What do you have to do when you get a rabbit?

Answer 1

Ideally, you should completely prepare for the rabbit before you get one. Give yourself a few months at least to research rabbit care and behaviour, to gather all the necessary supplies, and set up the rabbit's cage/enclosure.

If you already have the rabbit, it's time to act fast! The most important thing is making sure the rabbit is safe and secure inside a big enclosure (like a dog crate, or dog exercise pen). Stock the enclosure with plenty of water and hay (rabbits should always have 24/7 unlimited access to hay and water), and provide a litter box (a cat litter box will do fine, although cat litter itself is dangerous for rabbits -- newspaper is a good interim or even long-term litter material for rabbits). Also provide a hidey-hole so that your rabbit feels secure (like a plain, clean cardboard box; throwing a blanket over part of the cage can work until you find something better).

Now that the rabbit is safe, it's time to start researching rabbit care and behaviour! There are tons of reference websites online and rabbit forums; your local library probably has some books on the subject, too. See the related questions below for some details and helpful links.

Finding a special "rabbit-savvy" vet should be a top priority because your rabbit needs its first physical exam as soon as possible! (Unless the problem is very severe, as with a gushing wound, new rabbit owners probably won't be able to detect illness and injuries in their bunnies. An initial vet exam can allow you to proceed carefree with getting your bunny all set up! The vet can also give you helpful tips about caring for rabbits in your region.)

One person's tip: If the rabbit is too small, you have to prepare some warm and soft foof for her, when she grown up, a buck is necessary for keeping her safe.