'Rabbits as pets.'

endora (24.45.126.104) -

Im looking for a good pet for my daughter who is eight. Would a rabbit be a good pet for her or should i look toward something else?

Comment #1 gwes from OC -

I have never owned arabbit but they do smell very bad.

Comment #2 Goldie from Wisconsin -

Unless you plan on keeping it and taking care of it for as long as you would any other family pet, I would say no. I'm not in any way suggesting that you would do this, but sometimes parents buy animals for their kids like ducks, rabbits etc.. because they are cute and they end up taking them to a shelter.

Comment #3 Bizzy from Hamster Wheel -

Rabbits are a huge responsibility. As has been mentioned, they SMELL. Bad. They can be trained and they can be friendly. Their nails need to be clipped because they get very long.

• Rabbit Care Guide

Comment #4 sammehpants from Canada -

I had a rabbit when I was young, they are as good a pet as anything else for children. Most likely you will have to take care of it most of the time. Rabbits need their nails clipped, they need their cages cleaned, fresh food and water every day, things to chew on so their teeth don't get too long, and that is very important because they can injure themselves. But, if you are getting a pet, a rabbit would be the same responsibility as any other pet. A hamster, guinea pigs, gerbils, ect would all be the same amount of work. Dogs, cats, ect, would be even harder to take care of. If you are willing to take care of the animal if you child looses interest, than I think a rabbit would be as good a pet as any.

Comment #5 Wendi (68.104.204.90) -

Rabbits don't actually smell. Most of them can be easily litter-box trained. They can be very interesting, affectionate, and entertaining pets. However, they do need care just like other animals. They must be handled carefully, as they have more fragile skeletons than dogs or cats. They're not a great pet for young kids, for this reason and also because they tend to be skittish and hyper-alert (they are prey animals), especially in unfamiliar situations or around scary, unpredictable people (like kids!). They do like to chew on things, and this can be dangerous and destructive without proper supervision.

I own a rabbit, and work taking care of rabbits at a no-kill shelter.

Wendi

Comment #6 Rabbits Online (154.5.23.35) -

Rabbits do NOT smell if they're fed properly and the litter boxes emptied, like any pet. From personal experience, they smell the same or less than hamsters, rats, guinea pigs and cats! We don't recommend rabbits for children, but that's mostly for the rabbit's sake, not the child's. If an adult was to be responsible and the child was never allowed to pick up the rabbit (keeping in mind that rabbits do fine as 'free-run' pets and will interact with people and be very sociable, just at ground level) and the rabbit was adopted with a mate as company, it can be workable.

Comment #7 jamie (208.20.204.57) -

i would like to know do baby rabbits chew on wood or somthing else would u tell me because i would like to know

Comment #8 anonymous (169.244.70.147) -

I HATE RABBITS THEY SCRATCH, BITE, CHEW, POOP, PEE, AND MAKE MESSES AND THEY ARE NOT CUDDLY

Comment #9 anonymous (169.244.70.147) -

THEY ALSO SMELL BAD, HONEY I DO NOT RECOMEND A RABBIT FOR A PET

Comment #10 ???? (68.94.47.251) -

im getting a rabbit this weekend.... and it's gonna be a tame (at first wild) one!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Comment #11 Dixie Normis (68.94.25.224) -

I've heard you can train rabbits to use a litter box, and you can get their inscisors removed by a vet (still allowing them to eat) and let them roam around your house.

Comment #12 Dixie Normis (68.94.25.224) -

I've heard you can train rabbits to use a litter box, and you can get their inscisors removed by a vet (still allowing them to eat) and let them roam around your house.

Comment #13 Wayde Forster from New York -

Is it really Normis-what are you-12? Rabbits incisors grow throughout their lives-they can't be removed, and why would you? If you can't handle a rabbit being a rabbit, just don't get one.

BTW-The really large breeds make better, friendlier pets. Some of the dwarf breeds are very bad tempered and hard to train.

Comment #14 hamster lover (146.115.75.32) - Sat May 24 10:29:37 2008

Get a hamster. I have had 3 and if loved and handeled responsibly can be a fun loving pet. they live 2-3 years so its not a huge comitment. they can be potty trained too with little effort.

GET A HAMSRER!!

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