Top Five Common Misconceptions about looking after Rabbits
Rabbits are often seen as the quintessential beginners’ pet for children to have. However, this is not true because they can be complex animals that need a lot of love and care.
- Rabbits are better off being kept in cages outside.
This is such a big misconception, as rabbits are better off being kept inside the home rather than outside. Rabbits can become isolated from you if you keep them in a cage outside, making them feel depressed because of isolation. From my own personal experience they are much happier being inside rather than outside, as they are less likely to get cold in the winter and be potentially harmed by foxes. Furthermore if you keep a rabbit inside you will be able to bond with them.
2. Rabbits are easy to look after.
Despite rabbits being smaller than dogs and cats, they still need to be looked after. Their cages definitely need to be cleaned everyday, which can be a bit of a chore. They do require litter training, veterinary care and grooming to look after them. When it comes to veterinary care rabbits need to be up to date with vaccinations to ensure they are protected from diseases such as myxomatosis. To prevent them from becoming overweight rabbits need to have exercise daily.
3.Rabbits are suitable pets for very young children.
Despite rabbits being cute and fluffy animals, therefore being stereotypically perfect for children, they are very sensitive and unsuitable for very young children. Rabbits can bite or scratch very young children which could cause some potentially nasty injuries. Very young children may accidently hurt rabbits, for they are sensitive animals which very young children may not understand.
4.You can release them into the wild if you don't want them any longer.
Probably the worst thing you can do to your pet rabbit, as this is like a death sentence to them. Pet rabbits are tame meaning that they are not suitable to be released into the wild because they are not wild rabbits. This would confuse your rabbit and cause them to stress because this is not their normal habitat. Foxes, hawks and other animals will target your rabbit as it is vulnerable. The best thing you can do if you no longer want your rabbit is to take it back to a pet store so that it is in safe hands away from danger of being harmed.
5.They are more happy to be kept individually.
Rabbits are very sociable animals, who live in big groups. Despite the fact that rabbits love human company they still need pet company. Keeping a pet rabbit individually will cause them to feel bored and lonely because they love the company of other rabbits. Keeping rabbits as a pair will cause them to be very satisfied with their bunny lives and will create bonds forever. You can keep rabbits individually but they will be much happier with another bunny.
