Rabbit necessities: The ultimate bunny essentials list

Updated 15/11/2024

Welcoming a rabbit into your life for the first time, and wondering - what do rabbits need? What are a rabbit's necessities? Not to worry, fellow pet parent - here we’re taking you through the ultimate rabbit essentials list, so that your new bunny has everything they need for a happy, healthy life in their new home.

Rabbit essentials list

Explore our list of bunny rabbit supplies so that you’ll no longer have to scratch your head and ask - what do I need for my rabbit - any longer. From nutrition to grooming, housing and cleaning, find all your rabbit necessities below.

• Food and water supplies
• Bunny housing supplies
• A rabbit sitter
• Rabbit grooming equipment
• Toys and activities
• Cleaning supplies

Food and water supplies

If you’re wondering - how do you care for a pet rabbit - the first thing you’ll need to get clued-up on is what to feed your rabbits. Rabbits are herbivores, meaning they need nutrition from plants to survive. They also need plenty of opportunity to chew and gnaw, to keep their teeth from becoming sharp and uncomfortable. Take a look below at the rabbit essentials you’ll need to get stocked-up on to feed your bunny a well-rounded diet.

• Hanging water bottle (water bowls are easily tipped over)
• Lead-free food dishes (pellet bowls)
• Rabbit pellets (to be changed daily)
• Daily fresh water
• Timothy hay (a type of grass hay) available all day, everyday and unlimited
• Leafy greens and herbs (like bok choy, romaine lettuce and parsley)
• Treats (like carrots, grapes and apples twice weekly)
• Other vegetables (like bell peppers, zucchini and sprouts)

Bunny housing supplies

If you’re wondering - what do I need for a bunny’s home - well there are a few ways you can go with your rabbit’s enclosure. Opt for a rabbit hutch (a wooden structure often used outdoors), a wire-sided cage (for indoor rabbits), or a cordoned-off area of your home that’s fully rabbit-safe. Remember – rabbits need plenty of space, so make sure whatever housing you opt for is large enough for comfort, for separation of feeding, sleeping and toileting areas, and for your bunny to be able to move around happily. Take a look below for a list of rabbit essentials you’ll need to stock up on to kit out your bunny’s new home.

• Rabbit enclosure: this could be a pen, run or cage
• Cleanable floor covering
• Hay for comfort, or a basket filled with hay
• Washable rug for comfort
• Pillows to pad out any hard surfaces
• Litter boxes (make sure they’re box-trained before welcoming a sitter)
• A variety of rabbit toys
• Animal carrier for veterinary appointments

A rabbit sitter

Yup, a rabbit sitter should be on your list of bunny essentials. As a new pet parent, you might not have considered what you’ll do for pet care when the time comes to go on vacation, but a rabbit sitter should certainly be on your list of rabbit essentials. 

While some pet sitting services require you to pay per visit, platforms like TrustedHousesitters allow you to welcome as many sitters as you need, simply with an annual membership. 

To find out more about how welcoming a loving, verified rabbit sitter works, click below, and that'll be another thing ticked off your list of rabbit necessities. 

Grooming supplies

Before thinking about grooming your new rabbit, there are a few bunny essentials you’ll need to buy so that you're grooming your bunny correctly.

• Medium-soft grooming bristle brush (for short-haired rabbits)
• Slicker brush (for long-haired breeds)
• Wide tooth comb (for matted fur)
• Fine tooth comb (for un-matted fur)
• Flea comb
• Cotton wool & warm water (for easing out dirt)
• Towels
• Nail clippers (you’ll need to keep your rabbit’s nails trimmed, but head to a groomer or your vet if you’re worried about accidentally hurting your bunny)

Rabbit grooming tips

Once you’re all set with the bunny equipment for grooming, find out the best way to groom your rabbit with our tips below. 

• Always go gently - rabbits have incredibly thin, delicate skin.
• Start with short sessions and build up gradually with plenty of praise and treats so that grooming becomes a positive experience for both you and your pet.
• Use warm water to tease out any dirt and matting.
• Never cut out matted fur, as this could result in injury.
• When trimming your rabbit’s nails, don’t go too close to the quick (the vein that runs through your rabbit’s nail), as this could cause bleeding.
• Long-haired breeds should be groomed daily as they’re more prone to matting than shorter-haired breeds, according to advice from Medivet.
• Consult your vet on clipping your rabbit’s nails to prevent injury.
• Never lay your rabbit on their back to groom them (or at any other time) as this can be incredibly stressful for rabbits.
• Check between their toes for debris, as this can get uncomfortable for rabbits.
• Instead of bathing your rabbit (which can cause fur clumping and a lot of stress), use a damp cotton wool pad to gently remove dirt and debris.
• Check around your rabbit’s back end regularly - poop can get stuck to the surrounding fur, leading to discomfort, sore skin, and even flystrike.

Cleaning supplies

When welcoming a new pet into your home, it’s important that any cleaning products you use are safe for rabbits. Take a look below at our bunny supplies list that’ll help you keep your rabbit’s area clean and tidy.

• Dustpan and brush
• White vinegar (mix with equal parts water for urine accidents)
• Non-toxic, rabbit-friendly disinfectant (for cleaning down the rabbit housing)
• Hand vacuum (useful for a quick clean of the cage flooring)

Toys and activities

If you’re wondering - what do you need for a pet rabbit to keep them happy and mentally stimulated, a trip around your local pet store will reveal just how much rabbits love to play. So, on your list of rabbit necessities should be a few toys or homemade activities!

Explore a few homemade rabbit toys and activity ideas below to keep your bunny happy.

• Digging boxes. Use a cardboard box or plant pot and fill it with soil, shredded paper or pieces of cardboard for your rabbit to have fun and make use of their natural instinct to dig.
• Shredded paper. Wild rabbits naturally love to forage, so providing something for them to rummage around to find treats will provide lots of mental stimulation. The RSPCA (The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) agree that rabbits are sociable, intelligent animals that need this stimulation to prevent boredom, and improve their overall wellbeing.
• Cardboard toilet roll holders. Feed your rabbits a few treats by hiding their favorite food in a small tunnel, like a toilet roll holder.
• Tunnels. Make a tunnel out of cardboard or other rabbit-safe household materials - they’ll enjoy scurrying through, especially if you sprinkle a small amount of their favorite treat at either end.
• Rabbit mirror. Did you know that providing a mirror in your rabbit’s housing area can help to alleviate loneliness? Rabbits are sociable creatures that ideally require company, but mirrors can be a fun extra. Just be sure to keep it clean using a rabbit-friendly disinfectant.

Rabbit-proofing your home

Your home is likely filled with things that are unsafe for rabbits - exposed cables, plug sockets and plants toxic to rabbits. So, to meet all your rabbit’s needs and keep them safe from predators, explore our tips on rabbit-proofing your home for both indoor and outdoor rabbits.

For outdoor bunnies:

• Ensure the garden is fully fenced in to stop your bunny from escaping
• You might opt for a large outdoor rabbit run, to give your bunny the freedom to roam outdoors, while being protected from predators and escaping (rabbits are a prey species, so you’ll need to shield them from foxes, dogs, cats and birds of prey)
• Keep any plants toxic to rabbits out of reach

For indoor bunnies:

• Remove anything your pet rabbit could chew through if you let your rabbits indoors and roam around the house
• Use non-toxic cleaning products (because bunnies love to lick everything)
• Cover electrical cords or tape them out of reach
• Cover any furniture legs with cardboard or protective piping
• Move any plants toxic to rabbits out of reach
• Cover electrical sockets
• Lay down rugs to make the flooring slip-free
• Use blanket throws to protect your furniture from your rabbit’s nails and teeth
• Use toddler or puppy gates to cordon off certain areas of your home

So, with all the things for a bunny neatly in the list above, what are you waiting for? Fill up that online basket or head to your local pet store to get your home prepped and ready ahead of welcoming your new bundle of fluff home. And naturally, get ahead of the game and explore rabbit sitters, so that pet care is one thing ticked off your list next vacation.

Meet our veterinary expert, Lizzie

This article has been checked by veterinarian Lizzie Youens BSc (Hons) BVSc MRCVS. Lizzie graduated from the University of Bristol in 2011, and has been working in first opinion companion animal practice. She has worked in a variety of clinics across the UK, from large hospitals to small branch practices. She enjoys doing a mixture of medicine, surgery and emergency work. Lizzie currently works in a small rural practice where she enjoys working in a close-knit community.

Useful resources

• Tips for finding a bunny sitter
• How much does bunny sitting cost
• How to prepare for the arrival of your sitter