UPDATE: |RSPCA warns pet owners over one thing they ‘must not’ do with rabbits News

The RSPCA have lots of helpful information on their website about the right way to care for a pet rabbit

The RSPCA has issued a warning to pet owners on how to take care of rabbits and one thing in particular that they “must not” do.

Some people might not expect it but rabbits typically live for eight to 12 years, or longer, meaning that getting a rabbit for a pet is a long term commitment.

Although pet rabbits come in different colours and breeds, they remain closely related to their wild relatives, according to the Blue Cross.

As a prey animal, their life is all about survival and remain in a constant state of alert.

The RSPCA, or Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, warns potential rabbit owners that they are highly social animals and “must not” live on their own, unless specifically advised to do so by a vet.

Introducing rabbits to one another can be a difficult task because they are very territorial animals. The RSPCA advises bunny parents to first put them in separate enclosures and place them side by side so they can get used to each other. Then, prepare a neutral area separate from their enclosures for them to meet.

You should always supervise the rabbits when introducing them in the neutral area and make sure that you break up any aggressive behaviour. When the rabbits can spend one to two hours together in the neutral area without any problems, then they can be introduced to their shared living area.

It is important to feed rabbits the right diet for their “unusual” digestive system. Food gets passed through their gut which produces special droppings (caecotrophs) which they eat again to get maximum nutrition.

Their teeth continue to grow throughout their life and so if they aren’t eating the right food, they can develop problems with their mouths. Most of a rabbits diet should be fresh hay and grass, along with some leafy greens and a few pellets. Fruit and root vegetables should only be an occasional treat and should have water available at all times.

In the wild, rabbits live in interconnecting underground tunnels which can cover more than two acres. Although that amount of space isn’t always possible, they must have enough space to hop, run, jump, dig, and stretch out.

For two medium sized rabbits, the RSPCA recommends a living space no smaller than 3m x 2m and 1m high. Rabbits like to have separate areas in their shelter for eating, resting and going to the toilet.

The RSPCA also warns that the rabbit should be able to stand up fully on their back legs without their ears touching the roof, and they can be provided with toys such as a sand pit to play in, a cardboard box to hide in and other safe objects to chew to keep them stimulated.

A female rabbit can get pregnant from being four months old and is only pregnant for four weeks. Each littler can have one to ten kits and she can get pregnant again just hours after birth – so the RSPCA urges rabbit owners to get them neutered if they don’t want their two rabbits to turn into 82 within a year!