by Brittany Adams

Created on: December 17, 2008

When the average human thinks about the word "adoption", they think about how they will save the world, one animal or child at a time. They think about being life-savers for a poor unfortunate soul who has suffered from abandonment or neglect. Nothing but good thoughts float to the surface of a human mind when adoption is dropped into the water cooler cranium of the adopter. It's especially easy to want to hop into adoption when a rabbit is involved.

A rabbit is stereotyped as being shy, innocent, cute, and fluffy. However, as is true with any other animal, there are some other habits and characteristics that need to be considered before offering these little lagomorphs into your home and into your heart.

Rabbits are indeed a bit paranoid by nature, because in nature they are prey. That means they are quite low on the food chain and are considered a la carte to many predatory animals such as hawks, owls, coyotes, and wildcats. That also means that they do not like to be picked up because of the association of lifting to being carried off to become dinner. If they are backed into a corner or feel that their territory is being invaded, they may grunt, lunge, and may even bite to protect themselves. This is, however, very rare. When cared for appropriately, the rabbit is a cuddly, loving companion.

Both outdoors and indoors can be appropriate for a rabbit to dwell. Even when keeping a rabbit inside, it can be kept in a cage or aloud to roam freely around the house like an ordinary household animal such as a cat or dog. However, if this is to be done, then some serious precautions have to be made around the house to ensure that both the rabbit and your interior are safe. After all, rabbits love to chew on everything; including power cords, walls, furniture, cloth, and possibly anything else they can get their forever-growing incisors on. You should get plenty of toys for the rabbits to chew on and play with; rabbits can get bored very easily.

It is also recommended that you litter-train your rabbit so that they do not dispense their cocoa-puffs and lemonade around the house. Yes, rabbits can be litter-trained. It takes time and dedication, though it is not difficult either. You can discover which corner the rabbit uses in their cage to do their business and but a box in that corner with a rabbit-safe litter. Rabbit-safe litter is important because sometimes the rabbit will eat the litter or inhale it. If the litter has clay or clumps up, it may cause respiratory problems for the rabbit later on.It is also recommended that you put a small sample of the rabbit's feces in the litter box so that they will recognize the feces as a marker for where to defecate.

If a rabbit is to be kept outdoors, then a hutch in a shady spot will be sufficient. Remember, a rabbit will get over-heated very easily and can die of heat stroke. Also, the hutch needs to be big enough for the rabbit, for a rabbit needs a lot of exercise.

Also, a rabbit needs plenty of greens, timothy hay, food and water. Fruit and veggies are a satisfactory diet for rabbits. Rabbits have very sensitive stomachs and can only digest herbivorous things. After all, who has heard of a bacon-eating rabbit; though in the wild, rabbits will chew on bones for calcium and eat marrow for nutritious reasons.

Rabbits are very lovable and friendly if raised appropriately, and can be a very rewarding pet. They are recommended for those with time, patience, and dedication. If after all the knowledge you've gained about rabbits still hasn't deterred you from adopting a rabbit, then you are definitely the right kind of person to have one of these furry companions for your own. After all, these rabbits steal hearts like a bandit steals silver.

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