It's International Rabbit Day
Today is International Rabbit Day, which is when we aim to promote the protection and care of all rabbits, whether wild or domestic. It is held every year on the fourth Saturday or Sunday in September.
Rabbits are highly social animals. In the wild, they live in large colonies in underground warrens, only leaving the safety of their burrows to eat, toilet, or to socialise.
Ideally, when rabbits are kept domestically, they should have the same freedoms, but too many are kept permanently in tiny hutches in a back garden, often on their own, with little mental or physical stimulation.
If you can’t have a second rabbit as a companion for them, they get on extremely well with guinea pigs. But they do need a companion really as well as plenty of human interaction.
They are extremely intelligent animals and can be trained to do many things. Jumping is something they excel at!!
Rabbits are rodents, which means their teeth are always growing. In the wild, chewing tough plants and roots etc is enough to keep their teeth at the correct length.
When domesticated, they need the right foods to do this as well as to give them a balanced diet. A proper rabbit mix is best, as well as an opportunity to graze naturally on a mix of plants.
This rabbit house makes a suitable overnight shelter to keep the rabbit safe while allowing it a good amount of room to carry out normal activities. But they also need freedom to roam either in a secure garden or in the house.
Rabbits make wonderful house pets - other pets permitting - and are extremely clean animals that are easily trained to use a litter tray.
A supply of clean, fresh water is also essential.
Digging and chewing come naturally to rabbits, so do it right or they will dig your carpets and chew your skirting boards.
Actually, mine never did that. They were most civilised and got along with the cats and dogs. Well, Harvey, my most unusual rabbit, would actually chase the cats until they headed up a tree or a pole. He was never caged at all and lived his whole life free, choosing to sleep with the goats at night in a tea chest laid on its side and filled with hay!! He chose to stay with us despite being an un-neutered male - hence the cat chasing, I think, as he must have been inspired by Pepe le Pew - so I think he liked his lifestyle, plus the polo mints and digestive biscuits he got as treats!!
There are many different breeds of domestic rabbit. These are just a few of them. I used to keep mainly New Zealand white/Californian crosses, but also had some English lops and a few Dutch.
Rabbits have been sadly misused in laboratories suffering horrific treatment so that human cosmetics, shampoos, etc can be tested on them. I was horrified to read recently that the EU is now saying it is not going to allow the sale of these items unless they HAVE been tested on animals.
Today is a good day to spread the news and campaign to make sure that doesn’t happen to rabbits or any other animal ever again. It is needless and cruel.
Rabbits are great little characters. And they appear in a lot of fiction as well: Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, Watership Down, The Tales of Peter Rabbit and all of his friends, Br’er rabbit, Roger rabbit, Harvey the invisible rabbit, etc.
Have you ever had a pet rabbit, or would you like to?
Let’s celebrate the humble rabbit today and all the pleasure they can give.
All are welcome. And please feel free to share all discussions you enjoy.
