bunny supplies

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.