Rabbits as Pets for Kids

Rabbits have always been popular pets among all and especially children. They never fail to amuse the little ones with their cute and cuddly looks and behavior. However, the most important aspect to keep in mind while keeping rabbits as pets for kids is that they are physically too delicate to be handled roughly or impatiently. When these creatures feel frightened, they become defensive by exhibiting behaviors of biting, scratching, or running away. That is the reason why most people comment that the choice of rabbits do not go hand in hand with kids and particularly small kids. However, there are different ways and means through which you can take up the commitment of raising rabbits as pets and also help your kids to understand the importance of caring for another life and understanding its needs.

Information on Rabbits as Pets
For keeping rabbits as pets for children, here are some of the important considerations which should be adhered to.

Like any other pets, these delicate creatures require exercises and some 'social time out of their cages'. The cages that you choose for keeping rabbits as house pets must be spacious, easy to clean and should provide ease for the animal to go in and out. These animals love jumping, running and twisting in the air. So it would be quite unwise to keep these pets in small cages and that to for a long time.

Rabbits are well-known for their socialization behavior and they prefer the companionship of humans or other animals as well. They require proper attention and pet care, and according to how they like it. This is necessary for their mental well-being. So, to supervise your kids while they are around the pet is an important part of caring for rabbits as pets.

Keeping rabbits as indoor pets include getting the animal familiar with all the family members. If you have any other pets at home such as a dog or a cat, then they must also be properly introduced with your new pet. It is advisable to keep rabbits indoors from health, safety and socialization point of view. So, as mentioned earlier, they should be given ample amount of out-of-cage time, in order to give the required amount of attention which they need.

Quality pellets, fresh hay, fresh vegetables and clean water make for a perfect healthy diet for rabbits. Pellets are required by the animals in their early stages of growth. Gradually as they mature, their diet should consist more of hay and vegetables and less of pellets. Young rabbits should be fed with alfafa hay and older ones are required to be fed with grass hay. Fresh hay makes up for the amount of roughage which is needed for prevention of hairballs and other blockages in the pet.

Vegetables, as always, are the most important part of any diet for humans and animals. Providing rabbits with dark leafy vegetables, root vegetables and vegetables of different colors, does great for the well-being of the pet. It is also a good practice to introduce vegetables one at a time. The different vegetables which you can offer are alfalfa, radish and clover sprouts, basil, beet greens (the top part), bok choy collard greens, dandelion greens (no pesticides), endive, escarole mint, mustard greens, parsley, peppermint leaves, spinach, watercress, wheat grass and of course their very favorite, carrots! The water provided to the pet must be changed daily and the container of the water must be sanitized with a mild detergent on a weekly basis.

Other Interesting Facts about Rabbits as Pets
Having rabbits as pets, it is also necessary to be aware about certain characteristic features and facts about rabbits. Here is some information which might come in handy while raising and keeping rabbits as pets for kids.

Rabbits take some time to get used to their new surroundings and new companions. They are not overly receptive to human attention, and so the family members need to spend some time to build their trust.

The idea of keeping rabbits as outdoor pets is something that is not very pleasant, considering the physical characteristics of these animals. Rabbits as pets are different than their wild counterparts. Unlike the wild ones, the domesticated rabbits cannot withstand extreme temperatures and they do not have the ability to counter the attack of any other animal.

Chewing is a part of rabbits' natural traits, so in order to keep your rabbits active, provide them with untreated wood blocks or cardboards which are smooth and not sharp or too soft to be swallowed. Bowls, balls, rings made of willow wood and paper toilet rolls are also enjoyed by these animals to chew on.

The reason why rabbits are strongly recommended to be kept indoors lies in the answer to the question as to how long do rabbits live as pets? Well, it is known that house rabbits live upto 9 - 12 years when kept with proper care and attention. On the other hand, the ones which are neglected and left at backyard hutches, have less than half the average lifespan of indoor rabbits.

If you are thinking of bringing home wild rabbits as pets, it would be wiser to drop the idea! This is because, these wild animals find it hard to become docile like their domesticated cousins. Even if they are made pets, it will affect their health and ultimately shorten their lifespan. Wild rabbits prefer living where they belong; in the wild. Moreover, it is illegitimate to pet a healthy wild animal!

Dwarf rabbits as pets also require the same kind of attention and care as the normal rabbits do. These rabbits, as the name suggest, are smaller in size than the normal ones and share same behavioral traits. Read more on facts about dwarf rabbits.

Small rabbits as pets are very cute and adorable and they weigh under 2.5 kg when they are fully grown. Extra care has to be taken to raise them. Some of the small rabbit breeds are Netherland Dwarf, Lion Head, Lion Head Lop, Mini Lop, Mini Rex and Dutch. You can also check more on types of rabbits.

The most difficult part in keeping rabbits as pets, is caring for the juvenile ones. However, if the mother rabbit does her bit, the task seems to be dauntless. Making a comfortable nest for a baby rabbit is the first thing that should be taken care of. You can consult a qualified vet for important instructions regarding the feeding of baby rabbits. Another important fact about these animals is that baby rabbits are able to open their eyes after about 10 days and if in the event they do not, they should be taken to a vet. Keeping a check on the mother rabbit's effort in looking after her young ones, takes care of the bringing up of baby rabbits. For more on baby rabbits as pets, read care for newborn baby rabbit.

This was about the various factors and requirements that should be a part of taking care of rabbits as pets for kids. Before you make up your mind for introducing a rabbit to your family, it would be wise to keep all this information about rabbits as pets, handy. After all, if you are bringing a rabbit home, you are the sole person responsible to see to it that your pet is 'feeling at home' with its new surroundings, and starting to become an important member of your family. So in order to help you in your decision, this article has been presented with an attempt to inform you all about rabbits as pets for kids. More on pet rabbit breeds.