P et Rabbi t s Wild Rabbits Over the last hundred years or so rabbits have become very popular pets and today pet rabbits look very different from wild rabbits Long Ears Big Teeth Both pet rabbits and wild rabbits have long ears and large front teeth for chewing In the wild rabbits are hunted by other animals such as foxes so they have excellent senses Rabbits use their smell sight and hearing to tell if an enemy is nearby Wild rabbits are mostly gray or brown so they are not easily seen by predators Pet rabbits can be many different colors Wild rabbits below left are a plain t brown or gray color while pet rabbits below right can have patterned and multi-colored fur 4
Popular Pets All pet rabbits are related to the wild European rabbit which were found only in Spain and North Africa People caught these rabbits and farmed them for their meat and fur Since then rabbits have also been kept as pets Over the years they have been bred to create types with many different features Around the world today rabbits are among the most popular pets after cats and dogs Do It Wild rabbits can suffer from a deadly disease called myxomatosis You need to protect your pet from this and other diseases by getting it vaccinated Your vet will be able to tell you more about the vaccinations your rabbit needs Pet rabbits have lots of s different features For example this lionhead rabbit has long fur around its head like a mane It is a gentle loving breed of rabbit 5
W hy a Rab bit Rabbits are quiet animals but they enjoy being with people They can be stroked and groomed and each rabbit has its own personality Inside and Outdoors Many people keep house rabbits which live indoors and roam around the home Rabbits can be house trained so they are very clean But a house rabbit will need at least four hours out of its cage every day Rabbits can also be kept outdoors in a hutch with a large run House rabbits such as this lop ear t should be let out to explore But make sure that all doors are shut and there are no wires or plants it could chew on 6
Living Together In the wild rabbits live in groups so a rabbit on its own will be very unhappy You need to keep at least two rabbits ideally a neutered male and female or two females Two males may fight Many people keep both rabbits and guinea pigs as pets but they must be kept apart as they do not get along PET POINT ld rabbits are active at dawn and pet rabbits are Wi This means your pet wi and dusk in the early morning and lar simi late afternoon active during the and evening when you are at home l l be Buying a Pet Baby rabbits can be aggressive but they calm down as they grow older so most people get an adult rabbit You can buy rabbits from a good pet shop or a breeder who will be able to advise you on which type to buy and what to feed it Or contact a local animal shelter People who can’t look after their pets anymore take them to a charity to find them a new home s A breeder or an expert at an animal shelter will help you to choose the right rabbit for you 7
