Caring for your rabbit
Rabbit care essentials
A brief primer for adopters and fosters. We keep this deliberately short — and link you to the specialists for anything deeper.
Hay-first diet
Unlimited grass hay should make up the majority of a rabbit's diet, with leafy greens daily and pellets only in modest amounts.
Predator-proof housing
Hutches need secure, buried or reinforced edges; stoats, rats, and dogs are a real risk to rabbits housed outdoors in Aotearoa.
Desexing & vaccination
Desexing prevents unwanted litters and reduces reproductive illness. Vaccination protects against the calicivirus strains (RHDV1, RHDV1 K5, RHDV2) circulating in NZ's wild rabbit population.
Companionship
Rabbits are happiest bonded with another rabbit. A solitary rabbit needs significant daily interaction to stay well.
This page deliberately keeps care advice brief and links out to specialist sources rather than reproducing detailed veterinary guidance.