All rabbits are herbivores, whether they live in the wild or are kept as pets. This means that they only eat material that comes from plants: things like grasses, seeds, fruits and vegetables. Since rabbits have evolved to be herbivorous, they do not eat anything that comes from animals, such as meat or eggs. If a rabbit were to eat anything animal-based it would get a very upset stomach – or worse!

Rabbits are herbivorous animals, so they shouldn’t be fed things such as meat, dairy or sweets.

Rabbits are furry digging machines. Not only do they have very sturdy, sharp nails, but also extremely efficient front paws that allow them to scratch and scrabble at dirt for long periods of time – some breeds could make short work of lawns and flowerbeds given half a chance! Rabbits love digging, and it’s what they have evolved to do. Most wild rabbits need a warren in order to hide from predators such as foxes and wolves. Rabbit warrens often have many different chambers inside of them, and lots of different entrances and exits. Rabbits spend quite a lot of time digging and maintaining these structures.

Growling – some people are surprised to learn that, like cats and dogs, rabbits make a growling sound. In rabbits, it means much the same as it does in the larger animals, and that is – leave me alone!

Purring – this is a sign of a very content pet. Whatever you’re doing – keep doing it! Rabbits, like cats, purr when they feel very comfortable.

Squeaking – this can mean a number of different things. If two rabbits are close together and look reasonably calm, then the squeaking can indicate that the two share a close social bond. However, if your rabbit squeaks when you pick them up, or when they’re fighting with another rabbit, then the squeak means that something is wrong, and so you should try to rectify the situation as soon as possible.

Teeth grinding – this is a low sound that is quite difficult to hear, but owners should be on the look-out for it. It indicates that your pet is not well, and that it is in some discomfort or pain.

Rabbits are wonderful little animals, and can make excellent pets. Their appeal and charm makes them popular amongst older children and adults alike, and the many thousands of pet rabbits out there really enrich the lives of their owners. If you’re thinking of welcoming some rabbits into your home, read on for some advice and guidance.

If you have a nice big garden, and a space in it which your rabbits can have a nice run, then you’re off to a good start. If you’ve got a place that you can exclude other pets from, that’s also great for rabbits. If you have all of these things, as well as a bit of time and money to spend on their upkeep, then you would make a great rabbit owner.

Don’t forget – rabbits need to be kept in pairs or groups.

You’ll be happy to hear that there are hundreds of different kinds of rabbit for you to choose from. Rabbits were domesticated (brought into human care) several thousand years ago, and since that time rabbit breeders have produced a great variety of different rabbit forms and colours. Even though all follow the same basic shape (four legs, two furry ears, wide-set eyes and a cute little tail), there are vast differences in size and appearance between some of the breeds.

If the rabbits are to be kept by someone who has never handled or cared for these animals before, then we recommend you choose a small or mid-sized breed that is known to be quite docile. Some good options include the Dutch rabbits, or Netherland Dwarf rabbits. If you are buying two rabbits on behalf of children, it’s good to be aware that you will need to be the one ultimately responsible for their upkeep and care, as children under the age of about eleven or twelve shouldn’t be given the main responsibility. Caring for rabbits is a family effort, and younger members may struggle to maintain interest throughout the rabbits’ lives.

There are dozens of different rabbit breeds to choose from.

Whilst they have relatively long fur, some owners report that Angora rabbits shed the least. This could be because this type of rabbit has been bred (controversially) for its hair, and the more it sheds the less there is for its keepers to remove from it when they come to collect it. Although this breed may shed a little less than some others, they need more regular brushing, as their hair is extremely long and prone to matting. If you are looking for the best breed for an allergy sufferer, many owners have had success with Rex rabbits instead.

If you, or a member of your household suffers from rabbit allergies, then there are precautions you can take to minimise the impact on the sufferer. Unfortunately, no rabbit is hypoallergenic, but there are certain rabbit-keeping practises that will keep exposure to allergens at a minimum. Contrary to what most people believe, it is not a rabbit’s hair that causes the problem: rather, it is the things that cling to the rabbit’s hair that stir up the reaction; specific proteins from your rabbits that cause an immune response in humans.

Unfortunately, there are no hypoallergenic rabbits – but some are apparently easier on allergy sufferers than others.

When it comes to space, rabbits have basic requirements. They need somewhere to sleep and feel secure, and somewhere to exercise. A rabbit hutch and run set up fulfils these needs – and if those spaces are linked with rabbit pipes such as the The Zippi Rabbit Tunnel System, that’s even better, as it simulates the kind of environment a rabbit would enjoy in the wild. Remember – they may be domesticated, but even the cuddliest pet bunnies have their natural instincts intact.

Rabbits need to explore and to stretch their legs. If they stay all day in a hutch or cage, their muscles will start to waste away, their health will suffer, and their lives will be shortened. They may develop aggressive tendencies too. If your bunnies don’t seem too interested in leaving the cage area during the day, don’t take this as a sign that they are not interested in the run. Rabbits are often most active at dawn and dusk, something that mirrors their behaviour in the wild.

Luckily, rabbits are content to spend a lot of time in what we would consider a confined space. In the wild they do this underground, tucked up snug and tight in a warm burrow. At home, a rabbit hutch or rabbit cage fulfils the same function. In the past, owners tended to keep their pet bunnies in cramped hutches. This is not a healthy option – a rabbit needs space to stretch out and move around a little, even in a hutch. Some owners opt for a dog play pen rather than a traditional hutch and run set up. This is a great solution, as long as you provide a bolt hole inside the pen. Making sure the bunnies feel safe is the key, rather than giving them endless space.

Connecting hutches to runs is a great way to build your own garden rabbit warren.

Rabbits and guinea pigs both make great pets, so it’s a tough choice between the two. There are a few key differences between these two animals,  both are herbivores but need companions of the same species, and a good safe hutch to live in.

Both species need daily care and attention. If you are purchasing the pet for a child, be aware that you will probably have to take care of them yourself, unless they are old enough to take on a lot of the responsibility. Both of these animals will rely on you and your household to provide everything they need, however they can be wonderful additions to the family, if you give them the time and care that they deserve.

Guinea pigs and rabbits have different needs as pets.

Owning a dog or cat can make keeping a pair of rabbits a little harder, as you will need to find an area in your house and garden that you can exclude your other, larger animals from. Rabbits are prey animals, and in the wild dogs and cats would be their predators – how would you feel about a lion living in your house? Even if you were safe in your cage you’d be a little anxious most of the time. Think carefully about whether you can maintain the separation between the two species of animal. You will need to keep your larger animals away from your rabbits’ cage, as large animals staring through the bars can really upset your smaller pets.

One of the most important things is to remember is to never let your rabbits out of their cage when your cat or your dog can access them. Even if you can supervise, it’s still pretty dangerous. You can’t blame your cat or your dog from acting on instinct and reaching out to stop your rabbit from running, or blame them for playing a little too roughly, even just for a moment. Both of these things could really have some bad consequences for your rabbit, so it’s best to keep them apart.

Rabbits are a crepuscular species – this means that, unlike us, they are most active around dawn and dusk. Rabbits tend to sleep and nap frequently throughout the day and night, so these aren’t ideal times to interact with them. If you’re visiting your rabbits in the day and keep finding them asleep, it may be better to try going to them early in the morning, or in the evening.

There are several potential reasons why rabbits are crepuscular. Rabbits are preyed upon by a lot of different predators, so they are constantly on the look-out for both nocturnal and daytime creatures. Dawn and dusk are the safest times to leave their home and graze, because the light conditions aren’t ideal for either threat. It’s a little too dark for daytime predators, and a little too bright for night-time predators.

Rabbits are crepuscular, meaning they are hopping around at their liveliest early in the morning and during the evening.

The short answer is: together, and frequently. Rabbits are prey animals, and take a lot of comfort in the presence of other rabbits, so they will eat together, play together and sleep together. Even rabbits who are tucked up safely in their hutch would rather have a friend of the same species to snuggle up with, especially at night when predators are prowling. If you have a rabbit living on its own, it’s really crucial that you get another. Rabbits have different sleep cycles than you or I. Whilst humans (if we are lucky) will sleep through the night, rabbits wake up periodically at night, and sleep for quite lengthy periods during the day. They are prey animals, and need to be constantly alert for danger, so in general they sleep much lighter and for shorter periods than we do.

Wild rabbits are very difficult to tame, and many will kick and bite if you try to handle them. The rabbits that we keep as pets have not been living wild for several thousand years, and there are strong behavioural differences between wild rabbits and those that we keep in our homes. It’s much easier, kinder and safer to keep domesticated rabbits, ones that you can adopt or buy from a pet shop or breeder. These animals will be a lot more docile, a lot more friendly, and are less likely to have many of the diseases and illnesses that wild rabbits carry.

Catching wild rabbits and keeping them can be dangerous, especially since they could transmit the potentially fatal disease known as rabies on to humans who approach them. Not only this, but wild rabbits will not be used to being in hutches and handled by humans. It’s much better to stick to rabbits that have been born and bred in captivity.

It's best to stick to domesticated rabbit pets.