Thinking of adopting?
Did you know that 60% of rabbits entering rescue centres
are owned for less than a year.
Get rabbit-wise before you commit:
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Rabbits can live for 10 years or more.
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They will need vaccinating every year against myxomatosis and VHD1 & 2 which costs about £70 per rabbit.
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They will need neutering or spaying if this hasn't already been done, which costs about £100 for males and £140 for females.
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Rabbits prefer to live in pairs or groups but all must be neutered/spayed.
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Longhaired rabbits like lionheads and angoras require regular brushing, which could need doing as much as every day.
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Rabbits need a big enough enclosure so that they can stretch up and hop at least 3 times from end to end (this is the bare minimum) and also need a large area to exercise in, unfortunately a hutch is not enough.
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They also need toys to keep them entertained for when they are on their own and also need chew toys to help keep their teeth down.
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Rabbits are not the ideal pet for young children so please think twice before buying a rabbit for your child. Rabbits may look cute and fluffy but they can bite and scratch like any animal.
Guinea pig facts:
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Guinea pigs typically live for 5-6 years.
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Guinea pigs are active for about 20 hours a day, so will also need enrichment in their accommodation, but unlike rabbits they are not naturally climbers so you must make sure that they can't fall off of anything.
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Guinea pigs prefer company and like to live in either pairs or groups.
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Guinea pigs as well as a rabbits diet should consist of mostly good quality hay, with a handful of daily fresh vegetables and supplemented with a small amount of good quality pellets and limited treats.