MCatCar wrote:
Some people on here can reallly be rude! Someone PM'd me and asked if I could possibly keep a rabbit outside, I said no, and that I didn't think it would get as good of care as she would inside. She basically called me lazy, said that neutering/spaying wasn't good for them, and said I must not really want a rabbit, because I won't put her outside.
I have a dog, and it gets really hot, and really cold. She just said I must really not want a rabbit. She was VERY rude.
Really? That should never have been said. Rabbits inside require just as much time and care as those that live outside! Litter-trays still need to be cleaned, pen's need to be cleaned and checked, food, hay, water, exercise time, socialising....I really don't see how rabbits that live inside require any less time and effort than those that live outside.
Erm......whoever said that neutering and spaying wasn't good for rabbits clearly doesn't know what they are talking about.
Neutering and spaying help with aggression, behavioural/dominance issues, spraying, littertray habits etc.
Also, does that are unspayed after about 2 years old develop quite a high risk of getting uterine cancer, so every doe that isn't intended to be bred from really MUST be spayed. It is in their best interests for their health and wellbeing.
I am surprised that someone would PM you when they clearly don't really know at ALL what they are talking about, so I am very sorry that someone on here said that to you.
I have to say, I would always recommend that a rabbit lived inside. It protects them from changes in temperature, and extreme temperatures, predators, flies etc.
Also, it is much easier to see their natural behaviour/habits, so therefore is much easier to notice any changes which could then develop into something problematic, which can be caught early due to noticed changes.
Also, socialising is much easier when the bun lives inside, and is free running (with supervision), like cats and dogs.
However, rabbits that live outside also can have all of this, as long as the owner is willing to put the work in. My rabbits 'live' technically oustide, in a very large shed with levels etc., together, so they have one another in the night. Here in the England the weather is not so harsh, so that isn't much of a problem. Also, we don't have as many predators here outside, such as coyotes, wild dogs etc., only foxes etc., but I'd pretty much say my rabbits are 100% protected from any predator. They would have to get through a huge fence, and then would have to break through the most reinforced shed, with the thickest wire that not even the strongest person could bend, with about 4 heavy bolts and pegs on each door.
They spend 5/6 hours a day in their run (which is very large), and spend about 5 hours a day inside with me, so I know my buns have the best life possible. They are with eachother, and then spend many hours with me, so they are sort of outside/indoor buns. When they are not in their run, or at night, they are inside the house (in a large rabbit-proofed room).
Again, I'm sorry someone took the time to post that to you.
You clearly are NOT lazy, looking at all the research you have done into rabbit ownership- the many hours of reading and researching and talking about. If you do so much before you even GET a rabbit, think how good you will be when you have one.
