Rabbit Care FAQ

What do rabbits eat?

A rabbit's diet should be approximately 80% hay, with fresh food and pellets making up the rest. Timothy hay or orchard grass should be available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week — it is the single most important food for your rabbit's health.

Daily feeding guide:

• Hay: Unlimited — should always be available
• Pellets: 1/4 cup per 5 lbs of body weight (less for overweight rabbits)
• Fresh vegetables: 1-2 cups per day, a variety of 2-3 types
• Treats: 1-2 tablespoons maximum per day — fruits are treats, not staples
• Water: Fresh, changed daily, available at all times

The most common diet mistake is overfeeding pellets and not enough hay. Hay keeps the digestive system moving, wears down teeth, and provides the fiber rabbits need to stay healthy.

How often should I take my rabbit to the vet?

Every rabbit should see an exotic or rabbit-savvy veterinarian at least once per year for a wellness exam. Annual visits catch problems early — your vet will check teeth, weight, and overall condition.

Beyond annual visits, see a vet immediately for:

• Not eating or drinking for 12+ hours
• No droppings or very small/dry droppings
• Lethargy or hiding for extended periods
• Difficulty breathing or open-mouth breathing
• Head tilt, loss of balance, or seizures
• Any sign of pain — loud teeth grinding, hunching, refusing to move
• Bloated or distended stomach

Find a rabbit-savvy vet before you need one. Not all vets treat rabbits — search the House Rabbit Society vet finder or ask at local rescue organizations.

Can rabbits live outdoors?

While rabbits can technically live outdoors in appropriate hutches, indoor rabbits almost always live longer and healthier lives. Indoor rabbits are protected from:

• Predators — dogs, cats, foxes, birds of prey, snakes
• Weather extremes — rabbits cannot pant and are highly susceptible to heat stroke above 80°F (27°C)
• Flystrike — outdoor rabbits are at much higher risk during warm months
• Infectious diseases — rabbits housed outdoors are exposed to more pathogens and parasites

Indoor rabbits are also more social, more easily bonded with their owners, and easier to monitor for health changes. If outdoor housing is necessary (such as in a rural property), the hutch must be spacious, predator-proof, insulated from heat and cold, and cleaned daily.

How do I litter train my rabbit?

Rabbits are naturally clean animals and usually pick one corner of their space to use as a bathroom. You can work with this instinct:

1. Get a large, low-sided litter box — rabbits need room to turn around. Cat litter boxes work well.
2. Fill with paper-based or hay bedding — avoid clumping cat litter, cedar, or pine shavings which are harmful to rabbits.
3. Add hay on top — rabbits eat while they potty, and the hay encourages them to use the box.
4. Place the box where your rabbit already goes — observe where they naturally eliminate and put the box there.
5. Keep it clean — remove droppings daily, change bedding every 2-3 days. Rabbits avoid dirty litter boxes.
6. Spay or neuter — unfixed rabbits are much harder to litter train due to hormonal marking behavior.

It is normal for rabbits to leave droppings around their space — this is territorial marking, not failure to use the litter box. The goal is a consistently used main bathroom area, not perfection.

What vegetables are safe for rabbits?

Rabbits can eat a wide variety of vegetables. The key is variety (mix 2-3 types per day) and gradual introduction.

Daily-safe vegetables: Romaine lettuce, cilantro, parsley, bok choy, arugula, basil, dill, mint, butter lettuce, green pepper, cucumber, fennel

Feed in moderation (high in oxalates or sugar): Spinach, kale, carrot tops, strawberries

Never feed: Iceberg lettuce (no nutritional value, can cause diarrhea), potatoes, onions, garlic, leeks, chives, beans, rhubarb, avocado, chocolate

Introduce new vegetables slowly — one type at a time, starting with a small amount. If your rabbit shows signs of soft stools or gas, remove the new food and try again in a week.

How long do rabbits live?

Indoor rabbits typically live 10-12 years, and well-cared-for rabbits commonly reach 13-15 years. Some rabbits live into their late teens. Several factors influence lifespan:

• Diet — unlimited hay, limited pellets, and fresh vegetables extend life
• Spaying/neutering — prevents reproductive cancers (up to 80% of unspayed female rabbits develop uterine cancer by age 5)
• Regular vet care — annual exams catch problems early
• Housing — indoor rabbits live significantly longer than outdoor rabbits
• Genetics and breed — some breeds have longer or shorter average lifespans

Rabbits are a long-term commitment. If you are considering a rabbit, plan for at least a decade of care.

Do rabbits need vaccinations?

Vaccination requirements vary by country and region. In the United States, the Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease Virus (RHDV) vaccine is increasingly recommended, especially in areas where outbreaks have occurred. RHDV is highly contagious and often fatal — it spreads through contact with infected animals, contaminated surfaces, and even insects.

The rabbit calicivirus vaccine is also available in some regions. Your exotic vet will know the current recommendations for your area.

Even indoor-only rabbits should be vaccinated if the diseases are present in your region — RHDV can be tracked in on shoes and clothing. Discuss vaccination with your vet at your rabbit's first annual exam.

Can I keep my rabbit alone or do they need a friend?

Rabbits are social animals by nature. In the wild, they live in groups for safety and companionship. That said, a single rabbit with attentive human care can live a happy life.

If you work long hours away from home, a second rabbit is strongly recommended. Two rabbits who are properly bonded provide each other with companionship that humans cannot fully replace.

Important bonding tips: Never just put two rabbits together and hope for the best. Bonding must be done gradually in neutral territory. Same-sex pairs (neutered/spayed) or a neutered male with a spayed female tend to work best. Unfixed rabbits of the same sex often fight. If you are new to rabbits, consider adopting an already-bonded pair from a rescue.

Why does my rabbit eat its own droppings?

This is completely normal and necessary for your rabbit's health. Rabbits produce two types of droppings:

• Hard fecal pellets — the dry, round pellets you see in the litter box. These are the waste product.
• Cecotropes (cecal droppings) — soft, shiny, grape-like clusters that are rich in nutrients. Rabbits automatically eat these directly from their bottom.

Cecotropes contain protein, vitamins (especially B vitamins), and beneficial gut bacteria that rabbits need. By eating cecotropes — a behavior called cecotrophy — rabbits absorb nutrients that would otherwise be lost. This is the same principle as how cows re-digest their food.

If you rarely see cecotropes and your rabbit is eating them immediately, that is healthy. If cecotropes are piling up and your rabbit is not eating them, that can indicate a health problem — consult your vet.

What should I do if my rabbit stops eating?

A rabbit not eating for 12 or more hours is a medical emergency. Rabbits cannot go long without food — their digestive system depends on a constant flow of fiber. When a rabbit stops eating, GI stasis can begin within hours.

Immediate steps:

1. Check droppings — are they still being produced? Normal, smaller, or absent?
2. Check the belly — does it feel hard or distended? (Gently feel — do not press hard.)
3. Check behavior — is the rabbit hunched, grinding teeth, or hiding?
4. Offer favorite foods — fresh cilantro, parsley, or wet greens. Even a few bites help.
5. Call your vet — describe what you see and follow their instructions exactly.
6. Keep warm — wrap in a towel and hold against your body while arranging transport.

Do not wait to see if your rabbit "gets hungry." With rabbits, waiting is one of the most dangerous things you can do. The earlier you get to the vet, the better the outcome.