Since introducing Billie Jean to my blog, I’ve had a number of questions on what having a house bunny is really like – so I wanted to put a post together to cover off how we care for Billie. Please bear in mind, this is just the advice we’ve been given by our vet – I’m not a rabbit expert and advice may vary depending on who you speak to.
Litter Training
One of the reasons rabbits make such good pets is that they are able to be litter trained – just like cats – so as a result are incredibly clean pets to have. As we adopted Billie, he already came litter trained – however because he wasn’t desexed he did have the tendency to mark his territory which resulted in bad litter box habits. We soon resolved this by taking him to the vet for the op, and after about 6-8 weeks his hormones calmed down and he uses his littler box 99% of the time.
Food
What to feed a rabbit seems to be something that a lot of pepole do differently – which can be frustrating when you first get a new pet. However we’ve taken the advice of our vet and only feed Bill hay and vegetables and the occasional treat. We we got him originally he had been eating a diet of grains which are very high in sugar and can result in all sorts of long term health problems.
Fresh hay should make up the bulk of a rabbit’s diet and is something we have readily available at all times. Hay is important for rabbits because it provides essential fibre needed for good digestive health and it helps to wear down rabbit’s teeth (which continuously grow
Aside from the hay, I give Billie a mixed selection of leafy greens every evening – things like spinach, kale, bok choy etc. I don’t personally give iceberg lettuce as it has no nutritional value.
Love this post, everything you've mentioned is 100% accurate and Billie is so so cute! I have a new bunny named Bobby and he's both indoor and outdoor. I'd love for him to be an indoor bunny though but I'm so worried about him chewing cables and furniture, so I have to watch him. Do you have any problems with this or know how to get around it? Thanks! 🙂 xxx
Thanks! Billie didn't chew cables for ages so we didn't have a problem, but he has started too. Sadly he has expensive taste and has chosen two apple chargers so far. We tend to just put them out of reach where we can and unplug things that aren't non essential. He doesn't chew furniture at all (thank god!). Long may that continue! x
What a little cutie!
Lucy | Forever September
Wow Billie is suuuuch a cutie! I've never heard of a free roaming house rabbit before, but now it's safe to say I'm absolutely in love with the idea! Will definitely consider swapping my visions of a cat in the future with a cute lil bunny rabbit! So adorable! x
Georgia Megan
Such a cutie!
Sara – Flemingo
Awww Billie is such a cutie! I used to have a sandy coloured lop eared when I was growing up – rabbits make such lovely pets x
http://www.curiouser-and-curiouser.co.uk
The cuteness!!!!! So sweet. 🙂