Common Mistakes with Rabbits!

1. Not reading up beforehand to learn all about them;

People often get rabbits as impulse buys for their children or themselves, because “they are so cute!” Rabbits are, however, NOT the little angels you think. They have dirty little secrets, they get hormonal, they destroy your house and furniture if you have not rabbit-proofed. Not reading up on them and seeing what they are really like is the major cause for dumping.

2. Not realizing how much they can mess!!

They have dirty little secrets, which is one of the major causes that gets them dumped and discarded in a very short time. Rabbits can make between 250 – 300 little balls of poop per day, and drink up to 600ml of water easily – and leave the wee to prove that! They have extreme molting sessions, and the hair goes EVERYWHERE in just a few days!

3. Keeping them in small spaces without Exercise.

Rabbits are like 5-year-old children. They have a LOT of energy, and they need to release it, or they will become destructive and even harm themselves and each other. Can you cope with a 5-year-old in a bathroom all day? No? Neither can you do that to a rabbit.

4. Feeding them the wrong food etc, Meusli Mixes that Petshops love to sell

Those meusli mixes are appealing to YOU, Human, with their colours. It is terribly bad for the rabbits, who have a diet of 80% minimum hay. The maize does not even digest, and causes slow damage to their cecum, their “fibre tummy”. Rabbits need special food.

5. Thinking they are starter pets for kids

This is the furthest from the truth. Rabbits are quite expensive animals; their hay is sometimes hard to get, and their vaccinations are scarce and in between. Children under 6, and sometimes even up to 8, do not have the reflexes developed yet to work with a rabbit, who will try to jump from their hands and arms, and kick or scratch the child while hurting themselves. Over 80% of rabbits for children under 6 die within 6 months, usually from a broken back or neck.

6. Thinking rabbits are Outdoor Animals.

Domestic Rabbits, which we have as companions or pets, are not native to South Africa, and have been domesticated very well. These rabbits feel a lot safer inside the house, as a pampered family member, than outside. In the more educated countries, huge movements have been initiated, like House Rabbit Society, to educate people on why rabbits should be indoors. Thinking they should live outdoors is absolutely ancient thinking.

7. Thinking Rabbits are boring, or easy

Rabbits have proven themselves to be the most misunderstood pet on earth, with their super intelligent nature. They are extremely complex animals, and have a range of very interesting traits like being triggered by Exuinox, Full and Dark Moons, SunFlares, etc. A lot of studies are currently being done into these sensitivities of rabbits, in order to make their lives better understood.

8. Not Spaying or Neutering your rabbits.

Once those hormones kick in, rabbits transform from the sweet innocent little furries, to hormonal, difficult teenagers that will bite, spray wee, and mess extra all over. These unneutered males have an extra strong musky scent, and often spray their owners, even in the face. A male can spray up to 1.5m away, to mark all he wants to claim as his.

Females are VERY prone to cancers as well as getting Pyometra, a deadly infection of the Uterus.

Rabbits can have up to 10 babies per time, but usually between 6 and 8, and this is every month. It has been proven that 2 unsterilized rabbits can create 1300 rabbits in just a year, as the babies also start having babies ar an early age.

9. Thinking Rabbit can be kept alone.

Rabbits are very complex in their dealing, and they need a friend of their own species. Well, 99% of them definitely! While they do love us, they need to do mutual grooming, etc, esp in the day we are off to work or school.

10. Not realising that hay is your daily life struggle when you get a rabbit.

Hay in South Africa is not always easily obtainable, can give hay fever, bring in bugs and dust. But, hay is their 80+% diet and an absolute must to have a healthy rabbit. There are many different hay and grass they can get, and these little MiniHorses are most happy sitting and chewing on a piece of hay.

Make sure you are not allergic to Oat Hay and Teff or Aeragrostis grass BEFORE you get your rabbit, and be prepared to find hay in your bra, socks, bed and EVERYWHERE!