Which Pet Is Right For You? A Tiny-winy Hamster or A Huggable Rabbit
Hamsters and rabbits are both adorable and cuddly. They are both good house pets. However, most people choose a hamster over a rabbit. Why? Lets find out why most people prefer taking care of hamsters than a rabbit.
Rabbits are as adorable as hamsters, they are both cute and little. They both look easy to care but unfortunately, they aren't. Hamsters requires attention to keep them healthy and disease free but rabbits on the other hand, needs more special attention and dedication.
Let's differentiate the two:
Ideal Homes:
A rabbit's ideal home needs to be indestructible because they are a natural chewers, they love to chew anything and everything. Rabbit home must be made of metal with wire mesh floor and is large enough that the rabbit can stand in an outstretched position. It should be placed in a properly ventilated area where they can get some fresh air. Rabbit cages need to be placed near the ground to avoid vibration, and their bedding should be made from a straw to make them feel more comfortable. Their cage is not a place to keep them in but a place were they can rest and sleep when they are tired, and eat when they are hungry. Rabbits need to exercise on a regular basis, run around the house, hop from one place to the other to keep them healthy and to have a good muscle tone, that is why cages of rabbits should not be always enclosed. Confining the rabbit in one place will likely cause motor paralysis because of poor muscle tone due to inadequate exercise and feet swelling due to staying in one place all the time. Rabbits need to have a regular exercise to keep them in shape and have an alert mind, thus reducing the risk of illness. Meanwhile, hamsters also love to chew and they have sharp teeth. Hamster cages must also be made of metal and is should be big enough so that they have enough room to play. Hamster cages must have enough space for Hamster wheel because hamster loves to run and it is the best way for them stay healthy and to prevent paralysis. Hamster cages must also have water bottle, metal plate for food and a nice, clean bedding for them to rest. The most important thing in choosing hamster home is, it must have a large area for playing.
Proper Diet:
We have a notion that rabbits love to eat carrots because of the famous cartoon character Bugs Bunny who loves to eat carrots. That notion is wrong because real rabbits don't eat carrots, they eat grass hays. Rabbits have a very sensitive stomach, so proper care is needed in feeding them. Rabbit food should be fresh and it should consist of grass hays which is their main food, green leafy vegetables like broccoli and celery. They also eat fruits like papaya, pineapple and any kind of sweet berries. They should always have easy access to clean water for drinking. Rabbits have two parts of diet, first they will eat fresh dry grass hays and it goes to their intestine at cecum where the grass is converted into small pellets which are filled with nutrients and it is soft. These are called cecotropes. These cecotropes will be excreted by rabbits and eat them. They are made of fatty acids, amino acids and vitamins which are essential for their health. Hamsters are the exact opposite of rabbits when it comes to food, they have a number of variety of food which make it more convenient to take care a hamster than a rabbit. Hamsters eat almost all kinds of vegetables, fruits, seed and worms. There are also ready mixes available in local pet shops which makes it even more convenient especially to busy working pet lovers. You can feed your hamster with almost anything but you just need to keep in mind that it should be fresh. So when it comes to feeding, hamsters are easy and more convenient, it does not need any special attention for their diet.
Handling and Behavior:
Rabbits in nature are timid and tends to be aggressive when it comes to contact with other rabbits because of their territorial behavior. When rabbits come in contact with humans they are also a bit aggressive because of fear. Rabbits do not easily adapt and socialize because of their territorial behavior. However, constant interaction with them will make them feel more comfortable which result to a better relationship with their owner. Rabbits don't like to be lifted with their hind legs dangling which makes them kick forcefully that might cause that person an undelightful experience. Rabbits have weak backbone and proper handling must be put in mind. When lifting a rabbit, both hands must support his/her weight by placing one hand on the hind legs and the other on the chest. This also the reason why rabbits don't like to be cuddled. Like rabbits, hamsters don't easily adapt to new environment and it will take time for them to socialize but with proper interaction, socializing will not be a problem. Hamsters when they are not yet tamed they tend to bite when are are lifted as their form of protective mechanism. So, when you lift an untamed hamster use a glove to protect your hand and make sure that you are holding them gently, so that they will feel comfortable in your hand and the threat will slowly ease away.
Whether you choose a hamster or a rabbit, what is important to both is proper care to keep them healthy and disease free. Now that you have learned the difference between a hamster and a rabbit, it is up to you now to decide which to choose.
Rabbits are as adorable as hamsters, they are both cute and little. They both look easy to care but unfortunately, they aren't. Hamsters requires attention to keep them healthy and disease free but rabbits on the other hand, needs more special attention and dedication.
Let's differentiate the two:
Ideal Homes:
A rabbit's ideal home needs to be indestructible because they are a natural chewers, they love to chew anything and everything. Rabbit home must be made of metal with wire mesh floor and is large enough that the rabbit can stand in an outstretched position. It should be placed in a properly ventilated area where they can get some fresh air. Rabbit cages need to be placed near the ground to avoid vibration, and their bedding should be made from a straw to make them feel more comfortable. Their cage is not a place to keep them in but a place were they can rest and sleep when they are tired, and eat when they are hungry. Rabbits need to exercise on a regular basis, run around the house, hop from one place to the other to keep them healthy and to have a good muscle tone, that is why cages of rabbits should not be always enclosed. Confining the rabbit in one place will likely cause motor paralysis because of poor muscle tone due to inadequate exercise and feet swelling due to staying in one place all the time. Rabbits need to have a regular exercise to keep them in shape and have an alert mind, thus reducing the risk of illness. Meanwhile, hamsters also love to chew and they have sharp teeth. Hamster cages must also be made of metal and is should be big enough so that they have enough room to play. Hamster cages must have enough space for Hamster wheel because hamster loves to run and it is the best way for them stay healthy and to prevent paralysis. Hamster cages must also have water bottle, metal plate for food and a nice, clean bedding for them to rest. The most important thing in choosing hamster home is, it must have a large area for playing.
Proper Diet:
We have a notion that rabbits love to eat carrots because of the famous cartoon character Bugs Bunny who loves to eat carrots. That notion is wrong because real rabbits don't eat carrots, they eat grass hays. Rabbits have a very sensitive stomach, so proper care is needed in feeding them. Rabbit food should be fresh and it should consist of grass hays which is their main food, green leafy vegetables like broccoli and celery. They also eat fruits like papaya, pineapple and any kind of sweet berries. They should always have easy access to clean water for drinking. Rabbits have two parts of diet, first they will eat fresh dry grass hays and it goes to their intestine at cecum where the grass is converted into small pellets which are filled with nutrients and it is soft. These are called cecotropes. These cecotropes will be excreted by rabbits and eat them. They are made of fatty acids, amino acids and vitamins which are essential for their health. Hamsters are the exact opposite of rabbits when it comes to food, they have a number of variety of food which make it more convenient to take care a hamster than a rabbit. Hamsters eat almost all kinds of vegetables, fruits, seed and worms. There are also ready mixes available in local pet shops which makes it even more convenient especially to busy working pet lovers. You can feed your hamster with almost anything but you just need to keep in mind that it should be fresh. So when it comes to feeding, hamsters are easy and more convenient, it does not need any special attention for their diet.
Handling and Behavior:
Rabbits in nature are timid and tends to be aggressive when it comes to contact with other rabbits because of their territorial behavior. When rabbits come in contact with humans they are also a bit aggressive because of fear. Rabbits do not easily adapt and socialize because of their territorial behavior. However, constant interaction with them will make them feel more comfortable which result to a better relationship with their owner. Rabbits don't like to be lifted with their hind legs dangling which makes them kick forcefully that might cause that person an undelightful experience. Rabbits have weak backbone and proper handling must be put in mind. When lifting a rabbit, both hands must support his/her weight by placing one hand on the hind legs and the other on the chest. This also the reason why rabbits don't like to be cuddled. Like rabbits, hamsters don't easily adapt to new environment and it will take time for them to socialize but with proper interaction, socializing will not be a problem. Hamsters when they are not yet tamed they tend to bite when are are lifted as their form of protective mechanism. So, when you lift an untamed hamster use a glove to protect your hand and make sure that you are holding them gently, so that they will feel comfortable in your hand and the threat will slowly ease away.
Whether you choose a hamster or a rabbit, what is important to both is proper care to keep them healthy and disease free. Now that you have learned the difference between a hamster and a rabbit, it is up to you now to decide which to choose.
