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Rabbits have a very delicate system, bad design if you ask me, but yeah, they can be fragile. So, if you wanna take home a Monster, you gotta be prepared. Seriously, these are not hardy creatures, cute but delicate little things. Rabbits are prey animals, and they know it, so if something is going on with them, they won’t let you know til it’s bad. We have included a ridiculous amount of facts about care and diet, plus links to some of our friend’s articles. By the time you read all of this, you will be a pro.
The Basics
Told you there was a lot. Don’t worry, it seems like even the basics are a pain in the ass, but these little Monsters are worth it. They’re super entertaining to hang out with, and as long as you follow the “rules” we give ya, they will probably not have any issues.
Spay and Neuter
There are MANY reasons to spay female and neuter male rabbits. Rabbits are abandoned or surrendered to shelters un-altered most often. What people don’t realize is MOST of the common issues we hear about rabbits are directly related to hormones. Behaviors such as aggression, spraying, territory marking, bad litter habits, cage aggression are ALL solved 9 times out of 10 by having the rabbit fixed.
Spaying/neutering GREATLY reduces risks of cancer. Female rabbits have over a 50% chance of developing uterine cancer by age 4 if not spayed.
Accidental litters are extraordinarily common with rabbits. There’s not a whole saying about this stuff for nothing. Female rabbits ovulate ON DEMAND which means as soon as they are mounted they release eggs. Wild, right? Wait, there’s more… Gestation is 28 days, and they can carry two litters at once. Meaning a pair of unaltered rabbits can produce up to 180 more rabbits in a year. There are far too many rabbits in shelters as it is. Do the responsible thing.
All rabbits adopted out by Fluffle Monsters will be spayed/neutered. If you want to adopt from us and already have a bunny that needs to be spayed/neutered we will help you with that process.
Housing
Rabbits should be kept indoors, with monitored outdoor time only. A clean litterbox, hay and water should always be provided. Pen size depends on amount of exercise time. A rabbit’s enclosure should have enough room for them to run and jump. A MINIMUM pen size for one rabbit is 3 by 4 feet or 4 by 5 feet for two. If they have this size pen they must be allowed to have exercise time as well (at least 3 hours a day) Allowing your rabbits to free roam your home or bunny-proofed spaces is always best. Traditional rabbit cages or hutches sold in stores are not acceptable housing for rabbits adopted from Fluffle Monsters.
Bunny-Proofing
Some rabbits love to chew cords (that’s the SPICY hay as we say!) Using a pen or pet fencing to block off areas with lots of cords is any easy way to avoid this. If you can’t block them off, heavy duty cord protectors may be used. Your rabbits may leave cords alone, but it’s best not to risk it. If you have other pets, keep their food in an area your rabbits won’t be able to access it. Cat and dog food can cause GI upset and obesity in rabbits. Cat litter boxes may need to be kept in an area where bunny can’t dig in it.
Handling your Rabbit
When picking up and holding your rabbits, keep them close to you and support their back ends. If they don’t feel secure, they may kick and jump away.
Grooming
Short haired rabbits need to be brushed when shedding. Long haired breeds need daily brushing. DO NOT bathe your rabbits. If they get dirty, they may be spot cleaned with damp towels or baby wipes. Make sure if your rabbit gets wet that you keep them warm and dry them well. Wet rabbits have a high chance of having their temperature drop too low.
Vet Care
Rabbits do not require any vaccines in the US as of yet. An annual wellness check is typically all they will need. Keep in mind a few behaviors are considered emergency situations and vet care is required immediately. These include, but aren’t limited to:
-Refusing food
-Not pooping
-Extreme lethargy
-Diarrhea
-Slow or mouth breathing
We recommend you read HERE how to recognize and treat GI stasis in rabbits, as it’s extremely life-threatening. Keeping an emergency kit is necessary, and our friends at Know Your Rabbit have you covered HERE.