Are Rabbits Good Pets for College Students?

Are Rabbits Good Pets for College Students?

Leaving home for college can stir feelings of excitement and fear. Although most students are usually eager to be away from the watchful eye of parents or guardians, the thought of living in new surroundings far away from familiar faces can be overwhelming for anyone. Studies have shown that more than 40% of students report feeling anxious after being separated from their families and 36% report feeling depressed. One way to curb these bouts of depression or anxiety is by having a furry friend to keep you company in the seemingly strange college environment.In this article we will see are rabbits good pets for college students or not

Rabbits are good pets for college students because they are low-maintenance and do not require much to survive. As they are social animals that quickly become attached to their owners, a college student looking for company in a new environment can find the best bud in a pet rabbit.

Can I keep a Rabbit as a Pet in College? 

Like we said earlier, rabbits are socially active animals that become attached to their owners if treated right. And although their needs vary from one rabbit breed to another, what a rabbit typically needs for survival is a place to sleep, good food, and some attention.

As a university student who wants a rabbit as a pet, you need to have the following to keep your bunny happy.

  1. A rabbit hutch. An ideal rabbit cage has a bedding area made of soft hay, a toilet area, and an exercise/playing area, where the rabbit can play and hop about without feeling caged. It is necessary to keep the cage clean because a clean pen equals a flea-clean rabbit.
  2. Exercise and socialization time. It is vital to give your pet rabbit some hours per day to roam about the room freely. Because a rabbit that has been caged for too long, especially where the cage is small, becomes aggressive. Also, as rabbits are social animals and love companionship, you will need to dedicate some hours per day to bond and cuddle with your bunny. If you are a very busy student with no time to spare, you want to reconsider getting a rabbit as a pet.
  3. Food. Rabbits are herbivores, meaning they feed on plants. They need a balanced diet of hay, fresh greens like broccoli and cabbage, fruits, and some rabbit pellets. A rabbit diet must also be high in fiber. Check out this link for more information on an ideal rabbit diet.
  4. Chewing toys. Because of their large and sharp teeth that have to be filed short, a rabbit will chew whatever it gets its teeth into. So, unless you want to come home to chewed slippers, chewed chargers, window blinds, etc., it is best to provide your pet rabbit with several chew toys and keep the little hopper in the cage when you are not around.
  5. Vet appointment. Like other pets, a rabbit needs to visit the vet for general checkups at least once a year. These checkups should be more frequent if your bunny is old or has prior health challenges.

Because rabbits are fragile it is vital to know how to handle them properly. If a rabbit is held roughly or squeezed too tightly, it may scratch, bite and become unfriendly.

Note that rabbits are preyed on by cats, dogs, and other large animals. Hence it is best to keep your bunny in an environment that is safe and inaccessible to such predators.

Benefits of Having a Bunny Pet in College

  • They are quiet creatures. Unlike cats and dogs, rabbits are quiet animals, making them a convenient pet choice for students living in the college dorm, or sharing a room with others.
  • Rabbits are crepuscular animals meaning they are very active at dawn and dusk. Hence, they fit into the schedule of typical college students who awake at dawn and return to their accommodations at dusk.
  • Rabbits can be potty trained. You can teach your rabbit to use the litter box when it has to go. Doing this helps to prevent your room from odors.
  • They are great companions. As we already stated, rabbits are social animals and love to bond with their owners.
  • They help maintain a good diet. The need to keep veggies and fresh greens at hand for your rabbit can convince you to stock up on lots of greens for yourself too.
  • They take up less space. Although rabbits generally need a large cage to hop around and exercise daily, you can place your hopper friend in a relatively small cage if you do not have enough room. However, you need to ensure that the rabbit is allowed to have some exercise and playtime outside its cage daily.

Irrespective of how small it may be, a rabbit hutch needs to be large enough to contain a bed, a litter box, a feeding area, and a place for your bunny to play and stretch.

Conclusion

For college students, the ideal pet needs to be small-sized, not expensive to take care of, and not demand a lot of monitoring, a description which a rabbit fits perfectly. Pets like cats and dogs are generally costly to maintain and need monitoring which can take up a student’s study time. However, rabbits do not require as much attention. For instance, they do not need frequent walks or take up much room as these other pets. A rabbit’s dorm size, needs, and affordable maintenance make it a good pet choice for students in college.

Frequently Asked Question?
  1. How does owning a rabbit benefit a college student?

Asides from the attendant benefit of having a best buddy, having a pet rabbit helps a student spend more time in the real world and less time on phones, PC, games, and the internet.

  1. Are all rabbits the same?

No, Rabbits differ in breeds and personality. So, it is best to interact with one and see if it matches your personality before taking it home with you.