If you asked people, the most common pets in the US are dogs and cats. While both are great because at the end of the day you get a furry friend to keep you company, they require a lot of maintenance and attention. If you’re a busy person you won’t be able to give them that needed attention and it can become a problem.
On the other hand, bunnies, not to be confused with rabbits, are some of the cutest, and easiest pets to take care of. Unlike cats or dogs, they don’t require too much maintenance. Things like walking them, bathing them, and even playing with them aren’t necessary when taking care of a bunny. A lot of people think that they have no emotions or that they are not caring animals but this isn’t always the case, as both Esbeidi and I can attest.
Kimberly: For me, owning a bunny is a better alternative than any other pet because they are less inexpensive and more calm. I personally like calm and loving animals so I think that a bunny is just a better option than dogs or cats since both of them are more energetic and high maintenance.
Esbeidi: As a person who is a constant victim of getting jumped by dogs, I can gladly argue that I have never had this problem with a bunny. They are small and can be easily managed. Typical problems faced with a cat or dog are very rare with a bunny, which is why I like them more.
Kimberly: I always heard that owning a bunny would be a better alternative than owning a dog or a cat. They don’t bark or make any loud noises. But do require a lot of attention so that they won’t feel lonely or anxious. I really liked the idea of having a small pet that will not require a lot of maintenance. I spent a lot of time asking for a bunny and I finally got it as a gift for Christmas of 2021. I was very excited but as time passed I realized that bunnies are not how they are seen in social media, movies, and cartoons. They are usually seen as unemotional, cute, adorable, and unintelligent animals.
Esbeidi: I never expected to have a bunny as a pet. I had never had one before or even knew how to properly take care of one. I ended up with one on accident when my brother found it under a car as he was coming home late at night and brought it into the house. I was unaware of this until the next morning while I was getting ready for school and heard something moving in a box that was in the living room.
Kimberly: When I first got my bunny I didn’t really know much about them but then I learned many new things. It was a bit challenging at first but then I got used to it. A stereotype I came upon was that feeding them carrots it’s more of a treat rather than a daily food choice. I also learned that feeding them things like bananas and other high sugar foods could only be given to them every other day. I am able to relax all day without having to worry if I have to take him on a walk or outside to potty.
Esbeidi: To be completely honest, in the beginning we (my family and I) weren’t sure if we should keep the bunny. It had been years since they owned one, as the last time they did was right before I was born. However, my mom and I both became very attached to it and decided to keep it.
Kimberly: I have taught my bunny how to give high fives and how to spin when I ask him to. A lot of people don’t want one because they think they are messy and stinky, but they actually can get potty trained and they bathe themselves. I potty trained my bunny in a week and I have a litter box for him at my house where he’s able to go whenever he wants to. Something I did learn is that 80% of a bunny’s diet is hay and the other 20% is pellets and regular food. You have to make sure you give the unlimited hay. I usually feed him a lot of different green plants like lettuce, basil, kale, cilantro, and cabbage. For treats, I give him cucumbers, apples, carrots, and other different fruits. His favorite are bananas. I feed him twice a day and take him outside to eat grass at least once a day.
Esbeidi: In the beginning, we would only feed him grass and carrots because that was all we knew they ate, but as time passed we started feeding him a variety of different foods such as: kale, spinach, romaine lettuce, and much more. Every now and then we give him a strawberry or one or two carrots for him to enjoy, but it’s not as often as it was before. As for his potty situation, we didn’t really have to train him as he trained himself. Since we were unsure of keeping him at first we kept him in the box he originally was in and as the days progressed we noticed he would only go to the bathroom in the same little corner. Once we got him his cage where he sleeps in we noticed that the habit had stuck with him so even though he roams my room and the living room he still goes to his cage any time he feels the need to use it.
Kimberly: Some advantages of having a bunny as a pet is that their foods tend to be cheaper and more affordable. They also don’t make loud and obnoxious noises so it’s very peaceful. Although you can’t walk them like dogs, they are very high in energy and you can play with them all day. They are usually small so you can take them with you anywhere you go. They are very friendly, loving and smart animals.
Esbeidi: On the other hand, some of the disadvantages are that you can’t really play with them. They tend to be curious animals so most of the time they would rather wander around than to actually play. They like to chew on things so it’s important to keep things you don’t want damaged away from them. Luckily, a simple solution for this problem would be to give them cardboard since they really like to chew on it and it’s safe as long as it doesn’t have ink, labels, or tape on it. Lastly, the biggest and most important disadvantage is that bunnies are not for kids. Younger kids often tend to mishandle bunnies causing them to get hurt or stressed which can cause the bunny to get badly injured or even die. It’s important to make sure you are prepared for this and if you do have young kids around, make sure to talk to them so they understand what can happen if they are too rough with the bunny.
Kimberly: There are so many enjoyable things about a bunny. I enjoy how my bunny is very loving and sweet. He’s very attached to me and follows me everywhere so that makes me feel like he loves me a lot. I also like that whenever I sit down anywhere we follow and lay next to me. I like the fact that whenever I take him outside I don’t have to play with him because he’s running or eating grass most of the time.
Esbeidi: My bunny is very independent. He doesn’t like being held for long periods of time but when he does it’s nice as it means he trusts you. If you’re new to him he’ll stay away until you’ve gained his trust. He loves going outside on the yard since he gets to eat all the grass he wants. I’ve noticed that out of my mom, brother, and he is the least fussy with me and typically likes being near me the most. I like this about him as it shows me the trust he has for me.
Though it might seem like bunnies require a lot of maintenance, it’s not actually like that. They tend to take care of themselves. All you have to do is provide basic needs and affection like you would with any other animal. They’re great pets to have, but it’s important to take the proper steps to raise a bunny. Fun fact, bunnies can live up to twelve years and their teeth never stop growing. It is normal for their teeth to keep growing as they’re naturally worn down from eating. If the teeth were to overgrow, they would have to get checked by the vet to get it trimmed.
