Rabbit Care 101: The Complete Beginner's Guide
Thinking of adopting a rabbit? This friendly beginner's guide covers housing, diet, health and bonding — everything you need to keep a happy, healthy bunny.
Rabbits are affectionate, quiet and surprisingly full of personality — but they’re also more work than many first-time owners expect. Get the basics right and you’ll have a happy companion for 8–12 years.
Here’s everything a beginner needs to know.
Housing: bigger is always better
Forget the tiny pet-shop cages. Rabbits need room to hop, stretch up, and do their signature “binky” jumps. Aim for a minimum enclosure of 4× the length of your rabbit, plus several hours of supervised free-roam time daily.
Space-saving idea
Many owners use a puppy exercise pen instead of a cage. It’s cheaper, roomier, and folds away when you need the space back.
Diet: hay, hay, and more hay
This is the part beginners most often get wrong. A rabbit’s diet should be:
- 80% grass hay (Timothy hay) — unlimited, all day
- 15% fresh leafy greens — romaine, cilantro, parsley
- 5% pellets — a small measured amount
- Treats — tiny fruit portions, occasionally
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Unlimited hay keeps their constantly-growing teeth worn down and their sensitive digestion moving. It is genuinely the most important thing you’ll buy.
Watch for GI stasis
If your rabbit stops eating or pooping for 12+ hours, treat it as an emergency and call an exotic vet. Gut stasis can be life-threatening but is very treatable when caught early.
Health basics
- Find an exotic/rabbit-savvy vet before you need one
- Consider spaying/neutering — it improves behaviour and prevents cancers
- Check that teeth, weight and litter habits stay consistent
- Never bathe a rabbit; they groom themselves and water causes dangerous stress
Bonding with your bunny
Rabbits earn trust slowly. Sit on the floor at their level, offer a treat from your open palm, and let them come to you. Most rabbits dislike being picked up — respect that and they’ll relax faster.
Frequently asked questions
Are rabbits good pets for kids?＋
They can be, but rabbits are fragile and dislike being held, so they suit calm, gentle older children better than toddlers. Adult supervision is essential.
Do rabbits need a companion?＋
Rabbits are social and often happiest in bonded pairs. Bonding takes patience and both rabbits should be spayed/neutered first.
Can rabbits be litter trained?＋
Yes! Most rabbits litter-train easily, especially after being spayed or neutered. Place a litter box in their favourite corner.
The bottom line
Rabbits reward the effort you put in. Nail the big three — space, unlimited hay, and a good exotic vet — and the rest falls into place. Welcome to the wonderful world of bunny parenting.
Written by
Petifys Team
Editorial Team
The Petifys editorial team researches, tests, and writes every guide with one goal: helping pet parents make confident, kind choices. We combine hands-on experience with veterinary guidance to keep our advice practical and trustworthy.
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