Bunny Money!

 

You know, to be honest, although I'm an Education Bunny, there's one subject I really know nothing about. And that subject is Money! 

My secretary and chauffeur take care of all that, and they often get asked how much a bunny actually costs. People considering getting one of us for a pet want to know how much they can expect to spend on a rabbit's care. This is so fiscally responsible - good job, potential rabbit people!!

So I've decided to do some research this week and write a blog post on how much a bunny will cost. I've asked all my human friends how much they spend on their bunnies, and I've been looking up the cost of commonly needed bunny items. It was a lot of work, but now I'm ready to present to you - your Bunny Budget!!

Please note, some of these costs will vary - your veterinary costs, food costs if your bunny is big (or just a big eater!). And there are incidental costs that I didn't figure in. For example, we have to change our air filters more often during shedding seasons, and I need special fleece blankets because I have trouble with sores on my feet (it's a Rex thing!). But this will give you a good idea of the basics.

First we'll start with the One Time Expenses - the things you need when you first get your bunny:

For Housing:  

                1. Pen: $55. (We like this one here.)

                2. Extension for pen: $22 (These are wonderful!)

                3. Carrier: $20 - $45 (This is my favorite!)

                4. Litter Box: $10 - $30 (How about this one? Roomy!)

                5. Water/Food Dishes/Wobbly Ball: $25 (A wobbly ball is a toy that makes eating pellets fun! You can find one here and here! The first one is my favorite!)

So far those costs add up to around $110 to $177. You may decide not to get a pen extender, or you may get a cheaper carrier or litter box. 

Now let's talk about one time Veterinary Expenses:

                    1. First Time Check Up: $60

                 2. Bloodwork: $75 (yes, you need to get baseline bloodwork unless you are adopting from a rescue that has already done this!)

                3. Microchip: $45

                4. Spay/Neuter: $200 - $250 (Please do not skimp on your bunny's spay/neuter with a non-rabbit vet! Please go to a rabbit-savvy vet!!)

So these costs are about $380 to $430. So with the housing costs that's about $490 to $607 total.

Next there are the Annual Expenses, but these are pretty easy:

                1. Annual Vet Check Up: $60

                 2. Annual Blood Work (if needed): $75

                3. Bunny Sitter (for when you go on vacation, unless a friend wants to love on your bunny for free!)

Please note that younger bunnies might not need blood work, but older bunnies might need more frequent check ups. Also please note that bunnies don't need rabies vaccines, but if you live in an area which has RHDV2, your bunny will definitely need to be vaccinated for that. Vaccine costs vary widely, so please check with your own rabbit savvy vet!

And finally - the real nitty gritty! What are the monthly costs of a bunny?

Most of our bunny friends agreed that they spend around $75 to $100 a month on their bunnies. We broke it down as best we could, but please bear in mind that some of these food costs depend on how big your bunny is and how much she eats. I'm not going to name any names, but we have two French Lops in sanctuary here who eat literally twice as much each as I do. Just sayin'.

So here are the Monthly Expenses:

            1. Fresh Veggies: $25 - $35

            2. Hay: $15 - $30

            3. Pellets: $8 - $12

            4. Litter: $5 - $12

            5. Vet Fund: $20 - $50

            6. Toys and Treats: Varies. 

Some of these monthly costs can vary, of course, and when I talk about food and litter in future blog posts I can give you some ideas on how to save money. Please don't get cheap food though - honestly, you'll make up for it in future vet costs as a consequence of bad nutrition!

And one expense on this list might make you wonder - why a vet fund? Honestly, this is your most important monthly expense!

It's safe to say that all bunnies will, at some point, have an unexpected vet expense. GI stasis happens! And so do injuries and illnesses....I could go on and on! Sure you can pay for it with a credit card if you have one, but why not just start saving for the inevitable right now? You'll have some peace of mind - trust me! 

Even saving $20 a month will come to $240 in a year. If you can put aside $50 a month - even better! That will be $600 a year, which will be a great start to a vet fund! If your bunny hasn't had vet issues you can always use some of it for her annual check up. I really recommend this!

I think that's it. Did I forget anything? You can let me know in the comments!

Byeeeeeee!

Love, Mrs. Kitty Brighton, Education Bunny

The Future Looks Bright!

Why hello every one! I bet you didn't know that I'm able to see the future. I'm a bun of many talents! Let me look into my crystal ball for you. It will be fun!

Hmmm, there seems to be a rabbit in your life...maybe two! I can't tell from what I'm seeing if you have a new bunny, or if you've had your bunny for years, but either way I'm sure my forecast will be appropriate. Are you ready?

Gazing into my crystal....what's this I see? You're looking in your wallet....and it's empty! My, my, bunnies can be expensive, can't they? But wait....now you've got some paper and....hmmmm....I think you're making a budget. You're planning for your bunny's expenses! That's just awesome! To help you out, I'll be doing a blog post next week about the actual costs of having a bunny. I predict I'll be mentioning a few things you may not have thought of!

Now, what's this? I see something wonderful! It's you, sitting quietly on the floor with your bunny! When she approaches you, you give her a sprig of parsley or a small treat. You're making friends! 

What's that you say? You're having trouble making friends with your bunny, and you think maybe she doesn't like you? Well, I predict that will change soon, because I'm planning to write some blog posts this month about this very subject! I'll give you tips on how to build trust between yourself and your bunny. 

I'm also going to introduce you to someone very special...oh, I see her in the crystal now! It's Tula, my lion head friend from Small Animal Resources and Empowered Animals! I'll be interviewing Tula in a few weeks about her special relationship with her people, and how you can have a special relationship with your bunny, too.

Now let me take some deep breaths and focus. There's something next to Tula...what is this? It's purple...it has a little button....oh, it's a clicker!!! Tula is going to help us understand how clicker training can be great for you and your bunny. 

That's right - clicker training isn't just for dogs, it can be a fun and useful activity for rabbits and their people, too! I see your bunny happily jumping into her carrier for a trip to her vet, coming to a target stick, going into her pen when asked...all kinds of things can be clicker trained. I predict when you read about it you'll be very excited to get started!

Our session has almost ended, but there's just one more thing...hmmm....it's very hazy. I see a New Zealand bunny...he's very serious...and he's telling you about why vet visits are important for bunnies. Oh, it's my friend, Señor Spaghetti! He's going to write some guest posts for me next month on why bunnies need vet check ups, and how to find a good rabbit-savvy vet. I can see in your future that when you read what he has to say you'll be making a vet appointment for your bunny, too!

The images are fading, and I think our session is over! I hope you enjoyed this look into the next couple of months. My fortune: lots of wonderful things for you and your bunny!

See you soon!

Love, Mrs. Kitty Brighton, Education Bunny and Fortune Teller

PS: Do you like my rabbit tarot cards?! I love them! They are The Rabbit Tarot, by Nakisha VanderHoeven. You can get your rabbit some at her shop on Etsy!