When I bought my first pair of rabbits in Bangkok, Thailand nine years ago, I was amazed at how much money I was spending on them each month. Considering Bangkok is one of the cheapest cities in the world when it comes to rabbit-related purchases, I was still spending a lot more than I anticipated.
Now, nine years later, those rabbit costs are just part of my normal monthly budget, but they are still quite high.
That is why, if you have been thinking about getting a house rabbit as a pet, do be sure you know how much a house rabbit in Thailand really costs every month, just to be sure you can afford it.
Hay – My two rabbits go through three large bags of hay every month. That’s because not only should rabbits have timothy hay, or its equivalent, to chew on, it’s also a very good material for a litter box. At 230 baht or $7.20, that’s just the beginning of my monthly rabbit expenses.
Pellets – My rabbits don’t eat many pellets as I don’t believe they are the basis of a healthy diet, so I only spend 140 baht or $4.51 per month for these. If your rabbit is going to be on a pellet-based diet, however, your costs will be much higher.
Vegetables and fruit – My two Thai rabbits eat a diet that is mainly based on copious amounts of timothy hay and a large number of green leafy vegetables with the occasional piece of banana or apple as a treat. I buy vegetables from a farmers’ market here in Bangkok, as I believe in supporting local growers, but they still cost me 1,440 baht or $46.45 per month.
Newspapers – I use newspapers to line the bottom of my rabbit’s litter box as they soak up urine very quickly and don’t cause any smell. While I do get newspapers given from friends throughout the month, I still end up spending around 150 baht or $4.83 every month just so I’m sure to have enough newspapers for a thick lining in the litter box.
Cleaning supplies – While some rabbit owners recommend cleaning out a rabbit cage once every two or three days, I clean my rabbits’ cage and pen every day. That’s because their cage is in my bedroom and, frankly, I don’t want to live with a nasty smell. So I buy a fair number of cleaning supplies each month – paper towels, scented garbage bags to stop the litter smelling, and white vinegar to use as a bunny-safe disinfectant. Add on another 350 baht or $12.25 for a month’s cleaning supplies.
Toys, treats and miscellaneous – I also buy my rabbits a couple of new toys every month and the occasional fruit treat, as well as spend money on miscellaneous items like nail clippers or brushes. I allow an extra 250 baht or $8.05 to cover these costs, which rolls over into the following month if I don’t use it.
How much does a house rabbit really cost every month – The total amount of money I spend on my rabbits on average every month is around 2,560 baht or around $80. Although I live in Bangkok, Thailand, where some things are cheaper than in the United States, as I have to buy some products that are imported brands due to Thai brands not always available, it’s highly likely my costs will be about the same as yours.
Don’t forget too, you’ll need to factor into your monthly expenses possible vet visits if your rabbit gets sick, or even just things like check-ups a couple of times a year, or payment for having them neutered (mine cost 3,000 baht each, or $100, when they were done).
Of course, I hear rabbit owners all the time telling me I spend too much on my rabbits, and then I see how their rabbits live. Small cages that aren’t cleaned very often, poor quality of food, not enough hay and barely any fresh vegetables.
Sure, you can mistreat a rabbit and do it cheaply, but as a pet lover I don’t see the point in owning rabbits if I’m not going to take care of them correctly and feed them properly. How about you?
