Ijust moved to the city about a month ago with a roomate and I havealways had pets so now it is definately strange not being surrounded byanimals. Both me and my roomate are allergic to cats and it justwouldn't be fair to keep a dog stuck inside all day and while I will behome plenty I just won't have the time to walk a dog two or three timesa day. I've loved small animals for a long time and I was justwondering if getting a rabbit would be a good idea. they are so cuteand I would love to just be able to come home and take it from one ofthose little play pens and then put it on my lap and just do homeworkor something. lol I think that would be the best downtime ever. I knowit is such a general question but what kinds of things do rabbits needshort of food, water, a cage etc. And being that I am a student is itvery expensive to have a rabbit and keep it happy and healthy? I can'tafford to be paying hundreds of dollars in vet bills and toys so itwould be good to know before hand how much things like that cost. Thankyou so much for any help that you can give me!~Erin~
new and wondering...
- Thread starter erinb_86
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CorkysMom
Well-Known Member
I would suggest checking the Top Picks thread atthe top of the forum. Theres tons of good info on there about careetc.
As for vet bills its really hard to say. You would generallywant to spay or neuter....in the US there are no yearlyshots. But if an issue arises it could get expensive. One ofmine, Corky had a bad infection and had 2 surgeries and was on meds for2 months. It cost between 600-700 total. Keep inmind, this is not the norm...as for my other bunnies, I've not had anyvet bills for them other than the spay/neuter. (I have 6 total)
As for toys theres alot that you can make at home, they love toiletpaper rolls filled with hay....cardboard boxes, magazines, and phonebooks to shred. I also hit the dollar store and get cheap things forthem as well!
Rabbits are wonderful pets, I also commend you on doing the research before jumping into anything!!
Hope some of this helps!
As for vet bills its really hard to say. You would generallywant to spay or neuter....in the US there are no yearlyshots. But if an issue arises it could get expensive. One ofmine, Corky had a bad infection and had 2 surgeries and was on meds for2 months. It cost between 600-700 total. Keep inmind, this is not the norm...as for my other bunnies, I've not had anyvet bills for them other than the spay/neuter. (I have 6 total)
As for toys theres alot that you can make at home, they love toiletpaper rolls filled with hay....cardboard boxes, magazines, and phonebooks to shred. I also hit the dollar store and get cheap things forthem as well!
Rabbits are wonderful pets, I also commend you on doing the research before jumping into anything!!
Hope some of this helps!
aurora369
Well-Known Member
I also commend you on doing research before buying a bunny!! Well done!!
I am a student and currently have five rabbits, although three of themare babies that I'm hoping to sell in the next month, and the otherstays with my mom for her preschool.
I find what works best for me is to set aside some money when I havesome, like the beginning of the school year or right afterchristmas/b-day, for bunnies. I don't have either of my bunsfixed, but the more I think about it, the more I want to get my femaledone in about a year. So I'm starting to put money asidenow.
Cost wise, I think it's less than having a cat or dog, as they need shots and a whole bunch of other stuff that is expensive.
With rabbits you can build a large, comfortable NIC condo for them forless than $100, depending on how big it is and what you decide to putin it. And spaying/neutering can cost anywhere from $100 to$300 (at least from the post I've seen around this forum).
I think as long as you keep a bunny emergancy fund, it should be a good idea.
With the allergies, my boyfriend, who is allergic to cats, findsbunnies alot easier to be around. Although he still washeshis hands after playing with them. I would suggest testingyou allergies somehow, maybe visit someone who has a house bunny orspend some time at a breeders. It would be an awfull shame toget a bunny, get attached to it, and have the bunny get attached toyou, just to have to rehome it after a month because of allergies.
--Dawn
I am a student and currently have five rabbits, although three of themare babies that I'm hoping to sell in the next month, and the otherstays with my mom for her preschool.
I find what works best for me is to set aside some money when I havesome, like the beginning of the school year or right afterchristmas/b-day, for bunnies. I don't have either of my bunsfixed, but the more I think about it, the more I want to get my femaledone in about a year. So I'm starting to put money asidenow.
Cost wise, I think it's less than having a cat or dog, as they need shots and a whole bunch of other stuff that is expensive.
With rabbits you can build a large, comfortable NIC condo for them forless than $100, depending on how big it is and what you decide to putin it. And spaying/neutering can cost anywhere from $100 to$300 (at least from the post I've seen around this forum).
I think as long as you keep a bunny emergancy fund, it should be a good idea.
With the allergies, my boyfriend, who is allergic to cats, findsbunnies alot easier to be around. Although he still washeshis hands after playing with them. I would suggest testingyou allergies somehow, maybe visit someone who has a house bunny orspend some time at a breeders. It would be an awfull shame toget a bunny, get attached to it, and have the bunny get attached toyou, just to have to rehome it after a month because of allergies.
--Dawn
SweetPeasMommie
Well-Known Member
It depends on how you keep them healthy and all.There are plenty of toys you can do cheap. If you have a dollar storenear you looke for plastic slinky, toilet paper or paper towel tubes,wooden bird toy you can get at dollar store, old yellow or white pages,newspapers, paper brown bag, and cat balls. There might be others thatI can not think of. I had 2 holland lops for 2.5 yrs and never oncetook them to the vets and they were extreamly healthy.
I agree with them . I would read about everything and maybe startbuying stuff. Get a cheap tool box and you can store bunny medicalemergency things in there.
I got one at wal-mart for 5 bucks it was clear with blue lid. What Ihave in there is neutri-cal, qtips, cotton balls, rubbing alkahol,flour to stop bleeding for nails, nail clippers, rags, shringes forforce feeding, pumpkin, the biggest spoon for mixing, plastic sturdycups to us for mixing, extra wooden toys or balls, and many more. I hadthings bought before we went out and got our flemish giant bun.
I agree with them . I would read about everything and maybe startbuying stuff. Get a cheap tool box and you can store bunny medicalemergency things in there.
I got one at wal-mart for 5 bucks it was clear with blue lid. What Ihave in there is neutri-cal, qtips, cotton balls, rubbing alkahol,flour to stop bleeding for nails, nail clippers, rags, shringes forforce feeding, pumpkin, the biggest spoon for mixing, plastic sturdycups to us for mixing, extra wooden toys or balls, and many more. I hadthings bought before we went out and got our flemish giant bun.
naturestee
Well-Known Member
Everyone has given some great advice, but Iwould like to add one thing. Rabbits tend not to be lapanimals. They would rather be able to run and play and thenlay down next to you to get petted. Some rabbits do like tobe cuddled a lot, but it doesn't seem to be the norm.
If you don't have much money, look at adopting from a localshelter. The shelters around me range from $15-$25 perrabbit, and that includes the spay/neuter. You would also geta better idea of the rabbit's personality if it is an adult, plus itwould be easier to litter train since it is both older and fixed.
As far as cages go, I am working on an NIC cage right now for two dwarf rabbits that will only cost about $60.
If you don't have much money, look at adopting from a localshelter. The shelters around me range from $15-$25 perrabbit, and that includes the spay/neuter. You would also geta better idea of the rabbit's personality if it is an adult, plus itwould be easier to litter train since it is both older and fixed.
As far as cages go, I am working on an NIC cage right now for two dwarf rabbits that will only cost about $60.
bluebird
Well-Known Member
I dont think a rabbit is any more expensive thana cat.they are great house pets.as to vet bills it depends on the vetand the bunny.i suggest you dont get a bunny from a pet store usuallythey are way to young to sell.bluebird
sfritzp
Well-Known Member
I agree with Naturestee about adopting!
Try looking onhttp://www.petfinder.org orhttp://www.rabbit.org
They list rabbits up for adoption, and will tell you if they like tocuddle, are good with kids or not, ect. You get a better idea of theirpersonality, and you might find one just right for you!
I've gotten all mine over the years through adoption from the HouseRabbit Society. They are especially good, because the rabbits are in'foster homes', and they really can tell you how the rabbit acts.
They are wonderful animals - but watch out - You may become a'Rabbit-Slave' like most of us on this forum - and then there is noturning back!:apollo:
Try looking onhttp://www.petfinder.org orhttp://www.rabbit.org
They list rabbits up for adoption, and will tell you if they like tocuddle, are good with kids or not, ect. You get a better idea of theirpersonality, and you might find one just right for you!
I've gotten all mine over the years through adoption from the HouseRabbit Society. They are especially good, because the rabbits are in'foster homes', and they really can tell you how the rabbit acts.
They are wonderful animals - but watch out - You may become a'Rabbit-Slave' like most of us on this forum - and then there is noturning back!:apollo:
Hey Erin! Welcome and I am happy to hear you are doing the proper research before getting a bunny. 
I think they are wonderful friends of the family. And I DOthink your rabbit could be a lap rabbit. You will have greatluck taming a younger bunny.
Please keep us posted! Good luck.
Also, you might want to check out some rabbit books at your local library about rabbits.
I think they are wonderful friends of the family. And I DOthink your rabbit could be a lap rabbit. You will have greatluck taming a younger bunny.
Please keep us posted! Good luck.
Also, you might want to check out some rabbit books at your local library about rabbits.
3 R Rabbitry
Member
I have raised rabbits for several yrs now.Though my rabbits are all outside, one rabbit in the house could befun. However, a rabbit in the house can get very smelly very fast. Thecage will need to be cleaned every other day if not every day. I thinkyour rabbits does not need to be fixed if you only have one. I havenever had a fixed rabbit. I agree that you will be better off with anadult rabbit. You are able to tell their personalities much better.Rabbits go through a teenage stage that can be frustrating. All minehave gone through this and after they become adults their truepersonalities come through. Getting a rabbit from a rescue or from abreeder I feel is the best route. I never have taken a rabbit to thevet. I can usually get help from forums and other long time rabbitbreeders that can point me in the right direction to helping my rabbitback to health. I guess there are some exceptions, but I havenot had to deal with them.
Rabbits can be easily entertained with a clean tuna can, and the othertoys mentioned. There really is no need to buy toys. You can findplenty for them around your house. They do need to chew on wood. Iftheir cage is not made from wood then you will need to put a block ofuntreated pine in there for them to chew. Their teeth grow like fingernails and they need to chew to keep them "filed"down. You can alsolitter train them. My neighbor has done this with a couple of her houserabbits. Rabbits are not all the same. Some are friendly andsome are very shy while others are aggressive. Some look intothe different breeds would be wise. Going to a rabbit show is fun andcan provide you with a lot of info. There will be lots of breedersthere to answer questions and they will have some for sale aswell. Good luck. rabbits are wonderful!
Rabbits can be easily entertained with a clean tuna can, and the othertoys mentioned. There really is no need to buy toys. You can findplenty for them around your house. They do need to chew on wood. Iftheir cage is not made from wood then you will need to put a block ofuntreated pine in there for them to chew. Their teeth grow like fingernails and they need to chew to keep them "filed"down. You can alsolitter train them. My neighbor has done this with a couple of her houserabbits. Rabbits are not all the same. Some are friendly andsome are very shy while others are aggressive. Some look intothe different breeds would be wise. Going to a rabbit show is fun andcan provide you with a lot of info. There will be lots of breedersthere to answer questions and they will have some for sale aswell. Good luck. rabbits are wonderful!
MyBabyBunnies
Well-Known Member
Well I can vouch from the side that rabbits canstart piling up the vet bills. Although very minor in my case, I've hadmy baby rabbit for 7.5 weeks and he's already been to the vet twice andgoing back for a 3rd visit this Thurday. That's 3 vet bills that addwill up up to over $150 on a normal occasion.
I agree with the older bunny thing. Both of my older rabbits wentthrough a stage of being agressive for about10 months (untilthey were 18 months old). I now have a 13 week old bunny and he isstarting to hit that stage already. They may be sweet as babies butthey cann be very mean for a couple months and may never end up beingthe smae rabbit they were before that stage. You have a much betterchance of getting what you want by adopting an older bunny.
I agree with the older bunny thing. Both of my older rabbits wentthrough a stage of being agressive for about10 months (untilthey were 18 months old). I now have a 13 week old bunny and he isstarting to hit that stage already. They may be sweet as babies butthey cann be very mean for a couple months and may never end up beingthe smae rabbit they were before that stage. You have a much betterchance of getting what you want by adopting an older bunny.
loplover
Well-Known Member
My dad anda gril i know iarealegric to cats and rabbits. I head somting about them having similerdander or somting (Not sure how acurate that is) So i would sugestbooth of you try being around rabbits and see what hapens
