How Much Do English Spot Rabbits Cost: 2024 Price Update
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English Spot Rabbits are popular and attractive rabbits with signature spots that give them their name. They’ve been around since the 19th century and are common in the pet and commercial trades, so despite being so pretty, they’re not overly expensive.
Aside from the upfront costs of buying or adopting an English Spot Rabbit, however, rabbits have monthly expenses that you need to consider before getting one. On average monthly expenses are between $178–$591 per month. These rabbits can live six to eight years, so that’s a big commitment.
Bringing Home a New English Spot Rabbit: One-Time Costs
When you bring home a new English Spot Rabbit, you may have to pay for the price of the kit at a breeder or the rehoming or adoption fee from a shelter, rescue, or private owner. Along with that, you will have expenses for the rabbit’s veterinary care, setup, and supplies.
Free
English Spot Rabbits are common in the pet trade, scientific research, and on commercial farms for fiber or meat. They’re easy to find and reproduce, well, like rabbits, so you may find a litter of kits free to a good home. Some people may be rehoming adult rabbits for free for various reasons as well.
Adoption
- $20–$50
English Spot Rabbits may end up in shelters or rescues. You can adopt a rabbit from a rescue for around $25, though some private rescues may charge as much as $50 for an adoption fee. With this fee, the rabbit has a vet exam and spay or neuter, as well as other veterinary care, so you’re getting more bang for your buck than buying a rabbit outright.
Breeder
- $10–$50
If you get an English Spot Rabbit through a breeder, it could cost between $10 and $50. They’re common in the pet trade, which means you’re not likely to come across exorbitant prices for pet-quality rabbits. Show-quality rabbits will cost more, and their price depends on the bloodlines and show the history of the parents.
Initial Setup and Supplies
- $630–$700
You will need to prepare to bring home your rabbit with its setup and supplies, which include a rabbit hutch or an indoor cage, a hay feeder and litter box, plenty of toys, and food. Once you have these supplies, your ongoing expenses are much lower, however.
List of English Spot Rabbit Care Supplies and Costs
| Rabbit hutch | $150-$200 |
| Indoor cage (optional) | $100 |
| Hay feeder | $50–$75 |
| Litter box | $10 |
| Toys | $20 |
| Hay and food | $30 |
| Veterinary care | $250 |
| Nail Clipper (optional) | $5 |
| Bedding | $10 |
How Much Does an English Spot Rabbit Cost Per Month?
- $178–$591 per month
English Spot Rabbits are relatively inexpensive pets. Aside from regular vet care throughout the year, most of your expenses are food and bedding each month. You will spend money upfront for a hutch or cage, toys, and supplies, but you won’t need to replace them often,
Health Care
- $70–$250 per month
Most of your rabbit’s monthly health expenses will be for regular care like food. Veterinary expenses can be high, but they usually only happen a few times a year. It’s important to set aside emergency expenses for your rabbit, however.
Food
- $40–$100 per month
Your English Spot Rabbit will need a combination of hay, pellets, and vegetables each month, so your costs can vary depending on what you choose to feed. Generally, it’s only about $40 a month to feed your rabbit, but you can spend more if you feed a lot of fresh veggies and a more expensive pellet formula.
Grooming
- $0–$10 per month
Rabbits have low-maintenance grooming needs. Once you buy your supplies, such as a brush, rabbit-safe shampoo, and nail clippers, you won’t have many ongoing grooming expenses. If you elect to have professional grooming, it can get a little more expensive. It can be more difficult to find groomers for a rabbit than a dog or a cat, however.
Medications and Vet Visits
- $15–$100 per month
If you need to spay or neuter your rabbit, you will need to pay $125 to $250 for its veterinary expenses, but that will save you money on health problems and behavioral issues related to sex hormones. Beyond that, you will need to take your rabbit for checkups throughout the year, which could cost between $35 and $65.
Aside from routine veterinary care, you should have funds set aside for emergencies. Visiting the emergency clinic can be more expensive than a regular vet, so it’s best to set aside $1,000 or more to be prepared.
Pet Insurance
- $15–$40 per month
If you’re concerned about emergency expenses for your rabbit’s care, pet insurance is a cost-effective choice. The premium will vary by the rabbit’s breed, overall health, and age, as well as the company itself, but you can get coverage for major illnesses and injuries for an affordable monthly premium.
Environment Maintenance
- $33–$66 per month
Your rabbit’s bedding, litter, and optional litter box liners can add to your monthly expenses. Depending on how often you have to change out the litter and bedding, you can expect to pay between $33 and $66 per month.
| Litter box liners | $3/month |
| Litter | $10/month |
| Bedding | $20/month |
Entertainment
- $5–$25 per month
Rabbits will require toys and other forms of enrichment to stay happy and healthy. These costs can vary significantly depending on what toys and treats you provide. For reference, BinxBox, a subscription box for rabbits, guinea pigs, and other small mammals from BarkBox, is about $25 per month for a subscription. With that, you receive treats, herbs, some Timothy hay, and four or five toys.
Total Monthly Cost of Owning an English Spot Rabbit
- $178–$591 per month
The costs can vary for your rabbit depending on additional supplies or services, such as pet insurance and extra toys or treats, but you can expect to spend between $178 and $591 per month, including veterinary care, an emergency fund, and ongoing maintenance costs.
Additional Costs to Factor In
If you require professional services like pet boarding, pet sitting, or professional services, your costs can be considerably higher. You may also have unexpected expenses if your rabbit chews on your furniture, wires, or other items, but this can be avoided by keeping your rabbit under supervision when it’s free.
Some rabbits are more destructive than others, so you may have additional expenses from replacing your hutch or cage, toys, and cage furniture more often. Proper enrichment can go a long way toward keeping your rabbit occupied and reducing destructive behaviors, however.
Owning an English Spot Rabbit on a Budget
You may not have expected rabbits to be quite so expensive, but it’s worth it to have a healthy rabbit. You can keep a rabbit on a budget but don’t neglect high-quality food or veterinary care to save on expenses. These are the most important aspects of keeping a healthy and happy rabbit. If you’re concerned about vet bills, look into pet insurance to ensure you’re covered for unexpected illnesses and injuries.
Saving Money on English Spot Rabbit Care
Many of the expenses on this list are optional, such as pet insurance, a subscription box for treats and toys, litter box liners, and professional pet services. If you groom your rabbit yourself and get creative with homemade toys and treats, you can save a lot of money over the course of a year.
Conclusion
English Spot Rabbits are inexpensive and fairly easy to care for, but they do have some expenses you may not be expecting. Beyond initial setup costs, you will have regular monthly expenses for food, veterinary care, and bedding, as well as treats and toys to keep your rabbit entertained.
Featured Image Credit: Wirestock Creators, Shutterstock
