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Petkeen advocates for adopting before shopping. We understand there are many reasons for seeking a breeder or purchasing from a store, though, so we encourage it to be done the right way. Learn more.
Rabbits make excellent pets. If you’re looking to bring home a rabbit, you will need to know where to buy one. Choosing between adoption, purchasing a rabbit from a breeder, or buying one from a chain pet store can have a big impact on the health and well-being of your rabbit.
Here’s everything you need to know about buying a rabbit, including the benefits of adoption, how to find ethical breeders, and what to know about shopping for a rabbit in a retail pet store.
Rabbits as Pets: What to Know Before Welcoming One Into Your Home
Rabbits can make great pets, but it’s not a responsibility to be taken lightly. A healthy rabbit can live for over 10 years, so you need to be in it for the long haul. They require food, proper housing, vet care, and enrichment, so you will need to have the time and money to commit to them.
You will need to spot-clean your rabbit’s enclosure each day (clean it thoroughly once a week), provide commercial rabbit pellets and hay with fresh vegetables, and interact with your rabbit. They need at least one hour of exercise and play outside of their enclosures, so prepare to rabbit-proof one room of your home.
Where to Adopt Rabbits
With so many rabbits that need homes, adopting gives you an opportunity to get a juvenile or adult rabbit that may already have training. Rabbits turn up in shelters often because children outgrow them, the novelty wears off, owners move, and for other reasons. You may be able to find your ideal pet for just an adoption fee!
1. American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA)
The ASPCA has resources to adopt rabbits in their regional locations and local shelters. They have a handy search tool for ASPCA adoptions and local shelter adoptions that can be filtered for specific pets.
2. Petfinder
Petfinder.com offers a database of rescue animals according to location. You can find dogs, cats, reptiles, and small mammals, including rabbits, that are in shelters and rescue groups. You can search for rabbits with filters for breed, age, sex, search radius, and more, so it makes it simple and quick to find the ideal pet rabbit near you.
3. House Rabbit Society
House Rabbit Society offers adoption resources within its extensive network of foster homes. There are chapters in many states and near major cities with adoptable rabbits. If you can’t find a foster near you, they have a resource to help potential adopters find rabbits in the area.
Where to Buy Rabbits Online
If local shelters don’t offer the rabbit you want, going through a breeder is an option.
1. American Rabbit Breeders Association (ARBA)
ARBA offers a breeder list for local breeders across the country. You can find breeders for specific breeders like the English Angora, Holland Lop, or Mini Lop and contact them directly for information on purchasing a kit. Being part of ARBA is a good sign for a breeder, but you still have to do your due diligence in vetting the breeder to ensure you’re getting a healthy kit with healthy, humanely treated parents.
2. Rabbit Breeders
Rabbitbreeders.us has a database for local breeders by state, but they allow all breeders to register, regardless of breeding practices. The responsibility falls on you to vet breeders. The list just serves as a starting point to find breeders in your area.
How Much do Rabbits Cost Online?
Rabbit kits can be anywhere from $20 to $70. Show rabbits can cost over $100, and you can expect to pay more for certain breeds or colors. In addition to the cost of the rabbit itself, you may need to pay for transport to pick up the rabbit or have it shipped, as well as other services. Keep in mind that the cost of the rabbit is only part of your expenses. You will need to set aside funds for housing, supplies, and vet care.
Pet Stores That Sell Rabbits
Pet stores sell rabbits and can be cheaper than breeders, often around $5 to $20, depending on the rabbit breed. Keep in mind that a lot of pet stores stock rabbits and other animals from animal mills or large-scale breeders with unethical practices, so you won’t get any guarantee of the rabbit’s parents’ care or health.
1. PetSmart
PetSmart offers rabbits for sale in stores at select locations. The care of the animals can vary from store to store, so pay attention to how the animals are kept in your local store. You can get most of the supplies you need for a rabbit at the store as well. PetSmart does offer a short-term health guarantee for animals.
2. Petco
Petco sells rabbits and other small animals at select stores. Like PetSmart, the care of the rabbits can vary. You can also find a lot of the supplies you need in the store. Petco offers a short-term health guarantee for its animals.
How Much Does a Rabbit Cost In-Store?
Rabbits at a chain pet supply store can cost between $5 and $20. Fancy varieties or highly sought-after breeds may cost more, and the costs can vary in more expensive locations. Keep in mind that this is just the cost of the rabbit itself, not the supplies or vet care.
Rabbit Breeder Information
Adoption is always preferred for getting a rabbit. With their lifespan, rabbits often end up in shelters for a variety of reasons. But if you’re set on getting a kit from a breeder, make sure to choose an ethical breeder. They are committed to pairing the ideal specimens to ensure healthy, well-adjusted kits rather than producing litters for profit.
An ethical breeder will provide health clearances and genetic testing. If you’re nearby, you should be able to see the breeding facility and meet the parents of your prospective kit.
Tips for Adopting or Buying a Rabbit
Like other small prey animals, rabbits are prone to stress. Rescue rabbits even more so, as they may have come from bad environments. It’s best to prepare your rabbit’s environment before you bring one home to ease the homecoming process.
Conclusion
If you want to bring a rabbit home, adoption is the way to go. Though there are plenty of rabbits available at breeders or pet stores, you can give an abandoned rabbit a loving home. You may even find a rabbit that already has some training. Conversely, if you are set on buying a rabbit, be sure to go through an ethical breeder. It may be difficult to resist the impulse to get a rabbit right away, but you don’t want a rabbit with a higher risk of health and behavioral problems from poor breeding.
- See Also: Fluffy Rabbit Breeds (With Pictures)
Featured Image Credit: Kyttan, Shutterstock
