A few facts and information about keeping rabbits as pets. Bunny blog fun.

I love rabbits. They are extremely affectionate, curious, happy and adorable little animals. They're also quite clever and comical. At the moment, I have two babies (kits) ready to go in the second week of March, and another six ready to go in the second week of April. Many people have asked about the babies and unfortunately I can't keep any of them. It's super important that you understand the basics about bunnies before taking them on as pets, so I've made a little list. I LOVE LISTS. So if you're thinking of having a bunny at your house, read this first. (Pssst: All photos of Pudding, Pumpkin and Charlie taken with my new Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom cellphone. Unbelievable)

1. If you already have an adult dog, then a rabbit is not for you. They get along with cats, but when the bunny is a larger breed and preferably get the bunny first - then kitten or puppy.

2. You don't need to have a garden. Bunnies can be kept indoors and will still get loads of exersize with play. If you have a garden, they will happily dig and eat your plants if left unsupervised. You can keep them in a hutch, but get a larger one.

3. If nobody is at home during the day, then get two - ensuring the male has been neutered. Bunnies are very social animals. Give them loads of affection to keep them tame and to build trust.

4. Rabbits live 10 + years. This is not a hamster. Rabbits are not part of the rodent family. They're somewhere between a dog and a cat in terms of personality and pet behavior. 

5. Bunnies can easily be litter box trained. With Roger, I left him in a hamster cage for a few days. Then I took the top part of the cage off and set him free in our home. Then I left the bottom of the cage (the tray part with his droppings) in a corner and he kept going there. Voila! Then you get additional boxes and place them where the rabbit likes to hang out. Done. I go to our local bottle store and they give me those cardboard trays that beer comes in? I keep heaps of those and can just throw them away every second day or so - very convenient. Also look where your bunny likes to go and place boxes there.

6. Bunnies are very affectionate, playful and curious. Roger used to hop up and sleep at our feet at night. He also climbs ON TO your lap while you're eating dinner, begging for a treat or a bite. Lola follows me and stands on her back legs when I go anywhere near the fridge. Charlie is super moody and we mock-charge each other and play. The baby bunnies sleep on my feet while I work at my desk. Bunnies jump and 'bink' and twist in the air when they're super happy.

7. You NEED to bunny-proof your house. Place pot and house plants on tables. Cables off the floor. Watch your drink. Your lunch. Important documents. Your new favorite book. They love to chew, but if they have loads of hay then they won't be as curious. Rabbits need a lot of hay - they love it. 

8. Rabbit pellets cost about R25 a bag and lasts pretty long. I give about a cup of cry food a day, then loads of hay, treats, parsley, carrots, baby spinach, bananas, dark leaf lettuce, mint, basil and apples. Loads of fresh water - as much as you would give a dog that size. 

9. You should only get a rabbit for your child when she is over three years old. Get your child to take responsibility with emptying the litter box and giving your bunny treats! Understand that when you get this bunny for your three year old, you will still have this bunny when that same child is thirteen to fifteen years old.

10. For travel, depending on how tame your bunny is, you can take him with you in the car. Roger used to travel in his hamster cage and sleep or play on my lap for hours. You can get a bunny harness / leash for walks and stops. If you need to go away without the bunny, then get a neighbor to pop by every day with some fresh produce and water. If you're just going away for a night, you can absolutely leave extra food and water and your bunnies will be fine! Nothing more than one night through. 

I hope this has answered any questions you may have about bunnies and being able to love and understand them. I love my buns so much - right now it's 10pm and Lola is preening herself under the coffee table in the lounge and the baby bunnies are playing and chasing each other around and all over my feet. It's bliss at the bunny house, so please mail me (look in my contact tab) if you're keen to give one or two a good home. If you need any more info, this is an amazing website on all things bunny, called My House Rabbit.