Okay, well not all bad. However, they are a bad idea when given as an impulse gift to a child for Easter. Rabbits are a lot of work and have special dietary needs that many people don’t realize. It’s not just pellets folks! They require a steady amount of fresh vegetables and hay. Hay! When was the last time you saw hay for sale at your local grocery store? Their special diet can add up fast, making them more expensive than most apartment size dogs.
When you envision giving your child a pet, you probably are thinking of the time they will spend playing, holding and cuddling the future pet. Be aware, rabbits aren’t always fans of this type of attention. They are prey animals and prefer a quick exit, which often means staying close to the ground at all costs. Is your child old enough to understand that in order for their rabbit to be happy, they have to do what’s best for the rabbit?
What children and rabbits have in common is energy, both need plenty of exercise and stimulation. For rabbits, this means time spent outside of their cage. Rabbits love to chew almost as much as they love carrots; wires, baseboards, edges of furniture are all at risk when your rabbit is burning of energy. Be prepared and bunny proof your home.
So do I recommend you bring home Floppy as a present for your little one this Easter? Maybe! As long as you do your research and line up a hay supplier (lol) a rabbit can be a fantastic pet for a child. Pets teach our children responsibility, and thinking about the welfare of someone other than ourselves. Only introduce a new pet to the household if you have pet proofed your home and have all of the supplies in place.
When you envision giving your child a pet, you probably are thinking of the time they will spend playing, holding and cuddling the future pet. Be aware, rabbits aren’t always fans of this type of attention. They are prey animals and prefer a quick exit, which often means staying close to the ground at all costs. Is your child old enough to understand that in order for their rabbit to be happy, they have to do what’s best for the rabbit?
What children and rabbits have in common is energy, both need plenty of exercise and stimulation. For rabbits, this means time spent outside of their cage. Rabbits love to chew almost as much as they love carrots; wires, baseboards, edges of furniture are all at risk when your rabbit is burning of energy. Be prepared and bunny proof your home.
So do I recommend you bring home Floppy as a present for your little one this Easter? Maybe! As long as you do your research and line up a hay supplier (lol) a rabbit can be a fantastic pet for a child. Pets teach our children responsibility, and thinking about the welfare of someone other than ourselves. Only introduce a new pet to the household if you have pet proofed your home and have all of the supplies in place.
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