When you have a bunny as a pet, providing a rabbit hutch is not the only thing that is needed. If you have done any shopping at all after acquiring your pet, you will have noticed that there are many items for sale that claim to be “must-haves” for your pet.
It is necessary to know that is really helpful and what items are simply a waste of your money. You do not need to buy every little thing that comes onto the market. For example: There are stores that advertise cute little booties and sweaters for your rabbit – but they are bunnies and not little dogs!
Rabbits do not need booties, sweaters or clothes of any kind in the winter. Sure, they look adorable and you may be able to capture some pretty great photos of your pet dressed up like that, but doing so is only for show. These are items that mark a personal preference and are not at all a needed item. A rabbit’s needs are actually very simple; they need food, shelter, treats, toys to chew on and lots and lots of love. Rabbits are social animals and like interaction with their owners.
The rabbit hutch accessories that your rabbit needs in their home begin with a proper bed. There should be a place for them to not only sleep, but sleep comfortably. New rabbit owners sometime think that you can just place some straw into a corner of the hutch and the rabbit will be fine and happy.
The issue with this is that loose straw used as a bed like that will be kicked out of the hutch eventually. And that will only happen to the straw that he does not eat or chew on! A proper bed may include a grass mat or, even better, an actual rabbit bed.
Another concern for most owners is a convenient way to clean out the rabbit’s droppings. You may notice that most rabbit hutches have a sliding tray that can be pulled out. You simply clean up the droppings, disinfect the tray and then slide it right back in.
Sometimes you can find a premium rabbit hutch that has a dropping pan that is more sanitary. When the bunny is accustomed to going to the bathroom in a certain area, a dropping pan is an absolute must. If that sounded like you may be able to potty train your rabbit, you’d be right!
Toys for rabbits do not normally come standard in most started kits, they happen to be a very important rabbit hutch accessory. Your bunny needs toys to play with and gnaw on, otherwise they can get bored. Also, not having toys to chew on can cause problems with a bunny’s teeth.
Regular dog or cat toys are not safe and are not okay for your rabbit. Rabbit toys are specifically made to withstand the constant chewing of the bunny and are made of safe materials. Last, but certainly not least, you need a ceramic food dish and a water bottle for your rabbit to complete the list.
