As we know, bunnies are sometimes hard to read, and we don’t always know what is exciting or depressing them. So today, I’m going to share the tips you need to maximize your rabbit’s happiness and quality of life.
09, Treats:
Bunnies live for treats. It is literally a drug to them. If you haven’t noticed already, they will go absolutely bonkers every time you go to the treat jar, or you open a crinkly bag, or you walk to the fridge. They can smell it and hear it from a mile away. So, it’s important to have healthy treats for your bunnies. I always say the easiest way to go about this is with fresh fruit because it’s going to be the healthiest thing for them. You can give them a little blueberry, a slice of banana, a slice of strawberry, you know, there’s not going to be any added preservatives, added sugars, etc. You can also go the DIY treat route; that’s also an alternative. And also just remember, guys, to keep the treats to a minimum. Every day, I would say maximum 3 a day, morning, noon, and night. It’s a great way to test if your bunny is sick or not. I kind of like using the treat testing for that, but you don’t want to overload on the sugar, so make sure you are dispersing it accordingly.
08: Sleep:
The next way to make your rabbit happy is to let them sleep. You’ve got to let them get their beauty rest, just like we want our beauty rest, and that’s going to make them so happy. Rabbits love sleeping, they love resting, they love dreaming, and it’s so cute watching them sleep. It is the most adorable thing I’ve ever seen. You’ve got to respect the space, let them sleep, let them take their naps, and then when they are awake during their active hours, they will happily spend time with you. Yes, that is going to make them very happy if you just leave them be.
07: Carpeted Flooring:
Bunnies do not have pads on the back of their paws like dogs or cats or a lot of other animals; it’s purely fur. This can cause complications if they’re running over hard surfaces or slippery surfaces; they’re just going to slip around, or they can develop sores on the backs of their paws if it’s a very difficult terrain for them to step over. Ultimately, a carpet or a rug is essential to have in your bunny’s habitat. It’s essential if you want them to be able to binky and hop and move around freely without hurting themselves or developing splayed legs; that’s also another complication that can come from their paws. So, I encourage you guys to get your bunnies a little area rug so that they can feel safe. There are a lot of bunnies who just refuse to step on hardwood floors or anything of that nature. Sometimes it also boils down to exposing them to different kinds of flooring so that they don’t have such a fear, but at the end of the day, also provide them with the flooring that they need. Remember that their wild ancestors would usually be running and hopping over grass and soil and that kind of terrain, and while domesticated bunnies are a different species, they unfortunately kept those same paws of their wild ancestors, so that has not changed, and we need to help them out a little bit.
06: Toys:
Toys are so important, but not just any toy. I want to emphasize you want to be getting your bunny toys that really allow and encourage natural rabbit behaviors and engagement. Anything from hidey houses to tunnels to foraging systems where they can dig and chew.
05: Partner:
Next we have a partner. A partner is really going to create a lot of happiness for your bunny. Bunnies are social animals; their wild ancestors would live in warrens and big colonies. Again, I want to always differentiate that domestic bunnies and wild bunnies, they are not the same, but a lot of those instincts still exist within the domestic rabbit. I just think it’s especially critical to make sure that your rabbit isn’t a loner. Even if you are going to have a single bunny, you have to provide them company, engagement, affection, attention around the clock, basically except for when they’re sleeping. Another way to do this so that the burden isn’t entirely on you is to get them a partner. Or it can be a trio or a quad, however many bunnies you’re able to fit in your home. Also bear in mind, you do have to go through a bonding process. That bonding process should not be taken lightly, but any rabbit rescue will happily bond bunnies for you, so you can reach out to your local rescue for that task. Ultimately, rabbits love to be in love, and so if you can provide them with a husband or a bunny wife, then they will be extraordinarily happy to have that.
04: Grooming:
Next we have keeping them groomed. Rabbits need help in that department. While they are very disciplined at keeping themselves clean and licking themselves throughout the day, you’re going to have to help out with the grooming and the shedding of the coats whenever they are going through their molting seasons. They really shed a lot. It can turn into a major health issue if they are not getting brushed. A lot of that fur that they are ingesting can become lodged in their stomach. It can also just make them feel uncomfortable. This also includes the clipping of the nails, any crustiness around the eyes, the ears, not so much that stays relatively clean. Basically, any area that they need a little extra help with that they are unable to do entirely by themselves. A lot of senior rabbits or rabbits with a lot of fur like lionheads and Angoras especially need help cleaning that bottom half. You know, when they’re using the litter box and they’re shedding, a lot of gunk and residue can really get stuck to a lot of that fur that’s just sort of sitting there waiting to be shedded. They need help, and sometimes you’ve just got to go in there and pluck some of it out and help them out in that way.
03: Space:
Lots of space or a big habitat. It just boils down to bunny-proofing your home and giving your rabbit free rein of your home. And of course, you can have boundaries and limitations with this if there are certain areas that you do not want them to have access to. If free-roaming is not an option, you can definitely use a puppy playpen as an alternative, or you can just grant them a room, an office, a den. You can also use baby gates to block off certain areas. But ultimately, the small cage, the small hutch, those are things of the past and they’re not really considered humane in today’s age of bunny care. If you want your bunny to be the happiest that they can be, living their best life, then free-roaming really is the way to go.
02: Unlimited hay:
This is their favorite pastime, sitting in their litter box, picking out the good pieces of hay and just doing their thing, doing their business. I mean, that is their me-time. You’ve got to respect the rabbit me-time. Just never, ever ration the hay. A bunny’s diet consists of 80% hay. They need the fiber in order to use the bathroom, in order to digest their food. It is essential that you provide them with unlimited hay. They’re going to be extraordinarily happy if you do this.
01: Love them:
The final way to make your rabbit happy is to love them unconditionally. Rabbits know when you love them, when you give them affection. They can sense all of that. If they feel like you’re neglecting them and you’re not meeting their needs and they feel isolated or they don’t feel connected or bonded to you because you’re not spending time with them, you’re not giving them the time that they deserve, they are going to feel that. They’re going to become extraordinarily depressed, and you don’t want that. Your rabbits want to feel connected to you. And sometimes, guys, it’s as simple as plopping down on the couch, watching a little movie with them. That is the quality time I’m referring to. It doesn’t have to be anything more complicated than that.
That is it for this article, guys. I really hope you enjoyed this. Let me know in the comments below what are some ways that you make your rabbit happy. I am curious because everybody is different.