#Bunnies special // All you need to know (well - almost!)

As you might already know, I am a big animal lover, and I especially love rabbits. I received a lot of questions about mine, so I am sharing some advice to best welcome and take care of your little fluff balls.

Why choose a bunny ?

It’s a great compromise between a dog and a cat… especially if you live in the city and you’re looking for a 4-legged friend. They are clean animals which are easy to tame and they quickly become furry friends which you fall for. Rabbits are a bit like cats in their behavior. Even if they don’t have the same level of intelligence, they can still surprise you and can make themselves understood. These animals, which look like cuddly toys, have a strong character. I have realized that all of mine have a real “personality”. They can complain, sulk, groan and tap their feet to express their discontent, and they can also be so sweet, cuddly and give you kisses. Anyway, you can build a real relationship with them and the more you get to know them, the more you love them.

How to choose your bunny ?

There are lots of breeds, so whether you want a dwarf rabbit or a Flemish Giant is up to you. I only have had dwarves (mini lop, angora, Lion’s heads..) All of them had a very different personality but also a different story .. Some of them were rescued after being abandoned by their previous human and I got the others when they were just babies. In the end though, with a little love and patience, you really create a bond with these little beings who just want to be loved. The best thing to do is to adopt them from an association or an animal rescue shelter. There are so many abandoned animals in those places that you’re sure to find your new companion in one of them.

Don’t hesitate to contact various different associations and follow your heart because adopting an animal is a big decision (I put the link to an association that I know well, Gamelles sans frontières, at the bottom of this article). I adopted Kiwi and his sister Pêche from them, then Noosa, and I have also been a family host for little abandoned rabbits who have all found a home since. <3

Cage or freedom ?

First things first, a dwarf rabbit lives INSIDE. They can obviously go out into the garden, or on the balcony but they need to be able to come back inside when they want, if they are too scared, too hot or if they just want to go home. As for their home, I would say 100 percent free (or a compromise) depending on if Mister Rabbit is well-behaved or not (Well behaved meaning no peeing or pooping in the living room nor chewing shoes , plants, wires & cables of any kind ..) Mine are free, but my sister’s rabbit, Zarha ( Miss Mischief) is half free. That is to say, she is mostly outside, but as soon as she is naughty, she goes back inside straight away (she has a kind of cage/piece of furniture which is left open.. or not ).

>> The cage should be avoided, except if you leave it open so the rabbit can come and go. A bunny isn’t made for living in a cage and they can be well trained when it comes to being clean (except my sister’s rabbit lol).

Rabbits perfectly understand the word NO and they can feel when they screwed up.. For exemple, when Zarha (Miss Mischief ) did something wrong, she runs straight back into her houses even before I opened my mouth to yell No at her .. She is super smart, and when she pees outside of her litter tray it’s never by chance. (This little devil used to go once a day right next to the cats’ litter when turned my back.. I’m not sure what that means exactly in rabbit language, but I’m sure it’s something to do with marking territory ^^ You need patience and training but they do learn, and they are super cool and chill afterward. They sleep on the rug, come and go calmly like dogs and cats then go back in their cage or bunny’s house to eat, clean or rest. This is all good, as it means they are relaxed.

In the beginning, when you first get a rabbit (or rabbits) you can put them in a pen or in a big, cozy cage so that it settles in and feels st home. As a reminder, rabbits are really territorial so it’s important that your new friends can see the difference between his home and your home – they tend to spread out a bit. After a few days, you can start to open the pen so he can discover his surroundings, which should all be secure in the beginning. Then you can see how he takes to his new environment, how he moves and evolves etc.

>> You can see below my rabbits’ places (both inside and on the balcony). In both of them, they have the opportunity to shelter, hide and sleep peacefully. (This is important for rabbits). They have a tipi inside and they have a little cabin outside. In the living room, we also set them up the hay distributor in a box (otherwise it gets everywhere and they always poop while eating the hay ^^). In the beginning, this white, nicely designed box was meant to be their litter box but they decided they didn’t like it and they went peeing & pooping just in front of it. As I know them a little bit, I gave them back their old square litter box (the super ugly one) and everything went back to normal. As I said, they all have their own personalities. The result ? We have their super ugly little box in the living room… Oh well ..

Food: What does a rabbit eat ?

There are lots of ideas and opinions about what rabbits eat. For example, everyone always thinks that they eat a lots of carrots – though we shouldn’t give them those too much as they are super sugary. Once a week is enough.. The same goes for the pellets which you buy in pet shops. You shouldn’t give them these AT ALL ; they are often packed with sugar and rabbits don’t eat these in the wild! There is basically nothing good to be found in there for our bunny friends. Apart from making them fat, it doesn’t bring them anything (and they are expensive too). Exception is made for the super quality pellets made with hay & greens that you can find in hight hand specialized boutique or at the vet (rabbit specialist vet only )

Do’s : The basic diet for rabbits should be good quality, organic hay (crau hay is great). Hay is good for their teeth and digestive systems. So to sum up healthy bunny diet is : hay, greens and veggies (salad, fennel, spinach leaves, carrot greens, endives, parsnip ) and, 2/3 times a week, half a fruit, a carrot, a bit of banana, pieces of fresh or dried apple. And clean, fresh water in a heavy bowl (so the rabbit doesn’t knock it over (they love doing that).

Don’ts : buy water bottles sold in animal shops, give bread, pastas, chocolate, sugar or any sweets , potatoes etc. ..

Good to know : Bunnies unlike cats or dogs won’t “ask” for food or water .. they are not barking nor meowing to express hunger, thirst or even pain.. meaning we have to be very careful to their daily needs, put fresh water & food every day so they have everything they need and watch over them, how they behave etc..

Special care..

Rabbits need love, games and interaction otherwise they can get blue. The best thing is to have two as they are animals that normally lives in a group. When you get 2, the perfect match is a male & female couple (Bunnies starts to breed really early so do not let them together unless they are sterilized !) You can also choose 2 brothers or 2 sisters but keep in mind that a same-sex couple doesn’t work well unless you adopt them super young and from the same litter.

You will need to sterilize them asap (mandatory) .Caring for them also includes brushing from time to time, cutting their nails (the vet can do that or show you how to do that), and their shots are a must, especially if they go in the garden. You’ll have to give them the VHD 1 and 2 vaccinations, as well as the one for myxomatosis – the essentials. As for the rest, a healthy diet, clean home, hugs, love and you’re good!

>> Below is Noosa in the middle of her medical check up with famous bunnies specialist vet Monsieur Quinton ..

Why is it mandatory to sterilize your rabbits? I was quite hesitant about this when I got my first rabbits as I had two females so I didn’t really see the point in operating, but life changed my mind. The first one, Enzo died at 4, and the second, Pucci got cervical cancer at 5 years old. .. We saved her by removing her womb, ovaries and mammary glands. In the end, she lived very healthy and well for 9 years but I was so scared of losing her. That really taught me a lesson. Rabbits are big reproducers and are governed by hormones and instincts (which makes them very territorial animals). Even when they are in captivity, this system doesn’t work and it gets worse.

Non-sterilized rabbits generally get cervical cancer like Pucci and males also have cancer problems. That’s without thinking about behavior, as female rabbits can be on heat, have false pregnancies, be aggressive and mark her territory by urinating in certain spots. The same goes for males. For all these reasons, as well as avoiding unwanted reproductions, it’s important to sterilize your rabbit at around 5 or 6 months or even before according to its sexual maturity – to be decided with the vet (exotic pet specialized only). Another important thing for females is that you should make sure the womb and ovaries are taken out (some vets leave the ovaries but it should all be removed).

How to carry a rabbit ?

Rabbits are not babies or fluffy toys and you need to be careful when you carry them. They don’t like being lifted from the ground ( they are easy targets, so when they are lifted up they really panic). So be sure to pick them up gently, by putting one hand under their rear backside and another under their front paws. The best thing to do is to ask your rabbits specialist vet to show you how to lift them properly.

>> Never, ever lift them up by the ears or by the skin on their neck.

Litter trays..

A litter tray for cats with Hemp litter is the most highly recommended but I have been using silica for kittens for years and it’s great. It doesn’t smell and I change the litter tray once a week. The litter should always be clean and never “swim” in pee for obvious reasons. You can forget sawdust – it’s far too toxic! Silica for cats is not advised as certain rabbits can get skin problems, irritations under their back paws that is why I go for the kitten version, which is much softer, with smooth grains so there is no problem.

Rabbits are normally very clean and pee / poop in the litter tray – you just have to show them where it is in the beginning. They are stubborn though so if the spot you decide to make the toilet space isn’t to their liking, they might also go next to it. ^^ The same goes if you move things around and have to move their litter box. For territorial reasons, they can also pee or poop outside the litter box. They don’t understand punishment for this, so it is useless when this happens. As far as they are concerned, they are just marking their territory ^^ But still, with patience & love and by showing them where they should / should not go, they finally understand 🙂

Rabbit proofing your apartment..

When you have a rabbit, it’s important to secure the space that he will live in. Ideally, it will be kept in the house with regular access to the garden or balcony. Mine, for example, live in the apartment and sleep on the cushion, etc, but they can go out onto the balcony day or night and they love it. The balcony is rabbit-proof – of course!

To avoid temptation, hide any electrical wires or stick them to the wall (none of mine nibble wires, but if one is in their way they will push it with their teeth to get buy, which can ruin an iPhone charger.)
You should also be careful when there are other animals like cats and dogs present, as they don’t always get along so you need to be vigilant to avoid any dramas. At my place, 3 rabbits live in harmony with 3 cats, but I have really been watching out at the beginning to make sure they are all ok.
If you have a balcony or a garden, you need to make sure that there is no risk that the rabbit escapes or falls down, and that no other animals can get in. In summer, you should also check that that there is a shady spot with water on tap, as rabbits needs to stay on shade, they are not crazy about super hot and sunny day (and anyway, no animals should be left out in the sun).^^ In certain spots in the countryside, you’ll need to be careful that there are no buzzards or other birds of prey, as they love rabbits.
Tidy away things like shoes and flip flops. My rabbits don’t eat these but my sister’s (who I have been looking after for two years) is naughty and goes into my wardrobe to nibbles on the bottom of dresses and shoes (always the most expensive lol). She makes holes in my wicker baskets or my books and folders. The behavior depends on the rabbit’s personality, but you will get to know yours and adjust.

NB : I keep saying that the rabbit isn’t a toy buts it’s worth repeating as rabbits are one of the most frequently abandoned animals, left in bins, sold on the internet to feed snakes, left in car parks, set free in nature where will they almost certainly die or, if they are “lucky” they are left anonymously in front of animal rescue shelters. Why ? Because they are an easy and cheap gift to offer to a child or a friend, without necessarily asking the person their opinion first. Or people fall for the adorable bunny in the pet store on sale for 15 euros. As he grows, the adorable bunny will be neglected and often left in his tiny cage when the owner realizes that he need more care than he or she realized, especially as rabbits can be expensive! In a nutshell. People should think carefully before adopting or getting a rabbit or any animal.. And please, do not offer a pets to anyone for Xmas..

Some useful contacts :

Care //

La dure vie du lapin urbain // Sorry it is a french website but if you can read french, this website talks about everything you could possibly want to know about rabbits. As this article is already really long, I just went over the basics. On the site, everything is really detailed on food (like which vegetables are allowed and which aren’t) education, heath etc.. If you have an english website to recommend feel free to share a comment about this !
Gamelles sans frontières A great association to adopt a rabbit or host one – also for cats, chinchillas etc .. (in Paris and its surrounding areas – though car sharing is possible)

Specialist vets for rabbits (tried and tested). Feel free to share yours if you have a good specialist in any other cities or countries.

@Exotica // Bordeaux / Mérignac
Docteur Quinton one of the best @clinique Advetia //Paris
@Anne Bardavid // Paris , osteopath/ energetician, vet, she is great for helping animals physically and “emotionally” when it comes to pain, arthritis, psychological trauma etc.. Just like with the osteopath for us, it’s good to bring your rabbit once a year, for prevention purposes.

Food //