house rabbit questions!

pd10 · 28-04-2008, 10:33 AM

Hi,
I really want to get a house rabbit but I am not sure if HK has the right conditions for this type of pet?
DOes anyone out there who have one?
My specific concerns are;
- Is it going to be too hot in the summer? I was planning to keep the hutch on our shaded balcony but allow the rabbit the run of the flat as well
- Are there specific breeds which are more suited to the SE Asia climate?
- Is it unfair to keep a rabbit that hasnt got access to any grass?
- Are there any holiday homes in HK where rabbit could board when we are away from HK?

I found the HK rabbit rescue website but seems to be in Chinese, anyone know of other local info websites in English?

Thanks so much for any advice !

hello_there · 28-04-2008, 11:15 AM

Originally Posted by pd10:

Hi,
I really want to get a house rabbit but I am not sure if HK has the right conditions for this type of pet?
DOes anyone out there who have one?
My specific concerns are;
- Is it going to be too hot in the summer? I was planning to keep the hutch on our shaded balcony but allow the rabbit the run of the flat as well
- Are there specific breeds which are more suited to the SE Asia climate?
- Is it unfair to keep a rabbit that hasnt got access to any grass?
- Are there any holiday homes in HK where rabbit could board when we are away from HK?

I found the HK rabbit rescue website but seems to be in Chinese, anyone know of other local info websites in English?

Thanks so much for any advice !

It definitely can get too hot to keep a rabbit on a balcony, even shaded, during the summer in HK. If you absolutely must keep it out there during the day, there are things you can do to help keep it cool, like putting frozen jugs of water around one side of the cage and putting a fan on a low setting on the cage. There are lots of shorter haired rabbit breeds, just avoid angoras and the like and you should be okay. There are lots of pet rabbit websites that have breed specific info. Just use google to search for them. For fresh grass, you can grow pet grass (seeds available from several shops in the flower market and some pet stores) in a pot and give it to your rabbit. You will also need to provide plenty of alfalfa hay (can be found in pet stores) in addition to rabbit pellet food and fresh veggies. No grass to run around on is fine, but the rabbit will need to be allowed to exercise in the house to stay healthy. The SPCA on HK island has short haired rabbits almost all the time, and I'm sure they would be happy to chat with you about the requirements for keeping a rabbit happy and healthy in HK. Check their website for contact info. I think the SPCA also boards rabbits, but need to book in advance. Oh, and you can housebreak many rabbits to use a litter box like a cat. The one I had as a kid did this.