No they don't! Rabbits themselves are very clean animals with odourless fur and they fastidiously groom themselves all day. Only their urine smells so as long as you keep their living area clean (spot clean every few days and a full clean-out once a week) you shouldn't have a problem.
It's not that rabbits themselves are all that smelly, but for house bunny owners, living spaces can end up a bit stinky. An RHH (Rabbit Hole Hay) fan recently brought it to our attention that there aren't always great resources out there on the topic of reducing unwanted odors from living with rabbits.
Rabbits have scent glands located next to their anus. These secrete a tar-like substance that has a skunk-like smell to it. If your rabbit can't clean themselves properly then these will get clogged, causing your rabbit to smell. In these cases you'll have to clean out the scent glands manually.
Rabbits make great pets. In general rabbits need appropriate housing, exercise, socialisation and a specific diet for good welfare. Some breeds of rabbits, particularly the longer haired rabbits, may require daily grooming.
PET RABBIT CONS
They don't get on well with other animals, so if you have a dog you might find a serious feud ensues. "Rabbits have a need to chew to keep their teeth healthy," says Laura. They'll chew on almost anything - watch those electrical cords! They can bite and become aggressive if when they feel cornered.
Keeping your rabbit inside
Rabbits can live quite happily indoors and they should be provided with secure accommodation where they can feel safe, sleep, use a particular area as a toilet, and be confined to when unsupervised.
As with most pests and nuisance wildlife that take up residence inside your home, urine and feces can create damage in addition to an unpleasant scent. Wild rabbits are chewers and can damage walls and electrical wiring, putting your home at an elevated risk of fire.
Believe it or not, rabbits can be trained to use a litter box, just like a cat!
Since the majority of a bunny's diet is hay, this means hay will be everywhere, (even if your bunny is confined to a section of your house). Hay is messy. Bunnies also shed an incredible amount of hair. They typically go into a heavy shed 3-4 times a year, but other bunnies seem to shed a great deal daily.
For the ideal rabbit environment, the hutch should be cleaned at least once a day, by removing any shavings or bedding that are wet and dirty, removing any uneaten fresh food and cleaning the food and water containers before refilling them.
Rabbit urine can be removed from most surfaces using pure white vinegar or a diluted white vinegar solution. Tough or dried stains may need some time to soak, or they will require the use of stronger chemical cleaners.
As their twitching noses indicate, rabbits sniff a lot. Try sprinkling dried sulfur around or on your plants. Rabbits also dislike the smell of onions, so try planting these around your garden to further deter the furry creatures. To discourage pesky rabbits, try dusting your plants with plain talcum powder.
Did you know you can house train rabbits? These clever house pets will happily use a litter tray, so long as it is well set up and they have been shown how to use it. You can start litter training your rabbits as early as you like but you can litter train a rabbit at any age.
Pet rabbits attract both mice and rats. Rodents have an impressive sense of smell, and will be able to seek out rabbit enclosures easily. Rodents will scavenge food either from the enclosure, if able to get inside, or from storage. Rats will also eat rabbit droppings.
They should be brought inside overnight. They can only stay outside at night too from mid-May when there is no longer any ground frost. If your rabbits have first been gradually accustomed to being kept outdoors, they can stay outdoors all year round from then. Even the ground frost won't bother them after that.
Rabbits are amazing pets that can be great companions if we let them. They can race around our homes and spend time with us as they show their unique personalities. Letting your rabbit roam free in your home is an excellent way to make them a part of your family and an integral part of your life.
Sleeping through the night
Most rabbits will go to sleep between 10-12 pm. They'll sleep until it's time to wake up in the morning and start a new day. Like afternoon nap time, many rabbits will periodically get up to stretch and eat in the middle of the night.
Bunnies are super-soft, and many will love cuddling with you as much as you love cuddling with them. Once a bunny is comfortable in their new home, they may claim you as their own by rubbing their chin on you to mark their territory. They might even groom you with little bunny licks to show you love!
Rabbits enjoy being around people and can usually recognise their owners by sight and sound.
Contrary to popular belief, they are not low-maintenance pets and need just as much care and attention — if not more — as cats and dogs do. Also, rabbits are not ideal pets for small children, as they are fragile and can bite. These bunnies cannot just be let loose outdoors as they will not survive.
Whilst you may like to give your bunny a nice big cuddle every time you see him, this really isn't advised at all. Rabbits are prey animals and can become easily spooked and scared. They don't really like to be picked up and handled too often, even by humans that they like!