What Pet Sitting Visits Do I Need for My Rabbit?

 

Are you going out of town but are worried about your rabbit? House rabbits are becoming more popular as people realize just how smart they are and how rabbits can make amazing house pets. We are seeing more clients that have a rabbit as their only pet, and we want to make sure they receive the best care when you go out of town. Rabbits need to be watched by someone knowledgeable about their behavior, how to hold and handle them, and what health signs to watch out for if they become ill.

Rabbit Option #1

This is an ideal schedule for rabbits that are used to lots of attention.

1 Hour Breakfast Visit

Your sitter will arrive in the morning and let your rabbit out to play in whatever area is normal. Your sitter will play with your bunny (if she wants) and let her get some exercise. Your sitter will clean her cage, give her fresh food and water and can chop veggies or do any food prep you normally do. There is also time for a good cage and litter box cleaning. An hour visit really lets your rabbit stretch her legs and get some good activity and attention. Your sitter ends the visit by securing your rabbit back in her space, giving her any treats she can have and sending you an update so you know she is safe and sound!

30 Minute Dinner Visit

Your sitter will come for a dinner visit for some playtime and exercise, as well as a dinner feeding. At the end of the visit your sitter will settle your bunny in for the night and make sure she is happy and content.

 

Rabbit Option #2

This is an ideal schedule for rabbits that need feeding twice a day.

30 Minute Breakfast Visit

Your sitter will arrive and check on your bunny. She can come out to play, explore and get some cuddles. Her sitter will clean up her cage and litter box, give her fresh food and water and make sure her behavior is normal. After some exercise, your bunny can go back in her cage for breakfast and treats (if you say so). Your sitter will send you and update to let you know she is doing great!

30 Minute Dinner Visit

Your sitter will come for a dinner visit for some playtime and exercise, as well as a dinner feeding. At the end of the visit your sitter will settle your bunny in for the night and make sure she is happy and content.

These visits could be 15 minutes if your bunny will not be coming out to play, however, if your bunny is used to getting exercise, we prefer to stick to her normal routine as much as safely possible. We also want to ensure there is plenty of time for food prep and cleaning, depending on how your system for bunny care is set up.

 

Rabbit Option #3

This is an ideal schedule for rabbits that need feeding once a day.

30 Minute Breakfast Visit

Your sitter will arrive and check on your bunny. She can come out to play, explore and get some cuddles. Her sitter will clean up her cage and litter box, give her fresh food and water and make sure her behavior is normal. After some exercise, your bunny can go back in her cage for breakfast and treats (if you say so). Your sitter will set her up for the day and send you and update to let you know she is doing great! 

Our Considerations for Rabbits

For rabbits, there are some very specific steps we take to keep them as safe and relaxed as possible.

  • Rabbits can take some time to warm up to new people and we want to do that as safely as possible, for your bunny and your sitter. If your bunny has playtime outside of her normal housing, at first we may want to keep your rabbit in a smaller play area until we can be sure she will go back into her enclosure or allow the sitter to pick her up when play time is done. We do not want to scare your bunny or risk injury by needing to chase her! Once she is used to her sitter then we can expand the play area to her normal space if it is larger, or a run of the house if that is normal.
  • If your bunny is going to be coming out for playtime, that visit will need to be at least 30 minutes long to provide enough time for everything to be completed.
  • For rabbits that will not be coming out for playtime, we can usually manage 15 minute visits unless there is a lot of food prep or extra tasks. If there is then we will often need a 30 minute visit to get everything taken care of.
  • If your rabbit is more active at a particular time of day, then we will want to schedule your longer visits during that time so she can have some fun! Some bunnies love morning playtime, some love the warm afternoons and some like to zip around before dinner!
  • Your sitter will want to know the routine of your bunny and any normal behavior changes. It is not unusual for bunnies to be sleepy at one time of the day and very active at another time, and all bunnies are different. If we know these behaviors then we can keep an eye out for any lethargy that is out of place.
  • Rabbits are prone to gastrointestinal issues that can be harmful very quickly. Rabbit owners often have medical supplies on hand and special veterinarians to reach in an emergency. Your sitter will need all of that information on hand in case any concerns arise.
  • If you are leaving for a long trip, we are willing and able to purchase fresh veggies at your request. We will schedule a separate visit time and arrange a method of payment to cover the food purchases.
  • Rabbits need a lot of mental stimulation and we want to help with that. If there are toys she likes or games she likes to play, please show your sitter so we can have fun and make the most of our visits!

Time to Customize!

We want to work with you to set up the best possible schedule for your hens, so you are all happy during your trip. We also know that each home is different, and a lot of people have more than just one pet! After you have the basic idea of your schedule we sit down to figure out the nitty-gritty:

  • Are there any other pets in the home that need feeding, medication, etc? We make sure your visit has enough time to get everything done.
  • We have time to clean out food and water bowls, clean up any messes, etc.
  • Many people who love animals, also love plants! Short visits do not have a lot of time for plants. If you need the sitter to water more than 1-2 plants, we will need to schedule a longer visit for those days. If you have beautiful summer gardens, then we need to see how long they take to water and add that on to your normal visits.
  • Household tasks such as; bringing in the newspaper, collecting the mail, turning lights off and on and taking out the trash. This can all be done on your normal schedule.
  • Do you want updates every visit? Many clients do, just keep in mind that your sitter will take a couple minutes to send an update.
  • Keep in mind that it will take a sitter a bit longer to get the work done than it takes you. Especially if you have extensive routines for your pets and home. You have had years to perfect your system! We always try to make sure your pet sitter will have enough time for everything. That way they will not feel stressed and your pets will receive the focus they deserve.

Work With Us to Keep Your Rabbit Happy While You are Gone!

 

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