Housing & Environment
Cages
Cages are a good base for a rabbit. It is a good place for a rabbit to call its own and for them to have a safe place to get away. A cage should be large enough for the rabbit to move around comfortably. If a rabbit must be locked in its cage for long periods of time the cage should be larger in order for the rabbit to stretch. Not all rabbits need to be kept in cages!
Here are some great ideas for housing:
Pen Living
Bunny's x-pen not only holds his litter box, water and food dishes, but it can also hold a Cottontail Cottage, toys, and most anything he desires. What really makes them great is:
1) You're getting more space for your money (x-pens cost the same or less than most rabbit cages).
2) Bunny has more room to roam and feels "freer" while still in a safe place.
3) Pens are flexible and can be configured in any shape to suit your available space.
4) They are easy to clean and portable, too.
Dog Crate
Try to choose a large or x-large size for plenty of floor space for bunny. You can add a shelf to the back portion of the crate so bunny can climb on top or hide underneath. The very large door makes it easy to clean these homes and bunny can hop in and out during playtime. Dog crates are also very sturdy to help keep out kids or other pets, and many people have an extra from training their dog!
Build your Own Cage
Use the 14-15” square grids sold as shelving cubes at stores like Kmart, Target, Wal-Mart, office supply stores (brands like Neat Idea Cubes, Organize It). A good basic grid condo is a 3-grid wide by 2-grid deep by 2-grid tall arrangement with a 2-grid shelf on one end, but these condos can be made in all kinds of sizes and heights. Included fasteners can be strengthened by using cable ties on the grids. Put a vinyl remnant under the condo and have a “door” by allowing one bottom front grid to swing on cable tie hinges on one side and clip shut on the other side. A simple condo costs about $20-30 for supplies.
Section off an Area of Your Home
A kitchen nook, sunroom, or bathroom might be a great place for bunny to stay. Use a baby gate or puppy exercise pen to block the area from the rest of the house, and open the gate
during playtime
. 