The soft and friendly bunny makes a wonderful companion animal. They make you smile, they listen to your problems and they will even snuggle up with you when you need some extra love. Bunnies are also a great alternative for people who are allergic to dogs or cats.
A rabbit is a type of mammal in the family Leporidae, along with hares and pikas. They live in wooded areas, meadows and grasslands in woodland, tundras and deserts around the world. They are omnivorous but mainly graze on grass, hay and leafy vegetables. They are very clever digestive animals that double-digest their food in a special part of their stomachs to maximise the amount of nutrition they get from each meal.
Rabbits communicate with their owners and other rabbits through body language, particularly flopping their ears and tails. They are instinctively territorial and will mark their territories by spraying urine. They are very wary of loud noises, sudden movements and hands “swooping down” from above as they are prey animals. They hide signs of illness well, so it is important to visit your vet if you think they may be unwell.
Despite their soft and sweet nature rabbits can be quite fragile. Their bones can break easily if they are handled roughly. Like all pets they require a safe, healthy environment and regular veterinary checkups. They should be fed a diet of timothy hay and grass, fresh vegetables (particularly protein-rich greens), carrots and water.