I remember growing up as a child I always wanted a pet rabbit. Let’s face it, who wouldn’t. Rabbits were soft, easy to care for, and each one kind of reminded you of Bugs Bunny from the cartoon which of course, was a big plus.

Rabbits are the perfect pets for families for a variety of reasons. Rabbits are inexpensive and do not require a lot of maintenance. For a busy family that may not have time to walk a dog daily, a rabbit is exactly what you are looking for. Rabbits are as playful and silly as any puppy, as independent and curious as cats, and as loyal and affectionate as dogs. The longer you own a pet rabbit, the more domesticated and intelligent it becomes. More often than not people view rabbits as mindless, furry creatures, but there’s so much more to a rabbit than cute ears and a soft nose. Their intelligence is adaptive and more elegant than most pets. Rabbits are quick learners when it comes to responding to simple words and commands, as well as navigating obstacles around the house. It’s very unlikely you find a chewed up shoe or something destroyed when you come home to a pet rabbit in the house.

Rabbits offer your household many of the same benefits any dog or cat would. Beyond the companionship and fun that a pet rabbit can provide there are several health and psychological benefits. Pet rabbits can provided a lot of comfort and are established forms of positivity during times of stress for both children and adults. For children, a pet rabbit is a great way to spark new friendships with other kids and can teach responsibility. When children are responsible for caring for pet rabbits it teaches them to look outside of themselves and to show empathy for other people as well as other animals. As a result, owning an easy to care for pet like a rabbit can provide families with a real sense of purpose.

When choosing a rabbit for your family, make sure choose one that is right for you. There over four dozen recognized breeds of domestics rabbits. These bunnies all vary in size, color, fur type, body and ear type. Some are tiny and some can weigh over 20 pounds. Most families opt to picking the cutest one they find but appearances are not everything. Some families enjoy the mixed breeds more due to their uniqueness in size and ear type such as those breeds who are have unicorn lops where one ear is down and the other is up or helicop lops where both ears are straight out to the side. Some families appreciate something different from the norm to show their children that it’s ok to be different, but every animal is special.

All in all, the best way to select a pet rabbit for the family is to set aside preconceptions regarding breed, sex and age, and to meet the rabbit and interact with it for long enough to get a feel for its individual personality. Like most dogs and cats, you can also adopt a pet rabbit. Visit your local shelter and you can find a variety of pure and mix breed rabbits looking for homes. Rabbits are great for families because the provide companionship, play well with other pets, and are easy to care for.  So if you’re looking for a fascinating, warm and wonderful pet for you home, try a rabbit.