Rabbit care: what a family needs to know
Ask your vet about your own pet. This page is general information from the sources below.
Rabbit care, from RSPCA and others on this page. House Rabbit Society says rabbits should get at least four hours of exercise a day, about thirty hours a week. RSPCA says rabbits suit older children who can handle them gently with an adult watching, and no child should be the only owner. House Rabbit Society says rabbits need an adult's patience and commitment.
Checked October 29, 2026.
How long they live
RSPCA says pet rabbits usually live 8 to 12 years, sometimes longer.
Home
RSPCA says a hutch alone is not enough and suggests at least 3 m x 2 m x 1 m of space to move, play, exercise and hide. House Rabbit Society says rabbits need at least four hours of exercise a day, and pens are a cheap, flexible option.
Food
RSPCA says hay is essential for a rabbit's diet and teeth, with leafy greens and fresh grass, and not many carrots. House Rabbit Society gives about 80% hay, 10% fresh vegetables and less than 5% fruit as treats.
Company
RSPCA says rabbits are very social and should live in at least a pair; a rabbit should only live alone if a vet advises it.
Handling
RSPCA says to lift a rabbit gently, supporting the chest, front legs and bottom, and hold it close to your body. Never lift by the ears or scruff, and never hold it on its back. House Rabbit Society notes many rabbits fight being picked up and carried.
Is it a good pet for children?
RSPCA says rabbits suit older children who can handle them gently with an adult watching, and no child should be the only owner. House Rabbit Society says rabbits need an adult's patience and commitment. CDC says children under 5 are more likely to get very sick from germs small mammals can carry, and bites and scratches can spread germs even when they look small.
Washing hands
CDC says to wash your hands with soap and running water after you touch the animal, its cage, bedding, food or water. Children should be watched while they wash. Keep the animal and its supplies out of the kitchen and anywhere food is made or eaten, because germs like Salmonella can be on healthy-looking animals and their things.
The vet
RSPCA says rabbits need regular visits to a vet who knows about rabbits, so plan for those costs.
Good to know
House Rabbit Society says rabbits should get at least four hours of exercise a day, about thirty hours a week.
A job for the children
With a grown-up, put fresh hay and greens out each day and sit quietly on the floor to say hello.
"A grown-up is the real carer for rabbits. Our job is the small, steady part."
Rabbit facts
Rabbit: facts from the sources below, in the sources' own words.
- A daily bundle of hay should be about as big as the rabbit.
- A rabbit needs a large handful of safe, washed leafy greens, herbs and weeds a day.
- In the wild, rabbits spend around 70% of their time eating grass and other plants.
- A rabbit's home must let it stand on its hind legs without its ears touching the roof.
Rabbit card
Rabbits are gentle, shy animals that need company, space and a grown-up to help every day.
- Home. Big, with a shelter joined to a run. A rabbit must stand up with its ears below the roof. A hutch alone is too small.
- Food. Mostly hay and grass, a handful of washed leafy greens, and a few pellets. Carrots are only an occasional treat.
- Water. Fresh, clean water all day. Clean the bowl or bottle every day and change the water twice a day.
- Every day. Hay as big as the rabbit, greens, water, a clean toilet corner, time to hop and play, and a look at how it eats and acts.
- Every week. A grown-up does a closer health check of eyes, ears, teeth, fur, nails and bottom. Ask the vet how often.
- Handling. Sit low, move slowly, talk softly. A grown-up shows how to hold a rabbit. Never lift by the ears. Never hold on its back.
- Happy signs. Happy jumps and twists (binkies), soft tooth purring, ears up and together, and resting next to a rabbit friend.
- Tell a grown-up if. It will not eat, seems quiet or hunched, has odd droppings, or grinds its teeth loudly. A vet knows what to do.
Jobs to tick, with a grown-up
- Help put out hay and washed greens (a grown-up checks the greens are safe)
- Check the water and tell a grown-up if it is low
- Help clean the toilet corner with a grown-up
- Sit low and say hello gently, with a grown-up close by
- Watch how your rabbit eats and acts, and tell a grown-up about changes
Wash your hands with soap after touching rabbits, their food or their things. A grown-up helps children wash.
Poison emergency? Call now
ASPCA Animal Poison Control: (888) 426-4435, 24 hours a day, every day. A consultation fee may apply.
Pet Poison Helpline: (855) 764-7661, 24/7. $99 per incident, follow-up calls included.
Or call your vet or the nearest emergency vet.
Every pet is different, and this is general information from the sources below, not veterinary advice. For a sick or hurt pet, call a vet who knows this kind of animal.
Sources
- RSPCA: Keeping rabbits as pets (checked October 29, 2026)
- House Rabbit Society: Care (checked October 29, 2026)
- CDC: Small Mammals (checked October 29, 2026)