Rabbits (also known as hares) are some of nature’s cutest critters. They’re popular companion pets and are beloved in countless cultures as symbols of fertility, new beginnings and luck.
Rabbits are social animals and need a lot of interaction with humans, other rabbits, and their environment. Providing a safe place to play and exercise is the most important consideration for housing your rabbit (be it a cage, puppy pen, bunny condo or a large area of your house with a sheltered resting area). Providing plenty of toys, obstacles and food treats to explore are great forms of environmental enrichment that will help keep your rabbit from becoming bored in their hutch all day long.
In addition to the above, rabbits require a minimum of four hours of daily exercise. Make sure to provide your rabbit with a separate, safe, large, sheltered area for resting where they can relax away from noise and other animals. Ideally this space should be attached to an exercise area with toys, obstacles and food treats for a rabbit to explore during the day.
Rabbits are able to maintain homeostasis (balance of their body temperature) with their long pinnae (ear flaps). These allow them to adjust the amount of blood flow through their ears as needed in order to stay at the optimal physiology for the animal. Thermoregulation is essential for keeping a rabbit healthy, and it’s something that all pet owners should learn about in order to care for their rabbit.