Rabbits

By Sandy Kamen Wisniewski
Posted December 21, 2004

When I was a teenager I snuck two rabbits into my bathroom where they lived happily, for a while. But all that changed when our cleaning woman went into my bathroom to clean, found them, and snitched on me. My mom was furious. The rabbits had to go - or I did with them. Well, considering I was 15, the latter just wasn't an option so, broken-hearted, the rabbits and I parted.

The past couple of months the Anti Cruelty Society have asked me to take in some homeless rabbits. The ACS doesn't house rabbits, so when they have rabbits they work with rescue groups to take them. After getting my first foster rabbit, and spending some time with her, I was reacquainted with a pet that I remember from that brief time I had them as a kid. Now I remember why I liked them so much.

Rabbits are actually sweet and endearing pets, much more so then people might think. They all have unique personalities. Unlike dogs or cats, rabbits are quite subtle about how they communicate with the world around them. So I've spent quite a bit of time observing and interacting with them. My first foster rabbit, Emma, is a silky, soft, powder-gray rabbit. She is an active girl and prefers to hop around a little playpen rather than be in her cage. She is fearless with the dogs. When they bound on the porch eager to sniff her out, she hops over to them and bumps noses with them, not in the least bit frightened of being bit. She also stands up and begs when she wants to be lifted up and held.

Daphne on the other hand is lazy as lazy gets. She has beautiful, long hair and floppy ears. She would like nothing more than to lounge around and eat, thus her chubbiness. She loves cuddling with everyone and hangs out with my dog Scrappy; hopping about as Scrappy cleaned up the bits of carrot Daphne leaves behind.

Yesterday was an extremely stressful day. In the evening I spent an extra long time holding the rabbits. I am convinced that they are the fantastic stress relievers. After only a few minutes of holding them, stroking their silky fur, I could feel my blood pressure and heart rate slow to a healthy, relaxed rhythm.

If you are interested in adopting a rabbit or getting more information please give us a call. We are also available to do school programs on the care of pet rabbits.

- - General Care of Rabbits - -

Rabbit Diet

* Timothy Hay
* GREENS ( 2-6 packed cups per day minimum; for example, give at least 2 cups daily for small dwarf rabbits; give at least 5-6 cups daily for large rabbits, such as New Zealand and Flemish giant).

Oxbow Timothy Hay Pellets

Pellets are the least important part of the rabbit's diet. Adult rabbits do not need pellets at all (timothy hay and greens is the healthiest diet), but if you want to give pellets it's healthiest to use timothy hay-based pellets (not alfalfa-based pellets, which are too high in calcium and protein and can cause obesity and urinary disease).

Fresh fruit or carrot (can be given as a treat, no more than 1-inch cube per day): Apple, pear, banana, papaya, peach, melon, strawberry, raspberry and carrot.

Supplements

Oxbow Papaya Tablets: Give 1 each day, 2 when rabbit is shedding to help break down fur in the stomach and avoid gastrointestinal (GI) stasis.

Books

* House Rabbit Handbook, by Marinell Harriman
* Why Does My Rabbit? by Anne McBride & Nina Bondarenko; (provides behavioral insight)