Bringing home your first rabbit: a starter guide

Rabbits are the third most surrendered pet in the United States, largely because many arrive with expectations set by children's books. Real rabbits are long-lived (eight to twelve years), highly social, and need more space and attention than a hutch-in-the-garden setup provides. None of this makes them worse — it makes them a commitment worth understanding first.

Housing: larger than you think

A pet-store rabbit cage is a bed, not a home. Rabbits need, at minimum, an x-pen or dedicated room-sized area where they can stretch out fully, stand up on hind legs, and perform the full-body leap known as a "binky." A bonded pair needs roughly double the floor area.

Most modern rabbit owners free-roam their rabbits in a bunny-proofed room. Cover cables, block off behind the TV, and accept that a rabbit will taste-test any baseboard you care about. A litter box in the corner of their space sorts bathroom habits quickly — rabbits naturally pick one corner.

Diet: the 80% rule

Eighty percent of a rabbit's diet should be unlimited, high-quality timothy or orchard hay — not pellets. Pellets are a small daily top-up (about a quarter cup for a medium rabbit), and fresh vegetables make up the remaining daily portion. Leafy greens are ideal: romaine, parsley, cilantro, a little kale.

Skip the muesli-style mixes entirely. They let rabbits selectively eat the high-calorie bits, which leads to dental issues and gut stasis — the most common reason a rabbit ends up at an emergency vet.

Social needs and the single biggest mistake

Rabbits are prey animals and deeply social. They do best in bonded pairs; a single rabbit needs substantial daily human interaction to substitute. Shelters with rabbits frequently bond them on-site before adoption, so you can take home a pair that's already getting along.

The biggest mistake first-time owners make is treating a rabbit as a low-interaction small pet. A rabbit left alone in a hutch in the garage will become withdrawn, sometimes aggressive, and develop health issues within a year. Bring them inside, spend real time with them, and you'll have a deeply affectionate pet that greets you at the door.