"Rabbits are easy-to-keep pets, all you have to do is feed them, put them in a big cage. Some exercises and an occasional cleaning of the cage, and that's it!". This statement is partly right and partly wrong. Right because maintaining a healthy pet rabbit is not at all difficult. Wrong because unless you are aware of all the facts about rabbit food, health care, the "dos and don'ts", things could really go wrong. With pet rabbits, it is the minor facts that matter: what you feed them, the amount of exercise they get, even how you handle them.

• Before Buying a Pet Rabbit
• What are Rabbits Like?
• Making Your Pet Rabbit Comfortable
• Proper Diet for Your Pet Rabbit
• Lifting your Rabbit
• When to Visit the Vet
• Litter Training your Rabbit

Once you have decided that you want a rabbit, as a pet, there are a few questions that you should consider.

1. Do I already own a pet that could pose a threat to the rabbit? (Dog, cat etc.)
2. What will it cost me to take care of the rabbit? (Cage, food, the occasional veterinarian expense etc.)
3. Are all the supplies that will be required available? (Mostly food requirements)
4. And finally, do I have the time to take proper care of the rabbit?

After considering the above questions, now comes the step where you choose the right one. There are over 150 recognized rabbit coat colors and varieties, ranging from snow-white to gray and single color to stripes. The best solution is to visit your local pet store and see what choices are available. The rabbit decided, you must now buy a cage. You should buy a cage that allows the rabbit to stand up, fully stretched on its hind legs without any obstruction. While choosing a cage for your rabbit ensure that there is extra space to accommodate a litter box, including space for the feed and water. The cage must be easy to clean and sturdy. A metal cage with a wire mesh floor is the most preferable choice. If you think that the major buying decisions (the rabbit and cage) are over, you are mistaken. The most important part is - the Food. Yes, this is of utmost importance. The entire health and well-being of the rabbit will depend on this. As you read the part on feeding your rabbit, you will realize the importance of choosing the proper food for your rabbit. Pet rabbits usually live 7 to 8 years, but feeding your pet the proper diet should ensure it lives 10 to 12 years. Pet rabbits have been known to live up to 15 years given the proper care. Before buying a pet rabbit, many are curious to know whether owning a rabbit is like owning a cat or a dog.

• A pet rabbit is neither like a pet cat nor a pet dog. Pet cats and dogs will take an immediate liking to you, and not be afraid of you. This will happen with a pet rabbit too, but it will take much longer.
• Your pet dog or cat can be fed on a variety of foods like, vegetables, fish, chicken, and meat. Not the case with pet rabbits, they have a very sensitive gastrointestinal tract.
• Rabbits are very affectionate, but could get really aggressive and destructive at times.
• Many people have a misconception that a pet rabbit can be picked up and cuddled just like a stuffed toy. But the truth is that even the slightest mishandling of your pet rabbit could prove fatal. Thus handling a rabbit gently, is very important.

When you bring your new pet rabbit home, decide the location of the cage. The following points should help in deciding the location.

• Make sure the cage is placed where it will not obstruct your movement.
• The place should be well ventilated with a free flow of fresh air.
• Place the cage as close to the ground as possible.
• Place bedding, made of straw, in the cage so that the rabbit feels comfortable.
• Remember, the cage is not a place to confine your rabbit. It is more of a place where the rabbit will retire for the night or whenever it is tired, or hungry.
• As far as possible, leave the cage open. However, on doing so, ensure that the surroundings are safe when the rabbit is outside the cage.

Problems that your pet could face, if confined to the cage, will include poor muscle tone because of no exercise, inflammation of the feet due to sitting in one place constantly, it could become very lethargic, can turn aggressive at times and will become obese due to lack of exercise. Most of all, it will not turn out to be the happy, jumping-about rabbit that you thought it would. A rabbit requires constant activity. Rabbits love jumping and running around. This helps keep their bodies in shape, their minds active and alert, and also helps in eliminating diseases. Proper care should be taken about your pet rabbit's diet. It ensures that your rabbit remains disease-free, active, and enjoys a long, healthy life.

• Rabbits are herbivores, and their primary diet consists of a variety of grass and leaves.
• All rabbits eat grass. Part of this goes into the intestinal tract known as the cecum, where it is converted into small pellets that are soft and filled with nutrients. These soft pellets, are known as cecotropes and, are consumed by the rabbit. This is easily digested and contain fatty acids, vitamins and amino acids, which are all very important for the well-being of the rabbit.
• Your pet rabbit's diet should consist primarily of hay. Always make sure that there is enough hay in the rabbit's cage. There are two types of hay; grass and legume. Make sure that the hay is the grass variety. Meadow grass, which is naturally sun-dried, is the best. Find out where you can have easy access to such grass/hay. It will be required throughout the life of the rabbit.
• Always make sure that the hay is dry and fresh. The hay should never be damp and of a dull color.

Do not worry about the rabbit spoiling its teeth with the constant chewing and munching of this hay. Rabbit teeth grow constantly, eliminating the possibility of teeth destruction. Occasionally, feed your rabbit fruits such as pineapple, pear, peach, papaya, and any of the sweet berries. Special treats could include edible flowers such as roses and lilies. As far as possible stay away from commercially available rabbit food. These foods are usually packed with starch and fat which will result in a rabbit to grow plump very fast. Many would think that this is beneficial, but it is just the opposite. Many nutrients present in natural food may not be present in commercial food. No doubt, your rabbit will look cute and chubby for some time, but sooner or later it will begin to suffer. A plump fat rabbit may not necessarily mean a healthy rabbit. Healthy rabbits have a strong muscular tone with minimal fat. A proper diet and enough exercise will not only ensure that your rabbit is in the pink of health, but also reduce your veterinary bills. Rabbits have very fragile backbones. To avoid injuries, there is a certain way in which they should be picked up.

• The best way to lift your rabbit is to put one hand below its hind legs for support, and the other below its chest and then lift it. The entire weight of the rabbit must rest on your hands.
• Never pick up your rabbit in such a way that its hind legs are left dangling. The rabbit might kick violently, possibly fracturing its backbone which can prove fatal. Make sure that this does not happen, because the only solution, if this happens, is to put the rabbit to 'sleep'.
• Never lift the rabbit by its ears. It is very painful for the rabbit, just like it would pain if someone tried to lift you by the ears.

As far as possible, prevent small children from picking up the rabbit. They tend to get a bit excited and might cause unintentional harm to the very rabbit they want to care for. If they insist on carrying the rabbit around, please train them in the technique of lifting the rabbit. If you feed your rabbit with the correct diet and allow it to exercise enough, the veterinarian is someone you may never have to visit. However, you should always watch out for abnormal behavior in your rabbit. Unlike a cat, or a dog, rabbits don't have a very strong immune system. Do not wait for the symptoms to subside when you see one. If you are not sure, call the veterinarian immediately. Based on the symptoms he will let you know the urgency. If you notice something different, it may be time to take your pet to the veterinarian. Anything that seems abnormal should not be ignored, as it may lead to further complications. This may include:

• Sudden loss in appetite
• Sudden weight loss
• Suddenly wanting to be confined to the cage
• Extremely aggressive behavior
• Diarrhea

Training a rabbit may sound difficult, but it is fairly easy. In fact this should be the first thing you teach your rabbit, it will eliminate the efforts of cleaning up. Firstly, collect some hay and non-clumping rabbit litter and put it in a litter pan which is about 4 inches high. Your rabbit litter pan is different from the regular cat litter, so make sure you don't use the latter. Place some pebbles and hay from the rabbit cage into the litter pan. Now, place this in the familiar room where your rabbit plays. Place the rabbit in the litter box and prompt him to use the litter box. Do not worry if he hops out of the box, litter training can take some time. Let him hop around for some time and then repeat the command. When he finally uses it, praise him and cuddle him a bit. But remember, do not give your rabbit a treat. Do this for a week and your rabbit should hop in the litter pan whenever he is let out of the cage.

• Buy your pet rabbit from a reputed pet shop.
• Whenever possible, keep the cage open and try to place the cage where there is a good circulation of fresh air.
• Always keep the cage clean, with a sufficient stock of fresh food and water.
• Be very careful while lifting and handling your rabbit.
• Take your pet rabbit to the veterinarian as soon as you notice the slightest change in its behavior.