Preparing a home for a rabbit does not have to be difficult, but there are some things to consider before you run out and pick up a rabbit. First you will need to decide where your rabbit is going to live; some rabbits live in the house and some are kept outside. Either place can be fine as long as certain guidelines are followed to make sure your rabbit lives a healthy life.
Outside housing:
The first and most important requirement for housing a rabbit is good ventilation. Without good ventilation your pet can become susceptible to respiratory diseases. Keep this in mind when you build or buy a any cage.
The most important feature of any cage should be its security. Would the cage withstand an unexpected predator? Make sure nothing can get to your rabbit. A secure fence around the rabbit area will help eliminate most predators. Cage should be free of holes that are big enough for him to get through. Cage should also not have any loose wires or sharp edges where he can hurt himself.
The size of the cage is important too. It needs to fit the size of your rabbit, a comfortable size is 24”x24” for smaller ones. If you have a bigger rabbit then they need to at least be able to stretch out comfortably. Drop through bottoms are the best, this helps keep bunny clean. If you have a temporary cage that does not have a drop through bottom, then cage should be cleaned out every day. It may help to have some kind of resting pad in cage, not one that covers whole cage but in one corner where rabbit can rest on a soft spot if he wants; this will help prevent his feet from becoming sore. Wire should be plain galvanized wire not coated. Coated wire is OK for temporary use or travel but sometimes they tend to chew on the coated wire.
Inside housing:
You can easily fine some cages that come with the pull out catch pan; this makes it is easy for your rabbit to stay in the house, if you wish. If you have a tray under cage, the tray can be filled with paper, shavings, or other absorbent material to help minimize offensive odors. Kitty litter works well and adding a small amount of baking soda to the litter can help also. You can also read a previous article Conquering the odor problem, the article gives a few tips that have been used around our place.
Cages need to be cleaned and disinfected; A good disinfecting agent is a solution of one tablespoon of household bleach mixed with one quart of water, then rinse thoroughly. Vinegar and water is also a good solution and can be mixed a little stronger.
If an Indoor rabbit is allowed to have the run of the house or at least allowed to roam free in certain rooms there are precautions you need to keep in mind. Rabbits like to chew on things and may gnaw furniture, curtains, or carpeting. Rabbits also have a tendency to chew on electric wiring, which is dangerous for the rabbit and the home since this habit can create a fire hazard. Never allow bunny roam free unattended for an extended period of time.
No matter how you decide to house your new rabbit, keep in mind they do not need to spend all their time in the cage. They should be given time outside of cage for exercise and interaction with you. This can be as simple as a safe play pen area.
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