Rabbits & Pocket Pets

Rabbits

• Popularity: 3rd most common pet in the US (overpopulation issues like dogs/cats)

• Breeds: 50 recognized by ARBA, divided into heavy, average, light weight, and small.

  • Heavy (>5kg) - french lop, flemish giant

  • Average (3.5-4.5 kg): New Zealands white, grand chinchilla

  • Lightweight (2.5-3kg): Himalayan, dutch

  • Small (~1kg): Polish

• Lifespan: 8-12 yrs

• Gestation: 30-33d; “breeding like rabbits” = rapid reproduction

• Common problems: uterine cancer, pasteurellosis (resp. disease), enteritis, overgrown teeth, sore hocks)

Guinea Pigs

• Origin: Andes; originally bred for meat.

• Breeds: 13 common (America, Abyssinian, Peruvian, Skinny pig).

• Biology:

  • Female = sow, Male = boar

• Lifespan: 4-8 yrs (up to 10)

• Diet/Health:

  • Hind gut disease (need fiber).

  • Obesity is common (no natural “gut fill” signal)

  • Require vitamin C

  • Practices coprophagy

• Problems: Heat stroke >85F, lice, mites, ringworm, alopecia, pneumonia

Mice & Rats

• Species:

  • Rats: ~500 species, only 2 as pets

  • Mice: ~35 species, 1 mainly kept as pets

• Care:

  • Social; shouldn’t be caged alone.

  • Intelligent (especially rats), clean, fun to watch.

  • Escape-proof cages essential

  • Clean cage 2-3x/week

• Lifespan: Mice → 1-2 yrs; Rats → 2-3 yrs

• Reproduction:

  • Gestation: Mice → 19-24d, females in heat every 4d

  • Separate sexes early to avoid accidental litters.

• Health:

  • Rats: prone to respiratory issues, tumors, obesity

  • Handle carefully (delicate, esp w/ kids). 

Ferret

• Uses: historically for rabbit/rat hunting, racing, cable threading; now used for pets, show, fur research

• Biology: 

  • Domestication ferret = wild black - footed ferret

• Litter: 5-13mkits; Gestation: 38-44d

• Lifespan: 5-11 yrs

• Male = hob; Female = jill

• Diet: True carnivores; need high protein and fat (better than cat food).

• Health: 

  • Distemper = 100% fatal (vaccinated carefully)

  • Unspayed females risk aplastic anemia → must be bred or spayed. 

• Legal Issues: illegal in CA, HI, DC, and some counties

• Behavior: tame, playful, trainable; can tolerate dogs/cats if introduced properly

Gerbils

• Most common: Mongolian gerbil

• Health: Robust, fewer disease than many rodents

• Traits: Nocturnal, monogamous, rarely bite, easy to tame.

• Care:

  • Conserve water (low urine output → easy cage cleaning)

  • Reproduce quickly (gestation 24-26d, litters 4-6)

• Lifespan: 3-5 yrs

Hamsters

• Species: Golden hamster (most common), Chinese hamster (second).

• Traits: Nocturnal, short tails, sensitive to noise.

• Behavior:

  • Females dominant, can be aggressive

  • Prefer solitary housing (fight if grouped)

  • Can bite if startled

• Care: 

  • Hibernate: <5C

  • Cage: must be escape and chew-proof

  • Diet: commercial feeds

  • Lifespan: 1-3 yrs

• Reproduction: Gestation 16d, cycle every 4d; remove female post-matting (may attack male)

• Heath: Common disease = wet tail diarrhea (serious).

Facts about Rabbits

• Not rodents; descendants of European wild rabbits.

• Terms: Female = doe, Male = buck

• Cannot vomit (risk of hair balls - brush regularly)

• Hind gut digesters; need high fiber, practice coprophagy (eating feces)

• Susceptible to stress (cardiac arrest possible)

• Heat Stroke Risk >85F

• Allergic reactions to rabbit dander are common. 

• Care tips:

  • Spaying reduces cancer risk.

  • Avoid gifting rabbits

  • 30 hrs outside cage for playtime a week recommended