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Common Myths About Rabbits
Pet rabbits seem to be one of the most misunderstood pets. From thinking rabbits are rodents (they are lagomorphs) to thinking they can live on carrots (see below), misunderstandings about rabbits abound. Since there are so many myths and misperceptions about rabbits, I won't include those myths surrounding rabbits housed outdoors. This site is, after all, dedicated to indoor rabbits, so we'll stick with that.
Myth: Rabbits can be kept in a cage all day.This is another common misunderstanding that hearkens to the days of keeping rabbits for meat. A healthy rabbit needs plenty of exercise every day. Since their moods determine when they are willing to exercise, just opening the cage for an hour a day is not going to work. They need the ability to run & play when the mood strikes. The more time and space a rabbit has, the better.
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Myth: Pet stores sell appropriate-sized rabbit cages.I’ve yet to see a pet store that sold a cage large enough for an adult rabbit. Even their “extra large” cages aren’t roomy enough. Rabbits need plenty of room for when they are cage bound. NIC cages, exercise pens or bunny rooms are more appropriate.
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Myth: All rabbits can get along with each other.While rabbits do well in pairs, they need to be bonded first before being allowed to share a cage. Some bonds go easily, others are more difficult and some simply won’t work. The best chance of bonding is to start with two fixed rabbits. But even fixed rabbits need to go through a bonding process. It’s a good idea to let the rabbit do the choosing as to which other rabbit he/she will accept.
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Myth: I should feed lots of carrots to my rabbit.This is another big myth -- perhaps thanks to Bugs Bunny. Carrots are high in sugar and should not even be counted among the greens & veggies that make up a good portion of any rabbit's diet. Place carrots in the category of treats. The most an adult (5-7 lb) rabbit should get is a 1" slice on any given day. Then that would count as his treat quota for the day. Even in small amounts, carrots should not be fed daily. Baby rabbits should not get carrots at all.
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Myth: Rabbit cages are smelly.With the proper litter and regular maintenance, a rabbit's cage should never be smelly. A well-chosen litter will absorb any strong urine odor. Neither a rabbit's cage nor the rabbit itself should ever be smelly. For years I have kept my rabbits' cage in the main living area of our home. Visitors have consistently expressed surprise upon seeing the rabbits because they say they didn't notice any odor whatsoever.
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Myth: Rabbits need to be bathed regularly.Rabbits actually groom themselves regularly in a way similar to cats. They do such a good job of cleaning themselves that there is no reason to bathe a rabbit. Baths are potentially dangerous to a rabbit's health anyway. An aged rabbit, overweight rabbit or one suffering from a poopy bum may not be able to reach himself for proper cleaning and may need to have JUST a butt bath. See the Handbook for more detail. If a sick rabbit is bathed, it could send him into shock. Since rabbit's are masters at disguising sickness, one never truly knows if a rabbit is in the early stages of sickness. This is why the House Rabbit Society advises against bathing rabbits.
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Myth: Rabbits cannot be litter trained (or are difficult to train).Fixed rabbits actually litter train quite easily. With a few basic tips and techniques, it should be easy to litter train. It should be noted that most rabbits, even when litter trained, will still drop pellets as occasional territory droppings outside their box. This is to be expected and is part of life with a bunny. A healthy rabbit's pellets are dry and round, have no smell, and are easy to just sweep up.
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Myth: A rabbit's personality is based largely on its breed type.
Generally speaking, people understand that Dalmatians are high energy dogs, that Golden Retrievers make good family dogs, that Labs love water, and German Shepherds make good watch dogs. Specific breeds have specific traits. Naturally, those new to the world of rabbits think the same goes for types of rabbit breeds. Both pet store rabbits and rescue rabbits are almost all mixed breed rabbits. They may be dubbed as a specific breed, but the mix is still in their genes.That translates to simply not being able to assume temperament based on breed. Each rabbit has its own unique temperament & personality. {One may make some sweeping generalizations that the smaller breeds tend to be more high energy than the larger breeds.} Beyond that, it really is more dependent on the individual rabbit. Unless one is referring to expensive, pedigreed, pure bred rabbits, then breed basically determines a rabbit's appearance, not its personality.
Myth: Food pellets are the main part of a rabbit's diet.Pet stores tend to perpetuate this myth by displaying rabbits with a water bottle and bowl of rabbit pellets. This gives the false impression that pellets are the primary source of a rabbit's diet. In reality, an adult rabbit should have very limited pellets.
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Myth: Rabbits can't communicate.While rabbits are seldom vocal, they do use body language to communicate. An alert owner can learn to understand a rabbit's mood as well as what bunny is attempting to communicate. It's a subtle language but well worth studying.
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Myth: Rabbits are inexpensive pets.To keep a rabbit properly, maintenance costs are not cheap. The ASPCA estimates that the maintenance costs of a rabbit are more than that of a large breed dog. Click here to learn more.
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Myths about intact (not fixed or baby) rabbits...
Myth: Getting a baby will help me bond with bunny and make him like to be handled.
This is perhaps one of the top myths which is based on comparisons with other species (like dogs). It just isn't true for rabbits. The innate personality of each individual rabbit is not going to be influenced in any significant way by human interaction.
Founder of Bunny Bunch rescue, Caroline Charland, states, "People often think a rabbit must be held a lot as a baby in order to like being held as an adult.I don't find this true at all. Over the years, the Bunny Bunch rescue I founded has saved many mother and baby rabbits from shelters. All the babies were treated the same. When they became adults their personalities varied-- some liked to be held, some hated to be held and some tolerated being held."
(Rabbits USA 2014 magazine)
Fixed rabbits are past hormones and therefore have evident personalities. By meeting already fixed rabbits, one can see the personality of the rabbit that one is considering. This is a huge advantage in considering the right pet for you.
Founder of Bunny Bunch rescue, Caroline Charland, states, "People often think a rabbit must be held a lot as a baby in order to like being held as an adult.I don't find this true at all. Over the years, the Bunny Bunch rescue I founded has saved many mother and baby rabbits from shelters. All the babies were treated the same. When they became adults their personalities varied-- some liked to be held, some hated to be held and some tolerated being held."
(Rabbits USA 2014 magazine)
Fixed rabbits are past hormones and therefore have evident personalities. By meeting already fixed rabbits, one can see the personality of the rabbit that one is considering. This is a huge advantage in considering the right pet for you.
Myth: It's best to get a young rabbit so training will be easy.
Unlike other species, young rabbits do NOT train more easily than older rabbits. In fact, it is not uncommon for a baby rabbit who has begun to train, to forget it all when hormones kick in. Between 4 & 7 months of age, those hormones can drastically alter bunny’s personality. Aggression, lunging, biting, urine spraying are all possible signs of a hormonal rabbit. A fixed rabbit trains most easily and readily.
Myth: Since rabbits do better in pairs, it's best to get 2 babies (or 2 from the same litter).
Almost all baby rabbits seem to get along with other rabbits. However, this is temporary and is NOT an actual bond. Once hormonal, those lovey-dovey bunnies can begin fighting--even if they are siblings. When that happens, they will need to be separated. (Any fighting reduces their chances of a successful bond later.) After they are old enough to spay/neuter, and have sufficiently healed, then bonding attempts can begin. There is no guarantee that they will bond, though. Sometimes 2 rabbits simply won’t get along. If this happens, the 2 will have to remain separate, in separate cages, and exercising separately. Click here for more info on bonding.
Myth: If I get 2 rabbits of the same sex, I won't have to neuter them.
Two problems with this thought. One is that pet stores are seldom accurate when sexing rabbits. It’s usually not until a rabbit is 3-4 months old that sexing can be accurate. Countless times have people been surprised when one of their rabbits unexpectedly has a litter when they had been told that both rabbits were female.
The other problem with this thought is that even if sexing is accurate, 2 intact females will still become hormonal which, again, can lead to vicious fighting. Two intact males are even less likely to get along or bond.
The reason for spaying/neutering isn’t just to prevent pregnancy. Raging hormones make for frustrated rabbits. Females left intact are far more likely to get uterine cancer leading to an early death.
The other problem with this thought is that even if sexing is accurate, 2 intact females will still become hormonal which, again, can lead to vicious fighting. Two intact males are even less likely to get along or bond.
The reason for spaying/neutering isn’t just to prevent pregnancy. Raging hormones make for frustrated rabbits. Females left intact are far more likely to get uterine cancer leading to an early death.
Still interested in a rabbit for a pet?
If knowing these myths does not give you hesitation about caring for a rabbit, that's great! Perhaps you are the right fit for having a rabbit. To be sure, check out the following tab: