-What a rabbit is

What a rabbit is:


Rabbits are small mammals in the family Leporidae of the order Lagomorpha, found in several parts of the world. There are seven different genera in the family classified as rabbits, including the European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus), Cottontail rabbit (genus Sylvilagus; 13 species), and the Amami rabbit (Pentalagus furnessi, endangered species on Amami Ōshima, Japan). There are many other species of rabbit, and these, along with pikas and hares, make up the order Lagomorpha

-Behaviour

Behaviore:

While the European rabbit is the best-known species, it is probably also the least typical, as there is considerable variability in the natural history of rabbits. Many rabbits dig burrows, but cottontails and hispid hares do not. The European rabbit constructs the most extensive burrow systems, called warrens. Nonburrowing rabbits make surface nests called forms, generally under dense protective cover. The European rabbit occupies open landscapes such as fields, parks, and gardens, although it has colonized habitats from stony deserts to subalpine valleys. It is the most social rabbit, sometimes forming groups in warrens of up to 20 individuals. However, even in European rabbits' social behaviour can be quite flexible, depending on habitat and other local conditions, so that at times the primary social unit is a territorial breeding pair. Most rabbits are relatively solitary and sometimes territorial, coming together only to breed or occasionally to forage in small groups. During territorial disputes rabbits will sometimes “box,” using their front limbs. Rabbits are active throughout the year; no species is known to hibernate. Rabbits are generally nocturnal, and they also are relatively silent. Other than loud screams when frightened or caught by a predator, the only auditory signal known for most species is a loud foot thump made to indicate alarm or aggression. Notable exceptions are the Amami rabbit and the volcano rabbit of Mexico, which both utter a variety of calls. [1]

Instead of sound, scent seems to play a predominant role in the communication systems of most rabbits; they possess well-developed glands throughout their body and rub them on fixed objects to convey group identity, sex, age, social and reproductive status, and territory ownership. Urine is also used in chemical communication. When danger is perceived, the general tendency of rabbits is to freeze and hide under cover. If chased by a predator, they engage in quick, irregular movement, designed more to evade and confuse than to outdistance a pursuer. Skeletal adaptations such as long hind limbs and a strengthened pelvic girdle enable their agility and speed (up to 48 km [30 miles] per hour). [1]

- A Rabbit as a pet

Rabbit as a pet:

Pet rabbits kept indoors are referred to as house rabbits. House rabbits typically have an indoor pen or cage and a rabbit-safe place to run and exercise, such as an exercise pen, living room or family room. Rabbits can be trained to use a litter box and some can learn to come when called. Domestic rabbits that do not live indoors can also often serve as companions for their owners, typically living in an easily accessible hutch outside the home. Some pet rabbits live in outside hutches during the day for the benefit of fresh air and natural daylight and are brought inside at night.

Whether indoor or outdoor, pet rabbits' pens are often equipped with enrichment activities such as shelves, tunnels, balls, and other toys. Pet rabbits are often provided additional space in which to get exercise, simulating the open space a rabbit would traverse in the wild. Exercise pens or lawn pens are often used to provide a safe place for rabbits to run.

A pet rabbit's diet typically consists of unlimited Timothy hay, a small amount of pellets, and a small portion of fresh vegetables.

Rabbits are social animals. Rabbits as pets can find their companionship with a variety of creatures, including humans, other rabbits, guinea pigs, and sometimes even cats and dogs. Rabbits do not make good pets for small children because they do not know how to stay quiet, calm, and gentle around rabbits. As prey animals, rabbits are alert, timid creatures that startle easily. They have fragile bones, especially in their backs, that require support on the belly and bottom when picked up. Children 10 years old and older usually have the maturity required to care for a rabbit.

The service and therapy animals organization Delta Society has used pet rabbits as therapy for adults and children since the 1970s.

Excersise and Health

Exercise:
Rabbits require around 2 hours of exercise a day, as they are very active creatures in the wild. If you cannot give your rabbit at least 2 hours of exercise a day be sure to keep plenty of toys in there.



Health:
If there are any health concerns please visit the vet.

Food & Water

Food & Water:
Rabbits are herbivores so do not feed them meat, they still need some protein.

There diet should be:

-Constant Timothy hay, as much as they need.

-As much rabbit pellet food as your pet store says the rabbit needs for its size and age, should be about a quarter cup if older then 6 months.

-2 cups vegetables and legumes daily.

-Fruit but only as a treat so very little.

-Use Alfalfa hay if you rabbit is under 6 months or is a nursing or pregnant mother.



List of good vegetables:

-Celery (strings removed)

-Alfalfa sprouts

-Dandelion flowers and leaves

-Kale

-Radish tops and sprouts

-Carrots

-Broccoli (mostly stems and leaves)

-Fresh herbs such as;

-Basil

-Parsley

-Cilantro

-Mint



Almost any fruit is good such as pears, apples, grapes, bannanas, etc





Never feed Your Rabbit any of the Following:

-Green Beans

-Potatoes

-Beets

-Avocado

-Cabbage

-Sweet potato

-Corn

-Onion

-Rhubarb

-Crackers

-or anything with un natural sugar in it.



Do not make sudden changes in your rabbits diet as it can cause stomach aches disarray and other bad things, if you want to change the diet slowly add the new food to there old.



Water:

Plastic sipper bottles are best.

-Bedding

Bedding:
Should be wood shavings or hay. Yours should have your rabbit cage cleaned about once a week along with the litter box, the food and water bowls should be cleaned every day. Do not use strong smelling bedding or anything that your rabbit is allergic to.

Playing & Handling

Playing & Handling:
When picking your rabbit up you will want to hold it with one hand on its bottom and one hand on its chest area, be careful not to move to fast when your rabbit is in your hands or on you. Never place a rabbit on something high that it could fall off, as a rabbit may not notice the edge. For playing your rabbit should have many toys such as a paper bag, Plastic toys, and stuff to chew on. You may also take your rabbit out of his or her cage and place it in an enclosed area that a rabbit couldn’t get far from, and play games with it.

-Housing

Housing:
I recommend that you keep your rabbit inside your house in a cage at least 3ft by 3ft the more the better, but it all depends on the breed of the rabbit as some are much larger. you should be able to tell by the look of the rabbit if it is comfortable in its new home. The cage for most rabbits should be at least 2ft high. you should have a cave like den in the cage for your rabbit to hide and sleep. You will need food and water bowls, a litter box, as rabbits are trainable, but with all this in the cage there still need room for your rabbit times about 5. For the actual cage a metal or hard plastic or other non-chewable materials are the best, i would personally recommend an opening from the top. And the base of the cage should be solid and not a mesh or wiring.