Let’s face it, getting a pet is no inexpensive feat and a rabbit requires many items just like a dog or cat. We will explore 10 necessities you need to buy your bunny before bringing him or her home.
These first 5 necessities are items needed for health and welfare:
- One of the the most important necessities you must have is a carrier. After all, you do need it to bring your bunny home! There are a wide range of carriers to choose from so take your time researching them. I have used both hard case and soft carrier and my preference is the soft. I find the door on the hard carrier gets in the way when trying to get the bunny out. Especially at the vet!
2. Next you must invest in a good first aid kit. Say what? Yes, rabbits are fragile animals and when they get sick or injured, quick treatment can mean the difference between life or death. This is something I recommend you putting together yourself rather than buying a pre-made one. I found a tackle box to be especially helpful for this and I keep it in a central location that is easily accessible.
3. The third item on your list of necessities is for cleanliness! You, or I should say your bun, will need a litter box and rabbit safe litter. My pro-tip: get 2 per bunny. Keep the second set filled with litter so on cleaning day you can do a quick swap out.
4. Your bun will also need items for dining. Ideally it is better for a rabbit to drink from a bowl rather than a water bottle so look for one that is large, heavy and hard to move. (I do have one rabbit that refuses to drink from a bowl therefore has a water bottle. Don’t worry if your rabbit is the same. I adopted her this way and that is what she was accustomed to.) For food you can use another bowl or snuffle mat for pellets and a plate for greens. Just be sure the bowl is appropriately sized for your bunny…lil buns need lil bowls. Now, on to hay. My personal preference is to have a holder of some sort. Ideally you want it placed in front of or just above their litter box. Doing this will make them work a little bit for it while keeping it off their litter since rabbits tend to pee and poop while eating. (If you have bonded mates, this should be a priority. A terrible illness, e cuniculi, can be passed through spores in a rabbits urine and if another bunny eats the hay that has the spore, it can then become sick).
5. Along with the dining accessories comes the food! First and foremost 80% of a rabbits diet should be hay along with unlimited water. Fresh leafy greens should be incorporated in a limited supply. Now some people feed pellets and others don’t. My first bunny only had greens…a small portion for breakfast and then again at dinner. This was the recommendation of my vet at that time and he lived to the ripe old age of 12 1/2! My current bunnies are all rescues and were previously on pellets when I got them. I give them fresh greens in the morning and pellets for dinner. Treats should only be given on occasion. If you would like to make your own healthy treats, check out my article 2 Ingredient Wholesome Pumpkin Treats. Wherever you get your rabbit from, they should know the rabbits feeding history. If you happen to get a baby bunny, they eat a different type of hay and pellet food than adults and fresh foods are introduced at different ages also. Sometimes older aged buns or overweight buns need to be on special diets. Again, whoever you get your rabbit from or your vet should be able to help with that.
These second 5 necessities are for habit and lifestyle:
6. This item on the necessities list will be when you decide if your rabbit is going to be completely free roaming in your house 24/7 or will you need an area to secure them when you sleep or are out of the house. If this is the case, you need an x-pen. This will keep them enclosed and give them room to move around. 1 pen is fine, but if you have a bonded pair or trio I recommend buying 2 and attaching them together. (On a side note…if you have a climber, and there are those that do, you can attach a sheet across the top with butterly clips and keep the lil rascal in.)
7. Just like you, your bunny needs to be groomed. Time to invest in a good grooming kit. Included should be nail clippers, styptic powder (to stop bleeding in case you nick the quick), a good comb and brush. Another recommendation I have is to use a towel when grooming to collect any stray fur. If you are like me, you probably have a bunch of old ones in a closet already!
8. Your bunny needs a bed, comfy blanket or plush rug to sleep on. Small pet beds typically cat sized, are perfect for most rabbits. Look for one that is washable since your bunny will shed and may have the occasional accident. Some people get the Ikea doll sized wood beds, but they seem to work best for smaller bunnies. I have also seen people use carpet samples (go to a local carpet store and ask for old ones) or fleece blankets. Some of my bunnies have small stuffed bunnies to curl up with too.
9. These necessities will help to keep your bunny from getting bored. TOYS! Your bunny needs to have lots toys: stimulating, safe, chewable and interactive. Don’t think though that just giving them toys is enough though. They need your companionship so set aside time each day to sit and play with them.
10. And finally (These necessities are definitely for you lol) you will most definitely need bunny proofing items! An absolute must have are cord protectors! I can’t tell you how many phone cords our bunnies have destroyed! But you definitely want your tv, phone, light and any other electric cords protected. Also, you need to think about stairs if you live in a multi-level home. A mesh baby gate is another must if you want to confine them to one level. I haven’t found any good way to protect wood or fabric other than keep your valuables and antiques away from your bunny. Currently my couch has 2 big holes in it from chewing 🙂
You can find all the necessities your bunny will need (and goodies for you) in the mercantile!
Supplement Your Necessities With This Guide and Log Book!
My personally curated 33 page guide and logbook is a great tool to help you with your new family member. Keep your buns health, emergency, feeding, bun sitter info organized and handy in this instant download!
