Pets are one of the easiest way to include more nature and animal learning into your child’s life. But, getting a pet shouldn’t be taken lightly. Any pet needs space, love, care, and dedication… and if kids are involved, then supervision is also needed!
Are you thinking about getting your child a pet?
Rabbits are very cute, affectionate and child friendly pets. They are relatively easy to care for. Rabbits don’t need as much room as other pets, and they are a lot less noisy than other pets for example, parrots!
Rabbits are affordable starter pets and even with the cost of an indoor cage or outdoor rabbit hutch, they’re still are more cost-effective than other more high maintenance pets.
This low cost, yet high fun ratio puts rabbits at the top of the list for starter pets for your family.
If you are brainstorming the pros and cons of owning a pet for the first time then read on for 5 reasons why choosing a rabbit as a starter is a great idea!
5 Reasons Rabbits Make Great Starter Pets
1. Rabbits are space friendly
Every pet needs exercise but rabbits don’t need much space to fulfill their daily exercise routines. This is handy if you live in a compact environment with restrictions on space or if you have space, but prefer to keep your rabbit indoors.
All you need to do is let them out of their cage, at least once per day, so they can hop, skip and have fun whilst at the same time getting their daily workout. Even if you have a very small area to work with, you can still get a rabbit if you stick to this regime.
2. Rabbits are quiet (usually)
Most of the time rabbits are quiet animals, although like any animal they can get noisy. Rabbits are most active during dawn and dusk which makes them crepuscular.
A noisy animal that calls, knocks, or whistles around this time would likely wake you or your children (and possibly even the neighbors) which can be very frustrating.
Rabbits, on the other hand, tend to stay quieter while they forage so this makes them an ideal pet for people who are light sleepers or for people who prefer less noise at more sensitive times of the day.
This also has the bonus of keeping your kids in bed for longer which, if you ask any parents with young children, is always a blessing in disguise!
3. Rabbits can be trained
Rabbits take instructions relatively well. You can train your rabbit in a few short weeks to follow simple instructions, like navigating an obstacle course or to follow simple commands with a simple food-based reward system.
Surprisingly you can even litter train a rabbit which is also a plus!
To train your rabbit try to use small rewards like a “special snack” as an incentive to do routine tricks or movements. People have even taught their rabbits how to do sit-ups!
4. Rabbits form close relationships with their owners.
Contrary to popular belief, a rabbit can be just as loving and owner-friendly as a cat or dog.
Rabbits respond well to love and affection and will often show it by licking or nibbling at your hands or feet, running around your feet in circles, or demanding head rubs (yea, that’s a thing)!
Furthermore, rabbits can recognize your voice in a crowd and are easily able to tell where you are from a distance. Owners routinely brag about their rabbits following them around in the house, which just makes them extra fun to be around!
(Can you imagine your little one being followed around the house by a new pet rabbit…. It’s such a cute sight!)
5. Rabbits are low maintenance pets!
Overall, rabbits are more low maintenance than other pets. Of course, you will need to buy a cage, hay, food bowls and water dispensers, litter trays and other accessories but this is still considered low maintenance as most purchases are one time only things.
Bunny Budgeting Tip: Remember, It’s smart to keep some money aside for regular health checks, to ensure that your rabbit has all the care and help they need to stay happier and healthy for as long as possible.
What about Rabbit Proofing my house (and my kids)?
It’s important to rabbit-proof your home so that you keep your new fluffy friend safe.
Rabbits are natuarlly inquisitive pets and will dig and chew everyday household items just for fun. To be on the safe side we recommend doing a few things to keep them engaged and safe while living among your children.
1. Pet Supervision
Supervision is recommended when introducing your child to a rabbit for the first time.
Even when kids are accustomed to their new “pet best friend” it’s important to keep a vigilant eye out, just in case.
Rabbits definitely make for sturdy pets, but sometimes children can get inquisitive and push the boundaries a bit too far. To avoid small injuries to the rabbit (and your child) always supervise whenever you take the rabbit out of the cage.
This will help to keep a happier bunny who loves to be stroked, cuddled and played with.
2. Household Maintenance
It’s important to remove all wires and cables and any electrical equipment that is out in the open like plugs and ports. Rabbits have sharp teeth that can cut through loose cables and this can result in injury to themselves or potentially something more fatal.
You can pick up plastic covers or sheets from most hardware and home improvement stores.
Furthermore, rabbits are very skillful and can squeeze in and out of very small spaces. Things like under cupboards, bookshelves, and around TV monitors are just a few examples.
Try and block areas that are easily accessible to your rabbit and keep the house obstruction-free when you let them out of the cage.
Pet runs, baby gates, and removable pet fencing can be handy to use for free roaming bunny time.
3. Household Germs
Another problem area for rabbits at home is household germs. Moulding is a good example as rabbits tend to go into places that no human can squeeze into. Try to keep all surfaces, both in front and behind, germ-free before letting your rabbit free to roam on the house.
Additionally, some houseplants can be an irritant to rabbits if they accidentally brush or chew them. For example, Holly, tomato leaves, and tulips are some of the most toxic household plants to rabbits, so be sure to keep these away.
Overall, a bunny is a perfect pet for your kids to love and learn how to care for. Sure, there are some considerations which need attention, but the pros of caring for rabbits far outweigh the cons. Rabbits are fun, loyal and are relatively low maintenance pets who are budget-friendly, affectionate, and personable.
And, rabbits are also a great way to teach your kids about animals, living creatures, and responsibility, so get down to your local pet store to see which bunny is perfect for you and your family!
Written by Amy
Pet lover and writer at Ultimate Pet Hub“Hey, I’m Amy and I’m in love with my Pets! I have a diverse variety, including 2 cats, 1 dog, 3 rabbits, 2 guinea pigs, a rat, and a beautiful macaw. I love writing about everything pet-related and spend as much time as I can sharing my personal experiences on my blog, UltimatePetHub.com “
Looking for other kids and nature connection reads?
<