Pet Habitat South Africa

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09 Dec 2014

Your Rabbits And The Holidays

Posted By : Guest

Filed Under : Rabbits | Pet Care

The holiday season is finally here! Christmas and New Year are times that can be incredibly fun, but also stressful for both you and your rabbits. We know you’re going to be busy with all your holiday preparations so here are a few tips that will keep your rabbits happy and well during the festive period.

Christmas Plants and Trees

It’s always a good idea to do your research before bringing any sort of plant into your home as it’s important to ensure that they aren’t harmful to your rabbits.

Many people are of the opinion that poinsettia plants are poisonous when actually, this isn’t the case. However, we still wouldn’t recommend that your rabbits eat them as they may cause discomfort to those bunnies with a more sensitive digestive system.

Other holiday plants such as Ivy, Holly and Mistletoe on the other hand can be toxic to your rabbits. To be extra safe we wouldn’t recommend bringing these plants into your home. If you really can’t resist then make sure they’re placed high up and out of your rabbits’ reach or in a room which your rabbits won’t have access to.

Pinecones are generally safe and can make great festive chews and toys for your rabbit. It’s always worth double checking that these haven’t been treated with anything that could potentially harm your buns.

Choosing The Right Tree

Be sure to also check that the tree you choose hasn’t been treated with pesticides or fire retardants, etc. As long as this is the case then it shouldn’t be harmful to your rabbits.

It’s a good idea to think about the positioning of your decorations. Low hanging ornaments and lights can seem quite inviting to your buns. Sticking to wooden ornaments is generally your safest bet. You should still always supervise rabbits closely when they’re around the tree.

Lights and Decorations

If you have a Christmas tree then there’s a good chance that you have electrical wires trailing on the floor. If it is the case then you should place your tree in a room your rabbits don’t have access to. The last thing you want is one of your little friends nibbling on one of the wires and getting a nasty shock!

All pet owners should be aware that if tinsel and garland is ingested then it could cause major health issues for your rabbit.

If you’re opening presents you should keep in mind that sellotape, ribbons, and gift wrap are not good for your rabbits. As a substitute, give them some hay wrapped in brown paper and watch your rabbit have lots of happy play time.

There’s nothing more Christmassy than a toasty open fire at Christmas time, so make sure that your rabbits don’t get too close. Even if cold ashes are ingested this can be incredibly harmful to your rabbit.

You should also be aware of any food that is left out or uneaten. Living room tables are often low enough for your bunnies to hop up and join in with the festivities but they might accidentally eat something they shouldn’t.

Family Visits

It’s not uncommon to have friends and family to visit at Christmas time but this could disturb your rabbits’ routine significantly. If you have family members who don’t understand house rabbits then it’s a good idea to prepare both guests and rabbits about what to expect. This doesn’t need to be a negative; why not take it as an opportunity to educate your family and friends about how amazing rabbits are? To reduce your rabbits’ stress it is important to stick to a routine and give them plenty of attention. If you have extra sensitive bunnies then you may want to think about moving them to a quieter area of the house while you have visitors.

You should make the ground rules clear before your visitors arrive. Never leave children unsupervised around your rabbits. Smaller children do get excited after all (particularly at this time of year) and may be tempted to chase and mishandle your rabbits.

With all these things in mind, we would like to wish you and your rabbits a very Merry Christmas!