Blog courtesy of Amazing Animal Encounters
Rabbits. A typical animal that springs (pardon the pun) to mind when we think of children’s pets. The twitchy little nose, fluffy cotton tail, big eyes and overall cute look appeals to children. Their apparent meekness appeals to us parents.
Step into any pet shop that sells animals and you will see rabbits, marketed at young families looking to enrich their children’s lives. Yes, pets are enriching and rewarding, but I want to stop you a moment with some food for thought. Are rabbits really right for you, your children, your lifestyle, your home? Or in other words, are you right for a rabbit?
We’ve had lots of rabbits come through our doors, and I have to add, the majority from our Sevenoaks mums. We took in seven once in one day. Reasons range from children ‘outgrowing’ their pet to the pet outgrowing their cage. The cages for sale in your average pet store are not fit for purpose. They are too small, too uncomfortable, constructed all wrong. Often not predator proof.
My biggest issue of all is the size and style. They are little wooden prison boxes for a species that enjoys an all round visual experience, unlimited grazing, plenty of fresh air and running, hopping, jumping and spinning. An exercise I do with children is to ask them to draw a rabbit. They draw a hunched figure, crouching, to fit in a hutch. It is your responsibility to provide your rabbit with a comfortable environment where it can behave in a manner it would choose.
Once you’ve got the right enclosure you need the right rabbits. Yes, plural! You’ll need two rabbits. It’s now understood that one rabbit will be lonely, depressed and thoroughly miserable all by itself. They are social animals and enjoy the company of their own kind. You will need to get your rabbits vaccinated and vet checked as one of the five basic needs you are required to meet as a pet owner is to prevent pain, injury and disease. If you do not vaccinate your rabbits you are not meeting this responsibility.
Those adorable fluffy floppy eared things generally can be rather short tempered and not appreciative of children and their attempts to play. I always think the smooth coated, stripy, Dutch breed seem most comfortable around children. Rabbits have weak backs and I can’t stress enough how difficult it is for a child to safely handle a rabbit. Prey animals, generally, are not keen on being over handled in ways such as picking them up from above, it triggers their instinct to flee. I avoid handling my rabbits unless there is a need to do so – there are other methods you can use to interact with a rabbit without scooping it up in your arms and carrying it about. Many parents tell me their rabbit is friendly until the child tries to pick it up, then they get scratched – it’s not an untame pet, it’s a pet in discomfort, under stress. Another of the five basic needs you are required to meet as a pet owner is to prevent fear, suffering and distress.
Finally, bear a thought about enrichment for your new pets. Rabbits are experts at getting melancholy. They need to be stimulated with foraging activities, exercise opportunities, changes of scene. My rabbits favour destroying stuff. Ripping, tearing, chewing at apple branches, cardboard and purpose made rabbit boredom breakers that you can buy in pets stores. Rabbits are great fun, but more often than not, it’s not great fun being a rabbit when your basic needs are not being met.
