A Wild Ride with Our Decorative Rabbit: Lessons Learned the Hard Way
Hello everyone, and welcome to my review.
I've got to say, I'm not a fan of people barging into my family's affairs with unsolicited advice and gift suggestions. And that's exactly what happened with my son's birthday gift - a decorative rabbit. I had already explicitly told them I didn't want it, but they went ahead and got it anyway.
The story began when my son and his grandma went to the movies and ended up at a shopping mall with a pet store. They went in to check out the animals, and that's when they saw the adorable little rabbit. My son fell in love with it, and as any kid would, he started begging his grandma to get it for him. I wasn't surprised - kids love animals, and it's only natural for them to want one. But what did surprise me was how his grandma and aunt kept fueling his interest, making it seem like a foregone conclusion that he'd get the rabbit for his birthday.
We eventually got ourselves a little rabbit named Lisa. The 'gift' came with a complete set, including a cage and all the necessary accessories - food, bedding, and everything else. I have to say, I was a bit surprised by the thoughtfulness of the gift-givers.
Choosing the Cage
The cage was a decent size for the little rabbit, but I have to note that these tiny rabbits grow pretty fast. In just three months, Lisa had doubled in size, and the cage was starting to feel a bit cramped. You see, rabbits need room to move around, so it's essential to let them out for a walk. I didn't take Lisa out for a walk in the park, but I did let her explore the apartment.
I was a bit concerned about the cage's size, but I thought it would be okay for a small rabbit. However, as Lisa grew, I realized that I needed to provide her with more space. I started letting her out of the cage for longer periods, and she loved it. She'd hop around the apartment, exploring every nook and cranny, and I'd follow her, making sure she didn't get into any trouble.
Caring for the Rabbit
I didn't buy any special bedding for the cage. Instead, I just used hay, which the rabbit would gnaw on. The hay also helped to keep the cage clean, as the rabbit would use the litter box. I also added some dry branches to the cage, which helped to wear down the rabbit's teeth and prevented them from gnawing on the furniture.
I was a bit worried about the rabbit's teeth, but the dry branches seemed to do the trick. I'd also give her some fresh veggies and fruits to munch on, and she loved those. She'd eat everything from carrots to apples, and I'd make sure to give her a variety of foods to keep her interested.
Interacting with the Rabbit
Our rabbit didn't take to the kids. They were too loud for her taste. She preferred quiet environments and wouldn't go near anyone unless they were quiet. She'd only let me, my husband, and occasionally the kids pet her, but only if they were being quiet. If there was any noise, she'd scurry away to a safe spot.
I was a bit surprised by the rabbit's personality. She was quite skittish and wouldn't let anyone near her unless they were calm and quiet. But once you gained her trust, she was a sweet and loving companion.
Diet
I got the basic rabbit food for my pet. At first, the doe ate a lot, several times a day. I think it was stress from the move from the pet store. Then her appetite decreased. I also bought fresh greens and added them to my salads and gave some to the doe. She loved parsley, basil, and lettuce. She also enjoyed cucumbers, carrots, and bell peppers. As for fruits, she had a soft spot for apples.
I was a bit concerned about the rabbit's diet, but I made sure to give her a variety of foods to keep her interested. I'd also give her some treats, like hay and dry branches, to keep her teeth trimmed and healthy.
Exercise and Playtime
Rabbits are pretty energetic animals. You shouldn't overfeed them, but if they're burning a lot of energy, you'll need to feed them several times a day. I could let the doe out to play and run around the apartment 6-7 times a day. So, I'd refill her food bowl if she ate it. I've heard you can tie a favorite treat to a string for rabbits to play with, just like you would with a cat's toy.
I was a bit surprised by the rabbit's energy level. She was always on the go, hopping around the apartment and exploring every nook and cranny. But I made sure to give her plenty of exercise and playtime to keep her happy and healthy.
Why I Had to Give Her Up
As I mentioned, the doe wasn't very fond of being handled and didn't like kids. Plus, decorative rabbits have long nails that need to be trimmed, and it's not easy to do that with an animal that doesn't like to be held. We took her to the vet a couple of times to get her nails trimmed because they were getting too long and clicking on the floor. But the last time we missed the appointment, and it ended with a pretty deep scratch that needed stitches. After that, I gave the rabbit away for free, and they came to pick her up just a couple of days later.
I wouldn't recommend getting a decorative rabbit. Whether or not to get one is a personal decision, but it's essential to make an informed choice. And I would advise against giving a decorative rabbit as a gift, especially if the recipient has already declined.
Thanks for reading my review.