Understanding Your Pet

Rabbits

A white and brown rabbit eating grass

Rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) are considered exotic pets, even though they are very common domestic animals in the United States. In the wild, rabbits will eat all types of vegetation, bark, and twigs. A pet rabbit’s diet mostly consists of timothy or orchard hay, but the addition of small portions of rabbit pellets will complement its diet; fruits, vegetables, and treats should only be offered in small amounts. Because their teeth never stop growing, hay and chew toys are required to make sure their teeth don't grow too long. A vet visit for dental trimming is often necessary when rabbits do not feed on enough hay to wear down their teeth.

A black rabbit doing a binky

As they are prey animals, rabbits tend to be silent, as making noise might compromise their safety. However, rabbits do utilize sound for communication - for example, a frightened or angry animal will loudly stomp, either to warn others about danger or to show its annoyance. One of the most common reasons they may stomp is because of a sudden movement or an unusual sound. Rabbits are curious animals, and they love exploring their surroundings – they will often turn their ears around to listen for sounds, if they find something particularly intriguing, they will stand on their hind legs to obtain additional information.

Rabbits are very clean animals, so you will constantly see them grooming themselves. A relaxed rabbit that is comfortable in your company will extend their body and then flop on their side to rest; closed eyes are also a sign of trust. An extremely happy and excited rabbit will run around and do binkies, which is when it jumps and twists its body in the air. If your rabbit comes near you, or even cuddles and asks for pets, you can be sure you rabbit enjoys being with you. Quiet teeth chattering while you pet it lets you know that your rabbit is extremely content. Other ways of keeping your rabbit happy and engaged is by providing toys and spending time playing with it.