How to Live with a House Rabbit

Bouncing baby bunnies become big rabbits, and need room to romp. A backyard hutch may be rustic and quaint, but small quarters for a lively lagomorph. Giving them the run of the house can be a hopping good time once you learn how to live with a house rabbit.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• Cage
• Litter boxes
• Expandable fencing
• Spray bottle
• Bunny
• Kitty litter

1. Introduce your new house rabbit slowly to the environment, starting with a small, fenced-off area around the bunny’s home base (cage really, but “home base” better empowers your bunny). This must be free of carpets, electrical cords, wallboard, wallpaper, chewable antiques, and include the all-important litter box.
2. Clean the litter box a day or two after bunny arrives, allowing the urine to soak into the plastic, marking it as the right spot with a lingering odor of ammonia.
3. Once your bunny seems content—and pees largely in the litter box rather than next to it, move the gate position, or add gate segments to create a larger play space.
4. Open the gate to allow your bunny to wander into your home freely and explore his universe for a few minutes. Enjoy the magic; is there anything cuter than a bunny lopping along, pronking like an antelope or lifting his ears at a sudden noise? Squeal with delight, no one can see you, but watch closely for sudden stops, the sound of chewing or the smell of burnt fur. Lure your bunny back into his gated community with a carrot or parsley.
5. Increase the playtime a few minutes each day, keeping watch for peeing, chewing or attempts to call for a veggie pizza. Success comes when your bunny hops back into the enclosure for a bathroom break, then hops out ready for more play.
6. Teach your house rabbit tricks! Bunnies are smarter than we give them credit for, can come when called, sit up for a treat and bring objects when given positive reinforcements and food incentives--they are like cats, with a catch-me-if-you-can attitude (though there are truly dumb bunnies). Shock collars do not work on rabbits.

Tips & Warnings

• Remember to bunny-proof ahead and remove or say goodbye to any electrical cords, sashes, curtains, wood furniture, priceless antique heirlooms, good shoes, long dresses, cabinetry and door frames.
• If bunny consistently misses the litter box, move the litter box to any consistent peeing location. Or, make the entire enclosure a maze of lidless litter boxes; see which are selected as prized peeing locations, then slowly remove unused boxes until one potty spot remains.
• Some books recommend spraying your house rabbit with water and shouting, "Bad Bunny!" if he chews, and/or applying a bitter tasting spray to woodwork, door frames, wires or any surface that invites investigation by big teeth. Good luck with that.
• Don't wait until your dinner guests' eyes are watering before changing the bunny litter. Bunny pee packs a punch in the odor department, so daily changes are a must for healthy, socially acceptable air.
• Before acquiring a house rabbit, do an allergy test: bury your face in the bunny, pet the bunny all over with your hands, then vigorously scratch the undersides of your forearms. If welts, rashes, sneezing, red eyes or asthma occurs, a bunny isn't for you unless you want to be seriously medicated.
• Living with a house rabbit is a lifestyle choice; consider moving to an open loft with no woodwork and wrought iron furniture before bringing a bunny into your world. Continual cuteness—and less damage, is a big reward for a shift in décor.
• House rabbits are a long commitment; bunnies living in a warm, safe environment can live for a dozen years, and require countless litter box changes, an endless supply of electrical cords and at least one trip to the emergency vet. Starting with realistic expectations will quell your urge to shout, “Damn you, Beatrix Potter, and your little Peter, too!” as you clean up another pile of bunny pellets.
• Bunnies have a nasty bite and an even nastier scratch. Clean any abrasions quickly and avoid bites or scratches by a policy of mutual respect—you won’t pick him up suddenly and without warning, and he won’t turn into a medieval attack rabbit.