Buying Hay for Rabbits - How & Where in Malaysia

I’m a Johorian. I live in JB, to be specific. Taking care of a rabbit is not an easy task, and it can be really frustrating with the limited resources in Malaysia. Still, without going bankrupt or crazy, I managed to buy hay for my rabbits for the past 7 years.

The following is a list of the various brands of hay I’ve bought before in order of overall pricing, as well as how and where I bought them.

The focus is on Timothy hay, as this is the main type of hay that rabbits should be provided with at all times to ensure a healthy digestive system.

Do Rabbits Smell? 4 Reasons That Might Have Caused The Stink

The short answer: No, rabbits absolutely do not smell. Besides grooming themselves frequently like cats, and they don't have the body odor that dogs tend to have. So, nopey-nope, rabbits don't smell at all.

The long answer: Rabbits groom themselves frequently and they don't have body odor - those are facts. Here are what fellow rabbit owners have had to say on the scent of their long-eared companions:

"Mine smell warm, sweet and soft!" - Maggie Allinson

"They smell like rainbows and sunshine." - Lisa Harder

"It's a fresh smell like fresh linen." - Colleen Fox

In general, rabbits have a mild, fresh smell. For me, I would describe my rabbits as soft, warm tufts of grass. ❤ 

But there are several reasons as to why people may have associated unpleasant odors with rabbits ...

Are Rabbits Easy Pets For Kids?

Rabbits may seem quiet and mellow, but the fact is actual rabbits rarely conform to the sweet, cuddly stereotype depicted in children's stories.

Not made for cuddling

It is understandable that most children yearn for an animal they can cuddle and hold in their arms, however most rabbits don't like being picked up and cuddled at random. They often feel frightened, and tend to kick and struggle furiously to escape. Rabbits are physically delicate animals. A rabbit doesn't leap off a person's arms and land gracefully like a cat - a rabbit could suffer fatal spinal injuries from the impact of a fall.

The realities that comes with having a rabbit at home:

• There's the poop.
  Rabbits poop a whole lot more than you can imagine. (I wanted to attach a picture here, but it's really disconcerting if you're coincidentally eating chocolate cereal while reading this.)
• There's the fur.A rabbit goes through a heavy shedding or molting period at least once a year. It is common for one's hands to accumulate balls of cotton-like fur after petting the rabbit.
• And ... there's the money.
  A rabbit is not a cheap, low-maintenance pet. For one, hay isn't cheap stuff, even though they're practically dried plants. Many are also taken aback by the vet bills incurred when the rabbit falls ill.

“HELP! My rabbit ate something he/she shouldn't?!"

“HELP! My rabbit ate something he/she shouldn't?! Will he/she be okay?"

As long as your rabbit is eating hay, pooping normally, and doing all his/her bunny activities (eg: grooming) as usual, your rabbit will be fine. Simply continue to observe. To ensure that your rabbit's gut moves smoothly, encourage hay consumption by offering fresh handfuls throughout the day.

It's really very common for our rabbits to nibble on something random they have found, even if we have been careful. Once, our rabbit J managed to stumble upon several grains of rice in the kitchen, and another time, D came across a tiny piece of crisp in the living room.

I panicked, honestly thinking they were going to shut down in a few hours like a hacked computer because rabbits-are-such-fragile-animals-but-now-they-ate-something-they-should-not-I'm-seriously-doomed -

But they were perfectly fine. I don't take any of this for granted, of course. We should still take all necessary precautions to keep unsuitable food out of our rabbit's reach and bunny-proof our homes the best we can. :)