Your Rabbit’s First Week at Home

The first week is about letting a rabbit learn that its new home is predictable and safe. Keep the setup simple, keep the routine steady, and watch eating, drinking and droppings closely. Most new rabbits are cautious at first; that is normal. Not eating is not.

This is a settling-in timeline, not a shopping list. If you are still gathering supplies, use the new rabbit supplies checklist first.

Before the rabbit arrives

Have the living area fully set up, with hay, water, a litter tray and at least one hiding place with two exits.
Ask the rescue or previous home exactly what the rabbit has been eating, and buy the same hay and pellets.
Find a rabbit-savvy vet and note their emergency arrangements.

Keeping the diet the same matters. Sudden food changes can upset a rabbit’s digestion, and the first week already brings plenty of change.

Days 1 and 2: quiet and observation

Put the rabbit in its living area and let it explore on its own terms. Sit nearby, speak quietly and resist picking it up. Many rabbits hide for much of the first day.

Check that hay is being eaten, that droppings are appearing in normal numbers and size, and that the water level is going down. A rabbit that eats nothing, or produces no droppings, needs same-day veterinary advice even if it is otherwise quiet.

Days 3 to 5: building a routine

Feed greens and pellets at the same times each day. Rabbits are most active around dawn and dusk, so short sitting sessions on the floor in the early morning or evening often work well. Let the rabbit approach you. A gentle stroke on the forehead is usually better received than reaching from above.

If the rabbit starts using one corner as a toilet, move a litter tray there. How to Litter Train a Rabbit explains the next steps.

Days 6 and 7: expanding carefully

If the rabbit is eating well and moving confidently, you can begin short supervised time in a rabbit-proofed room. Keep the original living area open as a retreat.

Book a first vet visit

A first health check within the early weeks gives you a baseline weight and a chance to discuss neutering, dental checks and vaccinations appropriate to where you live. RSPCA health-check guidance lists eating and toileting habits, coat, eyes, nose, ears, teeth and the rear end as things to watch at home.

Signs that need a vet sooner

No eating or no droppings
Hunched posture, teeth grinding or reluctance to move
Wet or dirty rear end, discharge from eyes or nose, or labored breathing

Settling in can take weeks. Patience in the first seven days pays off in the rabbit’s confidence later.

Sources

Care information here is drawn from these welfare and veterinary-reviewed sources. Ask a rabbit-savvy vet about your own rabbit.