How to Care for Lion Rabbits

Peculiar and adorable, the lion rabbit ̵1; also called the lionhead rabbit ̵1; is a relatively new breed of bunny in the United States, though it has long been popular in England. Lion rabbits are so named because of the fluffy manes around their faces. Because of their longer fur, lion rabbits are prone to "wool block" ̵1; when hairballs create blockages in their stomach and cause starvation -- and require more attention to their diet and grooming than other breeds of house rabbits.

Things You'll Need

  • High fiber pellets
  • Hay
  • Vegetables
  • Harness
  • Leash
  • Cage
  • Wood chips
  • Soft blanket
  • Small plastic toys
  • Litter
  • Comb
  • Small scissors
  • Soft rabbit brush
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Instructions

  1. Diet and Exercise

    • 1

      Feed your adult lion rabbit 1/2 cup of high-fiber pellets once a day. Rabbit pellets are available at most pet stores. Consult your veterinarian about which brand is highest in fiber. A high-fiber diet is crucial to preventing hairball blockage in the rabbit's stomach. Feed rabbits younger than 7 months unlimited pellets, as this is their growing phase.

    • 2

      Provide unlimited hay for your rabbit no matter what the rabbit's age. Timothy, grass and oat hay are the preferred types of hay for rabbits.

    • 3

      Feed your lion rabbit 1/2 ounce of vegetables per day for diet variety. Carrots, lettuce, alfalfa sprouts, fresh herbs and squash are likely to get the most attention and appreciation from your hungry lion head.

    • 4

      Exercise your bunny once a day for at least 30 minutes. Walking your lion rabbit on a harness and leash around the yard or playing with a ball are playtime activities that most rabbits enjoy.

    Housing

    • 5

      Get a cage for your lion rabbit that has a wooden slatted or glass bottom floor. Put down a thick layer of wood shavings. Choose a cage that will give the rabbit plenty of room to roam around - your rabbit, at least until it's older and properly trained, will be spending most of its time in the cage.

    • 6

      Stock your rabbit's cage with soft plastic toys and a soft rag or wool blanket for it to cuddle with.

    • 7

      Designate one corner of your rabbit's cage as its litter area. Put down a cup or so of rabbit litter in the corner and change it daily.

    • 8

      Take your rabbit out of its cage at least once a day for play.

    Grooming

    • 9

      Brush your lion rabbit twice a week to keep his coat free of mats and looking wonderfully fluffy. Hold your lion rabbit on your lap when you brush it and be gentle ̵1; lion rabbits, and rabbits in general for that matter ̵1; are timid and delicate by nature.

    • 10

      Use a comb to work out any mats in your rabbit's fur. Be extremely careful not to tug too hard at the mats, as this can rip out the fur and hurt the rabbit. If a mat is impossible to untangle, trim it out with a pair of small scissors.

    • 11

      Run a soft brush through your rabbit's fur, removing any clumps of shedding.

    • 12

      Trim the fur with a pair of small scissors about once or twice a month. Lion rabbits are prone to getting hairballs, which can create blockage in their stomachs, because of their longer fur. Regular trimming will keep your rabbit healthy and prevent hairball accumulation.