Do rabbits make good pets?

My pet rabbit, Atticus, sporting his cozy strawberry sweater on Easter Sunday.

Thinking of bringing home a pet rabbit for Easter? You may be better off sticking with chocolate bunnies this year.

Widespread misunderstanding of domestic rabbits has made them one of the most abandoned and euthanized pets in the United States – in fact, studies estimate that at least 80% of rabbits purchased around Easter are abandoned or die within a year. The influx of rabbits that end up in shelters following the holiday has even prompted states like California to pass laws prohibiting the retail sale of bunnies in pet stores to discourage impulse purchases.

But if you’re willing and ready to make a 10+ year commitment, bunnies can make an incredibly rewarding companion. I became a bunny owner a year ago, and now my life revolves around a delightful two-pound ball of fluff named Atticus.

Atticus enjoying time in the garden.

Short, squat, and prone to gastrointestinal issues, Atticus is my plucky Holland Lop bunny roughly the size of a roasted Cornish game hen. He has a profound love for cilantro and chewing on phone chargers, and gets testy if he doesn't get his morning head rubs.

Similar to dogs and cats, bunnies like Atticus are brimming with personality. But they also require a similar amount of time, care and money as larger pets – more so than I anticipated when first bringing home an eight-week-old fluff ball.

Bunnies can be incredibly affectionate, expressing love through grooming licks (or as I endearingly call them, bunny kisses) and nose bops. When content, rabbits will softly grind their teeth, producing a unique purring sound called "clucking." Atticus enjoys watching TV in bed cuddled up with me, and perches himself on my shoulder or lap while I work. When I return home from an outing, he greets me at the door demanding attention and ear rubs. Atticus has never bitten me or anyone else, but will gently nibble on my hand to prompt me to pet him.

Yet affection in rabbits is partially a learned behavior, and personalities vary by individual. They are prey animals by nature; many bunnies are skittish around humans and don't enjoy being picked up, played with or even pet, especially if they came from a neglectful home. A stressed-out rabbit can become violent (those teeth are no joke!), reclusive and destructive.

If you have the time and desire to bond with your rabbit, they may become less shy over time. I’ve been socializing Atticus with other humans and pets since he was two months old, and working from home has allowed me more time to tend to him. Rabbits get lonely and bored easily, so if you’re absent for most of the day it's best to own two bonded rabbits who can keep each other company.

In short, if you’re expecting the affection and enthusiasm of a Labrador Retriever from a pet bunny, you’ll likely be disappointed. Rabbits can be loving and personable when given care and attention, but their personalities lean more toward cat than dog.

While rabbits in the wild live an average of one to two years, domesticated rabbits can live 8 to 12 years. Larger rabbits typically have shorter life spans than smaller dwarf breeds, and mixed-breed rabbits tend to live longer than purebreds.

A bunny owner has a few ways to extend their pet's life span: Housing them indoors and getting them spayed or neutered between four to six months of age. While rabbits can be kept in protected outdoor spaces, hazards like predators, extreme temperatures and pathogens can put a rabbit's life in danger. Rabbits are also highly prone to reproductive cancers, so getting them fixed eliminates risk. Altering your rabbit also reduces sexual aggression, making them calmer, less destructive pets.

Rabbits like to poop where they eat, so Atticus has a corner of the room with a hay feeder and litter box.

Rabbits are herbivores who continuously graze throughout the day. They are susceptible to life-threatening digestive issues, so a high-fiber diet is necessary. Their main source of nutrition? Surprisingly not carrots, but hay. Rabbits should have unlimited access to a high-quality Timothy, orchard or meadow hay (Atticus chows down on Oxbow's organic meadow hay).

While hay should be 80-90% of a rabbit's diet, it should be supplemented by nutritional pellets and leafy greens. I personally recommend Oxbow's Organic Bounty Adult Rabbit Food, which Atticus gets a 1/8th cup serving of each morning since he is under 5 pounds. A larger-sized rabbit (6-10 pounds) should get a quarter cup of pellets daily. Young bunnies (two to six months old) should have unlimited access to alfalfa hay (alfalfa has a higher amount of calcium and protein for growing buns) as well as unlimited pellets (Oxbow has pellets specifically for young rabbits). If the baby bunny is ignoring the hay for the pellets, restrict to a quarter cup per day.

At three months of age, leafy greens and veggies can slowly be introduced into your rabbit's diet. As an adult, Atticus gets 1-2 cups of romaine or butterhead greens daily. Bits of carrots, arugula, tomato and other more carby or high-calcium veggies can be given as treats as well as fruits like banana or strawberries in small quantities. Atticus also enjoys these barley biscuits and fruit snacks.

Lastly, rabbits should have unlimited access to fresh water. They’re notoriously messy eaters, so be prepared to have your home covered in hay and pellets – I’m always finding strands and kibbles everywhere from my shower to my bed. To negate the mess, a hay feeder has been incredibly helpful. This budget-friendly one from Amazon is sturdy, compact and contains hay well. Since rabbits like to poop where they eat, this larger hay feeder has an attached litter box which I’ve found to be the best option and worth the investment. Atticus enjoys tipping over his food and water bowls, and after much trial and error, I found success with this chic ceramic bowl set that holds them in place (and isn't an eyesore in my home).

Bunnies need more space than you may think. As a critter who loves to hop, run, and explore, your pet rabbit should have at least 32 square feet of space (8 feet x 4 feet). Cages and hutches don't generally offer an ample amount of room for adults, but designated areas can be set up for your rabbit with a wire pen. The floor should ideally be carpeted for easy traction, as rabbits can develop hip problems over time if exclusively running around on hardwood floors.

Rabbits like to have spaces to hide, so little forts like this one by Kaytee make great additions to your pet's area as well as soft bedding.

If your bunny doesn't have enriching activities in their space, they’ll chew up just about everything they aren't supposed to (Atticus has an affinity for chewing on my wall corners). Since their teeth continuously grow throughout their lifetime, they need toys to gnaw on to prevent dental problems. Atticus enjoys this medley of sticks and hay balls.

And, of course, rabbits need space to poop – they deposit 200-300 poop pellets per day and pee quite a lot for their puny size. Similar to cats, rabbits can be litter box trained by simply setting up a box close to their feeding area. Fixed rabbits tend to be easier to train as they are less territorial. Aside from the aforementioned hay feeder/litter box combo, I’ve found that this smaller litter box pan from Amazon fits well in my apartment space. I line the tray with a Glad activated charcoal pee pad and put a layer of paper litter in the pan. I change out the pee pad and litter every other day.

Note: Clay cat litter cannot be used in rabbit litter boxes as it can be toxic if ingested.

Atticus is a free-roam pet, so he has a full range of my studio apartment. To protect my wall corners from his chewing I apply this non-toxic deterrent spray directly to the walls. I also use these cord covers to protect phone and computer chargers from Atticus’ wrath.

Bunnies require annual trips to an exotics-specialized veterinarian for routine health checkups. They also should be vaccinated against myxomatosis, Rabbit (Viral) Haemorrhagic Disease (R(V)HD) and a strain of R(V)HD - R(V)HD2.

Additionally, rabbits should be spayed or neutered between four to six months of age to eliminate the risk of reproductive cancers and sexual aggression.

Since vet fees can add up quickly and bunnies are delicate creatures who are prone to accidents, I highly recommend purchasing pet insurance. Nationwide Pet Insurance is one of the few that will cover pet rabbits and has saved me over $1000 in just a year. For around $12 per month Atticus has emergency (non-general care) medical expenses covered. Nationwide also offers insurance for both emergency and general care for around $25 per month.

Outside of veterinary care, regular grooming can be done at home. While rabbits self-clean and do not require bathing, your pet's nails should be trimmed regularly and fur should be brushed every few days. Rabbits molt twice a year, meaning their fur sheds everywhere and often in chunks. During these times they'll need extra brushing so they don't ingest too much of their own hair. I've found that this shedding brush helps move the dreaded molting process along faster.

Atticus posing on his side of the bed.

Adding a pet rabbit to your family comes with a cost. While initial adoption fees and supplies to get started will generally set you back a few hundred dollars, monthly spending for necessities like food, litter and treats come out to around $100 to $125. The below breakdown is calculated based on my experience only.

Total monthly cost: $124

As a single gal living alone in a studio apartment during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, getting a pet bunny last year was a decision I have never once regretted. Atticus has become my beloved companion and made me more responsible. Although bunnies are often considered "starter pets," they demand similar care as dogs and cats and need supervision around small children.

If you think you're ready to bring a pet rabbit home, the Humane Society offers guidance on finding local rescues and shelters in your area.