Costs of rabbit ownership
This article is incomplete because it lacks depth or is unfinished. Help by expanding it.
Initial Costs
Initial costs of owning a rabbit should include the following:
- Adoption or purchasing costs
- Housing costs
- Food costs (hay, pellets, and vegetables)
- Accessories (i.e. food bowls, water bowl/bottle, hidey-holes, toys, etc.)
- Spaying and neutering (if the bun is not already spayed or neutered)
According to SaveABunny.org initial set-up costs typically range from $75-125; they also provide a shopping list for getting started. See Getting Started for a full listing of the things you will need to set up for your new companion.
Adoption or Purchasing Costs
If you purchased your new rabbit, costs can range from $5 to $20+ depending on the store and breeder. The cost of adopting your new companion will vary from rescue group to rescue group. Typically, a rabbit from a shelter or humane society will be around $25. Adopting from a private rescue center can typically cost $50+. Adopting provides benefits ranging from an included spay or neuter, free microchipping, and a free veterinarian checkup within a certain amount of days within adoption. Some places may even give you some starter supplies, so all in all, adopting is quite a bargain. Additionally, you will be saving a life!
If you would like to adopt a rabbit, check out Adoption Listings.
Housing Costs
The cost of housing will vary depending on whether you decide to use a store bought cage, build a NIC cube cage, use an exercise pen, or have a free range pet. Free range is the least expensive option with most store bought cages and hutches being the most expensive option. Expect to spend at least $40 on housing regardless of the option you choose. You may find cheaper deals if you try to obtain used housing on Craigslist and similar locations.
Food Costs
See the food section below for more details.
Accessories
See our Enclosure Setup section of Housing for more details. Expect to spend at least $10.
Spaying and Neutering
If you obtained your rabbit unaltered, expect to spend anywhere from $50-$200+ to get your rabbit fixed. See Low Cost Spay/Neuter Clinics to find some of your cheaper options to fix your rabbit.
Ongoing Costs
SaveABunny.org estimates that ongoing costs to be $20+ a month.
Food
Your ongoing food costs will include hay, pellets, and vegetables. How often you buy hay and pellets will depend on the quantify you buy. This will also impact how much you spend on hay. Buying from a pet store is more expensive and will need to be done more often due to the small quantities of hay that can be purchased. It is cheapest to buy hay from a feed store, but this also requires that you have the space to store up to 50-plus pounds of hay at a given time. Depending on the region, a bale of timothy hay can cost $7-30. A small bag of hay from a pet store will be around $8 for 64oz. If you buy in bulk online from select merchants, you can get a better deal on commercial brands of hay.
Pellets, although not an essential part of a rabbits diet, are also commonly feed as a supplement. Again, cost will vary based on the quantity and frequency that buy pellets as well as the brand. Oxbow is the most expensive brand but is well known for its quality. A 5lb bag that will last a single rabbit around 3-4 months will typically cost around $10.
Vegetables should be bought weekly, and cost will vary based on seasonal sales and the types of vegetables you buy. An Asian market, if available nearby, will typically have the cheapest vegetables. You can find vegetables from 33 cents/pound, and one shopping trip will last a single bun around two weeks. Remember to leave room in the refrigerator for them!
Toys
Although many pet stores (both retail and online) carry toys marketed for bunnies, toys can be made cheaply and often at no cost from items around your house. Bunny toys may include any of the following items:
- Toilet paper rolls
- Paper towel rolls
- Cardboard boxes
Find more options at our main Toys article.
Veterinarian Visits
Many times, your typical veterinarian costs will be for a yearly check up. The cost of this depends on the vet clinic you choose to go. A typical regular vet checkup should be around $40-60 with extra costs if your rabbit needs medication or other services.
In some cases, your rabbit may become sick and unexpectedly need to see an emergency veterinarian. This will be more expensive than a regular vet. Costs for the exam alone will usually start from $80. Any services and medication given will increase the visit cost. Typically, expect to spend anywhere from $100-150 for an emergency vet visit.
Further Reading
- SaveABunny.org, Shopping List for Your New Companion
- Save a Fluff, How much does it cost to keep a pet rabbit?