Raising rabbits: basic housing guidelines

Preparing a home for a rabbit does not have to be difficult, but there are some factors to consider before just picking up a rabbit and introducing him to his new home. Some rabbits live in the house and some are kept outside, either way here are some guidelines for making sure your rabbit lives a healthy life.

Outside:

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 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 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 out. 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, 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 does not hurt 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:

Some cages come with the pull out catch pan so rabbit can stay in the house if you wish. If you have a tray under cage, 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 helps too.
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. Rinse thoroughly. Vinegar and water is also a good solution and you can even mix 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 it creates a fire hazard. Never allow bunny to be 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. This can be as simple as a safe play pen area.