Where’s the only place for your rabbit’s cage? INDOORS!
Although an outdoor hutch has been the traditional housing for a rabbit, today
we know better. A backyard hutch forces these social critters to live in
unnatural isolation. Furthermore, rabbits can die of heart attacks from the
very approach of a predator or vandal. Keep your bunny safe indoors, where he
can have plenty of interaction with family members.
They may be small, but rabbits require a lot of room for
housing and exercise. They have powerful hind legs designed for running and
jumping. Get your pet a cage that allows him to move freely. The minimum
recommended cage space for a single rabbit of a small- to medium-sized breed is
four feet wide, two feet deep and two feet tall. Although wire-bottom cages are
common, they can ulcerate a rabbit’s feet. If you have a wire cage, cover the
bottom with a piece of wood or corrugated cardboard. Better yet, buy a cage with
a solid bottom. Please put down plenty of straw, hay or aspen shavings so your
pet can make a cozy nest.
Please note, rabbits should not be housed with other rabbits
unless all are spayed and neutered. Introductions are often difficult and
injuries can result, so please introduce them in neutral territory, under
careful supervision.
Did you know that many rabbits have been surrendered to
shelters because of destructive behavior? In most cases, their owners failed to
provide them with appropriate toys to fulfill their natural urges to dig and
chew. Safe chew toys include cardboard boxes, an old telephone directory
(that’s no joke!) and commercially made chew sticks. You bun will greatly
appreciate his own digging box, such as a cardboard box filled halfway with
soil or shredded paper.
Your rabbit needs a safe exercise area with ample room to
run and jump, either indoors or out. Any outdoor area should be fully enclosed
by a fence. Never leave a rabbit unsupervised outdoors—even for a few minutes!
Cats, dogs and even predatory birds can easily get around fencing material.
Also, rabbits can dig under fences and get lost. You can rabbit-proof an indoor
area by covering all electrical wires and anything else your pet is likely to
chew. Recommended exercise time for pet rabbits is several hours per day.