The initial and long-term costs of owning a rabbit can add up quickly. Initial costs are usually between $300 and $400, and long-term care may cost you about $1000/year—not including veterinary care. Before you buy a rabbit, analyze your budget to determine if you can comfortably afford to care for one.  Initial costs include housing, food dishes, electrical cord protectors (rabbits like to chew), a litter box, and toys.  Ongoing costs include fresh vegetables, hay, and litter.  Incidental costs, such as veterinary care and furniture and toy replacement, can increase the cost of care. Having a pet rabbit can be time consuming. For example, you would need to feed your rabbit twice daily, tidy his cage once daily, and thoroughly clean his cage once a week. In addition, you would need to provide your rabbit with daily mental stimulation (e.g., chew toys, playtime).  Your rabbit would need at least one hour per day of playtime outside of his cage (e.g., play pen, rabbit-proof room).  Healthy pet rabbits can live up to 10 years. Think about whether you are ready to make a 10-year commitment to care for a rabbit. Just like other animals, rabbits can have different personalities and temperaments. Some may enjoy being held, and others may resist being held so much that they will injure themselves trying to escape. Some rabbits may enjoy being petted, and others may not care for much human interaction.  Being aware of these temperaments, and others, may help you determine if having a pet rabbit is right for you. A rabbit’s personality is often influenced by how it has been socialized with people.  Rabbits may not be a good choice if you have young children, since young children may not understand that a rabbit does not necessarily like to be held and cuddled. There are nearly 50 rabbit breeds that are recognized in the United States. It may seem like an arduous task to research all breeds, but it would certainly be time well spent. It is important to note that some breeds make good pets, and others are better suited for shows or breeding.  Popular pet rabbit breeds include the Lionhead rabbit, the English lop, and the Dutch rabbit.  The website https://www.arba.net/breeds.htm is an excellent source of information about the rabbit breeds that are recognized in the United States. Consider talking with rabbit owners, exotic veterinarians, or rabbit breeders for additional guidance on choosing a pet rabbit breed. As cute as they are, baby rabbits like to chew on just about everything. The chewing action helps them strengthen their jaw muscles and learn about their environment, but can mean destruction if you do not keep an eye on them. In addition, baby rabbits do not like to be held for very long, which could lengthen the time it takes for the rabbit to bond with you.  ‘Teenage’ rabbits (around three months old) are very energetic and can get bored easily. If you want a teenage rabbit, make sure you have enough toys and extra time to keep him entertained. Adult rabbits, when spayed or neutered, are more amenable to being held. Adult rabbits are probably suitable if you have young children. Females tend to be grumpy, and males tend to be aggressive, before being spayed or neutered. Although the choice is yours, it may be less important to choose a sex than to ensure that the rabbit is spayed or neutered before you purchase it. People can be allergic to rabbits, or to the hay that rabbits eat. An allergist will be able to determine if you or anyone in your home has a rabbit or hay allergy.  If an allergy is identified, consider finding another type of animal to own as a pet. One reason rabbits end up in shelters is because the owner, or a member of the owner’s household, is allergic to rabbits or hay. Identifying these allergies beforehand can prevent the emotional hardship of having to give your rabbit to an animal shelter or rescue group.
قم بحساب تكلفة امتلاك أرنب. قم بتحديد ما إذا كان لديك الوقت لامتلاك أرنب. قم بالتعرف على مزاج الأرانب. قم بتقرير سلالة الأرنب الذي تفضل امتلاكه. قم بتحديد سن الأرنب الذي تريده. قم باتخاذ القرار ما إذا كنت تريد أرنب ذكر أم أنثى. قم بمعرفة ما إذا كان أي شخص في منزلك لديه حساسية للأرانب.