Hello
1. Are they messy?
Generally no. Generally, bunnies like to be clean and have natural instincts which enable them to be litter trained. Them being smelly will depend on how often you clean the cage. Sometimes, you will get the occasional bunny that will love to dig and may dig in his litterbox. This can be easily fixed by putting a grid over the litter, or even getting a closed litter box.
2. are they easy to leash and litter train?
For the leash: it will depend on the bun. I don't have a problem with my 3 but I am pretty confident so they know I will win in the end. If they feel you hesitating, they will give you a hard time. You need to be extra careful when using a leash however. The best is to use a safe playpen for them to run in when outside.
Litter training: Honestly, I personally never had a problem with this. There are many useful tricks and we can walk you through it. You need to understand though that bunnies are territorial and may occasionally mark their territory by peeing or pooping. Spaying/Neutering will help with this and it is REALLY important to have done, especially in a female!
3. What do they eat and how much?
Bunnies need unlimited timothy hay at all times. Alfalfa can be given as a treat. However, if you get a baby, you can give alfalfa as the main food until they reach the adult age. Along with hay, they will need pellets. Avoid the fancy seed mixes. Fresh greens and occasionally some fruit as treats are important also. They have a list here with what is safe and what is not.
4. I saw some bunnies at a petstore, and they were soo cute, and they were so scaared of me! if i got one of those, would they be easy to get used to human contact and be easy to pick up?
Ok, this is one thing people need to understand: most bunnies do not like to be picked up. I can pick both Wiggles (she's a big baby and will sleep in my arms) and Dahlia up without a problem but my Bam-Bam does not like it. You need to be willing to sit/lie down on the floor and play with them that way. Though they don't like to be picked up much, you can gain their trust and they will come to you. They are social and love to play though most people do not know. Bunnies are prey animals and therefore have instincts that make them a little more skittish until you earn their trust. It gets much easier as you gain experience. A bunny can always tell when a person is nervous and it makes them nervous. Lol. That's not a problem, you'll both learn together.
5. Rate a bunny on a scale of 1-10. 10 being best pet ever!
10. I absolutely adore my buns. They have sooooooooooo much personality and they are much more playful than people think. Most people think they are quiet cage animals but they are far from it. They are really funny animals and have quite the character. Most people do not realize this but rabbits are quite sensitive and once you have gained their trust, they will constantly be after you for some play time and cuddles. Each bunny is unique. They do require nearlyas much care as cats and dogs. They need time out of their cage daily, and you need to check them regularly. They need to be fed and given water each day and they need your love and affection just as much as any other pet. They sure are worth it though!!!
Oh also do you think i should get a bunny from a rescue or pet store?
I definitely suggest a rescue. Especially for a first time bunny owner. Why? First of all, those bunnies are in dire need of a good home to go to and sadly, they are often disregarded because they are not babies and some have the misconception that if the bunny is at a shelter, it is because it is a bad bunny. Let me tell you one thing: I have two rescued buns and these 2 are much more affectionate andless demanding than my spoiled lil girl I have bought at the pet shop. Not that I love her any less, mind you. But, rescue buns generally appreciate the little things a lot more. My Bam-Bam is an absolute sweetheart. He is such a beautiful boy too. This poor boy was due to be euthanized and I got to him just in time. I fell in love with him at first sight. He had such sad eyes, and when I went to his cage, he tossed his toys at me so I could play with him. When I brought him home, he went crazy happy just because he could run around. It really is a rewarding sight. Also, contrary to popular belief, babies are not always as much fun. Lol. Though they are adorable, they go through that 'teen' period and your soft cuddly baby might become a bit of a monster
Sadly, most people don't understand what they are going through and that is often when they are abandoned. Obviously, there is nothing wrong with falling in love with a bunny at the pet shop either. Honestly though, I just find adopting a bun in need is so much more rewarding. I often take the one at the pet shop that is set apart, older, or not as cute because I know that they have less chance of finding a good home.
Extra Info:
Spaying/Neutering:
The most important thing to know is that your bunny will need to be spayed or neutered. Females have an extremely high risk of developping uterine cancer if they are not spayed. Spaying will also make a female less hormonal, and therefore less aggressive. Neutering a male is also a really important thing. Males usually have a tendency to spray to mark their territroy and it can get quite irritating for the owner. This will also alleviate their male frustrations and make them happier.
Playtime:
Bunnies PLAY! They looove to play. You can buy some toys but you can also find things around the house. You may find that your bun will spend hours playing with the simplest things such as paper bags or a cardboard box. They also like to toss things so you can buy them a set of hard plastic keys. They are all different though so you will need to observe your bun and then offer things s/he will enjoy. I have one who likes to toss but never digs, one who digs and chews, and one who just does everything. They usually really enjoy the time spent with their human so be prepared to sit on the floor with them and join in the fun.
Caging:
Contrary to popular belief, buns need lots of space to run, jump, sprawl, stretch, stand up, etc. Cages bought in a pet store are simply never big enough. Most bunny owners will strongly recommend an NIC condo which you can personalize as much as you want. We have a thread explaining this ideain detail and you can also see photos of our buns in their condos. Do not buy any pine shavings as they can cause serious health problems for your bun. Newspaper, hay, andcorn cob, are not the best because they do not absorb as much and therefore may cause the cage to be smelly and also cause burns to your bunny due to them stepping in urine often. Most of us here use compacted wood pellets, compacted newspaper pellets, or carefresh.
Anywho, bunnies make great pets for the right person. If you are willing to respect the fact that your bun is sensitive, may not like to be picked up, needs to run and play, and needs to trust you, than you will most likelymake a great bunny owner.
This forum is packed with info and with members and administrators who love bunnies and who do a great job at helping with concerns, emergencies, and awareness. I really hope you seriously consider taking a bunny home as they really are great pets. However, I need to warn you, once you take one home, you mightdevelop an urgeto keep getting more
