Wooden versus Cardboard Hidey Houses: Which option is the best for your rabbit?

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Owning a rabbit requires a lot of supplies, everything from food to habitat necessities. The costs can really add up, so it is important to consider all your options before purchasing.

One purchase that can be a bit more fun to stock your bunny’s space with is a hidey house.

There are typically two options for this, a wooden version or a cardboard version. We’ll look at the pros and cons of both, so you can make your pick!

Why do rabbits need places to hide?

Rabbits are prey animals, which means they need a safe place to hang out. Having a hidey house gives them a space to call their own away from the noise and activity of the house.

Typically, bunnies will sleep in their hidey house during the day. Some will bring their treats inside to eat privately.

Wooden castles and hidey houses

Wooden castles and hidey houses are typically a more expensive option because of their material and durability.

Pros

  • They’re more durable. Because they’re made out of wood, your rabbit will be less likely to destroy them through “bunstruction.” Even if they gnaw some of it, they’re unlikely to destroy the entire thing. Wooden hidey typically last longer.
  • It can be a great investment. Wooden hidey houses and castles tend to last longer, which means you’re not buying a new hidey every month. A wooden hidey can last years and can be a one-and-done purchase.
  • They’re cute! I love some of the wooden hidey options. There are tons of great castle options out there with wooden bridge accessories and longer tunnels. Some Etsy shop owners get really creative and build elaborate setups or even things like wooden campers or empty “tv sets.”

Cons

  • It can be expensive. Because they’re made of wood and durable, wooden options are typically more pricey. I tend to try to save up to get something I really want versus splurging on a whim. That being said, there are cheaper wooden options (just make sure to check the dimensions and manage expectations for the quality of the wood).
  • You’re stuck with what you have. If you’re someone who likes to switch up their bunny’s playpen for every holiday or just for fun, you might not like a wooden option as much. Obviously you can buy unlimited wooden hoidey houses, but people tend not to overbuy these. Once you buy your option, you’re pretty much set with it.
  • They’re typically only available online. Most pet stores don’t carry wooden options that are big enough for rabbits to enjoy. If you’re someone who likes to browse in person, this might be a stopping point for you.

Cardboard castles and hidey houses

Cardboard hidey houses are also a great option for rabbits. They’re economical and available at most pet stores.

Pros

  • There are tons of options everywhere. While cardboard hidey houses are oftentimes marketed towards cat owners, rabbits can also enjoy these options. Virtually every pet store and big box store that sells pet supplies will carry cardboard houses. There are tons of holiday themes that get stocked too.
  • They’re inexpensive. You can find cheap hidey houses for less than $20. If your bunny likes to destroy cardboard, it doesn’t hurt your wallet as much to replace cardboard. When I’ve done cardboard, I’ve typically gone through one a month and could factor it into the budget.

Cons

  • It could be a health hazard. Some bunnies don’t shred cardboard. They eat it. Eating cardboard can be dangerous for bunnies, causing a blockage in their intestines. You’ll want to keep an eye on your rabbit to see which type they are. If you see tons of little pieces of cardboard on the floor, you’re probably fine to keep using cardboard.
  • They don’t last as long. If you don’t want to have to keep buying the same thing over and over again, you won’t want to buy the cardboard route.
  • They’re more difficult to clean. It can be harder to keep the hidey house free of hair (especially during shedding season!) and food debris. With a wooden option, you can wipe down the structure with a wet paper towel. But with cardboard, the material can warp or the colors can run.

My pick!

All my rabbits have been cardboard eaters, so I’ve typically gone for wooden castles. They’re more durable and match the playpen aesthetic I’m going for. The bunnies seem to love it too!

Whatever you choose, make sure you provide a safe place for your bunny to get away from the hustle and bustle to relax!

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cuzrabbits gets commissions from some of the affiliate links in this post. Support our education efforts by buying your pet supplies at Small Pet Select.

Note: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. I get commissions for purchases made through links in this post.

Review: 3 free apps featuring bunnies to download today

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As rabbit parents, we love a good bunny find! Usually this comes ahead of Easter as you’re window shopping. But I’ve also found that there are a decent amount of apps that feature rabbits.

I downloaded some non-gaming apps to test out! Here are my thoughts on these unique finds!

Study Bunny: A focus app

Study Bunny is a cute focus app featuring a rabbit!

You can set up a timer to focus, and when the timer goes off, you earn coins. With the coins, you can go shopping for bunny clothes, accessories, and different app backgrounds.

You also have the option to create a to-do list, and get access to their focus music playlists on YouTube.

I think this app is pretty cute!

The downsides are that there are a decent amount of ads. It’s also really simply made, so it doesn’t do things like block notifications. The coins also take a lot of time to earn, so you won’t be buying anything anytime soon unless you’re really using the app all the time.

Overall, I think it’s worth a download if you’re looking for something rabbit related to help you focus but don’t need any fancy features.

Bunny Free: An animal testing company directory app

This is an app that lets you see if a company has been testing on animals like bunnies!

The information on the app is based on data from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA).

You can use what you learn to guide your own shopping habits if you so choose. You can also use it as a way to advocate for bunnies by contacting the companies that do test on animals.

Finch: A habit tracker app

This is a habit tracker app that primarily features a finch. You dress the bird, buy furniture for its house, and travel the world with them. But your finch can have micropets that follow them around!

You earn these pets through monthly challenges or by focusing on doing a specific task consistently. There is a rabbit micropet that was released in 2025 as part of the “Veggie Vogue” event. Because you can only get the bunny through hatching random eggs now, it might take a while to get one. I’m still working on getting mine!

I’ve used this app for a few years now and have really enjoyed it. It’s helped me during some difficult times in my life where even showering daily was a challenge. The app really got me to get up and do things for myself. It was easy to earn gems and get a bunch of cute stuff. The company also has a program where people can donate to help others who would benefit from the app. Overall, I’d say this is a great download!

Use this link to get a micropet (not a bunny, unfortunately) or use my friend code PAZXSS1BQJ1.

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Review: What’s the best type of bedding for your rabbit’s litter box?

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One of the big questions that often comes up with rabbit care is what type of bedding to use in the litter box. There are a bunch of options, and it can be difficult to narrow them down.

As someone who’s owned rabbits for more than two decades, caring for rabbits has significantly evolved. Advice and options available have changed significantly.

Here’s my take on things, the good and the bad that come with each option I’ve tried.

an exclamation point icon

Never use cat litter: Make sure you do not use cat litter for your rabbit’s litter box! Cat litter can be dangerous for your rabbit’s respiratory system. Because of the clumping, it can also cause blockages in a rabbit’s intestines. Bedding like clay are also poisonous for bunnies.

Paper Bedding

Pros

  • It comes in smaller packaging. This can make storage more managable, especially for those living in apartments.
  • It is lighter weight. For those with mobility issues, it can be easier to handle some paper bedding since it is fluffier. You’re not lugging around a heavy bag every time you have to change the litter box.
  • There are a wide variety of colors available.This is more of an aesthetic choice, but you can get white, tan, or multi-colored options. For extra fun, you could match it with holiday decor (think lavendar for Valentine’s Day)!

Cons

  • The bedding tends to stick to fur. In my experience, paper bedding can stick to your rabbit’s fur, especially in the butt area. This can be gross if the bedding is used and result in a mess outside the litter box as the bedding falls off over time.
  • Paper bedding can get pricey. This is one of the more expensive options. Because it comes in smaller quantities, you may find yourself buying more of it and spending quite a bit.

Old Newspapers

Pros

  • It’s relatively low cost. You’re not paying more than what you’d already be paying for your newspaper. There are likely a lot of newstands around your community giving out local papers for free.
  • Your friends can help out. People oftentimes have extra newspapers lying around their house. Just ask people to save them for you, and you’ll have even more of a supply available.

Cons

  • It can get kind of gross to clean out. Urine can make the newspaper stick to the bottom of the litter box.
  • It can be smelly. Newspaper doesn’t absorb the urine and poop smell as well as other options.
  • A newspaper option might be added work for you. Some people find shredding the newspaper first makes it more effective in the litter box, and this is an added step to the process.
  • Your rabbit is more likely to eat this option. Paper is paper. You’ll have to keep an eye out to make sure your rabbit isn’t ingesting the newspaper too much, potentially causing a dangerous blockage.

Pellet bedding (My Pick!!!)

For this one, I’m specifically talking about the Tractor Supply Pelletized Bedding for Horses and Small Animals that comes in a 40 lb. bag.

Pros

  • You get the bang for your buck. This comes in a gigantic bag and is less than $10.
  • It absorbs the smell. As long as you keep to a consistent cleaning schedule, I’ve found that this option is the best for fending off the urine and poop smell that typically comes from the litter box.
  • It’s easy to clean. Almost none of this really sticks to the bottom of the litter box. When the bedding absorbs urine, the pellet expands and crumbles slightly. It’s the least annoying option I’ve found.

Cons

  • The bag is very heavy. Depending on your strength level, you might need help loading the pellet bedding bag into your car and into your house.
  • You might need to come up with a storage solution. The bag is not resealable, so you might have to transfer it into a new container. At the very least, you’ll have to find a spot for a big, heavy bag and clip it shut.

Litter box bedding to avoid for rabbits

  • Cat Litter: This is dangerous for rabbits. The litter clumps when wet, so if your rabbit eats this, it can cause a potentially deadly blockage.
  • Puppy Pads: I’ve seen some people try laying down puppy pads, especially to line the bottom of the litter box. In my experience, it’s not worth it. Your rabbit is likely to end up injesting the plastic and also potentially getting a blockage.
  • Pine Shavings: This is oftentimes found in the rabbit supply section in stores, but don’t fall for this! Pine shavings can cause respiratory issues. Trust me, you do not want those vet bills! A lesser but still ew concern is that wood shavings oftentimes stick to your rabbit’s fur (annoying and gross if they’re used!). Your bunny may then accidentally trail them through your house and their playpen, leading to more clean up tasks.

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cuzrabbits gets commissions from some of the affiliate links in this post. Support our education efforts by buying your pet supplies at Small Pet Select.

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Easter Basket Gift Guide: What to buy for Easter that is NOT a pet rabbit

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Rabbits are amazing pets, so it’s no wonder people get really interested in owning one around Easter time.

But getting a new pet shouldn’t be something you do as part of a holiday celebration.

We’ll take a look at what should go into your decision to get a bunny for Easter (or not). And more importantly, some nice alternatives to bringing a new furry friend home.

Pets are not presents

Owning a rabbit is no joke. Although many people consider them “starter” pets, that’s usually because they don’t know enough about proper, humane rabbit care.

Sure if you buy a rabbit, leave it outside in a hutch, and feed it one carrot a day, a rabbit is an easy pet. But that’s the equivalent of buying a dog, tying it outside on a rope, and feeding it a single bone each day. Not fair to the animal and certainly not in the spirit of Easter if that’s what you’re going for present-wise.

There are certain things you should consider before buying a rabbit no matter what time of year.

Here are some important reads to review to make sure you understand the cost of having a rabbit and what it takes to be a responsible pet owner.

Many Easter bunnies are abandoned each year

Oftentimes, people who want to gift an “Easter bunny” are looking for cute little baby bunnies, not fully grown rabbits.

It starts out cute enough. The bunnies are small and easy to manage. They still have their baby fur and are extra fluffy.

But then they enter the teenage phase a few months later. Their hormones are raging causing them to spray pee everywhere to mark their territory. Their hormones might make them start humping or cause them to become more aggressive. They get bigger and aren’t so cute anymore.

Instead of taking their rabbit to the vet (where their gender is often discovered) and spaying/neutering their rabbit, some people go with the more barbaric solution – dumping their rabbit in the wild.

This is essentially leaving their rabbit outside to die.

Domestic rabbits are not equipped with the survival skills that wild rabbits have. They’re also vulnerable to disease, could be eaten by predators, or even just hit by a car.

The phenomenon of dumping rabbits after Easter is so bad that shelter oftentimes have an adoption blackout period around Easter to discourage impulse adoptions. They also prepare for an influx of calls in the months following Easter, reporting rabbits being abandoned outside.

If you do end up getting an Easter bunny and have regrets, it’s important to know that dumping your rabbit outside is NOT the way to get rid of your pet.

Try contacting your local shelters to see if they can take the bunny back. Many shelters and even some breeders have policies asking you to return rabbits into their care if things don’t work out.

As a last resort, you can also try finding a new owner for your rabbit online. There are many rabbit rehoming groups. Just do your due diligence to make sure your rabbit is going to a good, responsible home. And do not list your rabbit for free. That makes it easier for people to pretend to want to adopt your rabbit, only to feed it to other pets like snakes.

Gift ideas for children

In most of the cases I’ve seen, parents are looking for baby bunnies as part of Easter basket surprises for their kids.

But I can assure you, your child doesn’t need a rabbit. Unless they’re old enough to independently take care of a pet and have extensively researched rabbit care themselves, they’ll be completely fine with an alternative gift.

Here are some fun options:

  • Chocolate bunnies: Every grocery store will have a chocolate bunny in stock for Easter. If you want to make it a really special gift, shop local and buy your candy at a small mom and pop store.
  • A stuffed animal: There are some really good quality brands that sell rabbit stuffies. For something more unique, go with a Warmie bunny, which you can heat up in a microwave for extra comfort.
  • Stickers: Pick up some cute bunny stickers they can use to decorate their school notebooks or coloring pages! Take it up a notch by ordering on Etsy from an artist that hand draws them. There are also really cool bunny scene books where kids can position stickers on a house background, for example, to really get the imagination going!

Gift ideas for adults

Adults can fall into the Easter bunny trap too.

Instead of gifting a loved one a pet, consider these alternatives:

You can also gift an adult anything you’d gift a kid, because who doesn’t love a cute stuffed animal or delicious chocolate!

cuzrabbits gets commissions from some of the affiliate links in this post. Support our education efforts by buying your pet supplies at Small Pet Select.

Note: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. I get commissions for purchases made through links in this post.

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Our Rabbit Adoption Story: How our healing journey led us to adopt Henry

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Losing Baby was one of the most difficult things I’ve experienced in my life. For a long time, I was lost, and sometimes, I feel like I still am.

To help me get through the loss, our family ended up fostering two rabbits and a cockatiel. We ended up taking a break from pets for a while as we focused on our human children and healing.

Getting the Itch

After months and months, I still felt an emptiness. Aside from my college years, I’d lived with a pet in the house since I was in fourth grade. It just didn’t feel right to not have a pet as a companion.

So I started looking.

Almost every day, I’d hop onto PetFinder to see what was out there. But none ever really jumped out at me.

Until I saw a profile for a sad looking tan lop.

I sent the page to my husband and we decided to go to the shelter an hour away to see him. We wanted to be 100% sure he was a good fit for our family.

The Shelter Experience

We got to the shelter and noticed right away how small the place was.

The shelter primarily serves dogs and cats. They had a decent sized cage in their front office for housing the rabbit. I was shocked to see this arrangement because rabbits are prey animals. They certainly wouldn’t enjoy a busy lobby, constantly hearing TVs and barking dogs.

The workers brought us into a room with a bench to see the rabbit outside his cage. My husband, two toddlers, and I crammed in as best we could but then decided to take turns in groups of two.

The rabbit was scared, hiding in the corner under the bench. But he let us pet him and seemed sweet.

My husband and I ultimately decided we had to take him. It would have been too sad to leave him in an environment we knew was not suited to bunnies.

After less than ten minutes of paperwork, we walked out with our new family member!

The Bunny’s Backstory

We asked the workers about what they knew about this rabbit’s life before going to the shelter.

They didn’t know much but said the rabbit was an owner surrender. The previous owners just couldn’t take care of him anymore.

The rabbit did seem well-loved though. He came with his own carrier, food containers, multiple bags of treats, and a puzzle feeder.

Naming Our New Bunny

My husband and I brainstormed names on the drive home.

We decided we wanted a classic name, like one I might find in one of my books (I read a lot of Jane Austen and Robert Louis Stevenson).

We ended up choosing the name Henry!

It was the perfect choice for him, and as a bonus, my eldest son sounds adorable pronouncing it. The way he says it almost sounds French!

Learning As We Go

A new rabbit means relearning and reevaluating everything we thought we knew about bunnies.

Every bunny has their own:

  • Favorite foods
  • Preferred grooming strategies
  • No-touch zones
  • Toys
  • Boundaries
  • Bad habits

On top of that, we have to teach him his new name!

He’s been with us a little over a year now, and there’s still a lot of learning to do. But our kids already spoil him with all his favorite treats!

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Four rabbit supply items worth subscribing to on Amazon

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Rabbit care can get pretty expensive! Many new rabbit owners don’t realize when they’re first starting out that these “starter” (ya, right) pets require a lot of food and supplies.

You can save money by subscribing to items on Amazon! It also saves you a trip to the pet store, where you might be tempted to buy extra treats or cute accessories you don’t need.

1. Bedding for your bunny’s litter box

Rabbits can be trained to go to the bathroom in a litter box, so naturally, you’ll need to buy litter.

Right now, I have enough space to buy pellets from Tractor Supply in bulk. But while I lived in an apartment, that would have been incredibly inconvenient, especially bringing up to the second floor. I only have so much muscle and didn’t need the extra workout!

There are many different types of litter box bedding, but my favorite was always paper bedding.

It is lightweight, comes in different colors, and is easy to change out.

2. Timothy hay

The majority of your rabbit’s diet will be hay, not something like pellets or carrots. Senior and baby bunnies might need alfalfa hay. If you have allergies, oat hay or orchard grass hay might be a healthier option. But the average bunny will need good, ol’ Timothy hay.

If you have the space, it will be much cheaper to buy hay by the bale from your local farmer. But when I was in an apartment, that option was not on the table — unless I wanted the entire apartment to smell like a barnyard!

Getting a smaller subscription box from Amazon is just easier when you’re low on space. And if you’re not sure what type of hay your rabbit will like, you can always order a sampler hay box before you commit.

3. Apple Sticks

If you want your rabbit to stop chewing on baseboards and getting into mischief, they need something to do!

Henry is obsessed with apple sticks. They’re good for shaving down his teeth (rabbit teeth never stop growing), and it keeps him busy!

4. A foraging treat

Something I’m always buying is a foraging treat. This is something you can scatter into hay or on a snuffle mat to provide enrichment for a bored bunny.

You can order a sample forage box to see which is your rabbit’s favorite. Henry likes almost anything but really enjoys Small Pet Select’s Flower Power Herbal Blend!

What’s not worth subscribing to?

Some things are just not worth putting on Subscribe & Save.

Some things are just not worth the commitment:

  • One-off treats for special occasions: This can get expensive fast. Really specialty items are something I rather pick out for a holiday or gotcha day celebration. I also find that it’s much more fun to buy these types of things in person!
  • Pellets: Rabbits don’t actually need a lot of pellets. It can make them gain too much weight, doesn’t wear down their teeth as well as hay, and are dietarily unnecessary for many bunnies. Since you won’t use as much of it, you probably don’t need to subscribe.
  • Toys: Unless your rabbit already have an established favorite that they regularly destroy, I don’t think it is worth subscribing to toys (edible or inedible). Your rabbit might not go through the toys as fast as you think, and then you’ll end up with way too much of one thing. Or you’ll want to mix things up instead of buying the same toy over and over again.

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cuzrabbits gets commissions from some of the affiliate links in this post. Support our education efforts by buying your pet supplies at Small Pet Select.

Note: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. I get commissions for purchases made through links in this post.

Storm Prep: How to keep your rabbit safe during a snowstorm

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There is a lot of advice about how to prepare your home and your fellow humans for a snowstorm. You can buy shelf safe foods, charge your devices, and drip your pipes to keep them from bursting.

But bunny parents have an extra set of tasks to get through.

What to Buy Before the Storm

Before the storm, you’ll want to stock up on your food supplies.

Here are some things to make sure you have on hand:

  • Hay: Timothy hay is the usual choice. Though if you have a hay allergy, you might get an orchard or grass hay. Young rabbits may still need alfalfa hay.
  • Water: This is especially important if you have well water that you’ll be unable to access if the power goes out. Make sure you stock up on bottled water.
  • Vegetables: In an emergency, your rabbit can survive a few days without veggies, but if you can, load up on romaine lettuce and any other greens your rabbit enjoys.

Rabbit pellets and treats aren’t necessarily needed in an emergency, but if you have time, you can stock up on those as well!

Check List of Tasks to Do Before The Storm

Before the storm hits, you’ll also want to make sure to get a few tasks done, aside from shopping! It’s annoying to have to do some of these things when you’re freezing, just trying to get through the day.

  • Change the litter box: Whether that’s dumping the box’s contents into the woods out back or throwing it in the trash outside your apartment, you do not want to have to do this during a storm! Or be stuck with it inside the house with you…
  • Give your rabbit’s space a refresher: Pick up the poop your rabbit has kicked out of the litter box. Collect all the old, chewed up toys they no longer use. Vacuum or rake out the hay and hair in the flooring. Having a fresh start before the storm will hopefully cut down on the work you have to do during it. Here’s my step-by-step cleaning routine (minus cleaning out the litter box).
  • Get your pet carrier ready: Make sure your pet carrier isn’t broken. Throw in a clean towel, so there’s traction at the bottom. If you have to evacuate your home for some reason, your rabbit will be ready to go with you. Make sure the carrier is plastic, so it will be harder for your rabbit to chew on if they have to stay inside it for a while.
  • Set up a bunny go-bag: If you have to evacuate, you’ll want to have everything ready. In a small backpack, you can pack a water dish, a ziplock bag of hay, maybe some veggies. It won’t be perfect, but it will hopefully be enough to carry your rabbit over until you can come back home or get more supplies.
  • Move your rabbit to the designated “warm room”: In a lot of human prep advice, people suggest picking a room in your house for everyone to stay in. It should be central in the home and have very few windows. You can hang blankets for insulation and stuff fabric at the bottom of doors. As an added safety measure, you can move your bunny’s set-up into this same warm room.

Outdoor Rabbit Disclaimer: I only advocate for keeping bunnies indoors. From my own experience 20+ years ago when rabbit care was much less advanced, keeping a pet rabbit outdoors exposes them to dangerous diseases, predators, and the elements. It’s not fair to your pet.

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cuzrabbits gets commissions from some of the affiliate links in this post. Support our education efforts by buying your pet supplies at Small Pet Select.

How to actually get newbies to take care of their rabbits properly

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You see it time and time again. A well meaning parent buys their child a rabbit, making sure to purchase a small cage to keep it in. A pet shop has rabbits on display for sale with nothing but pellets available for food. Someone posts a picture of themselves holding a bunny by the scruff of its neck.

As rabbit lovers, these types of missteps make us cringe at best and keeps us up at night at worst.

So, how do we stop the mistreatment of bunnies?

For some people, the first instinct is to go on a rampage, starting fights online by commenting mean or snarky things to new rabbit owners. But as the saying goes, you catch more bees with honey.

If we go the route of mindful, loving conversations, we’re less likely to scare people off. It opens the door for continued learning and progressively better treatment of rabbits.

Read the Full Research

Researchers Sarah A. McMahon and Ellie Wigham conducted a study to see how people’s perception of a rabbit’s mental ability affects how their owner cares for them.

1516 people responded to the online survey, giving insights on what really impacts rabbit care.

Why do people think rabbits are boring and dumb?

In the more than 15 years I have owned rabbits, rabbit care had evolved tremendously.

My family got our first rabbits when I was in 4th grade. Mopsy and Flopsy (creative and unique names, I know) were the children of my cousin’s 4H rabbits. It was completely normal to keep rabbits outside in a hutch year-round.

We didn’t know any better, but one of my biggest regrets is how we treated those bunnies. We maybe checked on them every day, and that’s a generous estimate. When we did, it was to make sure they had food and water. We let them play outside in a fenced in area, but it’s not like it was every day.

The internet wasn’t the information overload it is today, so we didn’t realize other people treated their rabbits any differently.

To us, rabbits were very cute and sometimes funny, but it basically ended there. I don’t remember actively thinking about enrichment or my rabbits’ feelings. At the end of the day, we didn’t see them having thoughts and feelings the way we picture dogs and cats having them. So it didn’t necessarily feel wrong to stick them in a large cage and visit them once in a while. We did the best we knew how.

I suspect other people have a similar reason for not giving the best rabbit care.

People outside the rabbit community bubble aren’t aware of the evolution of rabbit care. They haven’t made it to the next step of realizing rabbits have personalities when they aren’t stuck in a 2 by 4 cage.

What areas of rabbit care are neglected?

There are a million and one ways people can neglect animals, but for rabbits specifically, McMahon and Wigham identified these three areas of shortcomings.

  • Housing: Instead of giving rabbits plenty of room to run around, some owners just stick their buns in a cage and call it a day. Not everyone can free roam, so it’s important that enclosures are large and rabbits get time each day to stretch their legs and run around.
  • Diet: Rabbits cannot live on pellets alone. Some pet stores and pet food companies perpetuate this misconception. Rabbits need plenty of hay and veggies in their diet too!
  • Healthcare: This is a tough one even for humans looking to stay healthy. Medical bills are expensive, but it’s important to keep your rabbit healthy. That means annual visits to an exotic veterinarian and getting educated about basic rabbit health issues.

Besides just making a rabbit’s life miserable, falling short in these categories can mean a shorter and more painful life.

Research Results

Oddly enough, more than 90% of the rabbit owners that took the survey were women.

Of those surveyed,

  • 59.3% kept their rabbit with another rabbit.
  • 89.3% considered themselves a part of the rabbit community.
  • 70% were from the UK and 11.9% were from the United States.

Most of the rabbit owners surveyed free roamed their bunny inside, fed them mostly hay, and gave their bun four enrichment items.

How the owners perceived their bunnies

The study reviewed what the owners thought about their rabbit’s ability to feel emotions and pain, as well as how smart they were.

  • If people felt that rabbits could experience higher degrees of pain, they were more likely to provide indoor housing/free roaming and more enrichment opportunities.
  • If people felt rabbits could experience higher degrees of pain AND emotion, they were more likely to house their bun with a friend.
  • If people felt rabbits are intelligent, they were more likely to feed their rabbits more vegetables versus muesli (an unhealthy food mix of things like flaked maize, peas, pellets, grains and seeds).

Most believed rabbits could form strong bonds with other rabbits and humans – but didn’t necessarily hate being an “only child.”

What you can do to educate people being intelligence, pain, and emotions in rabbits

Rabbits are easily misunderstood.

So when you’re talking to a new pet owner, it’s best to skip the judgement and go straight to kind education.

Here are some practical things you can share to showcase how smart rabbits are, how they show emotions, and how they can feel pain.

Intelligence

  • Rabbit agility: Rabbits are smart enough to participate in agility competitions, just like dogs! Show people videos of rabbits jumping in those competitions.
  • Puzzle feeders: Rabbits are smart enough to figure out puzzle feeders too!
  • Learning their name: Many rabbits learn their own name and can come when called (especially when there are treats involved).
  • Share your stories: I know Baby, my lionhead, is a smart one because he’s figured out how to get at treats that are stored away. Share anecdotes from your own life!

Emotions

Show new owners rabbit body language and teach them what the different sounds a rabbit make means!

Too often, I hear people say, “My rabbit doesn’t love me.” But then say their rabbit binkies when they enter a room, lick them, and lay down next to their feet.

Rabbits express themselves differently, just like humans. Some may lick their owners as a sign of affection, while others may “chin” their owners to claim them. It can be confusing to someone who is only used to the outward enthusiasm of a dog or the clear purring of a cat!

Pain

Explain why a new bunny owner may not notice when their fur child is in pain! As a prey animal, they’re not going to advertise their weaknesses on a billboard!

This is where your experience comes into play! If you’ve had rabbits that have gone through illnesses, you can share your story. Explain the subtle details that you noticed, like your rabbit hunching over a bit more or wasn’t as bouncy as usual.

Do your best while avoiding confrontation

All the researching and prompting in the world won’t be enough to change some people’s minds.

The main thing is that you try your best to educate people without working yourself up to a full blown argument. At the end of the day, it’s not worth your stress and mental energy. All you can do at that point is exhibit proper rabbit care through your own dedicated example.

There are so many rabbits in this world, and so so many of them are mistreated. You can’t help all of them. But if you even help one, it will have been worth the effort of sharing this information.

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Free Phone Wallpaper: Showcase your love of bunnies!

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It’s no secret. Bunnies are adorable!

Here are some free phone backgrounds featuring rabbits. I made these using Canva, a free graphic design app.

Simple and Cute

This collection features simple graphics with bunny themed accents along the borders. Some of these phone backgrounds also feature calming bunny landscapes.

Bunny Motifs

Want to go a little more artsy? A little more *sparkle sparkle* design?

This collection features repeating graphic elements related to bunnies, like Peeps-esque images and carrots.

Funny Bunny

Rabbits have a fun side to them too! Whether it’s binkying through your home or demanding treats, they’ve been known to bring out a laugh in their hoomans.

This collection features the lighter side of rabbits.

Added our cuzrabbits wallpaper?

Share screenshots of your homescreen with your bunny loving friends!

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Foster Rabbit #2! Hamlet is ready to be your overlord…I mean, furry friend

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Hamlet, an adult harlequin bunny, has arrived at Baby’s Bungalow!

He has definitely proven to us that all rabbits have totally different personalities, just like humans. While our first foster was a young bunny that didn’t quite feel comfortable with strangers, Hamlet knows exactly what he wants and will make sure you know. He’s very vocal, in the way that rabbits can be.

His lack of shyness tells me he’s ready to be the “man of the house” wherever he ends up!

Personality Profile

Three words to describe Hamlet?

  1. Grunty
  2. Bold
  3. Hungry

Hamlet will grunt his needs

There’s a common stereotype with rabbits that they are very quiet and it’s very hard to tell what they want. They’re not like dogs, which have a wide vocal range of barks, whimpers, and whines.

But Hamlet pushes his communication skills to the limit.

You will know if you’re doing something “wrong.”

He has grunted:

  • When we were too slow opening the playpen so he could run around
  • When we reached out to pet him too fast (making him uncomfortable since bunnies have a blind spot right in front of their nose)
  • When we were too slow getting him his food (Why is your hand still there anyway? You need faster reflexes, obviously!)

It’s important to note that grunting in general is a communication technique, not necessarily an immediate indication of aggression. Hamlet has not bitten anyone! But we’ve also heeded his warning grunts. We’ve been respectful of his personal space and his (demanding) preferences.

Hamlet will claim your home

It took about a week for Hamlet to feel comfortable enough in the space to leave the playpen. We left the door open every night and sat nearby to supervise. But he only finally came out when he heard me unwrap a (very expired) lollipop for myself, not realizing that the crinkling was not me getting him a treat.

Once he was out though, boy was he out!

He immediately started running around investigating. After reviewing the area, he acted like he owned the place! He even came right up to me while I was sitting on the floor and bumped me with his nose, a “pet me now, please” signal.

Since then, he’s just been hoping right out and looking around every night.

Hamlet doesn’t know a treat he didn’t like

If you offer it to him, Hamlet’s eating it!

He loves all kinds of treats and hay, everything from rabbit biscuits to strawberry tops.

Don’t let him trick you into feeding multiple rounds of pellets! He’s definitely a bun that would fake starvation after just being fed.

Fast Facts about Hamlet

Here are some good things to know about Hamlet before considering adopting him:

  • Litterbox: He’s been trained to use the litterbox, and his habits are immaculate. Just know any bunny will accidentally kick out some poop as they’re jumping out of the litterbox.
  • Neutered: He has been neutered, so you don’t have to worry about the pricey surgery.
  • Petting Preference: Hamlet loves to be pet but likes pets to the head the best! And HE decides when you’re done petting him. If you stop too early, he’ll bump you with his nose and lower his head back into position for more! Hamlet is definitely one of those rabbits I can see asking you to pet him through an entire movie on the couch or something.

Update!

Thomas was adopted and bonded with another rabbit in his new home! A lovely happily ever after!

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