The Real Cost of Being Owned by a Rabbit
Sadly, rabbits have a reputation for being low cost, low maintenance pets ... this could not be further from the truth ...
Let’s explore some of the costs involved with setting up for and caring for rabbits properly and in line with the current philosophies and recommendations of recognised rabbit welfare organisations such as Rabbit Welfare Society NZ, the Rabbit Welfare Association & Fund
‘Start Up’ Costs:
* The Cost of the Rabbit - Rabbits are cheap... right? Well, sort of, yes. The upfront cost of purchasing a rabbit from say a pet store (please don’t do this ...) may be cheap at around $40.00, however if you are to have a healthy, happy rabbit this is simply the tip of a very large iceberg.
Here are some other costs you will need to factor in -
* Desexing - Rabbits need to be desexed. End. Of. Story. and the cost for this can vary from around $120-$200 for a male to be neutered and $150-$350 for a female to be spayed.
* Vaccination - To protect your rabbit from the three types of Calici virus currently in NZ your rabbit will need the Filavac vaccination. The cost for this varies widely between clinics but seems to range between around $75-$150 per rabbit.
* Microchipping - As with dogs and cats, microchipping your rabbit is the best way to ensure they make their way back to you if they escape and are found by someone else. The cost is usually around $50.
So a potential average total for the above is around $400, or more.
A better option by far is to adopt your rabbit from a reputable rescue or the SPCA. The rabbit should already be desexed, vaccinated and microchipped. However, you DO need to check which vaccination has been done as some are still only using the old vaccine - Cylap, because it is cheaper than Filavac. The cost of a rabbit from a Rescue/SPCA is usually around $50-$120.
Even if you need to pay for a Filavac vaccination on top of your adoption fee, the rescue option is a LOT more affordable than the first alternative ...
Housing:
The idea that rabbits are ok housed in a small hutch comes from the Vicrotian era when they were housed in small units as a meat stock animal. The reality is that rabbits need a lot of space in addition to plenty of shelter - in fact they need as much room as a small dog.
Westley's World promotes the basic hutch + exercise run size guidelines as follows -
HUTCH - an absolute minimum hutch size (for sleeping and toiletting) of 1-2m2. For example a floor area of 1800mm x 600mm (approx 1m2) or 1200 x 1200mm (approx 1.5m2) or 1000 x 2000mm (2m2) with a minimum height of around 600mm
RUN - an attached run (with access 24/7) of an absolute minimum 3000 x 1000 x 1000mm for the keeping of one or two rabbits.
This is an absolute MINIMUM. You also need to factor in the cost of potentially providing two set ups or dividing your set up for bonding which can take many months. So ... once you’ve worked out your budget for a fab set up - double it!
Although there are ways to provide the minimum housing set up in a more affordable manner - such as making a hutch ‘village’ with multiple smaller second hand units and puppy pens, the true cost of providing housing which meets the minimum requirements - or more (as is desirable), that is 100% secure, predator proof and amazing to ensure your rabbit leads the very best life can be VERY high.
Why a Hutch is Not Enough - Rabbit Welfare Assoc & Fund
Further Reading related to Housing can be found in the following files - Housing Guidelines, Outdoor Setups, Indoor Setups.
Other items you’ll need from the beginning:
The following will also be needed immediately
* A strong, chew proof pet carrier for trips to the vet. Around $40 and over.
WW File - Travelling with Your Rabbit
* Litter Tray - ranges from $5 - $100 or more depending on type and size.
* Litter - Ranges from $10 - $25+ depending on type and volume.
WW File - Toilet Training.
* Grooming tools - Depending on your rabbit’s coat this can run from around $30 for a basic brush like a Zoom Groom to $100s for more specialised tools including clippers.
WW File - Grooming
Ongoing costs:
Monthly
* Food - Quality pellets are much more expensive but much better for your rabbits’s health. The brands we recommend range from $5.50 - $20 per kilo.
WW File - Pellets
* Litter - Ranges from $10 - $25+ depending on type and volume.
* Hay - cheapest to buy by the bale at approx. $10 - $20 per (20-30kg?) bale vs pet shop bags which can be up to around $20 per kilo.
WW File - Hay & grasses
* Regular visits to a groomer (hard to find) or vet to have nails, clipping, scent glands etc done if you cannot manage it yourself.
WW File - Groomers
Yearly
* Vet check up and Vaccination.
Incidental
* Emergency/After-hours vet visits for injuries, GI stasis, Fly strike etc which can easily run into the $1000s. You need to have the facility to fund emergency treatment either via a dedicated credit card, savings account or health insurance. But be aware that insurance has many exclusions.
WW File - Insurance and Treatment Funding
* Flea and Mite Treatment - can run into the $100s for a stubborn infestation.
* Regular Vet visits and ongoing treatment for one off and chronic conditions such as E.C., worming, Pasteurella etc. Often in the $100s.
* The cost of providing the enrichment and stimulating environment that is essential for your rabbit - unlimited and endless
WW File - Enrichment / Let's Play
Is it all worth it?
TOTALLY!!!! A well kept rabbit is one of the most engaging and rewarding pets you can have, but as you can see - in no way, shape or form are they a ‘cheap’ or easy pet ...
Copyright 2019 - Jen Herd/Westley’s World