Choosing the Right Rabbit for You
Breed varieties are multiplying like rabbits Flemish Giant. American Chinchilla. Himalayan. English Spot. Havana. When it comes to rabbit breeds, you have a world of choices. Which rabbit is right for you? Before you start looking, make sure you are right for rabbits. Cute as they are, they can be a handful of commitment. Most breeds live more than 5 years, so you're in it for the long haul. They need time and attention, and they smell if you don't clean up after them every day. If cleaning and petting a rabbit every day sounds like fun to you, then dive in! Most rabbiters agree that there aren't any particular breeds that are especially good as pets, or remarkably fond of people or children. Like people, rabbit personalities vary widely. You need to get to know the individual. Kits vs. Adults It's easier to choose from adults. You can see how they behave when held and petted, and problems are more obvious. Older rabbits tend to be mellower. Score a bonus point if the bunny is already spayed or neutered, a significant expense. Although newborn kits are irresistibly adorable, remember Forrest Gump's observation: you never know what you're gonna get. As they go through puberty, they may get aggressive, lunge, or bite as their hormones rage. |  |
Spotting illnesses
Avoid any rabbit that's too fat or too skinny. They may tug at your heart, but major weight variations may be a sign of illness that's hard to treat. Eyes should be bright and clear, not mattery, and the coat should be even and clean, without major bald spots. Shedding naturally occurs during molting, but it doesn't expose skin. Rabbits groom themselves like cats do, so a dirty rabbit probably isn't feeling well.
Test drive
If you can, get him out of his rabbit cage and watch him move to see if all his parts work properly, and to gauge whether he's social or mean, frisky or lazy. As gently as you can, try to hold him to see how he reacts. Bunnies vary widely in their tolerance of giant mammals grabbing them.
Your rabbit cages need to be at least four times as big as the rabbits they hold. Keep that in mind as you fall in love with the 3-foot tall, 15-pound German Giant.
