Little Bunny Hooded Onesie

WE SUPPORT AN AMAZING CAUSE

2. Rabbits are sometimes killed for their fur.
When they’re used for clothing and other items, bunnies endure terrible abuse. On angora fur farms, they usually live alone in small cages, and workers on some farms rip the fur out of their sensitive skin as often as every three months so that it can be used to make sweaters, scarves, and other items. These rabbits scream in pain as their fur is torn out. Bunnies need their fur—we don’t!

3. Shelters take in more bunnies than any other type of animal, other than dogs and cats.
When you think of animals in shelters, the first ones who come to mind are dogs and cats. However, there are tons of homeless bunnies, and they need love, too. Every Easter, lots of moms and dads give in to the “Easter bunny temptation” and buy a rabbit for their kids. Once the “bunny fever” goes away, though, many people leave their new purchases alone in small outdoor cages called hutches, give them to animal shelters, or release them outdoors, where they often starve or are killed by predators. Most bunnies end up dead or abandoned by their first birthday.

4. They get grumpy if you intrude on their space.
When you adopt a rabbit, you quickly learn that they’re very particular about their territory. They need lots of space and have specific spots where they like to eat, sleep, and use the “bathroom” (kind of like humans!). Sometimes, if you invade a bunny’s space, he or she will grunt at you so that you know to back off.

5. Rabbits are “crepuscular.”
You’re probably wondering what that funky word means, huh? Well, we’re about to explain. Lots of people think that rabbits are nocturnal animals (meaning that they sleep during the day and stay awake at night), but they’re not. But bunnies don’t sleep at night and stay up during the day like humans do, either. They are crepuscular. Yup, there’s that word again! It means they’re the most active at dusk and dawn.

6. They need special doctors.
You’ve probably heard the term “vet” before. Vets are the kinds of doctors we take animals to when they’re sick or injured. However, bunnies need to visit a vet who specializes in caring for rabbits. These vets can be more expensive and harder to find than vets who care for cats and dogs, but it’s important to take bunnies to vets who know a lot about them.

The symptoms that follow are not necessarily signs of neglect, but they are signs that a bunny needs to see a vet: A runny nose, sneezing, a head-tilt, listlessness, and diarrhea. When you see a bunny, keep an eye out for these symptoms, and bring them to the attention of his or her guardian immediately! Be sure to spay or neuter your bunny. Like dogs and cats, bunnies live longer and happier lives when they’re spayed or neutered. In female rabbits, the risk of reproductive cancer (which is deadly) is a whopping 80 percent before they’re spayed!

7. Bunnies need to be brushed regularly.
Bunnies shed like crazy and can get hairballs from grooming themselves, but they can’t cough them up like cats do. If they get a hairball, they may need to be taken to the vet to be treated (and possibly even operated on!), or they’ll die. So it’s very important to brush them regularly to remove the loose fur from their coats and prevent hairballs from forming in the first place.

8. Like humans, bunnies get bored easily.
If you were trapped in a little cage with no friends or toys to play with, you might get lonely and bored, right? Well, rabbits are the same way. They need opportunities to socialize, lots of space to run around, and plenty of toys to keep them entertained. If left alone, they can become withdrawn or depressed.Some common household items can make for fun bunny games, like paper towel rolls and cardboard oatmeal canisters. Just fill them with timothy hay and watch as your bunny rolls, chews, and plays joyfully. ♥

9. Rabbits purr when they’re content.
They’re different from kitty purrs, but bunny purrs will melt your heart just the same. A bunny purr sounds almost like teeth chattering quietly or light chomping. Talk about cute, huh?