Rabbit Care Checklist
for New Pet Rabbit Owners


Here is our rabbit care checklist of all the crucial stuff you’ll need right away in order to take care of your pet rabbit.

We limited this checklist to the essentials so you won't worry that you're forgetting something. Now you can get what you need, and then get on with the fun of owning and caring for your pet rabbits.

Go to Pet Rabbit Care for more information on each of the items below.

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Rabbit Checklist #1
A CAGE

Get or make a cage that's the right size for your new pet rabbit, and that is strong enough to protect it from predators. In the USA, we tend to use all-wire cages and provide a resting board for the rabbit's comfort. Rabbit owners in the UK tend to like all-wood hutches.

Follow this link to our Rabbit Cages Info Hub.

Pet Rabbit Living Spaces E-Book


Are you handy or adventurous??
It is actually very easy to build your own rabbit cage!



Rabbit Care Checklist #2:
Rabbit Food

Pellet Rabbit feed.

Get some high-quality commercial rabbit pellets to start with (make sure the bag is fresher than 2.5 months old when you buy it). Feed young bunnies:

  • All the pellets they want (free-fed)
  • Grass hay every day

See Feeding Rabbits, Pet Safe Plants, and Pet Rabbit Care for lots more information on how to feed as your bunny matures, including adding green forages and veggies to the diet.

(Below: Top quality rabbit food. Learn more about this excellent pelleted rabbit feed here.)

Rabbit Care Checklist #3:
A container for pellets

Aurora Rex Rabbit Ranch uses these j-feeders for their rabbitsJ-Feeder

A heavy crock, a crock that attaches to the wire, or a J-feeder work great. You can also fashion a feed dish out of tin cans or other materials, if you need to. Whatever you use, work out a way to secure the container to the hutch or cage so the rabbit won’t yank on it, fling feed everywhere, or simply tip it over. Less waste means less $$ spent and less frustration.

Fresh greens and hay cannot be conveniently fed through a j-feeder such as the one pictured. You can attach hay racks to the wire. Fresh greens are easily fed using crocks. 

Rabbit Care Checklist #4:
A water container and fresh water

This will probably be a water crock or a valved water bottle, ideally with a lid that opens from the top.

Other than oxygen, water is probably a rabbit's most crucial need, so ensure a ready supply of clean water every day, 24/7. 

Bunnies Day Out!

You want your fluffy friend to enjoy life with you, so now you can take them along in comfort and style in a fashionable tote from Oskar and Friends. They can accommodate up to a 15 pound rabbit. The have 3 great styles, the everyday tote (pictured), the travel carrier, and the frontpack/backpack. They also come in several colors. These quality carriers are only $65, so they also make a very reasonable gift. 

  • Adjustable safety tether and zip top mesh for extra security
  • Easy to clean
  • Vegan materials including faux leather
  • Machine washable bed pad
  • Multiple pockets for carrying treats

To find out more about all the great features of the pet carriers from Oskar and Friends, Click Here!



Convenient, Quick-Lock Crocks Fasten to Cage Wire, Cup Detaches for Refilling


Will your pet rabbit get the run of the house?

If so, then here's a few more points to not forget when you first acquire a pet rabbit.

Rabbit Care Checklist #5:
A litter box and bedding or litter

Rabbits can easily be litter-box trained. But your typical cat litter isn’t the best for rabbits. Better to use a high sided litter box with pine shavings--your rabbits will probably kick up their heels when leaving the litter box, and the high-sides help keep the shavings from scattering hither to yon while they hop away.

See Rabbit Bedding for more info about rabbit litters/beddings


Rabbit Care Checklist #6:
Electrical cord protection

Hide the cords, or protect them...

One of the following solutions is sure to work for you.

Your bunny may see an electrical cord and think, "Yum, hay!" Electrical cords are amazingly inviting to your wonderful bunny. And logically so -- all the teeth in its mouth grow continually throughout its life; it is part of a rabbit's make-up to chew stuff. You sure don't want to char-broil the little guy, compliments of your electricity provider.

This is a critical consideration only if you plan on giving your rabbit the run of the house. 

In addition to hiding the electrical cords, think about providing an excellent, apple-infused alternative chewing opportunity that might keep your bunny well distracted from those boring electrical cords! See Raising Rabbits Chew Stix, or keep reading this page...!

Checklist #7: Toys

Rabbit toys may or may not be considered "extras," since chewing and gnawing is so important for a rabbit's dental health. 

See Pet Rabbit Care for practical details about rabbit toys. There are many ways to make your own rabbit toys.

More info on toys for rabbits here.

Chew Stix by Raising-Rabbits
Just the sticks your bunnies need for chewing and gnawing!

Chew Stix by Raising-Rabbits

Fruit-infused Raising Rabbits Chew Stix are nature's blessings from the beautiful Washington State forests and orchards.

Fresh alder branches are harvested from trees grown without chemicals, pesticides, or smog. Those branches are then hand cut down to bunny size portions, and infused with apple from Washington’s famous apple farms.

Alder is perfect for rabbit dental hygiene! The apple taste and smell will attract your bun, and they can chew to their heart's content, saving your phone cords and your sanity. 

Check out Raising Rabbits Chew Stix Here!


Checklist #8:
Freedom from Stress

Relaxed Chin Rex Doe

If you can keep your pet rabbits stress-free in addition to meeting their physical needs, they will be truly content.

For more on anxiety vs. pain the way a rabbit sees it, see Rabbit Facts.

Have fun with your wonderful long-eared pet!





Double-Value Guarantee

Our policy is to always OVER-deliver on value,
which is why your purchase is fully covered by our
Double-Value Guarantee.

Go ahead - take any of our e-books for a test drive. Peruse our detailed informational and educational e-books. Examine our plans for building rabbit cages, runs, or metal or PVC hutch frames. Check out the Rabbit Husbandry info e-books.

If you aren't completely satisfied that your e-book purchase is worth at least double, triple or even quadruple the price you paid, just drop us a note within 45 days, and we'll refund you the entire cost. That's our Double-Value Guarantee.

Note: When you purchase your e-books, they will be in PDF format, so you can download them to any device that supports PDF format. We advise making a back-up copy to a drive or cloud account. If the books are lost, you can also purchase another copy from Raising-Rabbits.


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