Rabbit Adoption Policy
Adopting Rabbits from The Cat and Rabbit Rescue Centre: Information and Guidelines
- Thank you for considering adopting a rescue rabbit.
- Every year 35,000 rabbits become homeless
- As a rescue centre we want to ensure the animals in our care go to the best forever homes.
- Our home visitor will contact you normally within 48 hours once the online form has been completed.
- Please do not think of your home visit as an ‘exam’ or ‘test’, but an opportunity for us to help you ensure you have the right environment for rabbits and answer any questions.
Outdoor Rabbits
· Rabbits are social creatures and so we believe that a minimum of 2 rabbits should live together.
· Best combination is spayed female and neutered male or two spayed females
· Rabbits are very active creatures and need a lot of space and exercise
· A pair of rabbits need 24 hour access to a minimum area of 24 square ft / 2.23 square metres (ideally 6ft x 4ft or 1.83m x 1.22m) with a minimum height of 2 ft / 0.61m as rabbits spend a lot of time standing up on their back legs. This includes the hutch. We will not rehome a rabbit where there is a hutch and separate run
· Hutch / run combinations MUST be fox proof (strong mesh not chicken wire with the run and robust enough not to be knocked over).
· Sheds and children’s’ playhouses adapted to allow light and ventilation are very often a cheaper option and will make it easier for you to socialise with your rabbits.
House Rabbits
- Rabbits are social creatures and so we believe that a minimum of 2 rabbits should live together. Occasionally we will rehome a single rabbit (as a house rabbit only) that is unable to live with another rabbit.
- Best combination is spayed female and neutered male or two spayed females.
- Rabbits are very active creatures and need a lot of space and exercise.
- Initially you would need a dog crate or pen (minimum 12 square ft) so that rabbits have a quiet place to go. As they settle in you should allow them 24 hours access to a room.
- Rabbits are easily litter trained (large newspaper lined cat litter tray with hay in it)
- Wires must be covered (with trunking or under carpets) as rabbits will chew them. Houseplants must be placed out of reach.
Have you got a Rabbit already who needs a friend?
- We have the expertise to help you bond your rabbit with a single rabbit from our rescue centre provided your rabbit is spayed or neutered.
Rabbit Diet
- A rabbit’s diet should consist of 80% hay and / or grass to ensure that the rabbit’s teeth are kept ground down and in tip top condition. Too little hay will lead to dental disease.
- No more than one small handful of pellets (we recommend Supa Rabbit Excel). Feeding too many pellets will lead to insufficient hay being eaten which is bad for the rabbit’s health.
- Veg should be given once a day, spring greens should form the basis in addition to broccoli, kale, carrots, herbs and small quantities of fruit as a treat.
- Fresh water must be made available at all times. Heavy water bowls or water bottles (clean regularly and check ‘ball’ is working correctly)
Health Checks, Inoculations and Nail Clipping
- Your rabbit will need an annual VHD inoculation and a 6 monthly Myxomatosis inoculation (average cost £15 – £20 per inoculation).
- Most vets will give your rabbit a check-up at the same time as an inoculation, checking their teeth, claws and ears to ensure that they are healthy.
- It is advisable that you check your rabbits’ claws and keep these trimmed on a regular basis.
Insurance
- All our rabbits come with 4 weeks free insurance from Petplan and we recommend that you keep them insured in case they need treatment from a vet.
Toys
- Rabbits absolutely love toys and must have access to these 24 hours a day in order to stop them becoming bored. Ideas for toys are: Willow balls, hard plastic balls for nudging, cardboard boxes with holes cut in to them, toilet roll tubes, wicker baskets, seagrass mats, yoghurt pots or plastic cups to pick up and throw, a phone book to tear up and tunnels to play in