When you buy a pet rabbit, it is essential to understand the risks of owning such a lovable and furry creature. Attracting rodents are one of the many risks involved in owning a pet rabbit. One of the most common rodents found after purchasing a pet rabbit is mice and rats. It can be a considerable health hazard as well as a risk to your home. Mice and rats will eat just about anything they can get their hands on, including your household groceries. Since mice reside in homes after buying a pet rabbit, many wonders, can mice harm rabbits? If so, what attracts mice and rats?
Mice cannot harm rabbits; however, rats will attack smaller rabbits and their offspring. Rats have powerful teeth and can break into metal and even concrete cages or boxes that baby rabbits reside. They will then attack the rabbit, and this can be dangerous to a baby rabbit. Rats will stay away from larger rabbits, however, as they are quite intimidated by larger animals. Mice, on the other hand, are typically too small to attack at all. The way these rodents are attracted is by a constant serving of food to your rabbit. Mice or rats will smell this and attack it daily if you arent taking daily precautions.
Let’s see how to keep these rodents away and some other important facts you need to know as a new rabbit owner.
Further Reading: “Why Does My Rabbit Headbutt Me?“
Table of Contents
Do Rabbits Keep Mice Away? [Or They Actually Attract Them?]
Rabbits will, unfortunately, not keep rats and mice away but rather attract them. The attraction happens because the food rabbits must eat for their diet is extremely sensitive to the little noses of mice and rats. They will run after it nightly if your pet rabbit does not eat in a higher area. So always be sure to feed your pet rabbit in a higher place, and if you are to provide them in a box, be sure that it is hard plastic so mice cannot enter.
Rats and mice are only sometimes attracted to the rabbits themselves. The main thing that would attract these rodents is their food. However, rabbits are born with a distinctive scent that mice and rats smell and be attracted to. If you are not on top of cleaning your pet rabbits’ hutch, it can also be a sure sign of attraction. Leftover food and waste are sure to catch the nose of rodents and lead them straight into your home. So I recommend you keep your rabbit’s cage clean.
If you own a pet rabbit or have owned one, you may have indeed had this issue. The solution is to go out and buy easily accessible rat proof hutches for your pet rabbit to sleep, eat, and play in. There are all kinds of easily accessible rat and mice proof hutches available in stores. It may be the necessary step if you are a pet rabbit owner, as it is the easiest and safest bet for your rabbit.
So yes, rabbits will attract mice and rats from all over. However, never be mistaken that the most likely reason is because of your pet rabbit. Good hutch clean up, feed, and feeding areas are also crucial in ensuring mice and rats don’t invade your home.
Further Reading: “Do Rabbits Understand English?“
How To Keep Mice And Rats Away From Rabbit Hutch?
There are effortless methods a pet rabbit owner can take to ensure rats and mice stay far away from their homes. Often, they are attracted to rabbit droppings or an unclean hutch. The first step you should always complete is cleaning up any spilled food or messes every night before bed. This step will make a tremendous difference in keeping these hazardous rodents away from your rabbit at night.
The next step is also very efficient and consists of merely keeping food stored away in very airtight containers and removing any feeders or water bowls inside the rabbit’s hutch.
Lastly, it is essential to buy a top tier and sturdy rabbit hutch fitted with sturdy wire. The teeth of rats may be healthy, but it will not get through this type of hutch. After taking these few simple steps, you may find that rats and mice are no longer even an issue!
Here is a nice article showing how to clean your rabbit’s cage.
Do Rabbits Droppings Attract Mice Or Rats?
Rabbit droppings will typically attract rats because rats are much larger and much more capable of gnawing through metal and concrete hutches. Therefore, they will smell it faster and eat it much quicker! It can be very frustrating for owners who are not open to their house being a free place for lunch.
Rats never give up, and some will even learn a routine and know exactly where and when to strike. If you have a pet rabbit, you must clean up the feeding area and remove all food and water sources from the rabbit’s hutch. This step is nearly essential if you have a baby pet rabbit, as rats are known to have strong bite force and sharp teeth. With these, they can easily take out a baby rabbit.
Further Reading: “Do Rabbits Close Their Eyes When They Die?“
Do Rabbits And Mice Get Along?
Though this may come as a shock, rabbits and mice can get along well if they are both owned as pets. Of course, it will not be easy, and it will require much socialization and handling to get these creatures to become friends. However, it can happen if you try.
It is important to note that these two different species are much fonder of traveling or living with their kind, so it may not be the best idea to pair these two if you do not have time to help these two creatures like each other. It is likely best to own a pet rabbit or pet mouse that pair them with another of their kind.
The diets also differ in these two creatures quite a lot. While rats and mice will typically eat anything they can come across, a rabbit will have a strict diet and stick to it. Mice are exceedingly small compared to rabbits, so the servings will also be much less when compared. If either eats the other food, It could be dangerous for your pet rabbit or mouse.
Related article: Why Does My Rabbit Climb On Me?
Final Thoughts
Mice and rats are capable of harming rabbits, although it is unlikely. If either attacks a rabbit, it would be a rat, and the rabbit would be a baby. Again, rats and mice are not particularly attracted to rabbits themselves, but rather their food.
Rabbits eat many things that rats or mice would love to take as extra protein. It is never wise to keep your rabbit’s food uncovered and in the hutch throughout the night unless you are awake and can monitor. Otherwise, you may wake up with holes in bags, a sickly rabbit, and a mice infestation.
If you have ever owned or plan on owning a rabbit, follow all the steps mentioned above to ensure your rabbit is always safe and healthy. These simple to follow instructions will do wonders in keeping mice and rats away from your rabbit and your home for as long as you keep up on it. But make sure to understand the risks before purchasing or owning a pet rabbit.
