HELP! is my rabbit going to be okay?

[Deleted User]

 my neighbors have gotten a cat and I have a rabbit that stays outside in the backyard to roam around but the thing is im afraid that the cat might attack my rabbit I don’t want her to get hurt and I don’t know what to do and I don’t think my parents will accept her to be inside the house the only time we let her in the house is in the night we let her roam inside the house for a little while I want the best for my rabbit what do you think I should do?

[Roberta]

I would suggest bringing your bunny in full time if you can. It should never be outside unsupervised as cats aren’t the only danger, large hungry birds will also take a rabbit if it’s unprotected. The only other option is a large fully enclosed run so that predators cannot get in.

[Bam]

As Roberta says, the safest thing is for your bunny to be inside full time. Next best thing is a fully enclosed run. It would need netting on all sides, and have a hidey-house that he can go into.

There are so many dangers for a rabbit outside.

[Deleted User]

 thank you for the replies I might have to talk to my parents about the fully enclosed run but I will bring my rabbit in the house full time if its possible, the owners of the cat told my parents that they will watch out for the cat so my rabbit wont get hurt but I will still talk to my parents about the enclosed run for my rabbit. Thank you very much for the reply!  

[Dee]

Maybe you could show your parents this thread to help convince them? A few key points-

Some people think rabbits smell. They don’t! They are very clean animals and their fur has no natural odor, unlike dogs who tend to have a “doggy” smell. They use a litter box to go to the bathroom in, and their poop and pre has very little odor. A smelly rabbit is either sick and needs a vet or has a dirty cage or litter box. One thing- a boy or girl rabbit should be neutered/spayed to keep them from being messy and territorial. And female rabbits have an 80% chance of getting uterine cancer if not spayed by age 4! This might not be a selling point for your parents, since it costs money to spay/neuter, but you could always keep the rabbit in your room and do chores to earn money while you save for your rabbits spay/neuter. Local rabbit rescues might tell you of a vet that does cheaper operations than most because they do lots of rabbits.

Some people think rabbits aren’t smart. They are really smart, sensitive animals that learn to love their humans and other rabbits. They also can learn their names and come when they are called, get to know household routines, especially when their food should be served, and have definite likes and dislikes when it comes to food, toys other rabbits and just about anything.

Some people think rabbits are happiest outside. They’re not! They are very social and get lonely, and being outside with prey animals like large birds, foxes, dogs and cats is very frightening for them. A rabbit can die of fright before a predator even touches it! They also need to be watched to be sure they’re eating and acting well- they can get sick very quickly and hide their illness since in the wild, sick bunnies get eaten.

I hope your parents will let your rabbit live inside! The only other way your rabbit would be at all safe is to build an enclosed rabbit run with a hidey house for you bunny. That means getting wood, heavy duty metal mesh to enclose it, more wood for the house, measuring (run should be at least 6×4 not including the house). Much easier just to move bunny inside ☺.

Also, you obviously love your rabbit and would be terribly upset if anything happened to her. I know that us parents tend to do our best to protect our kids from unneeded sadness.

Good luck- and please post any more questions that you or your parents may have!

[Deleted User]

Thank you for the reply Bam! I understand that its dangerous for a rabbit to be outside but in my backyard we have a large tent that cover the backyard, our backyard isn’t big nor small its kinda medium but I will still go for the enclosed run for my rabbit and I will go take my rabbit inside full time. I think my parents will be able to agree for the enclosed run but the full time inside, maybe? im still not sure but ill try my best! Thank you again!

[Deleted User]

 thank you for the reply Dee! I understand when I was about to get my rabbit she was just a baby ( my friend was about to give it to an owner that was horrible on taking care of animals!) I did my research on my rabbit as fast as I could before I got her I learned a lot about rabbits when I did my research ! im happy to know that I learned so much about her so I knew what best for her and whats bad for rabbits, I learned my rabbit to used the litterbox and she has been already spayed! so she can live more longer and wont get sick later onand I will talk to my parents about leaving my rabbit inside or maybe have an enclosed run for my rabbit ill try my best! thank you for the reply its helped me to know whats best for my rabbit

[Dee]

You sound like a great bunny parent ☺! Thats awesome that your bunny has already been spayed- you’d be surprised at how many people have no idea about spaying rabbits. And litter box training her is great- she would be much easier to move inside since you already taught her that.

Its good that you have a tent over your backyard, that does provide some shade and protection from birds. If your parents won’t go for the full time inside living, you could look up how to make a safe rabbit enclosure and see if they would help you buy the supplies and build it.

I hope you keep coming to this site- it has great info and really nice people!

[Author]

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