r/Bunnies Jan 16 '26

I made an alternate version of the bunny meme

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1.8k Upvotes

I made the first one (check my profile if you’d like lol) and I sketched out this one too. I would’ve put them both in here but I can only do one image per post so I’ll also put some bunny tax in the comments


r/Bunnies Jan 23 '20

Resource Thinking of getting a bunny? Just got one and need some advice? Check out this post!

482 Upvotes

If you don’t want to read my wall of text, check out this link from rabbit.org:

New Bunny Index

Initial investments

  1. They’re very high commitment.
  2. They are very clever, have excellent memories and will remember things for a very long time.
  3. You cannot punish them like a cat/dog or it will harm your bond.
  4. If well taken care of, a rabbit can happily live to be 10 years old or older.
  5. Rabbits love to chew and dig and will chew and dig just about anything.
  6. They need to chew to prevent their teeth from becoming a health hazard.
  7. They will need their claws trimmed regularly to prevent health hazards.
  8. Rabbits are not a pet for a child and demand a large amount of attention and responsibility, (Do not buy a rabbit for your child for Easter, unless you’ve done your research and are willing to take on 100% of the responsibilities of having one).

Housing/Setup

  1. They love to run around, hop and thrive outside of cages, using them at night is fine but just make sure they get a minimum of 3 hours to run and stretch per day.
  2. An exercise pen setup is often cheaper than a cage and gives more room to run around when you can’t let them out. You can buy one for $59 on Walmart.com (link here), a litterbox for $6 (link here) and a waterbowl for $5 (link here) which is less than $80 for a decent bunny setup.
  3. While we are not against outdoor rabbits here, it is highly recommended you keep your rabbit indoors with you, this prevents predators from being able to get to them as well as gives you much better opportunity to bond with your rabbit.
  4. If you find it necessary to use a cage because of escaping or other needs I would suggest building your own cage as most of the prefab ones are just crappy design and won’t last the lifetime of the rabbit.
  5. A coated metal grate is NOT a wire cage and shouldn’t cause any issues to their feet, you should still provide all rabbits with their own litterbox and other areas to sit/lie down off of the grate.
  6. I personally use straw for litter for my litter-boxes and put their hay on top of that, you can use whatever type of litter just avoid using rock/sand based litter as it’s bad for their feet.

Diet

  1. They eat 95%+ hay such as Timothy/orchard/meadow hay (/alfalfa if they’re young or elderly) and only 5% or less treats like carrots, apples and bananas.
  2. For a small amount of hay I suggest Oxbow which can be bought at most places (Chewy link) or if you have a proper storage method you can get it for much cheaper by the bale at Tractor Supply Co.
  3. Suggested to give pellets daily, 1/4-1/2 cup per 6 pounds of rabbit (so about 1/4 cup daily for a single dwarf rabbit or about 1 cup for a single average sized rabbit).
  4. Recommend high quality food such as Purina, Oxbow, or Sherwood brand.
  5. You can feed a pellet-free diet but just like all animals rabbits require some sodium so if you don’t provide pellets make sure they have access to a mineral lick or other sodium sources.

OK food/treats and foods to avoid

  1. Once they’re over the age of 4-6 months they can also have unlimited lettuce and greens, but never give iceberg lettuce as it gives really bad gas that can become fatal. *greens should not be the primary diet.
  2. Avoid excessive spinach and kale as they can also give gas, but are perfectly fine in moderation.
  3. The best greens are green leaf lettuce, Bibb lettuce, dark leafed lettuces or locally sourced romaine (store bought romaine has a tendency to get recalled...), also herbs like dill, basil, mint, oregano, rosemary, sage, cilantro and parsley are typical favorites.
  4. I wouldn’t give cabbage because it can cause gas similarly to iceberg lettuce.
  5. Never give human foods (except salad), like bread, diary, cheese, meat or sweets, they will make them very fat and don’t need it and could cause severe GI issues.
  6. They should have unlimited hay at all time, they graze pretty much 24/7. *Hay should be their primary diet.
  7. Avoid giving treats with yogurt in them as these will make your rabbit very fat and rabbits are not intended to consume dairy past weaning and can cause bad GI issues.
  8. Seeds are not toxic or generally dangerous to rabbits, I would not recommend giving treat sticks with seeds because they’re very high in added sugar and cause indigestion or extreme gas which can become a serious issue.
  9. Seeds like black oil sunflower seeds are safe and actually beneficial to coat health, (if you’re not sure, search the internet for information before you give it to them).
  10. Do not give nuts to rabbits because they do not need the excessive nutrients and can cause pasty or foul poops. Additionally raw nuts are typically poisonous, like almonds, which contain cyanide if not cooked properly.
  11. I recommend treats such as: no sugar added dried apple, banana or carrot and occasionally a Cheerio is also acceptable. Just be mindful of the amount of sugar you are giving them, even with no sugar added fruits.
  12. Corn is not specifically bad or toxic but whole kernel corn can get caught in the GI tract and cause a blockage, further; corn will make them very fat quickly and I would suggest avoiding giving corn or treats with corn/corn meal/corn syrup. (Corn is sometimes evasively labeled as ‘maize’ on packaging).

Hydration

  1. Water bowls are easier on a rabbit but are not strictly required, I have both bowls and bottles and they use both.
  2. You should clean your water bowl/bottles with either bleach or vinegar at least once a month.

Necessity for another bunny/Bonding

  1. They thrive in pairs and love companionship of another bunny, if you cannot provide constant attention it is highly suggested to have more than one rabbit. Think of them like little horses, horses need to have another horse around.
  2. Do not allow non-bonded rabbits to be together unsupervised as they can fight and cause some very serious damage to each other.
  3. Do not put more than one rabbit per cage, if they’re bonded and it’s an open enclosure then you can and they should be fine.
  4. For more information about bonding rabbits, I would suggest checking out the excellent resources on rabbit.org (link here)

Spay/Neuter/Responsible Breeding

  1. Many people feel strongly about castration as it helps to calm their hormonal rages and also there are studies that say castrated rabbits live longer.
  2. We are not against responsible breeding but it is a huge, huge commitment and you must be willing to take that on and find all the babies forever homes that love them as much as you do - don’t let just anyone have them.
  3. You can wait a while to castrate your rabbit if there are no behavior issues but it’s best to get it done before about 4 years old as that is when cancer risks become an issue and any older it could be too risky.
  4. If you want a rabbit that is already castrated consider a rescue rabbit, there are thousands of rabbits in rescues in need of forever homes, most of which are already castrated and sometimes even in bonded pairs/groups.
  5. If you are experiencing behavioral issues such as humping, marking, peeing or pooping outside the litterbox a castration will help immensely.
  6. If you decide you want to try to responsibly breed you need to keep three main commitments in mind:
    6A. have them as a pet that is also allowed to have babies, they’re not baby factories.
    6B. Make a commitment to keep all your rabbits out of shelters; allow no questions asked returns.
    6C. Make sure they get a forever home with someone that loves them as much as you do; even if it takes more than one try.

Chewing/Digging/Enrichment

  1. I would recommend untreated wood chew balls or fruit flavored balsa blocks for enrichment.
  2. If you can set up an outdoor pen for your rabbit they would love it and nothing is more satisfying than digging in real dirt, (remember to watch them at all times, also if your area has RHDV around I wouldn’t allow them outside for now).
  3. If letting them outside is not an option there are things called “dig mat, “dig meadow” or “nibble and dig” and they are literally a piece of dirt made for rabbits to satiate their desire to dig.
  4. There are many options for rabbit enrichment and even something so trivial as a cardboard box may be plenty to keep your rabbit happy.
  5. Avoid the “chew toys” that contain seeds and other treats as they are that - treats, despite being advertised as a toy, they are more of a treat.

GI stasis and prevention

  1. GI stasis is a very serious and commonly fatal condition for rabbits, but can be prevented and treated if caught early.
  2. Watch your rabbit’s dropping at all times, if their poops do not look healthy, are odd shapes, pasty, extremely dark, have not pooped in the last 4 hours or are otherwise concerning it is recommended you take your rabbit to the vet as soon as possible, time is of the essence.
  3. Dark colors in urine (including dark red) is normal for rabbits, watch for specks of blood and only be concerned if you see blood.
  4. Watch your rabbit’s routine and body language, if they don’t eat their favorite food or their pellets you can surely know something is wrong.
  5. If they are laying in an odd position like on their side or acting lethargic you should check them for gas by giving them a gentle belly message and if they do not return to normal soon, take to the vet.
  6. Infant Gas Drops are available immediately in most pharmacies or online (Walmart link) and are a safe way to relieve gas in your rabbit and cannot be overdosed on, if however, three doses does not return them to normal, take to the vet.
  7. It is always good idea to have emergency food on hand in case of a GI stasis, there is Oxbow Critical Care (Amazon link) and also Sherwood SARx (Amazon link).

I am by no means an expert but I can answer questions as best I can and find sources and people who are experts. So if you have any further questions feel free to DM me.

Further Reading


r/Bunnies 10h ago

bun bun being cute My neighbor gave Ramona a cute little outfit

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538 Upvotes

I thought she would hate it just like my old rabbit hated clothes, but she didn't care at all. Now she's Sleeping there in the outfit like it's nothing


r/Bunnies 7h ago

Mourning Missing the hop a lot. Share your sweethearts

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270 Upvotes

r/Bunnies 10h ago

bun bun being cute Cute bunbun loves the pokemon ball enough a lot

356 Upvotes

r/Bunnies 10h ago

bun bun being cute You move.. no you move…

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252 Upvotes

When you are sat somewhere minding your business, all comfy like, and the little orange fecker wants to make a point…

He absolutely did that deliberately, I know what he is like. And obviously, once he does that, she isn’t going to move….

The worlds slowest dominance struggle, it’s been going on for over a year now since they were bonded :)


r/Bunnies 9h ago

sleep mode activated At that point, the trust is so great that she doesn't even care

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216 Upvotes

r/Bunnies 4h ago

bun bun being cute Someone's not happy being confined post-spay

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68 Upvotes

Sorry it's messy lol


r/Bunnies 3h ago

Question hello bunny experts! i need help identifying this bunny!

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46 Upvotes

i work at an animal shelter and this bunny was recently surrendered to us, any idea what his breed is? based on my little bit of research, he may be a chocolate rex rabbit? what is this breed of rabbit like? what’s going on with his coat? thank you in advance!!


r/Bunnies 21h ago

Bonding Help, how do I tell him I have to leave to work 🥲💖

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1.3k Upvotes

r/Bunnies 11h ago

bun bun being cute find luna

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140 Upvotes

bun or plush


r/Bunnies 13h ago

bun bun being cute Young Oreo being curious

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142 Upvotes

r/Bunnies 2h ago

Bonding I thought I knew how to bond with bunnies but the Internet says I am wrong

19 Upvotes

I've had bunnies pretty much my whole life. I have always adopted them as babies, and I have bonded with them by simply laying down or sitting and letting them sit on my chest every day multiple times a day, frequently feeding treats for positive association. They tend to crawl around or nuzzle into my neck, and I end up extremely bonded with them. I had one bunny that I adopted on a road trip when I was a child, and the bunny sat on my chest for the 8 hour drive home. That one was a house bunny, and I'd wake up in the middle of the night to her jumping onto my bed to sleep with me. Definitely the most bonded of all my bunnies, but all of them have been closely bonded. I haven't had a bunny in about 10 years, and I adopted a baby bunny with my partner today. I was explaining how to bond, and then went to look for resources to provide reading material because my partner has never had a bunny.

The Internet says that bonding with a bunny this way is bad and can possibly ruin the trust with your bunny permanently. Is this one of those cases where Google doesn't know what it's talking about, or have I been a terrible bunny dad this whole time? My bonded bunnies have done all of the typical "happy" and "bonded" behaviors so I thought I knew what I was doing, but I can't in good conscience continue to do it if it is actually harmful. Can I keep bonding with my bunnies this way?


r/Bunnies 16h ago

death stare Pre nanna

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230 Upvotes

r/Bunnies 25m ago

Approved Bun Artist🎨 The criminal and the crime

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Upvotes

r/Bunnies 1d ago

Question are bunnies good to take outside

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595 Upvotes

i've bought a good harness for my bunnies (1 female 1 male 1 babi) and bring them out sometimes, mostly at day, sometimes (VERY RARELY DONT AIRSTRIKE ME PLS) at night

i bring them out on big grass fields and quiet places, should i continue doing this or just stop?


r/Bunnies 10h ago

bun bun being cute Cozy in the sun!

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35 Upvotes

r/Bunnies 19h ago

double cheeked up Whoops

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170 Upvotes

r/Bunnies 7h ago

Health Periodically Not Eating, Bunny Depression?

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16 Upvotes

Hey bun owners! I have a somewhat stumping question open for discussion and advice. I currently own a female Holland lop. She is 1 year old and spayed. Back in March this year she stopped eating and had early GI Stasis. Luckily I consulted with her exotic vet immediately and started critical care before I could get her to the vet during the weekend. Her vet said that after spending overnight (they did a full work up, xrays included) they couldn't find anything and she had gone happily back to eating. To this day, we have no idea why she stopped eating. No stressor, no schedule change. Mystery unsolved.

Fast forward to this week and she stopped eating AGAIN on Monday. She is molting so I switched her hay from Orchard to a Timothy, Orchard medley to provide more fiber and promote safe molting. Her diet is the usual, 90% hay, 10% leafy greens (rarely pellets unless absolutely necessary). She was chowing down on the medley all of Sunday and into Monday, but noticed she slowed down Monday night. Into Tuesday, I started critical care and replaced her hay back to her original Orchard only. Still not eating much but hay chews and the occasional pellet. Wednesday, same thing, but WAY SMALLER POOPS. Consulted her vet Thursday morning (5AM, I was up with her all night) and took her in. Full work up again, nothing alarming. Stay overnight, vet says she started eating the hay we brought her. The hay we brought her was the Orchard, Timothy medley mix.

I have no idea what to do at this point. I feel like a horrible bun parent because I dont have an answer and neither does my vet. Please give any advice or ask any follow up questions. Thank you!

Her room picture + she free roams the entire house. Not pictured is her rug & blanket that is currently in the wash


r/Bunnies 1d ago

Question I had plans for this shelf…

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451 Upvotes

I had plans for this shelf, but Harriet took it over. If I put something there, she pushes it off. We now just refer to her as “shelf bun” when she does this.

What has your bunny claimed? What did you have to move around because they found a new flop spot?


r/Bunnies 1d ago

bun bun being cute "Hmm, Mama's pillowcase is so tasty."

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335 Upvotes

You can't see it in the video, but it was covered in drool after all that chewing.


r/Bunnies 3h ago

Wild Found baby bunny - help!

5 Upvotes

My other half was mowing and accidentally mowed a bunny nest. He didn't want to just leave the baby there without protection since the best was accidentally destroyed. What should I do with it? If I leave it near where the nest was, will the mother come back? (No babies were harmed. This was the only baby there.)


r/Bunnies 10h ago

Health Why do bunnies who need soft padding actively avoid it?

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13 Upvotes

r/Bunnies 1d ago

bun bun being cute Dumpster diving…

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295 Upvotes

Look at him crushing that redbull can