Many people don’t realise what wonderful little companions rabbits are. They are gentle, sweet creatures and deserve to be treated with love, respect and care. I think that people should learn as much as they can about rabbits before deciding to purchase one.

Rabbits can live 8 - 12 years and they are not a low-maintenance pet. They need a rabbit hutch, a hutch cover, a rabbit run, food, toys and lots of love and attention.

Rabbits are very clever when it comes to surviving and they can learn to read their owner like a book as they are very in tune with your body language. There are many different breeds from a Netherland dwarf weighing about 2lbs to a 20-pound Flemish Giant. Make sure you know what you are getting yourself into and how big your rabbit will grown when in adulthood before you buy !!

Remember as well, that rabbits reproduce quickly and often and so must be spayed or neutered if you intend to keep more than one. People don’t realise that some rabbits at 4 months old can have a litter and continue to do so about every 30 days!! About four to eight baby rabbits are born in each litter and rabbits can breed again soon after giving birth. Rabbits that are left un-neutered can also spray like a cat and get very frustrated in the mating season.

Rabbits are not low-maintenance pets like some people like to think. They are not just outdoor pets that can be fed and watered and then left. They do not like living alone and they crave companionship so need either companion rabbits or lots of love and attention from their owners.

Rabbits can be trained to live indoors and use litter boxes but clay or clumping litter shouldn’t be used - it must be wood- or paper-based and even in their hutch they will not soil their bedroom. Make sure their rabbit hutch is always kept pristine clean as it is unhygienic and cruel to keep a rabbit in poor sanitary conditions. Rabbits will groom themselves in the same way that cats do and they enjoy being clean.

Rabbits cannot be kept in a rabbit hutch or even in the home all the time. If they are kept in their rabbit hutch for long periods of time they can become aggressive just like a dog kept in a cage all day. Rabbits need regular exercise and play time so invest in a rabbit run to allow your rabbit to hop around and kick his legs - he will be a very happy and healthy rabbit if he has this activity. Make sure the rabbit hutch you choose if the largest you can accommodate and afford - keeping a rabbit in a 3ft hutch is less than adequate and is considered to be cruel. The rabbit hutch also needs to contain toys for your rabbit to play with - plant pots, tubes, etc. which can be purchased at local pet shops.

Remember that rabbits like to chew on things so if you take your rabbit into your home it must be rabbit-proof with electrical wires covered or removed from their reach. Equally,
if your rabbit has the run of your garden, make sure it is escape-proof and that there are no cans or toxic pellets lying around that your rabbit can chew on.

Feed your rabbit on good quality food and supplement this if necessary with green, leafy vegetables, the odd carrot and pellets - your vet will advise you. And always remember to have clean, fresh water available for your rabbit at all times.

If, after reading this article, you are prepared to give the time, money and attention to a rabbit then expect to have a loving, trusting relationship with this little furry creature for quite some years ………