Your First Rabbit
We have done some research and found things you need to know about your first rabbit such as: behavior (see body language), cages (see below), litter training (below), feed (see feeding your rabbit) setting up a safe and healthy environment for your rabbit (bunny-proofing below).
Cages : Rabbits were not designed to live on wire floors. Living on wire floors can cause a condition known as sore hock to develop on their feet. Cages with wire floors were designed for the convenience of breeders who were looking for an easy way to clean up after the most rabbits in the least amount of time. Cages with wire floors must have a piece of plywood, cardboard or plastic mat that the rabbit can sit and lay on. Do not use carpet. Rabbits will chew on them. There are many types of housing available for your pet or show rabbit.
Training: An untrained rabbit should be kept in a cage or confined to a room while you're not home to watch over them, but they must be let out for at least 1 hour each day, both to exercise, and to have social interaction with you and or your other pets. Also, the more they are let out, the faster they will learn proper behavior through discipline. Younger rabbits tend to get into more mischief and must be watched and disciplined more closely. As time goes on and their behavior improves, more freedom may be given. If you don't want to confine your rabbit to a cage, a clean, rabbit-proofed room may be used. Rooms that are generally easy to rabbit-proof are the bathroom, laundry room, kitchen, and bedroom.
Bunny Proofing: you must inspect every room carefully for any exposed wires (don’t forget phone wires) and other dangerous objects (like plants) that could be harmful to your rabbit. You may have to deny access to one or more rooms if bunny proofing is difficult or impossible (such as a computer room). But the more space your rabbit has, the more delightful you will find him/her as a pet and companion.
Litter Box Training: The safest litters are Yesterday's News and Carefresh. Not only are they better for your rabbit, but they are odor-free and highly absorbable.
Do not use clay or clumping litter.
Confine the rabbit to a small area with the litter box. Do not give the rabbit access to any other room until he/she is always urinating in the litterbox. Stay in the training rooms for as long as possible to observe its behavior. If the rabbit has an accident outside of the box, wipe it up immediately with a paper towel and then place the rabbit in the litter box. This will teach the rabbit that the urine belongs IN THE BOX! If the rabbit deposits any droppings on the floor, immediately pick both the rabbit and the droppings up and put them into the litterbox. Pet your bunny while he/she is sitting in the box and say good bunny. When you have to leave, put the rabbit back into its cage or enclosure with the litterbox. When the rabbit is using the litterbox all of the time, you can then let them out into other rooms.
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