wait for them to approach you again to give it another try.

Making a Home for Your Rabbit

Buy a large cage for your rabbit or even a dog pen. You just need a space where your rabbit can feel comfortable and safe. As mentioned before, rabbits are individuals and because of that, they are going to prefer different types of bedding. You may have to do some experimenting to discover which one is your rabbit’s favorite. Bedding materials can include shredded paper, straw, and hay. Avoid wood shavings as these can be inhaled by accident.

Your rabbit is also going to need a litter box. You will also probably find that your rabbit has preferences when it comes to litter boxes. It’s a good idea to start off with a cat litter box that is big enough for your rabbit to lie in comfortably. From there you may discover that your rabbit prefers a box with a cover, or they might prefer a certain height for their little box. You should also experiment with different kinds of litter to see if they prefer cat litter, shredded paper, wood shavings (that aren’t pine or cedar), straw, or hay. You need to make sure that whatever you use does not clump and isn’t made of clay, as these things could harm your rabbit if they swallow them.

The ideal food for your rabbit is going to be grass or hay. However, they do also like broccoli, bok choy, carrot tops, beet tops, cilantro, collards, Brussel sprouts, kale, cabbage, and other greens, but these should not be the main source of their diet. The more you get to know your rabbit, the more you’re going to realize the special pet rabbit care and attention they need. This means that when you have to go out of town, you shouldn’t leave your pet rabbit care to just anyone and should hire a professional pet sitting service.

Filed Under: Pet Care

Contact Paw Pals for More Information

Paw Pals specializes in professional dog walking, dog sitting, and pet sitting services. One of our reliable, adult staff members will keep your pet safe, while providing your pet the love and care they need when you are away. Contact us to learn more!

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Paw Pals Pet Sitting, LLC
14001-C Saint Germain Drive #213
Centreville, VA 20121
(703) 345-1695

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Centreville – 20120, 20121
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Paw Pals Pet Sitting
Paw Pals Pet Sitting
4.9
Julie Shildt
Julie Shildt
17:45 14 Nov 21
It has been a pleasure doing business with paw pals. We have used this company for several trips we have taken over the past 6 months. They have been wonderful caretakers for our 2 cats. Anytime there is ever a question they don't hesitate to give us a call and they leave the best notes and pictures in the emailed report of each visit. We are so glad have found such a great company.
laceyrt
laceyrt
18:03 08 Mar 23
The folks at Paw Pals pet sitting are fantastic to work with. This review includes a bit of a long story but goes to show how dedicated they are to their job and the care they have for the animals they watch over. I reached out to Paw Pals, even though I live outside their service area, in a bit of a panic because our scheduled dog sitter for our family vacation suddenly wasn't available. The local sitters we've used in the past seemed like they wouldn't be able to accommodate us on such late notice and so we were scouring the internet for other options.When I submitted a request to Paw Pals, I expected to get a polite no thank you - you're out of our service area. Instead I got a call from Jen, who was so kind, helpful and accommodating and essentially bent over backwards to help set up a sitter for us. We met the sitter at her home and it was more of the same. So friendly and welcoming to our dog and fully prepared to watch her for two weeks.We ultimately didn't end up booking with Paw Pals, only because our local sitter had an opening that allowed someone to stay in home with our dog (who is a very anxious senior shepherd-collie mix). But just based on the limited experience I had with them, I would highly recommend Paw Pals. These folks are fantastic and I only wish we lived closer so we could utilize their other services on a regular basis. Five stars all the way!
Michæl Silva
Michæl Silva
21:38 01 Jul 22
Mary at Paw Pals Pet Sitting is the greatest! She has helped me train my pooch Chico how play nice with other dogs and for that I am extremely grateful! A+A+A+A+A+A
Kwi Kim
Kwi Kim
22:37 17 Jun 22
I hired Paw Pals based on my sister’s referral. Meet & greet was very thorough and detailed. I was surprised that my finicky cat came to check the sitter out. Subsequently, a sitter watched my cat over several separate visits, and it was clear through the visit reports that my cat loved the sitter. All the visits were completed having followed my directions & with professionalism.I would highly recommend Paw Pals to anyone who’s looking for a dependable, personable, & professional sitter.
Joseph Walter
Joseph Walter
19:55 13 Jun 22
Paw Pals provided a large number of photos of our pets along with a personalized message on how our pets were doing with every single visit. I would highly recommend using Paw Pals, we'll be continuing to use them whenever we go on vacation.
Ashley Manning
Ashley Manning
09:50 11 Jun 22
Highly recommend as pet sitters!Initially, a sitter from the company will visit the house to meet the pets and learn where everything is. Tatiana took careful notes and we got her some spare keys.While we are away, Paw Pals sends sitters to come and look after our boys. They feed them, scoop litter, bring in mail and packages, and they will even manage trash, recycling, blinds and lights so that everything is comfortable for our kitties. Each time they check in, we receive an email message with updates and pictures, which is so comforting when we are on the road.Also, if you don’t let Paw Pals know when you are home, they assume something has happened and will continue to care for your babies. If something were to happen, I know they would be okay.Five stars for Paw Pals!
Brian Wood
Brian Wood
04:08 22 May 22
We have used Paw Pals for a number of years now and would highly recommend to anyone looking for help with their pets. Great communication from owner Mary and flexibility to make adjustments in schedule as life changes over time. Have had a consistent set of walkers who have gotten to know our pup and the various walking routes around our neighborhood quite well.
Lesley Bush
Lesley Bush
13:58 18 Mar 22
We can't rave enough about Paw Pals. They took care of our 18 year old Cat and 20 year old Chinchilla while we were away and when our flight got cancelled, they were so accommodating and available last minute for an extra day. We worked with Jen to coordinate visits from Miko and Danny. I loved the pictures and updates on how our Lil geriatric guys were doing. Thanks a million, Paw Pals!! Our special pets were so well cared for.
Sebastian Barnes
Sebastian Barnes
01:06 17 Jan 22
I have used Paw Pals for several trips over the last few months, and they have been phenomenal every time! Mary is extremely kind and responsive, and she makes sure that my cat and dog have the care that they need every time I am out of town. All of the pet sitters that I've had have been incredibly sweet to my pets, and they treat them like their own! Will gladly continue using Paw Pals every time I need a sitter.
Andrea Hall
Andrea Hall
22:45 03 Oct 20
I wasn't sure about hiring a new doggie walker service... after all they are our kiddos... my babies were in great hands and I felt relaxed having them in their care. Thank you for everything!
Taylor Smith
Taylor Smith
21:22 03 Oct 21
I never worry when Mary and team take care of my dog!
Katie McCune
Katie McCune
19:19 15 Jul 21
I honestly cannot recommend Mary and her whole crew enough! We started using Mary originally about 7 years ago to stop by occasionally when our Aussie Lana was younger. Over the next couple years Lana stayed with Mary and her family for a couple weekends when we went on vacation. When we moved to our new house in Manassas, Lana stayed with Sam, who lives in Manassas, overnight for moving day, and did great. Right before the pandemic, we adopted our second Aussie, Goose, and Mary recommended a fantastic trainer for him.We now have weekly walks for the dogs, and they love all of their walkers! Trevor, Paul, Hazel, Sofie, and probably a couple others have helped Goose get used to more people, and have helped my husband and me when our schedules are crazy.Paw Pals is our go-to for any help with our dogs, so I highly recommend them!
Alexandra Hill
Alexandra Hill
22:43 23 May 21
I was a nervous mommy to leave my cats with a sitter service for the first time. Paw Pals went above and beyond to care for my cats and ease a nervous mommy. I already made a reservation to use them again!
Cindy Welgoss
Cindy Welgoss
13:12 27 Nov 20
We have been using Paw Pals for several years, and through a variety of pets that we have loved. Mary and her team have always been *exceptional* in every way. They are professional, courteous, and truly love our fur family! Mary herself is an organized and stellar administrator of her pet care business, keeping detailed records of our pet’s needs, scheduled pet visits, payments, and balance due easy to keep track of as the pet owner. The pet caretaking team is reliable and trustworthy. When our dogs see any of their Paw Pal friends, they get SO excited to see them! Follow up comments are left via text to keep the pet owner informed of the visit and how the pets are faring. Paw Pals has allowed our family the peace of mind to leave our pets at home, for work, weekend getaways and longer times away when necessary, where they are the most comfortable and familiar. We are grateful to Mary and her team for giving us the ability to enjoy pet ownership without feeling tied down. The responsibility of having pets comes with the need to keep them safe and comfortable at all times, and Mary and her team affords us this when our family has to be away.
Dr Tammy Cashion
Dr Tammy Cashion
21:11 12 Mar 19
We have used Paw pals pet sitting on multiple occasions for our bunnies while we are away. Many pet sitters are not interested in small pets however; Mary and her team, are amazing and we trust her implicitly! We are very happy with the outstanding service we have received from her team including texts and photos of our pets when we are out of town. They always go the extra mile and we highly recommend them!
Kristin Conrad
Kristin Conrad
16:00 16 Nov 19
We are so grateful we found Mary and her team at Paw Pals. They are exceptionally responsive, amazingly organized and detail-oriented.We have such peace of mind when we travel knowing our home and pets are so well cared for. Paw Pals is the best pet sitting service we’ve used, and we’re so happy we found them.
Katie Russell
Katie Russell
15:01 17 May 20
Paw Pals is fantastic! I have had a great experience with Mary! Compassionate, professional, responsive, and prompt! Thank you!
Phillip Evans
Phillip Evans
14:38 11 Jul 20
When we adopted our new dog in January, Paw Pals agreed to walk her and give her some outside time so she wasn't in the crate all day. She loved her dog walker and you could see her excitement every time the walker showed up. We moved out of the area but would recommend Paw Pals to anyone needing someone to care for their pets.
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