How Much is a Bunny

“How much is a Bunny?”

Read on for a detailed look at this interesting question, or watch this short video for a quick summary of the topic:

 

Hey there, BunnyGang!

Are you thinking of adding a new bunny into your life? Rabbits make wonderful pets, and they’re certain to add a substantial and sustaining joy and whimsy into your household.

Before making this decision, however, it’s important for you to be aware of all that welcoming a pet rabbit involves. Today, we’ll cover the various aspects of necessary care expenses for rabbit owners, both in upfront purchases, as well as ongoing maintenance, all in answering the question “How much do rabbits cost?”

If you’re considering adopting a new pet and you’re wondering “How much is a bunny”, or “how much does a rabbit cost” in the long term, the following subjects explain most of the one-time and recurring purchases you can expect to make.

How much do rabbits cost to buy or adopt?

The answer to “How much do bunnies cost” depends on a number of factors.
This can include the rabbit's breed, age, pedigree (if applicable), and of course, where you purchase it.

There are also necessary initial costs when purchasing or adopting a bunny, like food, an appropriate enclosure, grooming supplies, a pet carrier, and required vaccines.

Rabbits can come from animal rescues or other adoption sights, as well as from pet stores, breeders, and individuals on the internet. There are important ethical, financial, and health-related pros and cons to these options which we’ll discuss, along with the general price ranges you can expect:

Adoption or Rescue

Adopting a rabbit from a shelter or rescue organization is often more affordable than buying from a breeder or pet store. Adoption fees typically range from $25 to $100, depending on the shelter or rescue and the rabbit's age and health.

This is typically the best option in terms of ensuring the health of your new pet, as most accredited rescues and shelters will provide regular medical evaluations and care for their animals.

Adopting a rabbit from a rescue or shelter is also easing the strain of overpopulation in the animal system, contributed to by overbreeding, or abandoning unpurchased rabbits. This is why adoption is our favorite choice for acquiring new pets.

Breeders 

If you choose to buy a rabbit from a breeder, the cost can vary significantly based on the rarity of the breed. Common pet rabbit breeds may cost anywhere from $20 to $75, while specialty or show-quality breeds can range from $75 to several hundred dollars, or more. 

Pet Store

Rabbits purchased from pet stores are usually less expensive than those from breeders, but may not come with as much information about their lineage or health history. Prices at pet stores can range from $20 to $100 or more, depending on the store and the rabbit's breed.

Online Marketplaces

Be cautious when buying rabbits online, as you may encounter a wide range of prices and sellers. Prices can vary from as little as nothing at all, to hundreds of dollars, depending on the rabbit's breed and the reputation of the seller. Always research the seller thoroughly to ensure they are reputable and ethical.

In the cases of pet owners moving or needing to rehome their bunny for some other reason, this can be a good way to help provide a loving home to a rabbit in need, but you’ll want to take the rabbit to a vet for a check-up right away, so you’re aware of any potential underlying conditions.

In addition to the initial purchase price of your rabbit, other upfront expenses will include food, housing, veterinary care, grooming supplies, and toys. We’ve broken down each of these costs below to provide an accurate understanding of each of their price ranges and their significance.

Food
Once you’re sure that a rabbit is the right pet for you, we’d recommend getting about two weeks’ worth of pet food to have on hand.

This means fresh Timothy hay or Orchard hay, along with rabbit safe food pellets, and an assortment of leafy greens and other fresh vegetables that are good for a rabbit’s diet. You may want to get just one week’s worth of vegetables, to ensure that they stay fresh.

The annual cost of rabbit food can range from $300 to $500, or roughly $5 to $10 per week, depending on the type and quality of food you choose.

Housing
Rabbits need a safe and comfortable living space. This could be a hutch, a large cage, playpen, or if you have it available, a designated room in your home. Some rabbit owners like to let their rabbits roam free in their homes.

Free range or free roam rabbits require rabbit-proofing your home to ensure that there are no choking hazards or loose electrical cords for the rabbit to chew on or get tangled in. If feasible, this can be a wonderful way to live with your pet, but it’s not generally advisable for young rabbits, as it takes time to properly train them.

Whether you plan to let your rabbit free roam unsupervised or not, rabbit-proofing your home is an important step to take for the safety of your pet.

Providing suitable objects to chew on, like chew toys, as well as places to scratch and dig, like a scratching mat and a digging box, will help satisfy your pet’s natural urges, while encouraging them to do so in ways that won’t wreck your home.

The cost of housing can vary greatly, but initial setup costs might include around $50 to $200 or more. Ongoing maintenance, such as bedding and cleaning supplies, may cost $20 to $50 per month.

Veterinary Care

Regular check-ups and vaccinations are important for your rabbit's health. Budget for an annual vet visit, which can cost $50 to $100 or more.

Emergency veterinary care can be expensive, so it's a good idea to have an emergency fund set aside for unexpected medical expenses.

Spaying/Neutering
If your rabbit isn't already spayed or neutered when you get it, this procedure is important to prevent health issues and behavioral problems. The cost varies but can be around $100 to $250.

Health Insurance
While not as common for rabbits as some other pets, many people opt for pet insurance to help cover unexpected medical expenses. Prices for pet insurance vary widely depending on the coverage you choose, but plans between $20-100 per month are common.

Toys & Enrichment

Rabbits need mental stimulation and exercise. To satisfy these, you may want to invest in things like chew toys, puzzles, tunnels, stuffed animals, and other enrichment items. A reasonable budget for these could be about $50 to $100 per year.

Grooming
All rabbits require regular grooming. While short-haired breeds will typically need to be groomed about once or twice a week, they’ll need to be groomed once a day during heavy shedding phases. Long-haired rabbits need to be groomed once a day regardless.

Even for short-haired rabbits, daily grooming is a great way to get them accustomed to and comfortable with the process, and it can become a great way to bond with your pet.

Professional groomers can cost about $20-$50 per session, so while they’re good to use once every couple of months, or as needed for emergencies, you’ll probably want to do your daily or weekly grooming maintenance yourself at home.

To do this, you’ll need the right grooming supplies, like a good cuddle comb or slicker brush, and some other essentials to properly manage your pet’s grooming needs. This will be a one-time purchase of about $20.

Litter and Bedding
If you use litter or bedding in your hutch, cage, or enclosure, we’d suggest budgeting around $10 to $20 per month, as it will need to be changed out regularly, in order to maintain a clean and healthy environment for your pet.

Miscellaneous Costs
This category includes some variable expenses like rabbit-proofing your home, paying pet-sitters when you go out of town, and all of those unforeseeable expenses, such as replacing things that may get chewed on or soiled. It's a good idea to set aside some funds for unexpected costs. We’d suggest about $20 a month for this emergency/unforeseeable events fund.

Keep in mind that these are rough estimates, and costs can vary widely based on individual circumstances. It's important to research the specific needs of your rabbit's breed and consult with a veterinarian to create a more accurate budget for your pet rabbit's care. Remember that owning a pet is a long-term commitment, and you should be prepared for the ongoing expenses throughout your rabbit's life, which can be 8-12 years or longer with proper care.

Accounting for this wide range of variation, it would be reasonable to expect to pay about $250 in upfront costs, an additional $1500 the first year, and subsequent yearly expenses of around $1,000. This may seem daunting, but carefully budgeting for these items can make it a much more feasible goal, and it’s one that’s sure to add quality and joy to your life.

Best of luck with your new pets, BunnyGang!

~BunnyDad