Rabbits & Small Animals
Taking up less space than a dog or cat, eating relatively little, and not needing to leave the confines of the
cage for exercise, rodents and other small mammals make easy-to-care-for pets. Rabbits, guinea pigs,
and rodents such as hamsters, gerbils, and rats all have different needs, but they have one very important
need in common...
cage for exercise, rodents and other small mammals make easy-to-care-for pets. Rabbits, guinea pigs,
and rodents such as hamsters, gerbils, and rats all have different needs, but they have one very important
need in common...
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Gnawing and Chewing
One of the most important needs that all of these small animals have is the need to gnaw. In the wild, their
teeth are some of their most important tools, used for hollowing out nesting holes, shredding tough
materials for bedding, chewing through shells of nuts and seeds, and other tasks. Because those jobs
cause a lot of wear-and-tear on teeth, the incisors, or front teeth, of rodents, rabbits, and guinea pigs keep
growing throughout the animals' lives.
A pet in a cage has a cozy home, plenty of soft bedding, and food provided for it, so it doesn't need to
chew nearly as much as it would in the wild. Its teeth keep on growing, though, and if it can't chew to wear
them down, they become too long. Overgrown teeth may prevent the animal from chewing its food
properly, or even make it unable to eat at all. Teeth may grow so long that they grow right through the
lower jaw, or up into its brain - a gruesome fate indeed!
You can help your small animal keep its teeth worn down to the right length by providing it with things to
gnaw. Chunks of hard wood or nut shells work well. Avoid wood that's lacquered, stained, or otherwise
contains synthetic chemicals or residues. There are also commercially-made wood or bark chew toys with
flavors to make them more appealing.
teeth are some of their most important tools, used for hollowing out nesting holes, shredding tough
materials for bedding, chewing through shells of nuts and seeds, and other tasks. Because those jobs
cause a lot of wear-and-tear on teeth, the incisors, or front teeth, of rodents, rabbits, and guinea pigs keep
growing throughout the animals' lives.
A pet in a cage has a cozy home, plenty of soft bedding, and food provided for it, so it doesn't need to
chew nearly as much as it would in the wild. Its teeth keep on growing, though, and if it can't chew to wear
them down, they become too long. Overgrown teeth may prevent the animal from chewing its food
properly, or even make it unable to eat at all. Teeth may grow so long that they grow right through the
lower jaw, or up into its brain - a gruesome fate indeed!
You can help your small animal keep its teeth worn down to the right length by providing it with things to
gnaw. Chunks of hard wood or nut shells work well. Avoid wood that's lacquered, stained, or otherwise
contains synthetic chemicals or residues. There are also commercially-made wood or bark chew toys with
flavors to make them more appealing.
Rabbits
Unlike most other small animals, rabbits are suited to life either indoors or outdoors. Indoors, rabbits can
be litter box-trained so they can be house pets instead of caged pets. Rabbits may also be leash trained
for walks around the yard. They appreciate some exercise outside the cage or house, and specially made
rabbit leashes are relatively inexpensive.
Outdoors, rabbits withstand cool weather well, as long as their home keeps them dry and sheltered from
wind. Domestic rabbits aren't as hardy as their wild cousins, however, so it's a good idea to bring them
indoors during really cold weather. Summer heat is much more dangerous. You can help your bunny
keep cool by providing it with a constant supply of fresh, cool water. On really hot days, a plastic bottle,
partly filled with water and frozen, can be placed in the cage for the rabbit to cool down on.
When it comes to food, a rabbit's digestive system is made for fiber. Hay should be a regular part of a pet
rabbit's diet. We recommend grass or timothy hay. Pelleted rabbit food supplies some extra protein as
well as vitamins and minerals. Most rabbit pellets are made from alfalfa, but timothy-based pellets are
available and gaining in popularity. Timothy pellets are quite a bit more expensive, but there's some
evidence that they may be healthier for rabbits.
Other healthy additions to a rabbit's diet include fresh fruits and vegetables and grass, provided it hasn't
been treated with pesticides.
Despite Easter tradition, rabbits are not necessarily the best pets for very young children. They may look
cute and cuddly, but they are easily frightened by rough handling, loud noises, and other pets. This can
result in injury and trauma to both child and rabbit. Rabbits have very powerful hind legs, and a scared,
struggling rabbit can inflict some painful damage.
Rabbits should not be considered short-term or "throwaway" pets. Cared for properly, a rabbit can live for
ten years or more, so the decision to bring home a pet bunny deserves as much consideration and
preparation as a dog or cat.
be litter box-trained so they can be house pets instead of caged pets. Rabbits may also be leash trained
for walks around the yard. They appreciate some exercise outside the cage or house, and specially made
rabbit leashes are relatively inexpensive.
Outdoors, rabbits withstand cool weather well, as long as their home keeps them dry and sheltered from
wind. Domestic rabbits aren't as hardy as their wild cousins, however, so it's a good idea to bring them
indoors during really cold weather. Summer heat is much more dangerous. You can help your bunny
keep cool by providing it with a constant supply of fresh, cool water. On really hot days, a plastic bottle,
partly filled with water and frozen, can be placed in the cage for the rabbit to cool down on.
When it comes to food, a rabbit's digestive system is made for fiber. Hay should be a regular part of a pet
rabbit's diet. We recommend grass or timothy hay. Pelleted rabbit food supplies some extra protein as
well as vitamins and minerals. Most rabbit pellets are made from alfalfa, but timothy-based pellets are
available and gaining in popularity. Timothy pellets are quite a bit more expensive, but there's some
evidence that they may be healthier for rabbits.
Other healthy additions to a rabbit's diet include fresh fruits and vegetables and grass, provided it hasn't
been treated with pesticides.
Despite Easter tradition, rabbits are not necessarily the best pets for very young children. They may look
cute and cuddly, but they are easily frightened by rough handling, loud noises, and other pets. This can
result in injury and trauma to both child and rabbit. Rabbits have very powerful hind legs, and a scared,
struggling rabbit can inflict some painful damage.
Rabbits should not be considered short-term or "throwaway" pets. Cared for properly, a rabbit can live for
ten years or more, so the decision to bring home a pet bunny deserves as much consideration and
preparation as a dog or cat.
Housing
Small animals will usually need to be kept in some sort of enclosure. Wire mesh cages are most commonly
used for rabbits and guinea pigs. Smaller critters are often kept in glass aquariums or specially designed
plastic houses with mazes of tubing and toys. A cage for a small animal must be either made of
chew-resistant materials like glass or metal, or made so that there are no corners or edges on which their
sharp incisors can get a hold. Wooden hutches are fine for rabbits and guinea pigs, but generally aren't
appropriate for rodents.
A cage should provide enough room for the animal to live and move about comfortably. If it's made of wire
mesh, the mesh should be small enough that the animal can't squeeze through it or become stuck in it.
Wire mesh floors allow waste to fall through to a pan, but can be hard on the pet's feet, so it's a good idea
to provide a nest box or platform with a solid bottom for them to rest and relax off the wire floor. A small
animal home should be well-ventilated and equipped with a drip water bottle, bedding, and a place to sleep
and hide.
used for rabbits and guinea pigs. Smaller critters are often kept in glass aquariums or specially designed
plastic houses with mazes of tubing and toys. A cage for a small animal must be either made of
chew-resistant materials like glass or metal, or made so that there are no corners or edges on which their
sharp incisors can get a hold. Wooden hutches are fine for rabbits and guinea pigs, but generally aren't
appropriate for rodents.
A cage should provide enough room for the animal to live and move about comfortably. If it's made of wire
mesh, the mesh should be small enough that the animal can't squeeze through it or become stuck in it.
Wire mesh floors allow waste to fall through to a pan, but can be hard on the pet's feet, so it's a good idea
to provide a nest box or platform with a solid bottom for them to rest and relax off the wire floor. A small
animal home should be well-ventilated and equipped with a drip water bottle, bedding, and a place to sleep
and hide.
Guinea Pigs
Guinea pigs have many of the same needs that rabbits do. Unlike rabbits, guinea pigs shouldn't be
allowed out of the cage unsupervised, but otherwise their needs are quite similar.
Guinea pigs also have hay-burning digestive systems that are made for fiber, and should have access to
grass or timothy hay at all times. One major difference between rabbits and guinea pigs is that guinea
pigs' bodies cannot synthesize vitamin C. Because of this, they need a diet fortified with vitamin C.
Commercial guinea pig foods meet this requirement, but rabbit pellets do not! Liquid vitamin C
supplements are also available, and should be given in addition to (NOT instead of!) a vitamin C-fortified
guinea pig food.
allowed out of the cage unsupervised, but otherwise their needs are quite similar.
Guinea pigs also have hay-burning digestive systems that are made for fiber, and should have access to
grass or timothy hay at all times. One major difference between rabbits and guinea pigs is that guinea
pigs' bodies cannot synthesize vitamin C. Because of this, they need a diet fortified with vitamin C.
Commercial guinea pig foods meet this requirement, but rabbit pellets do not! Liquid vitamin C
supplements are also available, and should be given in addition to (NOT instead of!) a vitamin C-fortified
guinea pig food.
Rodents (Rats, mice, hamsters, gerbils)
The smallest of the small animals, rodents fit where most other pets can't.