New Rabbit Owner Checklist: First Week Guide
A warm first-week checklist for new rabbit owners: supplies, vet visit, rabbit-proofing, diet, litter training, and bonding with your new bunny.
Welcome to bunny parenthood. Bringing home a rabbit is one of the most rewarding things you can do, and the first week sets the tone for years of happy companionship ahead. Rabbits are gentle, intelligent lagomorphs (not rodents), and most live a wonderful 8 to 12 years with good care. The trick is to have everything ready before your new friend arrives so those early days feel calm rather than chaotic. This checklist walks you through the essentials, step by step, with a cozy, no-stress approach.
A quick reassurance up front: you do not need to buy everything fancy. Rabbits care far more about safe space, good hay, and a patient human than they do about expensive gear. Below are the foundational supplies we recommend based on House Rabbit Society best practices and exotic-vet guidance.
First-Week Starter Supplies
GUTINNEEN Rabbit Playpen (Bunny Run)
$49.99 on Amazon
Roomy, reconfigurable pen to give your new rabbit a safe home base
Oxbow Oxbow Western Timothy Hay
$11.89 on Amazon
Unlimited grass hay should make up about 80 percent of the diet
Oxbow Oxbow Essentials Adult Pellets
$12.40 on Amazon
Timothy-based pellets for a small, measured daily portion
RUBYHOME RUBYHOME Large Rabbit Litter Box
$26.99 on Amazon
Spacious corner box that makes litter training easy from day one
Your First-Week Checklist at a Glance
Print this or keep it on your phone. Tick off each item as you go, and remember that a calm, gradual start beats a perfect one.
| Day | Focus | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Before pickup | Setup | Assemble pen, fill hay feeder, set up litter box, place water and a hidey-house |
| Day 1 | Settle in | Let your rabbit explore quietly, sit nearby, no lifting or loud noises |
| Days 2 to 3 | Routine | Keep diet identical to before, offer hay by hand, learn the litter habits |
| Days 4 to 5 | Bonding | Hand-feed a tiny treat, gentle floor-level pets, short positive sessions |
| Within week 1 | Health | Book and attend a rabbit-savvy vet wellness exam |
| Week 1 to 2 | Greens | Introduce one leafy green at a time, watch droppings closely |
Step 1: Set Up a Safe Home Base
Before your rabbit arrives, create a defined space where they can feel secure. A large exercise pen works beautifully because it gives room to hop, stretch, and binky while keeping your bunny safe while you are away or asleep. Line the area with a washable mat or fleece if your floors are slippery, since rabbits need traction to move confidently. Add a cardboard or wooden hidey-house in one corner. Hiding is normal rabbit behavior, not unhappiness, and having a retreat actually helps your new friend grow braver faster.
Step 2: Get the Diet Right From Day One
Hay is the cornerstone of rabbit health. Unlimited grass hay, such as timothy, keeps the digestive system moving and wears down continuously growing teeth, which helps prevent malocclusion and molar spurs. Offer a generous fresh pile every day and refresh it often, since rabbits are picky about clean, fragrant hay. Pellets are a supplement, not the main course: a measured portion of timothy-based pellets is plenty for an adult. Keep whatever food the rabbit ate previously and change brands only gradually to avoid triggering GI stasis, a serious slowdown of the gut.
Step 3: Litter Train From the Start
One of the loveliest surprises for new owners is how naturally tidy rabbits are. Place a roomy litter box in the corner your bunny chooses for their bathroom, line it with paper-based litter, and lay a handful of hay on top. Many rabbits like to munch and potty at the same time, so this encourages good habits. Avoid clay clumping litters and pine or cedar shavings, which are unsafe for rabbits. Litter training clicks much faster after spaying or neutering, so do not worry if it takes a little practice early on.
Rabbit Care Planner
Track your rabbit's health, meds, vet visits, mobility, nutrition, and quality of life, all in one printable planner.
Step 4: Rabbit-Proof Before Free-Roam Time
Rabbits explore the world with their teeth, so anything chewable is fair game. Before letting your bunny roam, cover or block electrical cords, since a chewed live wire is dangerous. Protect baseboards and furniture legs, move houseplants out of reach (many are toxic), and block gaps behind appliances where a curious rabbit could get stuck. Offer plenty of legal chew toys so your bunny has a satisfying outlet. Start with short, supervised roaming sessions in one rabbit-proofed room, then expand the territory as you learn your rabbit's habits.
Step 5: Book Your Vet Visit
Find a rabbit-savvy or exotic vet before you need one and schedule a wellness exam in week one. Rabbits are masters at masking illness, so a baseline check helps your vet spot dental issues, parasites, or early signs of trouble. This is also the time to discuss spaying or neutering, which improves litter habits, calms hormonal behaviors, and protects long-term health. Keep an emergency contact handy, because a rabbit who stops eating or pooping needs care quickly.
Step 6: Build Trust and Bond With You
Bonding with your rabbit is a slow, sweet process built on patience. Sit on the floor at their level, let your bunny approach and sniff you, and reward calm curiosity with a tiny healthy treat. Avoid chasing or scooping up your rabbit in these early days, since being lifted feels scary to a prey animal. Over days and weeks you will earn nose nudges, gentle grooming, and maybe a joyful binky. That trust, more than any product, is what turns a nervous newcomer into a devoted companion.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What supplies do I absolutely need before bringing a rabbit home?
At minimum, set up a roomy pen or free-roam space, unlimited grass hay, a small bag of timothy-based pellets, fresh water in a bowl or bottle, a litter box with paper litter, a hidey-house, and a couple of safe chew toys. Hay is the big one, since it makes up about 80 percent of the diet. Have it all ready before pickup so your new rabbit can settle in calmly.
How soon should my new rabbit see a vet?
Book a wellness exam with a rabbit-savvy or exotic vet within the first week. Rabbits hide illness well, so a baseline visit helps catch dental problems, parasites, or early GI stasis before they become emergencies. Your vet can also discuss spaying or neutering, which calms hormonal behavior and prevents uterine cancer in females. Keep the clinic's emergency number somewhere easy to find.
Can I litter train a rabbit?
Yes, rabbits are naturally tidy and most take to a litter box quickly, especially after spay or neuter. Place a box in the corner they already favor, add a handful of hay over paper-based litter, and put their droppings inside to mark it as the bathroom. Never use clay clumping or pine and cedar shavings. Expect a few stray pellets at first while your bunny learns the routine.
How long does it take a new rabbit to settle in?
Give it time and patience. Many rabbits hide, thump, or refuse treats for the first few days while they decide your home is safe. Sit quietly nearby, offer hay by hand, and let your bunny approach you rather than reaching in to grab. Most rabbits relax within one to two weeks, and you may spot a binky or a happy flop once they feel at home.
Do rabbits need a friend, or can they live alone?
Rabbits are social and often happiest in a bonded pair, but bonding takes careful, gradual introductions and both rabbits should be spayed or neutered first. A single rabbit can thrive too, as long as you provide daily interaction and enrichment. If you are brand new, starting with one rabbit is perfectly fine. You can explore bonding a companion later once you feel confident.
What should I feed my rabbit in the first week?
Keep the diet steady to protect that sensitive gut. Offer unlimited grass hay, a measured portion of the same pellets the rabbit ate before, and plenty of fresh water. Wait a week or two before introducing leafy greens, then add them one at a time in small amounts. Sudden diet changes are a common trigger for GI stasis, so go slow and watch the droppings.
Is it safe to pick up my new rabbit right away?
Hold off on lifting in the first days. Most rabbits dislike being picked up because, as prey animals, being off the ground feels frightening. Build trust at floor level first with treats and gentle pets. When you do lift, support the chest and hindquarters fully and keep sessions short. Forcing handling early can damage trust and lead to scratching, biting, or a stressed bunny.
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Wellness Planner: $39