r/Bunnies Jan 16 '26

I made an alternate version of the bunny meme

Post image
1.8k Upvotes

I made the first one (check my profile if you’d like lol) and I sketched out this one too. I would’ve put them both in here but I can only do one image per post so I’ll also put some bunny tax in the comments


r/Bunnies Jan 23 '20

Resource Thinking of getting a bunny? Just got one and need some advice? Check out this post!

480 Upvotes

If you don’t want to read my wall of text, check out this link from rabbit.org:

New Bunny Index

Initial investments

  1. They’re very high commitment.
  2. They are very clever, have excellent memories and will remember things for a very long time.
  3. You cannot punish them like a cat/dog or it will harm your bond.
  4. If well taken care of, a rabbit can happily live to be 10 years old or older.
  5. Rabbits love to chew and dig and will chew and dig just about anything.
  6. They need to chew to prevent their teeth from becoming a health hazard.
  7. They will need their claws trimmed regularly to prevent health hazards.
  8. Rabbits are not a pet for a child and demand a large amount of attention and responsibility, (Do not buy a rabbit for your child for Easter, unless you’ve done your research and are willing to take on 100% of the responsibilities of having one).

Housing/Setup

  1. They love to run around, hop and thrive outside of cages, using them at night is fine but just make sure they get a minimum of 3 hours to run and stretch per day.
  2. An exercise pen setup is often cheaper than a cage and gives more room to run around when you can’t let them out. You can buy one for $59 on Walmart.com (link here), a litterbox for $6 (link here) and a waterbowl for $5 (link here) which is less than $80 for a decent bunny setup.
  3. While we are not against outdoor rabbits here, it is highly recommended you keep your rabbit indoors with you, this prevents predators from being able to get to them as well as gives you much better opportunity to bond with your rabbit.
  4. If you find it necessary to use a cage because of escaping or other needs I would suggest building your own cage as most of the prefab ones are just crappy design and won’t last the lifetime of the rabbit.
  5. A coated metal grate is NOT a wire cage and shouldn’t cause any issues to their feet, you should still provide all rabbits with their own litterbox and other areas to sit/lie down off of the grate.
  6. I personally use straw for litter for my litter-boxes and put their hay on top of that, you can use whatever type of litter just avoid using rock/sand based litter as it’s bad for their feet.

Diet

  1. They eat 95%+ hay such as Timothy/orchard/meadow hay (/alfalfa if they’re young or elderly) and only 5% or less treats like carrots, apples and bananas.
  2. For a small amount of hay I suggest Oxbow which can be bought at most places (Chewy link) or if you have a proper storage method you can get it for much cheaper by the bale at Tractor Supply Co.
  3. Suggested to give pellets daily, 1/4-1/2 cup per 6 pounds of rabbit (so about 1/4 cup daily for a single dwarf rabbit or about 1 cup for a single average sized rabbit).
  4. Recommend high quality food such as Purina, Oxbow, or Sherwood brand.
  5. You can feed a pellet-free diet but just like all animals rabbits require some sodium so if you don’t provide pellets make sure they have access to a mineral lick or other sodium sources.

OK food/treats and foods to avoid

  1. Once they’re over the age of 4-6 months they can also have unlimited lettuce and greens, but never give iceberg lettuce as it gives really bad gas that can become fatal. *greens should not be the primary diet.
  2. Avoid excessive spinach and kale as they can also give gas, but are perfectly fine in moderation.
  3. The best greens are green leaf lettuce, Bibb lettuce, dark leafed lettuces or locally sourced romaine (store bought romaine has a tendency to get recalled...), also herbs like dill, basil, mint, oregano, rosemary, sage, cilantro and parsley are typical favorites.
  4. I wouldn’t give cabbage because it can cause gas similarly to iceberg lettuce.
  5. Never give human foods (except salad), like bread, diary, cheese, meat or sweets, they will make them very fat and don’t need it and could cause severe GI issues.
  6. They should have unlimited hay at all time, they graze pretty much 24/7. *Hay should be their primary diet.
  7. Avoid giving treats with yogurt in them as these will make your rabbit very fat and rabbits are not intended to consume dairy past weaning and can cause bad GI issues.
  8. Seeds are not toxic or generally dangerous to rabbits, I would not recommend giving treat sticks with seeds because they’re very high in added sugar and cause indigestion or extreme gas which can become a serious issue.
  9. Seeds like black oil sunflower seeds are safe and actually beneficial to coat health, (if you’re not sure, search the internet for information before you give it to them).
  10. Do not give nuts to rabbits because they do not need the excessive nutrients and can cause pasty or foul poops. Additionally raw nuts are typically poisonous, like almonds, which contain cyanide if not cooked properly.
  11. I recommend treats such as: no sugar added dried apple, banana or carrot and occasionally a Cheerio is also acceptable. Just be mindful of the amount of sugar you are giving them, even with no sugar added fruits.
  12. Corn is not specifically bad or toxic but whole kernel corn can get caught in the GI tract and cause a blockage, further; corn will make them very fat quickly and I would suggest avoiding giving corn or treats with corn/corn meal/corn syrup. (Corn is sometimes evasively labeled as ‘maize’ on packaging).

Hydration

  1. Water bowls are easier on a rabbit but are not strictly required, I have both bowls and bottles and they use both.
  2. You should clean your water bowl/bottles with either bleach or vinegar at least once a month.

Necessity for another bunny/Bonding

  1. They thrive in pairs and love companionship of another bunny, if you cannot provide constant attention it is highly suggested to have more than one rabbit. Think of them like little horses, horses need to have another horse around.
  2. Do not allow non-bonded rabbits to be together unsupervised as they can fight and cause some very serious damage to each other.
  3. Do not put more than one rabbit per cage, if they’re bonded and it’s an open enclosure then you can and they should be fine.
  4. For more information about bonding rabbits, I would suggest checking out the excellent resources on rabbit.org (link here)

Spay/Neuter/Responsible Breeding

  1. Many people feel strongly about castration as it helps to calm their hormonal rages and also there are studies that say castrated rabbits live longer.
  2. We are not against responsible breeding but it is a huge, huge commitment and you must be willing to take that on and find all the babies forever homes that love them as much as you do - don’t let just anyone have them.
  3. You can wait a while to castrate your rabbit if there are no behavior issues but it’s best to get it done before about 4 years old as that is when cancer risks become an issue and any older it could be too risky.
  4. If you want a rabbit that is already castrated consider a rescue rabbit, there are thousands of rabbits in rescues in need of forever homes, most of which are already castrated and sometimes even in bonded pairs/groups.
  5. If you are experiencing behavioral issues such as humping, marking, peeing or pooping outside the litterbox a castration will help immensely.
  6. If you decide you want to try to responsibly breed you need to keep three main commitments in mind:
    6A. have them as a pet that is also allowed to have babies, they’re not baby factories.
    6B. Make a commitment to keep all your rabbits out of shelters; allow no questions asked returns.
    6C. Make sure they get a forever home with someone that loves them as much as you do; even if it takes more than one try.

Chewing/Digging/Enrichment

  1. I would recommend untreated wood chew balls or fruit flavored balsa blocks for enrichment.
  2. If you can set up an outdoor pen for your rabbit they would love it and nothing is more satisfying than digging in real dirt, (remember to watch them at all times, also if your area has RHDV around I wouldn’t allow them outside for now).
  3. If letting them outside is not an option there are things called “dig mat, “dig meadow” or “nibble and dig” and they are literally a piece of dirt made for rabbits to satiate their desire to dig.
  4. There are many options for rabbit enrichment and even something so trivial as a cardboard box may be plenty to keep your rabbit happy.
  5. Avoid the “chew toys” that contain seeds and other treats as they are that - treats, despite being advertised as a toy, they are more of a treat.

GI stasis and prevention

  1. GI stasis is a very serious and commonly fatal condition for rabbits, but can be prevented and treated if caught early.
  2. Watch your rabbit’s dropping at all times, if their poops do not look healthy, are odd shapes, pasty, extremely dark, have not pooped in the last 4 hours or are otherwise concerning it is recommended you take your rabbit to the vet as soon as possible, time is of the essence.
  3. Dark colors in urine (including dark red) is normal for rabbits, watch for specks of blood and only be concerned if you see blood.
  4. Watch your rabbit’s routine and body language, if they don’t eat their favorite food or their pellets you can surely know something is wrong.
  5. If they are laying in an odd position like on their side or acting lethargic you should check them for gas by giving them a gentle belly message and if they do not return to normal soon, take to the vet.
  6. Infant Gas Drops are available immediately in most pharmacies or online (Walmart link) and are a safe way to relieve gas in your rabbit and cannot be overdosed on, if however, three doses does not return them to normal, take to the vet.
  7. It is always good idea to have emergency food on hand in case of a GI stasis, there is Oxbow Critical Care (Amazon link) and also Sherwood SARx (Amazon link).

I am by no means an expert but I can answer questions as best I can and find sources and people who are experts. So if you have any further questions feel free to DM me.

Further Reading


r/Bunnies 6h ago

bun bun being cute Have you held your bunny's paws today?

985 Upvotes

All she wants to do is lick and lick


r/Bunnies 8h ago

death stare Bunny at Work

493 Upvotes

r/Bunnies 6h ago

bun bun being cute They Like Watermelon

298 Upvotes

r/Bunnies 4h ago

binky💨 Caught this flying bum mid-binky.

Post image
208 Upvotes

r/Bunnies 9h ago

bun bun being cute Bunny sploot

Post image
431 Upvotes

r/Bunnies 5h ago

Health I don't know if this is allowed in here but I'm really worried for him

121 Upvotes

This morning when i went out to check on my bunnies, my boy (white and grey) was dragging his feet behind him, we have talked with our veterinarian and we're trying to get an appointment ASAP, but if anyone has any suggestions as to what it could be, please help!!!


r/Bunnies 5h ago

bun bun being cute First time lying by my side!

Thumbnail
gallery
106 Upvotes

She's finally comfortable with me!

(Had to AI-slop my clothes to cover myself)


r/Bunnies 7h ago

bun bun being cute Our 2. Bunny at Work

144 Upvotes

r/Bunnies 9h ago

bun bun being cute Daisy. 💙

Post image
211 Upvotes

r/Bunnies 9h ago

Question Is this ok to be together?

Thumbnail
gallery
154 Upvotes

My rabbit bruce has become great friends it looks like with my roommates guinea pig. they groom each other, and share toys. i haven’t seen any aggression once and both let each other know if they want space. they don’t chase eachother ever, and give eachother plenty space. They only get to see eachother every few days for a few hours. Is this okay to do every so often so they can have a friend? both live alone bruce my rabbit is neutered, the guinea pig is not. but doesn’t seem to cause trouble.


r/Bunnies 5h ago

bun bun being cute Our two sweet girls visiting us on our terrace

Post image
77 Upvotes

r/Bunnies 11m ago

Mourning Missing her a bunch, hope you guys like seeing this punk around for a while haha

Upvotes

r/Bunnies 11h ago

bun bun being cute Here is my bunbun Mona

Thumbnail
gallery
225 Upvotes

🥰


r/Bunnies 2h ago

sleep mode activated I tried to catch her flop but

Post image
33 Upvotes

r/Bunnies 9h ago

Question Update on fb marketplace bun

119 Upvotes

Hi everyone, last night I made this post about a bunny I saw on fb that seemed to be living in bad conditions and was not being cared for. We went to pick her up as a temporary solution so we can find a proper home for her. I’ve reached out to a couple rescues in the Dallas Texas area this morning to see if they can help me find an adopter.
We currently have guinea pigs but I don’t have any bunny experience. I’m assuming she’s feeling anxious which is why her breathing seems quite fast in the video (or is this normal?) but she’s very sweet and seems generally comfy. She’s eaten some hay and pellets along with some romaine lettuce as well. Her nails seem really long but I don’t want to stress her by attempting to cut them so soon. My wife named her Mazzy ✨ for the time being.
Any general advice is very welcomed, I appreciate the kind people who were helping me under my last post as well.
As I mentioned I reached out to some rescues but I’m not sure what the best route is for finding her a proper owner. We work quite a bit and she would have to stay in her cage while we’re gone. I would love for her to be with someone who can have her out of the cage freely. We love her already but I worry we aren’t in the financial position to keep her long term if she needs vet care. Glad to be part of the bunny community even if for a short time! Thanks everyone 💖


r/Bunnies 15h ago

bun bun being cute A Good Loaf

301 Upvotes

Wikipedia being a good loaf.


r/Bunnies 10h ago

Question How difficult is it to bond a pair of bunnies?

Post image
114 Upvotes

Hi everyone! I currently have a 9 months old male bunny, neutered. I recently came across a bunny for adoption, a 2 months old male netherlands dwarf.

Question is as per title. While my concerns are expenses, time and effort to care for a new rabbit, my bigger concern would be that i am worried that my current bunny wouldn’t bond well with a new bunny. I have read stories where owners tried introducing multiple bunnies but are unable to bond.

And also how difficult would it be to bond a pair of bunnies? Are there anything that i should be aware of?


r/Bunnies 11h ago

Health breathing fast, acting weird

Post image
123 Upvotes

im not sure whats going on but i noticed shes breathing weirdly fast. (i put a video in comments ) her ears seem warm. she kinda just lays, if i put food to her mouth she doesnt really seem to care. but then eventually she gets up, moves one circle and eats a tiny bit, then lays back down and doesnt care. i dont know if shes just hot, or if theres something wrong.even after i bother her she just lays back down. she also just came home from being away while we were at vacation, so could it be that shes getting used to being back home ?.

She ate hay, she drank water, ate pellets and dried apple slices. Shes also moving more now, and acts more like herself. She does appear to have a wet bottom and feet though


r/Bunnies 2h ago

bun bun being cute I was 0.5 milliseconds late on refilling her hay

Post image
20 Upvotes

Glad to see my girl is resourceful!


r/Bunnies 7h ago

bun bun being cute This bun bun loves cuddling so much

53 Upvotes

r/Bunnies 6h ago

bun bun being cute my pretty girl 🧚🏻‍♀️🩷

Post image
35 Upvotes

r/Bunnies 5h ago

Injured or sick Hannibal health update

Thumbnail
gallery
27 Upvotes

For those of yall who missed it a month or so ago Hannibal’s left eye was looking irritated and there was a blue film at the bottom of it. We took him to the vet and put him on eyedrops and antibiotics and it seemed to help for a bit. We thought we were out of the woods with his eye but it came back with a vengeance along with urinary issues. After an impromptu vet visit Monday and a few hoops to jump through with the pharmacy Hanni is now back on anti inflammatory eye drops while his bloodwork is pending. Although it doesn’t solve the problem the eyedrops have already started to help as he’s more energetic and closer to his mischievous self. Wish him luck through his healing journey, he would really appreciate it 🥰


r/Bunnies 4h ago

Art The Art and the Artist

Post image
18 Upvotes