The Truth About Rabbits
There are more and more people keeping rabbits as their pets, but there are still a lot of them still having misunderstandings about rabbits. Below are some common misconceptions about rabbits. Rabbit owners need to learn to love their rabbits in the right way.
1. Rabbits only eat carrots and greens
The digestive system of rabbits is different from that of cats and dogs. They need to consume a large amount of crude fiber every day to keep the intestinal peristalsis uninterrupted. Hay contains a lot of crude fiber, which on the one hand can ensure the normal operation of the rabbit's digestive system, and also has many benefits for tooth growth (grinding).
Usually:
≤6 month old rabbit (per day):
Moderate amount of alfalfa + small amount of rabbit food (young rabbit food) + unlimited amount of Timothy + unlimited amount of water
>6 month old rabbit (per day):
Unlimited Timothy + appropriate amount of rabbit food (adult rabbit food) + unlimited water + appropriate amount of fresh vegetables (washed)
Fresh vegetables should only be a small part of a rabbit's daily diet; the rabbit's main food must be plenty of hay.
2.Rabbits stink
Rabbits, like cats, are obsessive about grooming. Rabbits themselves are very clean creatures, and they spend a lot of time everyday grooming. Under normal circumstances, healthy domestic rabbits do not need a bath at all. However, rabbits do smell differently due to different diets. Those who eat healthily (hay + rabbit food + boiled water) usually have a faint grassy smell on their bodies, which is very good! The only stinky thing should be the rabbit's urine. This problem can be solved as long as the owners teach them to use the toilet and place pee mat.
3. Rabbits can eat human’s food (snack)
Because rabbits are 100% herbivores, no matter their digestive system or body structure, they are not suitable for eating human food! Generally speaking, rabbits have very little requirements for calcium, protein, etc. (slightly more in young rabbits), and even lower requirements for fat, sugar, etc. Human food (snacks) can cause irreversible damage to their digestive and liver systems and can severely damage rabbit teeth. So, even if the rabbits look at the food in your hand with pitiful eyes, please firmly say no to it.
4. Rabbits are stupid and don't interact at all
The interaction of rabbits requires the owner to pay more attention and experience. For example, perform binky when they are happy, and ask the owner to pet them from time to time.
5. Rabbits have a short lifespan
The breeding of pet rabbits has developed slowly in recent years. Earlier, rabbits were more regarded as poultry, and both feeding methods and disease treatment were limited, which led to the misunderstanding that rabbits had short lifespans. In fact, scientifically fed healthy rabbits live an average of 5 to 12 years. Like cats and dogs, rabbits are little buddies who can accompany you for a long time, so you should consider carefully before deciding to get one.
6. Rabbit is docile
Rabbits are a bit like cats. Although cute in appearance, but very assertive and clear about what they like or hate. Due to being at the lower end of the food chain, rabbits are naturally highly alert and insecure. So, if you want to cultivate a close relationship with your rabbit, please be patient and patient. The formation of a rabbit's character is closely related to the guidance of its owner. If you want to have a gentle and cute rabbit, please be sure to left out enough energy and time to spend with them.