Things You'll Need
- A crate or hutch
- Litter box
- Non-clumping litter, such as "Yesterday's News"
- Water bottle or bowl
- Food dish
- Cardboard boxes
Instructions
Choosing a hutch or crate
To keep a bunny as a pet in your home you will need a hutch or crate. It should be large enough that the bunny can move about freely and be able to stretch out fully. If the bunny is going to spend most of his time inside this crate, he will need space to play and exercise. Also, you must allow room for a litter box, water dish or bottle, food dish and toys. It is best to avoid a crate that has a floor where a bunny might get his feet caught.
Never use carpeting to line a rabbit hutch. Bunnies tend to chew things and ingesting carpeting can cause a dangerous, life threatening blockage in their digestive system.
Litter training a bunny is surprisingly easy. Rabbits will tend to choose a corner inside their new hutch to use as their toilet. Simply place the litter box in that corner, put some of the rabbit's droppings in the litter box and bunny will almost always simply start using it on his own.
It is important to note that you cannot use clumping litters, like you can with a cat. As part of its digestive maintenance, bunnies consume some of their own droppings. This recycles vital bacteria they need to digest food. If they were to ingest clumping litter it could cause a blockage that would cause serious health problems or even death.
Many people choose cedar or other shavings for bunny litter. Scented litters are not recommended, as they could make bunny sick. Another problem with these kinds of litter is that it simply gets everywhere and makes a mess. Litters made out of recycled newspaper, such as "Yesterday's News" are an excellent choice for bunny litter.
Water must be made available to rabbits at all times. Some rabbits prefer drinking from a water bottle, others prefer a water dish. Water bottles are harder to keep clean than dishes are. If you choose a dish or bowl, make sure it is heavy enough that bunny can't knock it over or pick it up to move it (bunnies like to re-arrange things in their space). In either case, be sure the water is always fresh and clean.
Feeding bunny is actually very simple. Timothy hay is one of the most important parts of a rabbit's diet. Look for a rabbit chow that contains timothy hay, but also make sure that timothy is in good supply for bunny at all times. He will eat much of it, and 'nest' with some of it, taking hay and building little piles in the corners of his space.
There are a variety of rabbit treats available in pet stores for rabbits. Yogurt drops are always a favorite. A treat that many rabbits love are crunchy carrot slims. Put a bit of Benebac, a digestive supplement for bunnies, inside them and they go nuts.
Other treats for bunnies include bananas, parsley, and romaine lettuce. Pineapple is also a wonderful treat for bunny and also naturally helps dissolve hairballs.
Don't forget the toys. Bunnies are playful and love to chew on things and tear them apart. Cardboard boxes make excellent toys for bunnies. Make sure that you remove staples, tape or any other plastic from them before giving them to bunny. The cardboard inside rolls of paper towels are also very popular with rabbits.