It was April of 2018 when we visited Bengaluru during summer vacations. Well, it was more of a family reunion as my husband had been in the city for over a few months on a new assignment, and I was still dwelling in Pune with my son, contemplating whether to persuade myself to relocate to Bengaluru or convince my better half to get his work reassigned to Pune.
The boon of being married to a software professional had been the various job opportunities at multi-cities within the country, and some globe-trotting. And the bane, of course, was the continuous relocations and the permanent feeling of being a nomad.
After a long drive from the airport, as we entered the place rented out by my hubby near his office, we unanimously squeaked in merriment and surprise as we spotted two snow-white tiny furballs in a small cage right in the middle of the hall. Their bright-reddish eyes wide, and curiously gazing at the new entrants in the house.
“Here are your new pets”, I heard my husband gleefully announcing to our ten-year-old, as I rushed to pet the cuddly little beings who seemed eager to pounce out of the cage. My son had been pestering us for a pet for quite some time now, and I had always imagined a dog or a cat in our house someday. This was a pleasant surprise! And a plus-one in my husband’s scorecard for Bengaluru (My husband and I were at a tug of war on the whole relocation issue, and while I stood by the Prestigious Pune, my husband voted for the ‘Garden city, Bengaluru’)
“These are only rabbits”, is all I could think even while giggling at those hoppy-legs, long-ears, and twitchy-noses, now out of the cage and exploring the nook and corner of the room around us.
Rabbits are adorably cute and their vibrant presence soon started growing on us. While I began researching all about them, my husband kept gloating and anticipating that his bribe might just lure us into moving to this city.
Rabbits as Pets
Rabbits do make great pets when you plan well, prepare, and know what you are getting into!
The Fun Parts of Pet Rabbits –
Rabbits have a long life. Rabbits can live up to 7-12 years with proper care and handling. Domestic rabbits have a longer life-span as compared to wild rabbits.
Rabbits are gentle, docile, and friendly. Rabbits are prey animals, and hence they are naturally gentle, alert, quiet, and submissive animals. When spayed or neutered, there are even lesser chances of aggression in their behavior. Sometimes they gently nip at you playfully, but mostly they love being stroked, being played with, and handled gently.
They bond closely with the owners and can recognize them.
They need less space and they can be litter-trained. Bunnies make good pets even in small apartments as they don’t need much space. They can either be kept in cages with a few hours of playtime outside the cage or as free-roam bunnies. They are mostly happier and safer inside the house, and they don’t need those daily walks.
Rabbits are one of the most hygienic animals, and with a little effort, they can be easily litter-trained. They prefer those private, secluded litter spots as much as they love to groom and clean themselves regularly.
They can learn various entertaining tricks and can follow certain commands. They are well-disciplined and love to follow their daily routines.
Rabbits are often safe for people with allergies and severe allergies to rabbits are generally unusual, although not completely ruled out.
The Downside of Pet Rabbits-
Rabbits aren’t usually great pets for smaller children! Rabbits need ultra-care on a daily and weekly basis, and a lot of responsibility in handling and managing them. They make good pets for older kids and adults.
Rabbit-proofing the house! Rabbits love to chew and scratch. Beware of those wires, door corners, furniture corners, etc. However, there are ways to bunny-proof your house.
Rabbits are fragile! As compared to other pet animals, rabbits are very delicate and fragile. They need much care and attention. Rabbits are prone to certain illnesses, they can get sick quickly, and they can also get injured easily. Proper monitoring of their diet, daily routine, and exercise can keep them safe and healthy for a long time.
Rabbits need company and daily exercise hours! Rabbits are social animals and live in groups. It is always preferable to keep more than one rabbit as pets. They also love the human company around them when domesticated.
To remain fit and healthy, rabbits need a minimum of 2-3 hours of daily exercise. They can either use a playpen or explore around the house which would give them the daily dose of fitness regime.
It is expensive to maintain rabbits! Rabbits eat more than carrots. They need fresh leafy greens, lots of hay, fresh and clean water, food-pellets, occasional treats, and regular vet care. They also need a cage, litter-box, feeding bowls, hay-feeder, chew-toys, playpen (not if they are free-roam), grooming kit, and cleaning supplies.
Rabbits can bite and become aggressive! A cornered rabbit may bite, scratch, and become territorial.
All said and done, with the right care and attention, rabbits make great pets!
Remember, “Once a bunny loves you, they will always love you”
I am taking my blog to the next level with Blogchatter’s #MyFriendAlexa.
For more posts in the series, visit here!
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Such an adorable start to #MyFriendAlexa . Those Rabbits are so cute! Had no idea they were so tough to maintain though!
Thankyou Mayuri 😀😀
Yes these small bundles come with great responsibility 😊
I am sure rabbits must be a handful to manage at home. You have some good lessons to share. Also must be so glad your husband got them in the first place. That’s how it is with pets. First you don’t want them and later you don’t seem to get over them…
Very true Sonia, Thank you so much for sharing such lovely thoughts!
I have never imagined to have any pets… I am so scared of them. But rabbits, wow never thought of them as pets. Great to know about them 🙂
Thank you so much for dropping by Ira, and sharing your thoughts 😊 I had never imagined them as pets too! But here we are!
As always, your post was informative and I am looking forward to reading more of the series. Rabbits are quite a handful.
Yes Aunty, they are! Thankyou so much 😊🙏
How cute they are! You know Jyoti I found my much awaited answer at the last of your post. I was wondering why they were prone to bite us in childhood!! Well, your pets are very lovely.
Thankyou so much Swarnali 🤗 Glad you found your answers here 😊
Wow!! I had a smile reading it throughout the post. Those red eyes are so lovely and at the same time intriguing as well. I did not know so many aspects of keeping Rabit as a pet and that they can be litter trained surprised me a lot.
🤗😊 Yes Chinmayee, we didn’t realize too at first. Gradually we started discovering there’s much more to those adorable bundles than meets the eye!
Thankyou so much for reading and liking 😊
Beautiful start to the campaign with this fur baby post. I didnt know the facts about rabbits you have mentioned, though its the only pet I can imagine to have one day.
That’s so sweet.Thankyou so much Vartika! I am glad you liked it 😊
Such a beautiful post and I had learnt a lot about different aspects of having rabbit as a pet. Yes they are so fragile and delicate and I m sure it need extra care and attention for caring them. Loved the theme dear.
Thankyou so much Surbhi 😊🤗
Wow such cute pets but after having a couple of dogs who i treated like babies, i really don’t want to get cats and rabbits as pets. i guess its just something i dont want. but your pets look pretty cute and great that you love the entertainment.
Thankyou Cindy 😊 As much as I adore my lovely pets, I will confess that if you have lived with a dog, you would be rather disappointed in any other pet 😊😊👍
Such a cute and informative topic you have chosen and am going to read all of them. Loved the pics and videos, they are just adorable. I always had pets at home and now am planning to get one for kids. My kids have already given me a list of pets they want, cats, dogs, elephants, giraffe and now maybe a bunny!
Elephants and giraffes 😄😄 Happy pet hunting! Thankyou so much for reading, and liking the videos Rashi 🤗
Awww such an adorable cute post about tiny fur bunny. Throughout the reading I was remebering my bunny and his habits, in those bunny days only I also came to know about many facts about rabbits and their inhibitat, like always prefer to keep them in pair, their cleanliness etc. Very informative poat Jyoti. Apart from subject I am amazed with your vocab, alwqys something new word to learn. Keep it up dear!
Archana, Thankyou so much 🤩🤗 This praise and appreciation just made my day! Am so glad you liked it 😘
I had some experience with two Rabit pets and it is quite cute to see them eating their food! You can look at it like forever.
Thankyou so much 😊
Interesting to go through your posts about rabbits. Rabbit are very delicate and expensive. They are very clever also.
Thankyou so much Sir 😊🙏
I was hopping excitedly, pun unintended, till I reached the challenges about having rabbit pets. I wish I could have these lovely furry babies at home but with two kids it seems unlikely. Can I visit to pen yours? 🙂
Oh yes dear 🤗😊 Thankyou so much 😘
Such cuties and u just want to go awwwwwww…when u see them. We did have rabbits when my son was ten but never again after they died. My DIL had a bunny which lived to a ripe old age of 9. Great info on how to manage them..would encourage a few to read this
Thank you so much Harjeet! 😊😊 So good to know about your bunnies 😍
Awww they look just too adorable for words!! My aunt used to have a rabbit as a pet when she was a little girl and she talks of it quite fondly always.
Thankyou Noor 😊. They are really adorable. No wonder your Aunt still remembers her bunny so fondly 😊
how cute is your little pet. I remember in my childhood I use to borrow rabbits and kittens to play for while . They are so friendly and cute. You are lucky to have them.
Thank you so much Gurjeet! 😍 How cute is that!
Oh!! so cute they are. Lovely post, Jyoti. Always thought rabbits don’t require that much care but I was certainly wrong. I was not at all aware of so many aspects on rabbits. My twinnies keep requesting me for one but now I have to give a second thought.
Thankyou so much Debidutta 😊 Rabbits are really cute pets but they do need a lot of care specially in terms of food. If you plan to get one, just be prepared 😊
You have cute pets 🙂
I never thought Rabbit can be kept as pets.
Thankyou so much Ghazala 😊 yes, they make adorable pets.
Pets certainly make the environment lively and loving at home. They bring positivity to the home but yes, one has to be fully committed while rearing a pet. I loved your detailed post.
Thankyou so much Aesha 😊
I thought rabbits were oblivious to human love. Do they come when you call their names? Do they respond to you?
Yes they are responsive,not as much as dogs and cats though 😊
Rabbits can learn to follow a few instructions.
Your furry babies are lovely and of course they are handful ! I can’t imagine having a pet .. come with a long history of allergies !
Thankyou so much Ruchi! Really appreciate your compliments 😊😊
Aha, a complete guide to bunny pet.
I need to hide this post from my kiddo who is already after my life to have a pet, he is ready for a dog, cat, or even hamster. This post allows rabbits to the list.
My mom had a rabbit but sorry the only trouble was thousands of pellets they leave and they are super-super active who will run around the house, on the bed, everywhere.
But yes they are super cute as pets.
Lovely post and cute Alexa journey.
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Haha, that’s super cute! Hope you end up having some pet for your kids!
Thankyou so much 😊😊
rabbits are such a cute and fluffy creatures they’re totally lovable. i just find it difficult when animals can’t tell us what’s wrong with them, so i avoid keeping a pet.
True Richa, it is heartwrenching to see them suffer, especially when they can’t tell us what’s wrong.
Thankyou for dropping by and reading.
Today, I’ve got to know more about rabbits as an option for pets. That’s pretty insane. Thanks for the information on these furballs.
Thank you so much 😊
We had rabbits in childhood but we gave it after one year. The new borns died immediately after birth and only 2 of them survived. They are cute but need lot of care.
Very true Upasna. So sad to know about your pet rabbits.
Thank you for dropping by and sharing your thoughts.
Very cute… Nice post. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
Thankyou so much!
Lovely weave Jyoti. My son is also ten and is demanding a pet. You sure made me contemplate a rabbit 😊
Thankyou so much Roma 😊😊
Having a pet is always a good idea!
Awww…they are adorable! I did not know they could be kept as pets. This is a very informative post. The video at the end is the highlight.
Thankyou so much 😊🤗 So glad you liked the video.
reminds me of the time when my brother-in-law kept a pet rabbit. I think that one would have chewed up most of the wires of the house! my son was very small at that time, about two years and scared of the rabbit, wouldn’t go near it. When my BIL realised he couldn’t take care of the pet (he was in sales) he gave it away for adoption. That day my son cried like anything, it was so sad!
Awww that’s so heartwarming. Thankyou for sharing your experience Harshita! Hope your son gets to have a pet someday 😊
You took me back in time!Our neighbour had a rabbit named Ramu and they had a cardboard -box where Ramu spent his time. Most days he would run around and was really difficult to grab him !
I am glad this post took you back to some lovely memories 😊
Thankyou for reading.
That is just a sweet post… We used to have big guinea pigs as pets and they looked exactly like bunnies! It is a wonderful post for people considering pet rabbits… I feel keeping any pet is expensive 😂 but then they are worth it!
True Haimanti, they are just worth it 😊
Thankyou so much for reading and appreciating.
I would say it was such a cute post. I am not really a pet person. However I remember my childhood time when one of our relatives had rabbits in their house. They used to roam around freely. It was a great joy for we kids to play with them. Rabbits had small house as well which was made to keep in mind their nature.
Thankyou so much Shipra 😊
Happy to know your lovely experience with bunnies.
So adorable..we are planning to get a pet soon for our son. We had cats, dogs and parrots in our family but I also feel that rabbits need extra care..I am so curious to read your coming articles on them..
Thankyou so much Akanksha 😊🤗
I never know anyone with a pet rabbit. That’s useful information for anyone trying to have rabbits as pets.
Thankyou so much Neha! And now you know one 😊🤗
Wow this was indeed an awesome surprise frm ur husband…..
My kids too love pets and keep demanding one but we are waiting for them to grow till they learn to take care of a pet on their own. These bunnies r so cuddly 🤗
Thankyou so much Hansa!
Yes,it is always a good idea to have pets when the children are big enough to take care of them 😊
I am very skeptical al of keeping any living creature at home other than my kids. Simply because of the extra care, cleaning and attention they demand. But such a detailed post on rabbit care.
Thankyou for reading and appreciating!
These bunnies are super cute! When we moved into a new neighborhood, we made frirnds with people who had rabbits. My children were delighted!
On a side note, I didn’t know they need chew-toys 🙂
😀 Thankyou so much for reading. I am glad it made you reminisce your bunny memories!
I never knew a rabbit can be litter trained. All pets need much care and attention and yes they do love you back unconditionally.
Rightly said Poonam! Thankyou so much for reading and sharing your lovely thoughts.