15 Rabbit Essentials You Need Before You Get One

Over 1.5 million American households know the joy of inviting a rabbit into their lives.¹ With proper training, you can let a bunny roam free in your home with many of the same precautions you’d take with a cat or dog. You have plenty of animals to choose from with the 49 recognized breeds of the American Rabbit Breeders Association (ARBA).²

Caring for a bunny includes a lot of common sense actions, such as pet-proofing your home and feeding it a proper diet. However, it’s essential to learn the unique needs of these lagomorphs to ensure a good quality of life for your pet. Our round-up has you covered with all the necessities.

Rabbit Supplies

The 4 Food and Feeding Supplies

1. Hay

Kaytee Natural Timothy Hay Small Animal Food provides the necessary fiber content in a digestible form to keep your rabbit healthy. Unfortunately, lagomorphs have sensitive digestive systems, making GI distress a significant concern with these pets. An adult rabbit on a maintenance diet needs about 20% fiber daily. The type of hay is an essential factor. Timothy is preferable to alfalfa for long-term dietary needs.

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2. Pellet Diet

While hay will supply the bulk of your pet’s diet, commercial diets like Oxbow Essentials Adult Rabbit Food provide additional nutritional support. Rabbits can synthesize B vitamins in their GI tracts. However, they still need other nutrients, such as vitamins A, D, and E. That’s where a commercial diet comes in handy. Make sure to follow the feeding instructions for your pet’s weight and life stage.

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3. Food Bowl

Even a medium-sized, 10-pound rabbit is only going to need about ½ cup of pellets a day. Therefore, you can be conservative about the capacity of the bowl. We like the Choco Nose Mini Heart Locking Small Pet Feeding Bowl since it’s tip-proof. You don’t have to worry about your bunny knocking it over accidentally. It also allows you to monitor your pet’s daily intake to help prevent obesity.

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4. Water Bottle

Rabbits consume about 120 mL/kg of water daily. Remember that hay provides a lot of moisture. Nevertheless, they need adequate fluid intake to aid digestion. A 10-pound bunny needs about a pint of fresh water every day. We like the Ware Critter Carafe Small Animal Water Bottle because it’s big enough with some volume to spare to keep it reasonably cool.

It’s also made of glass. Rabbits chew—a lot! It doesn’t matter if it’s a toy they’re supposed to gnaw on or their only source of fresh drinking water. It’s easy to clean and dishwasher safe.

The 3 Treats and Toy Supplies

5. Commercial Treats

As we’ve discussed, vitamin A is an essential nutrient for rabbits. That makes giving your pet a rich source of this vitamin a smart dietary supplement. We like Vitakraft Slims Carrot Crispy Nibble Stick Small Animal Treats because of their small and convenient size. Your pet will get the nutrition it needs with a healthy dose of fiber and protein. However, the manufacturer recommends only one a day.

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6. Fresh Fruits and Vegetables

Fresh fruits and vegetables are an excellent addition to your rabbit’s diet. They provide nutrients and other beneficial chemical compounds for optimal health. We suggest limiting them to small treats comprising no more than 10% of your pet’s daily intake. Remember that animals can’t always eat things we can because of our varying physiologies. Safe options include the following:

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7. Toys

Toys are essential for rabbits, especially if they are something they can chew. Remember that their teeth keep growing their entire lives. Wood helps keep them trim, not unlike using a file on your fingernails. We like the Oxbow Enriched Life Willow Play Cube because of its shape and design. It’ll stay clean because of the open frame that allows airflow through it.

You can also put treats inside of it to make it an interactive toy. Rabbits need mental stimulation just like any other pet. This product fulfills that need in a tasty way.

The 7 Housing Supplies

8. Cage

A cage is a must-have with a rabbit. As much as we’d like to let them roam, they’ll inevitably get into mischief or chew something they shouldn’t. It’s also essential if you have other pets in your home. We like the MidWest Wabbitat Rabbit Home because it fulfills these needs with the features we like to see in these products. It’s easy to clean with a solid floor to make it more comfortable for your bunny.

The positioning of the two doors is brilliant and makes it easy for you and your rabbit to use them. It’s a decent size for most pets, although you should opt for something bigger with larger breeds like the Flemish Giant.

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9. Bedding

Of course, you’ll need bedding, whether you get a cage or an outdoor hutch. Rabbits aren’t as fastidious when it comes to urinating, making bedding essential. We like the Kaytee Clean & Cozy Extreme Odor Control Small Animal Bedding because it does an excellent job of taming the unpleasant smell. It’s also soft enough for your bunny to lie on it comfortably. Better yet, it is a dust-free option.

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10. Litter Box

Try as we might, keeping the litter inside the cage doesn’t always work. It’s bad enough with the bedding without adding the litter, too. That’s what makes the Ware Scatterless Lock-N-Litter Small Animal Litter Pan such a welcome find. It stays in place so that your rabbit can’t knock it over, making cleaning that much easier. The high sides also act as a barrier, which we appreciate.

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11. Litter

Pelleted litters are a godsend for small animals like rabbits. They make cleaning easier with a product that does a better job of absorbing waste. We also liked that the litter is safe to use. Inevitably, everything makes it into a rabbit’s mouth. That makes the Oxbow Bene Terra Eco-Straw Pelleted Wheat Straw Small Animal Litter our pick for the best product.

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12. Litter Scoop

Ditching your plastic scoop for a metal one is a no-brainer. It’s virtually indestructible and infinitely easier to clean. You also don’t have to worry about it absorbing odors. All these things put the Petmate Metal Litter Scoop at the top of our list. The pattern is the right size for getting rid of solid or clumping waste, depending on the litter you use.

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13. Playpen

We’re big fans of letting our rabbits explore the outdoors. However, an enclosure is necessary with so many hazards. We like the Outback Jack Happy Habitat Playpen Tent because it has a roof. Sadly, predators can spot a bunny if it’s in an open pen, making it fair game. While the manufacturer markets this product for cats, it’ll work just as well for your rabbit.

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14. Animal Carrier

The Frisco Top Loading Small Pet Carrier ticks off all the boxes we like to see when looking for these products. It’s made of hard plastic, which is a better choice for rabbits than a soft-sided one. It’s also easier to clean. The top-loading design is brilliant. It’ll make it so much easier to get your pet inside it while minimizing how much it kicks in protest.

The Grooming Supplies

15. Grooming Kit

The Ware Groom-N-Kit for Small Animals has everything you need to keep your bunny looking its best. It has two kinds of brushes to take care of both short and long-haired rabbits. We liked the rubber nibs, which are easier on your pet’s skin. It also includes scissors to keep your bunny’s nails trimmed. That’s especially important if you have an indoor-only pet with no chance to wear them down outside.

You may also be interested in:

• Do Rabbits Fart? Facts & FAQs

Conclusion

Having the right supplies can make owning a rabbit easier. While bunnies present similar challenges as dogs and cats, they still have their unique needs. Our round-up covers the basic care needs of your pet, perhaps with a few you hadn’t considered. Fortunately, as the popularity of these pets has grown, so, too, has the selection of better tailor-made products to suit lagomorphs.

See also: 11 Exotic and Rare Rabbit Breeds (With Pictures)

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Featured Image Credit: Tscharlie, Pixabay