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Author: Zach and Amy Phillips-Gary
Looking for an animal friend to add to your life? Snakes
too slithery? Fish too tank-bound? Cats, dogs, birds just
not what you're looking for? Well maybe a house rabbit is
right for you?!
All creatures have their endearing and not so easy to deal
with qualities. Before bringing any pets into your home it
is vital that you do the research and consider if that particular
creature is a good fit for you and your family. We hope that
you will consider our top 5 reasons why we think rabbits make
great
pets because you may just be ready for a rabbit!
Number 1: No barking, hissing or squawking
House rabbits are very quiet animals to share your life with.
Aside from a gentle clicking of the teeth when happy or a
low grunt when irritated, rabbits are virtually noiseless
pets. There are a variety of bunny body language signals that
house rabbits use to let you know how they are doing and even
what they want. For example, if your rabbit bows her/his head
down and lies low to the ground, chances are good your bunny
is presenting and wants to be stroked.
Number 2: Bunnies can be very affectionate
and personable When treated with respect and care, most house
rabbits show their love in clear ways. A happy bunny will
give you soft licks akin to kisses. They will also indicate
if they are angry or feel threatened. Of course, each house
rabbit's personality is
different. Be sure to research breed temperament tendencies
and if possible, spend time with the rabbit before adoption.
Once home, a close bond can be encouraged between family members
and the bunny by providing plenty of social time. Rabbits
need at least 2-3 hours a day out of their cages or pens and
they tend to like to be around others, especially during those
peak activity times of day.
Number 3: Rabbits are Earth-friendly pets
Whether it's sharing a salad with your bunny or using her/his
waste and litter to enrich your compost heap, house rabbits
are a great complement to a sustainable lifestyle. Rabbits
are vegetarians and can easily share the abundance of your
garden or purchased produce.
There are many diet choices you can make for your bunny rabbit.
However, it is vital that you feed him/her mainly fresh hays
and green vegetables with quality pellets as well. Recycling
with your rabbit can happen in countless ways: Providing your
bunny with cardboard tubes as toys, using clean old towels
for his/her cage or pen, or even purchasing litter made from
recycled paper are just a few everyday examples.
Number 4: Compatible companions with your
other pets Contrary to what you might think, with careful
training and gradual introductions, your house rabbit can
coexist peacefully with other pets. Careful consideration
needs to be taken when bringing a bunny into a home already
inhabited by other pets.
For example, if your dog is a hunting breed--e.g. beagle--and
has been trained to emphasize those breed tendencies, perhaps
a house rabbit is not an ideal match. However, in most cases,
other pets can be trained to treat your bunny with respect
and they may even become buddies! Taking a slow, gradual and
consistent approach when introducing other pets will help
all of the animals in your family understand how to live harmoniously
together.
Number 5: Bunnies are just plain fun! One
reason why house rabbits are so unique is how playful and
personable they can be. Especially during their most active
hours--early morning and early evening--don't be surprised
to find a happy bunny racing and leaping about your home providing
just about the best entertainment a pet can offer! Yes, providing
proper care can be a lot of work and deciding to adopt a house
rabbit in the first place should never be taken lightly. But
one ticklish lick from a nose-twitching lagomorph (aka rabbit)
and we think you'll agree that house rabbits may just be the
best pet you've ever shared your life with! For more in-depth
information about house rabbits, visit http://www.rabbitinfocenter.com
About the author:
Zach and Amy Phillips-Gary are a son-mother team who share
what we've learned about house rabbits with others through
our website. Visit us at http://www.rabbitinfocenter.com
to learn more. |
