I want a rabbit?

Question

I really want one for my birthday.

How can I convince my parents?

They always pull the "You already have a pet" thing on me.

Also,what are the necessities for rabbit care taking?

How much do you think it will cost?

I don't want to have to worry about it getting sick or something.

So what do I do to make sure it stays healthy?

Answer 1

if you get a rabbit it will cost £10-20 to buy from a pet shop and sacks of food will cost 12.99 from seapets (excel is the best rabbit food) and that is 10kg which will last about 8 months for a bunny and 4-6 months for a fully grown rabbit

Answer 2

from personal experience:

rabbits tend to be not as friendly as you would think.  they are not very domesticated.  they take a lot of care and time, and can be very expensive.  i would recommend something smaller.

they need a big cage, it needs to be cleaned very often, they p**p everywhere, need constant supervision, lest they chew on wires.

Answer 3

Rabbits are alot of work. Rabbits are not rodents, they are in the lagomorph family. They are about the equvilent of taking care of a cat or dog however they are not like a cat or dog at all, and they cost to take care of them is te same as a cat. The reason they require alot of care is because they are very complex, social creatures. You cannot just keep them in a cage all day. Rabbits require a good 2 hours of outside their cage time per day. A major mistake many rabbit owners make is not giving them this freedom. They should also be kept with another rabbit usually. To make sure it stays healthy, a rabbit needs to be spayed/nuetered to avoid cancer, aggresion, and to keep them from spraying urine every where to mark theri territory. Spaying/neutering can cost a couple hundred dollars so be prepared for that. You also have to take on the responsibility of litter box trainning them because when you let them out of their cage, you don't want them going to the bathroom all over your floor, and this takes alot of patience and good trainning. They also need lots of toys and entertainment to simulate thier minds.

I know this is alot of info. To me it doesn't sound like a rabbit is the right pet for you. They are not just like any other rodent and they are not a "cuddley" pet. Most rabbits don't even like being held adn they can scratch the heck out of you. THey require alot of tiem and patience

Answer 4

I have a beautiful Black rabbit named Hoppies Leli.

She is very cute and adorable, cuddly, affectionate and a BIG pain in the butt! Why and how could a sweet little rodent cause so much trouble. Well for one...Rabbits are not Rodents. They are in a class of their own called by scientists "Rodenta's". Two Rabbits can live up to twelve years. This is a long term commitment. Three Rabbits are territorial and anxious animals around other animals and never introduce a rabbit to a grown cat. One of them will certainly become seriously wounded. Rabbits fight too and this is unexpected. Please do not mix these two together. The only way it works is with kittens and baby animals who learn to grow up together in harmony. Dogs included. Now as for cost....

well Rabbits like to eat alot. They eat special food by pet stores and vegtables. You need the pet store version because it has fortified vitamins to keep them healthy. Each bag is seven dollars. They run through it almost every three weeks. You will have to change their cages and clean their messy droppings every day to keep sanitary.

They love to chew valuable objects like shoes, wires, plaster off walls, and any kind of paper. If the "homework" was eaten by a dog then the Rabbit ate the notebook! These animals need to chew something on a daily basis. The best thing to buy are chew toys. They will go after anything that looks good for exercise for their teeth.

All in all Rabbits love to be petted and played with! Very cuddly and most are "quiet" but have big ways to tell you what they are wishing for at the moment. Mine runs all over the room until I feed it. It will jump on my bed and tug at my pillow until I wake up. Then it will scratch my arms if I don't wake up in time.Very outspoken these creatures are. I am happy they do not have a voice, or one would talk all day!

I love my baby do not get me wrong. Please understand that it is like a child because Rabbits require lots of maintenance and attention!

Answer 5

Rabbits are harder than they look. First of all, they should never be kept in a cage outside. They have very sensitive little bodies and the outdoor hutches don't give them enough shelter.

If they get sick, it costs a lot of money. I've had two rabbits get cancer, which was heartbreaking because I was a kid with no money when it happened and I had to put my beloved pets to sleep.

There are TONS of things that people try to feed rabbits that are actually very bad for them. (Iceburg lettuce for one)

They can be litterbox trained, but usually it's only for pee, they poo all the time, anywhere they go. I used to vaccuum it all up because it was dry little pellets, but you will be running the vaccuum at least twice a day.

They also get into everything and chew everything. (electrical cords, phone cords, furniture, etc.)

Basically, it's not something to take lightly, and they are quite a lot of work. Plus you have a killer cat, which if you get a baby bunny, it's the size of a rat, so your cat will definetly try to kill it.

Wait until you're older.

Answer 6

Will your parents let you join 4H?  That is how a lot of kids get their parents to let them have the pet they want.  It works.

In our county it costs $15 for the year.  Kids get a club t-shirt but pay the cost of their own project.  You could join the rabbit project.  You will learn the answers to ALL your questions plus learn more than you would have thought.  

You don't need a rabbit to join.  Rather, join and study the curiculum (rabbit book- level 1), THEN decide whether or not you want a rabbit.  

You will learn about the different breeds, housing requirements for each breed and size rabbits, feed requirements/nutrition facts, health issues, what equipment is needed for care, can study how much it will cost you for your project (to have a pet rabbit) and how to choose a rabbit and the best places to find a good rabbit.  

You will also learn proper handling techniques (showmanship) that your average Joe just does not know but will help you to be able to handle most any rabbit (with practice).  

By the time you learn what you need to know about keeping a rabbit (time frame is up to you) you certainly will know whether of not you'll want one.

Seems lots of the kids I know have made a deal with their parents: if they join 4H, their parents will let them have the pet they want.  After the third month it is usually the parents who can't wait to get their child  a pet and they are usually willing to pay for a good one.  That is usually because they are so impressed that their child has committed to something good and stuck with it and did their research before they jumped into getting an animal.  

4H is a wonderful, fun, youth program that I think you'd like if you are interested in getting a rabbit.  4H is not just about animals.  There are LOTS of different projects you could be involved in depending on what your club/county offers.  You learn by actually DOING so whatever you do, you really get a lot out of it.  You can also have the opportunity to show your pet at your county fair and that is a lot of fun.

Well, that is something to think about.  As a 4H rabbit project leader, I will not answer your last 4 questions but rather will let you find out for youself by studying/doing.  That is the 4H way.  ;)

If you are not interested in 4H or cannot commit to it, then I highly recommend buying and reading one of two books, depending on your age.  If you are a mature 14 or older and a good reader, try "Storey's Guide to Raising Rabbits" by Bob Bennet.  He's the man.  If you are 14 or younger or just need a little easier reading, get "Your Rabbit, A Kid's Guide to Raising and Showing" by Nancy Searle.  Both are excellent and will answer all your questions.  They are excellent reading for both the show and pet rabbit owner.

Best wishes.

Answer 7

i will be comepletly honest. my cat ate my rabbit.omg i think i am gonna cry, but it hasnt bothered my ferret

Answer 8

dont get a rabbit if you have a cat, it will find a way