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mhariwhyte
Jun 5, 20204 min read

What You ACTUALLY Need To Bring Your New Bunny Home

When I first started doing research about what I needed to buy in order to bring home a bunny I got overwhelmed. Originally, I spent over $200 dollars just on supplies, but I realized I was spending way too much and found better alternatives to the things I did need and returned the things I didn’t. Here’s a list of all the things that I currently own for my bunny that I consider essential (links at bottom)

Baby Bean in his bed/litter box

· An X-pen – These are helpful even if you plan on free roaming your bunny (which I highly suggest) They are great for containing your rabbit when you need to monitor them or move them to a different part of your home for cleaning. I also like to use this to take Bean outside for some vitamin D.

· A Carrier – I feel like this one is obvious now but when I was first preparing to bring home Bean, I didn’t even think about it until the last second. These are important for vet visits and any travel that requires a car. The one we have is probably too big for Bean, but it gives him room to move around and he doesn’t seem too bothered when he is in it.

· A Litter Box (or 2) – Bunnies are actually very easy to litter train, especially after they are spayed or neutered. Bunnies should have cat sized litter boxes. The ones targeted towards rabbits are useless and your bunny won’t use them. I recommend getting two if your bunny has more than one favorite spot to go in his area. I got one of mine from Petco and the other from Target. I prefer the Target one as the sides are higher and its cheaper.

· Urine destroyer – even the best bunnies have accidents sometimes and you don’t want the smell lingering as it will encourage your bun to continue to pee in that spot. Target has a great affordable option that I swear by.

· Litter (duh) – personally I recommend the Eco-straw litter by Oxbow. You can easily see where the soiled litter is to clean. A lot of people will recommend the paper ones, but I found that the paper sticks to Bean’s feet and gets EVERYWHERE.

· Hay – Hay is the most important part of a bunnies diet as it helps keep their digestive systems moving. Baby bunnies up to 5 months old should be eating alfalfa hay. Once bunnies hit around 6 months they should start to transfer into hays meant for older bunnies (I use a blend of Timothy and Orchard from Oxbow) I put Bean’s hay in his litter box as bunnies like to poop and eat at the same time.

· Somewhere for your bunny to sleep/hide – I wasted my money getting an actual bed for bean. The only time he ever used it was to use it as a litter box. What I do recommend is getting a medium sized cardboard box and cutting some holes in the side and sticking a towel or fleece in it to give is some cushion. If I ever can’t find Bean, I know he is in his box.

· Toys - now this one I struggle with as Bean doesn’t really like toys. However, I got these little plastic cups from the dollar store and he seems to like those. Another great and cheap toy is to just take an empty toilet paper roll and stuff some hay in either side. This one is Bean’s personal favorite.

· Grooming Tools – Rabbits shed and need to be groomed regularly in order to tame it. The bet brush I recommend for rabbits is the HairBuster Comb by Small Pet Select. You will also need nail clippers as bunnies nails never stop growing, small cat nail clippers with the round shears are best for this and can be found at most pet supply stores.

· Food and Water Bowls - Here is where I made a lot of mistakes. Originally, I bought these HUGE dog sized dishes for Beans food and water and they cost about $15 each. I realized that was unnecessary and instead used something I already owned. Ramekins are a great option for bunny bowls as they are heavy and hard to tip over and they are super inexpensive at places like Homegoods or Target. One thing I would steer clear of is water bottles. They are super unnatural for rabbits, hard to clean and don’t give your bunny nearly enough water.

· Fresh Greens and Pellets - Bunnies should be getting fresh greens every day. I like to buy a box of spring mix as Bean’s base food and then give him some parsley and basil for something a little tastier. Pellets are also helpful in making sure your rabbit is getting all the nutrients they need. Your bunny’s pellets should be at least 18% fiber and should get about a quarter cup a day.

And finally…

· SPACE – Rabbits need a lot of space with good floor traction to run around and exercise. It is so important that your rabbit has at least 3-4 hours of exercise every day.

With that I say good luck to anyone preparing to bring home a new bun. I promise you won’t regret it.


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