Rabbits can be great pets.
With the proper equipment, you can keep them in the house.
Before you go ahead and buy that bunny that won your heart, find out what you need to keep your potential pet happy and healthy.
The Cage The first thing your rabbit will need is a cage.
Unlike a cat or a dog, it is best to have a safe place for your bunny to call his own.
The cage can keep him safe at night while you're asleep or during the day while you are at work or school.
When you're at home and can supervise your pet's activities, he can roam wherever you see fit.
Rabbits have natural behaviors that may be destructive when performed inside a house.
This is why it is important to be able to supervise your pet whenever he is free.
They may dig at the carpet or chew on furniture or baseboards.
They are also attracted to electrical cords, which remind them of twigs and roots.
If you're around, you can stop your rabbit from continuing his behavior before he does any damage.
He'll most likely go right back to hopping around the room or running down the hall.
The cage you choose should be large enough that your rabbit can stretch completely while both lying down and sitting up.
You can find some with built in shelves for your rabbit to hop onto when they wish or you can build your own.
Either way, the cage should be easy to clean and secure enough to protect your pet in case a friend brings their dog over or your tiny nephew decides he likes the bunny a little too much.
Food and Accessories Finding a high quality rabbit pellet is important.
Pets need at least 16% protein in their pellets to maintain their health.
The pellets should have a bright green color and smell like fresh hay.
Think this is a boring thing to eat every day? Rabbits enjoy it and it provides all their vitamins and minerals, including salt, so you don't need one of those little salt wheels that will rust your cage.
You can supplement your pet's food with some fresh Timothy hay.
Hay gives rabbits roughage for their digestion and keeps them entertained.
Fresh foods can be given as treats.
Unsprayed dandelion and blackberry leaves are favorites.
Plantain leaves are great, as are the twigs from unsprayed apple trees.
If you have carrot peelings from your dinner, your rabbit will enjoy them occasionally, but don't overdo it.
Carrots are like rabbit candy; they are full of sugar.
Your rabbit's food needs dishes.
You can choose a crock or a feeder that hooks to the cage wall for the pellets.
A hay rack can be added inside the cage or on the outside so your pet can pull the hay through the wire wall.
A good sized water bottle will keep your pet hydrated while you're away.
Now you can enjoy your pet inside the house.
Let him roam and you can laugh as he leaps and hops around the room.
Watch him zoom from one end of the house to the other.
Rabbits adapt well to inside living.
Keep him comfortable and out of drafts and he'll enjoy spending time with you.