Is a Rabbit the Right Pet For You?

Rabbits make great family pets and are friendly and affectionate. But as with any pet they are a big commitment and need plenty of care and attention to keep them happy.

Rabbits live for about 7-10 years and need your care and attention every day otherwise can get lonely and unfriendly.

Rabbits love to have space to run around and exercise to keep them happy and healthy, so they need free time in the house or the garden for a few hours every day. They will become very bored and lonely if they are left in their hutch all the time.

They are not used to being on their own so will need a friend, or lots of your love and attention to keep them happy.

Rabbits are naturally very quiet and shy so it may take time before they fully trust you.

Young children can be a bit too rough for rabbits and they don't like to be picked up or cuddled too hard. But if the youngest members of the family remember to be gentle with them they can become great friends.

Rabbits are very scared of other animals who might want to hurt them so if you have cats and dogs please make sure the rabbit is kept a safe distance from them, even if they are just playing. However they can be socialised with other pets over time.

Rabbits are more demanding than hamsters, gerbils or guinea pigs and are not really suitable for very small children as they may bite and scratch. However they are clean, intelligent and friendly and, if properly looked after, can make rewarding company. Each variety of rabbit has its own characteristics of size and temperament. Males are often more predictable and even tempered than females, making them ideal as pets. The food bill could be 10 times greater with a giant breed compared to a dwarf and you will need much larger living quarters!