First let me say that this is a really long post, I did that for the benefit of new bunny owners. I did say before that I would take some time and detail all of the expenses that we had when we brought home our apartment bunnies. I should clarify that I DO NOT represent any of the companies mentioned, nor am I sponsored by any of the products I mention on this site. These are products and items that I have found work for us and I recommend doing your research and seeing what works for you and your bunny. However, when I first started researching bunnies I would have loved something like this, so I thought I'd take an afternoon and detail everything out for you. If you want to know something specific or have questions, don't hesitate. I've broken stuff down into necessities, suggested, and the other stuff (mostly stuff that has made my life convenient.) All costs are in USD.
First there is the cost of the rabbit(s). In our case we adopted from an unexpected litter of dwarf rabbits. Our first cost was a mere $20 adoption fee. (Beware people trying to give away bunnies before 8 weeks old. They are not ready to leave until 8 weeks and can develop serious health issues. It's not always something you can see but at 3 or 4 weeks they are still dependent on their mom.) If you adopt you will be paying much more BUT you will receive a rabbit that has undergone the spay/neuter process or if not old enough they will come with a spay/neuter coupon.This is always cheaper than taking in a bunny yourself.
Please, be aware how much spaying and neutering your bun will cost. Without it you could be dealing with spraying, territorial issues, and possible unwanted baby buns. Spaying a girl costs much more than neutering a boy. In California a typical spay can cost anywhere from $120 to $450 while a neuter can be anywhere from $100 to $300. Shop around some but make sure you know they have bunny experience. DO NOT go to any vet that tells you to not feed your bunny the night before surgery. Bunnies CANNOT throw up and will not asphyxiate. Many good bunny websites will tell you the same thing. Find another vet. Cost is always an issue, so before you bring home a bun, please keep this in mind. It will save you some heartache.
Pet Insurance - This sound ridiculous but being an animal owner means that you are responsible for a little life. For a lot of small animal owners this means that you'll do anything to keep those little ones well. Having gone through a very awful experience with my guinea pig, we called him our thousand dollar man, I have to say that pet insurance will not only save you money, but it will also keep you from making decisions you don't want to. The leading insurance companies over here have plans starting at a $20.00 a month premium with an HMO style reimbursement system. let's be honest care is expensive and getting 80% of your costs back will be worth that paperwork. There are ownership and age requirements, but it's available for most kinds of pets. It's worth a little time to think over since bunny care is EXPENSIVE. (omgoodness. I didn't realize with my guinea pig but it's sooo awful to wonder if you'll be able to pay the vet.)
Cage - $160 - We built our own cage for a variety of reasons. Having experienced a guinea pig and doing the cubes and chloroplast thing, a bought cage, a run, and several other 'ingenious' ideas for him, we knew that the needs of small animals are very different than what the companies out there provide. With this in mind we created our own design by turning an Ikea Expedit into a bunny condo. This book shelf is 6 feet by a foot and a half...
...and this is just the place they sleep and hang out while we are at work. A store bought hutch will run you anywhere from $80 for one that won't be anywhere big enough for your bun to even turn around in to over $300 for one of those fancy outdoor hutches made of wood that I think would look great in our living room but cost a mint. Please keep in mind that every bun needs at least 6 square feet of space to play and really get some exercise. We have 6+ hours of floor time in our house daily, with extra time on the weekends. Make sure that you can clean your cage easily. We tiled the floor of our cage, put in a rubber edging and installed a wooden rim to protect them from chewing the rubber. Wood is munchy while rubber isn't. This cage has saved my butt a LOT of work. The floor is wiped clean every day, and it's a breeze to clean.
NOTE: It is our intention to replace this cage in 6 months with another home built Ikea Expedit two story. Our buns are small now but we know they will need more space in the future and we are prepared to spend the money to upgrade. If you don't plan on upgrading or even purchasing another space for your buns, think of this ahead of time.
Food - $8.00 - We're choosing to feed Oxbow Organic Rabbit food because we're trying to keep the garden inputs as organic as possible. Fortunately the cost is about the same as the non-organic bag, but it is smaller. At 3 pounds it feeds for a month. Remember to check constantly that the food is clean and not accidentally wet. Food should be stored in a clean dry place in order to minimize risk of mold, which can kill bunnies.
Water - FREE - Thank goodness something is free. In our case we buy reverse osmosis water for ourselves so we don't count the pennies it costs to give the buns some too. (We use a dispenser.) If you decide to change your rabbit from tap to bottled or visa versa, remember to do it gradually or the shock may cause some tummy trouble...something we all like to avoid.
Hay - $35.00 - This is roughly 2-3 weeks of hay. Right now we're feeding our buns alfalfa hay with timothy in their litter box. At 6 months they will be completely weaned off alfalfa and on timothy full time. Rabbits eat their weight in hay per day, so it's really necessary to have a bin that they can feed from. It's not in the picture but we mounted it above their new litter box. The yellow box in the picture was their old cage we got from the girl. I don't even want to think about their lives before they came home with us.
Veggies - $20.00 - So far we've spent less than $5 a week on fresh veggies for the buns. Right now we're taking veggie introductions very slow. We feed organics because pesticides and herbicides can hurt their tummies and make them sick. So far we're on fiber rich lettuce. Next we're thinking we'll introduce apples.
Litter - $15.00 - We tried several different litters including CareFresh and have found that Sunseed Fresh World Bedding seems to absorb very well and hold in odors with amazing power. It is unbleached, recycled paper material and has colors but I wouldn't recommend them for bunnies with white paws...staining can look ridiculous. Just ask my sister's hamsters. The coloring is non-toxic though and it's biodegradable.
Water Crock - $6.00 - We purchased a glazed pottery bowl from a local artist that was specially made. It is bottom heavy and is deep. They can drink from the bowl but can't jump in, which they did several times before we got this bowl. I don't recommend plastic, as they seem to like to nudge, eat or throw anything light enough. Water is REALLY important and you want them to have access to lots of clean fresh water all the time. The bunnies water is changed twice a day to get rid of hay or anything else and allows me to check on their water consumption. If your bunny stops drinking water, or is downing it like there's not tomorrow I would immediately head to the vet. Bunnies can become dehydrated very easily and over water consumption or no water consumption can be a sign of something being very wrong.
Food Bowl - $2.00 - I currently use a cat dish from Target. Rabbits our age (3 months) should have access to pellets all the time. I change their pellets every two days and check them for wetness or contamination twice a day when I change water. If they spill pellets I'm not too concerned since they will still be available to them and I sweep them up when I clean their cage.
Hay Rack - $8.00 - I purchased a wire hay rack and mounted it to the wall with some metal do-dads. This is how I keep my hay clean, otherwise it gets pretty filthy as they have learned hay = bathroom.
Litter Box - $15.00 - We went with a high backed ferret litter box. This is the best thing ever as our old box would allow the buns to hang their tush over the side and go...ugh. This is sooo much better. We put hay mixed as well. Right now we're dealing with hay staining on their paws though, and may remove the hay portion of their box.
Teeth Management - $12.00 - This will last a little while but we have little blocks and apple wood sticks so that they have something to chew on to keep their teeth down. Every 5 days I do a check of their teeth. This helps prevent any problematic teeth growth if I can catch it in time. I won't take care of their teeth myself since I feel a bit concerned when I do those, so I will take them to the vet to have their teeth clipped. If you want to learn to do it yourself ask a rabbit rescue near you to show you. They should have someone who is experienced and comfortable showing you.
Nail Scissors - $4.00 - These things are just like cat scissors. Be careful not to cut to the quick, but don't worry if it happens. You will need to have Styptic powder just in case of this. (Black nails are hardest to tell. I used to take my guinea pig and will probably take my buns to the health fair they have where they cut nails but in between times I do it myself.
This brings me to:
Styptic Powder/Pencil - $3.00 - I bought a small bottle of this a while ago and still have some. This clots blood and can contain an antiseptic. Very, very useful and necessary for any house.
Animal Carrier - can run $25-40 - We had one but this is essential to us. Vet visits, when we need to move them while we are moving their cage, lots of reasons.
Toys - $30.00 - These are really necessary for mental stimulation. We change out the toys they get every day in order to make sure they aren't getting bored. I've made like 40 little cardboard toys from simple patterns. These are their favorite. I think it's because they can whip 'em around really easily. We bought these once - http://amzn.to/inreZW - and now use the pattern to cut our own. There are also cardboard cat toy pattens we use. So there are cheap free ones but they take time and effort. DO NOT leave your bunny unattended with toys. Just like little kids they stick everything in their mouths. Toys with bells inside should be watched just in case of the choking hazard. (Also they will throw their toys in their water. I always leave wooden toys with them while we are at work but when I can watch them, they get the other toys. (For us we decided no cardboard in their cage as they ALWAYS toss it in their water.)
Bene-Bac - $8.00 - naturally occurring bacteria necessary for the digestive system of rabbits. This is for when they may become ill and need a little boost. Vital when your bun experiences any kind of stomach upset. This is not a substitute for vet care.
Rabbit Lax - $6.00 - For fur balls and any other kind of tummy obstruction. These can be deadly since a bun cannot throw up hairballs. There are people who do a dose a week, while some with very sheddy rabbits do once a day. Papaya is also a great remedy but let me tell you, getting a rabbit to eat papaya isn't always very easy in the quantities necessary. This is a very good item to have.This is not a substitute for vet care.
Rabbit Rx - $8.00 - pretty sure you can find it cheaper online - This is for when your bun may get ill. Having this on hand before can save you the trouble of running out or worrying when everywhere is closed. It's for colds, runny noses and other similar issues.This is not a substitute for vet care.
Pedialyte -$10 for 2- We keep this on hand for people and pets. For the rabbits any time they seem to be dehydrated they should have some mixed into their water immediately until you can get them to a vet. There should be no flavor. This is also good if you bun gets diarrhea. This can be fatal and needs to be addressed immediately by a vet, but as soon as you notice something is wrong you can give them this in water. This is not a substitute for vet care.
Cleaning Spray - $4.00 - I use 7th generation or Method to clean their cage and then wash it down with a wet paper towel. I have tried Vinegar and water and I hate it. The vinegar smells icky and in the end I don't get everything really clean. I have used both these products around children and pets for years. I am comfortable with them, I let them dry prior to wiping them down again and I find they are very good. This is of course a personal preference.
Dustpan and Mini-Broom - $8.00 - I have one of these beside the cage all the time for little messes. I use it to clean out the cage AND I purchased a plastic bristle brush so I can wash it if it ever gets mucky. Perfect piece of equipment!
Bunny Play Pen - $40.00 each - Okay this is a lifesaver. I can't always watch them and I don't want to have to put them away when I just need to run downstairs to grab laundry or something. I extend two of these and make an ultra big playpen. This way they are out but have no way of getting to cords. We had a small guinea pig version before and we were trying to make-do but this is amazingly better. They have room and we can make dinner without having to chase them from under the bed.
Cardboard Boxes - Free- Bunnies are like small children, when a toy comes in the box...give em the box. We just moved so we have an excess of cardboard but in the future I'm sure I can nab them from work. The bunnies love little hidey places. The best part - they are free!
Leash - $12.00 - Not necessary but definitely useful. We used ours to help them get to know the apartment. If we ever take them anywhere besides our home we will use them in conjunction with the animal carrier. You never want to be in a situation when a carrier fails and there isn't a leash.
In the end the total expenses have been $519.00 not including the spay and neutering costs. I'm thinking the total will be around $800 for the first 'start-up' costs. Then monthly i would say $100 in upkeep, food and hay. I hope that this has helped you. I shake my head when I hear that people think rabbits are cheap, easy pets. I can't imagine. My cats cost me much less each month. lol. Have a great day!!!!
A Couple Things First:
First there is the cost of the rabbit(s). In our case we adopted from an unexpected litter of dwarf rabbits. Our first cost was a mere $20 adoption fee. (Beware people trying to give away bunnies before 8 weeks old. They are not ready to leave until 8 weeks and can develop serious health issues. It's not always something you can see but at 3 or 4 weeks they are still dependent on their mom.) If you adopt you will be paying much more BUT you will receive a rabbit that has undergone the spay/neuter process or if not old enough they will come with a spay/neuter coupon.This is always cheaper than taking in a bunny yourself.
Please, be aware how much spaying and neutering your bun will cost. Without it you could be dealing with spraying, territorial issues, and possible unwanted baby buns. Spaying a girl costs much more than neutering a boy. In California a typical spay can cost anywhere from $120 to $450 while a neuter can be anywhere from $100 to $300. Shop around some but make sure you know they have bunny experience. DO NOT go to any vet that tells you to not feed your bunny the night before surgery. Bunnies CANNOT throw up and will not asphyxiate. Many good bunny websites will tell you the same thing. Find another vet. Cost is always an issue, so before you bring home a bun, please keep this in mind. It will save you some heartache.
Pet Insurance - This sound ridiculous but being an animal owner means that you are responsible for a little life. For a lot of small animal owners this means that you'll do anything to keep those little ones well. Having gone through a very awful experience with my guinea pig, we called him our thousand dollar man, I have to say that pet insurance will not only save you money, but it will also keep you from making decisions you don't want to. The leading insurance companies over here have plans starting at a $20.00 a month premium with an HMO style reimbursement system. let's be honest care is expensive and getting 80% of your costs back will be worth that paperwork. There are ownership and age requirements, but it's available for most kinds of pets. It's worth a little time to think over since bunny care is EXPENSIVE. (omgoodness. I didn't realize with my guinea pig but it's sooo awful to wonder if you'll be able to pay the vet.)
NECESSITIES:
Cage - $160 - We built our own cage for a variety of reasons. Having experienced a guinea pig and doing the cubes and chloroplast thing, a bought cage, a run, and several other 'ingenious' ideas for him, we knew that the needs of small animals are very different than what the companies out there provide. With this in mind we created our own design by turning an Ikea Expedit into a bunny condo. This book shelf is 6 feet by a foot and a half...
NOTE: It is our intention to replace this cage in 6 months with another home built Ikea Expedit two story. Our buns are small now but we know they will need more space in the future and we are prepared to spend the money to upgrade. If you don't plan on upgrading or even purchasing another space for your buns, think of this ahead of time.
Food - $8.00 - We're choosing to feed Oxbow Organic Rabbit food because we're trying to keep the garden inputs as organic as possible. Fortunately the cost is about the same as the non-organic bag, but it is smaller. At 3 pounds it feeds for a month. Remember to check constantly that the food is clean and not accidentally wet. Food should be stored in a clean dry place in order to minimize risk of mold, which can kill bunnies.
Water - FREE - Thank goodness something is free. In our case we buy reverse osmosis water for ourselves so we don't count the pennies it costs to give the buns some too. (We use a dispenser.) If you decide to change your rabbit from tap to bottled or visa versa, remember to do it gradually or the shock may cause some tummy trouble...something we all like to avoid.
Hay - $35.00 - This is roughly 2-3 weeks of hay. Right now we're feeding our buns alfalfa hay with timothy in their litter box. At 6 months they will be completely weaned off alfalfa and on timothy full time. Rabbits eat their weight in hay per day, so it's really necessary to have a bin that they can feed from. It's not in the picture but we mounted it above their new litter box. The yellow box in the picture was their old cage we got from the girl. I don't even want to think about their lives before they came home with us.
Veggies - $20.00 - So far we've spent less than $5 a week on fresh veggies for the buns. Right now we're taking veggie introductions very slow. We feed organics because pesticides and herbicides can hurt their tummies and make them sick. So far we're on fiber rich lettuce. Next we're thinking we'll introduce apples.
Litter - $15.00 - We tried several different litters including CareFresh and have found that Sunseed Fresh World Bedding seems to absorb very well and hold in odors with amazing power. It is unbleached, recycled paper material and has colors but I wouldn't recommend them for bunnies with white paws...staining can look ridiculous. Just ask my sister's hamsters. The coloring is non-toxic though and it's biodegradable.
Water Crock - $6.00 - We purchased a glazed pottery bowl from a local artist that was specially made. It is bottom heavy and is deep. They can drink from the bowl but can't jump in, which they did several times before we got this bowl. I don't recommend plastic, as they seem to like to nudge, eat or throw anything light enough. Water is REALLY important and you want them to have access to lots of clean fresh water all the time. The bunnies water is changed twice a day to get rid of hay or anything else and allows me to check on their water consumption. If your bunny stops drinking water, or is downing it like there's not tomorrow I would immediately head to the vet. Bunnies can become dehydrated very easily and over water consumption or no water consumption can be a sign of something being very wrong.
Food Bowl - $2.00 - I currently use a cat dish from Target. Rabbits our age (3 months) should have access to pellets all the time. I change their pellets every two days and check them for wetness or contamination twice a day when I change water. If they spill pellets I'm not too concerned since they will still be available to them and I sweep them up when I clean their cage.
Hay Rack - $8.00 - I purchased a wire hay rack and mounted it to the wall with some metal do-dads. This is how I keep my hay clean, otherwise it gets pretty filthy as they have learned hay = bathroom.
Litter Box - $15.00 - We went with a high backed ferret litter box. This is the best thing ever as our old box would allow the buns to hang their tush over the side and go...ugh. This is sooo much better. We put hay mixed as well. Right now we're dealing with hay staining on their paws though, and may remove the hay portion of their box.
Teeth Management - $12.00 - This will last a little while but we have little blocks and apple wood sticks so that they have something to chew on to keep their teeth down. Every 5 days I do a check of their teeth. This helps prevent any problematic teeth growth if I can catch it in time. I won't take care of their teeth myself since I feel a bit concerned when I do those, so I will take them to the vet to have their teeth clipped. If you want to learn to do it yourself ask a rabbit rescue near you to show you. They should have someone who is experienced and comfortable showing you.
Nail Scissors - $4.00 - These things are just like cat scissors. Be careful not to cut to the quick, but don't worry if it happens. You will need to have Styptic powder just in case of this. (Black nails are hardest to tell. I used to take my guinea pig and will probably take my buns to the health fair they have where they cut nails but in between times I do it myself.
This brings me to:
Styptic Powder/Pencil - $3.00 - I bought a small bottle of this a while ago and still have some. This clots blood and can contain an antiseptic. Very, very useful and necessary for any house.
Animal Carrier - can run $25-40 - We had one but this is essential to us. Vet visits, when we need to move them while we are moving their cage, lots of reasons.
Suggested:
Toys - $30.00 - These are really necessary for mental stimulation. We change out the toys they get every day in order to make sure they aren't getting bored. I've made like 40 little cardboard toys from simple patterns. These are their favorite. I think it's because they can whip 'em around really easily. We bought these once - http://amzn.to/inreZW - and now use the pattern to cut our own. There are also cardboard cat toy pattens we use. So there are cheap free ones but they take time and effort. DO NOT leave your bunny unattended with toys. Just like little kids they stick everything in their mouths. Toys with bells inside should be watched just in case of the choking hazard. (Also they will throw their toys in their water. I always leave wooden toys with them while we are at work but when I can watch them, they get the other toys. (For us we decided no cardboard in their cage as they ALWAYS toss it in their water.)
Bene-Bac - $8.00 - naturally occurring bacteria necessary for the digestive system of rabbits. This is for when they may become ill and need a little boost. Vital when your bun experiences any kind of stomach upset. This is not a substitute for vet care.
Rabbit Lax - $6.00 - For fur balls and any other kind of tummy obstruction. These can be deadly since a bun cannot throw up hairballs. There are people who do a dose a week, while some with very sheddy rabbits do once a day. Papaya is also a great remedy but let me tell you, getting a rabbit to eat papaya isn't always very easy in the quantities necessary. This is a very good item to have.This is not a substitute for vet care.
Rabbit Rx - $8.00 - pretty sure you can find it cheaper online - This is for when your bun may get ill. Having this on hand before can save you the trouble of running out or worrying when everywhere is closed. It's for colds, runny noses and other similar issues.This is not a substitute for vet care.
Pedialyte -$10 for 2- We keep this on hand for people and pets. For the rabbits any time they seem to be dehydrated they should have some mixed into their water immediately until you can get them to a vet. There should be no flavor. This is also good if you bun gets diarrhea. This can be fatal and needs to be addressed immediately by a vet, but as soon as you notice something is wrong you can give them this in water. This is not a substitute for vet care.
Other Stuff:
Dustpan and Mini-Broom - $8.00 - I have one of these beside the cage all the time for little messes. I use it to clean out the cage AND I purchased a plastic bristle brush so I can wash it if it ever gets mucky. Perfect piece of equipment!
Bunny Play Pen - $40.00 each - Okay this is a lifesaver. I can't always watch them and I don't want to have to put them away when I just need to run downstairs to grab laundry or something. I extend two of these and make an ultra big playpen. This way they are out but have no way of getting to cords. We had a small guinea pig version before and we were trying to make-do but this is amazingly better. They have room and we can make dinner without having to chase them from under the bed.
Cardboard Boxes - Free- Bunnies are like small children, when a toy comes in the box...give em the box. We just moved so we have an excess of cardboard but in the future I'm sure I can nab them from work. The bunnies love little hidey places. The best part - they are free!
Leash - $12.00 - Not necessary but definitely useful. We used ours to help them get to know the apartment. If we ever take them anywhere besides our home we will use them in conjunction with the animal carrier. You never want to be in a situation when a carrier fails and there isn't a leash.
In the end the total expenses have been $519.00 not including the spay and neutering costs. I'm thinking the total will be around $800 for the first 'start-up' costs. Then monthly i would say $100 in upkeep, food and hay. I hope that this has helped you. I shake my head when I hear that people think rabbits are cheap, easy pets. I can't imagine. My cats cost me much less each month. lol. Have a great day!!!!
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