7 Things You Should Know Before Adopting a House Bun

Anybody who follows me on my social media accounts knows I've had house bunnies for around 15 years now, and how much I advocate for them being such cool pets! I feel like the internet goes crazy for cats and dogs but buns very much get left behind! Bunnies are absolutely incredible animals and so rewarding as a pet in ways that I think many people would never even think they could be. I recommend them to everyone, however there are a few things you should know before taking the plunge and adopting your very own flopsy furry friend.



Everything you own now belongs to bun
Bunnies have a cool way of marking their territory on things by rubbing their chin on it. You'll notice when introducing a new bun to your house that everything quickly gets mark. See your shoe? That's mine now. This remote control? Mine now. Your hand? Mine now. Everything is mine. Mwahaha!

Bunny-proofing is essential
Because bunnies are a prey animal they have to be quick-witted and know the fastest possible escape route in every area they inhabit. In the wild, this would mean getting rid of and roots/plants blocking the way. In your living room this equates to electrical cables. Speaking from experience (I think I'm on my fifth laptop charger now?) anything you don't want nommed, keep out of sight for the sake of preventing your stuff from being ruined and for their health too.

Bunnies are NOT low maintenance!
For some reason so many people think buns are a low maintenance pet, essentially like a living cuddle bear that you can shove in a cage in the garden and only pay attention to when it suits you. WRONG! Bunnies are incredibly attention seeking and demanding and leaving them alone can lead to them feeling depressed, withdrawn and angry, so if you're the kind of person who has an incredibly active social life then maybe these aren't the pet for you.

The great news is that they're also super rewarding and will reciprocate the love. Nothing's better than when your bun jumps up onto the sofa for some cuddle time.

Poo everywhere!
Yh, expect it everywhere. In your shoe, under the sofa, in your bag, everywhere! Especially if you let your bun have free reign of your house. Bunnies create about 300 poo pellets a day, they really are little poo machines. Luckily bunnies are ridiculously clean animals and really easy to litter train, but that doesn't mean a rogue pellet doesn't end up somewhere unexpected every now and then.

Buns are not solitary creatures
Chances are your bunny would love a friend. Bunnies are very social creatures and love having someone else warm and fuzzy to cuddle up with when you're not around. Although not always the case, opposite-sex pairings usually work best (I've seen some bloodbaths when trying to bond same-sex pairs!) and bonding is such a rewarding feeling once you finally crack it. Spaying/neutering is essential though.

Priscilla is a bit of an exception to this rule as after trying to bond her with three different bunnies it was apparent that she preferred to be a bit more of a lone wolf!

A hutch is not enough
Ever seen a rabbit binky? It's the cutest thing and means your bun is ecstatically happy and something you're unlikely to ever see if you keep your bun confined all of the time. The aim should always be to give them as much space as possible - the more the better. It's fine to give your bun a closed off area to sleep, poop and eat but wherever you can your bun should be able to wander freely in your home like a dog or cat would.

Bunnies are extremely fussy
In every single way. They're fussy about the way you handle them. General rule is DON'T unless they approach you for cuddles because usually they suspect you want to eat them and are prepared to fight you if you dare to pet them without their explicit permission. They also have extremely delicate digestive systems, it's not as simple as throwing a handful of rabbit mix in a bowl and leaving it at that. There are plenty of things that can cause your bun to become sick or even die if fed to them, so always best to swot up before dishing out the treats.

On that note, make sure you have a good vet who knows about rabbits. Surprisingly not all vets do and since buns are very sensitive and delicate misdiagnosis can easily be fatal or life changing, so do your research before signing up.

The only other advise I can give you is research research research. Learn as much as you can about these awesome fluffy guys before committing, but one thing for sure is you will definitely not regret it!