Housing Options
Most cages sold in pet stores are too small for a rabbit or any critter to be healthy and happy living in.
What makes a good critter home?
- Smooth floor to prevent injury or wear to feet
- A door wide enough to allow a large litterbox and easy cleaning.
- At least 10 times the size of your critter with sufficient height to accommodate the critter being able to stand up on their hind legs.
The more time you plan to have the critter stay inside it’s cage, the bigger the cage/ enclosure should be. We recommend as much “out” time as possible and regular play and interaction with you every day for the critter’s health and happiness. Play areas must be critter-proofed: safe from electrical cords, houseplants, and other hazards to the little critter.
Check out some housing ideas below!
Dog Crates
When considering a dog crate the ones for large dog breeds work best. They are foldable, inexpensive, rust-proof, easy to clean and sturdy. These are great when used with lots of free range time because they aren’t very big. Be careful with small rabbits or guinea pigs that they can not get their heads through the bars and get stuck.
We prefer to use these at our rescue for rabbits over regular bought cages because they are bigger and give the rabbits more room. Plus, with a plywood shelf added it gives the bunny even more room and more space to exercise while caged. Best of all the buns LOVE to get up on their shelves to stretch out for a snooze!
Store Bought Cages
There are several variations of these cages, and you can get different widths and one, two or three levels depending on your needs. We recommend the biggest possible size you can get. Please consider this is where your pet will have to live so it will be happier in the biggest size possible.
We do use these at our rescue but only the large size bunny cages, they are about 18 inches wide by 41 inches long. The cages labeled for Guinea Pigs in stores we don’t recommend for any critter, we actually use the pan of these cages for rabbit litterboxes! Even Guinea Pigs should have a large size rabbit cage in order for them to have enough room.
Cube Condos
These are made from wire panels assembled to the needs of your rabbit. Not only can you customize your rabbit’s home, it is a lot less expensive.
You can find “how-to” instructions here. For less than the cost of a tiny cage from the store, you can build palace for your rabbits to lounge and play in.
We also use examples of these at our rescue and you can easily find the “cubes” at most stores, even Wal Mart. These are great cages and can be made as big as you want giving your critter lots of space. We really find them great for guinea pigs!
Exercise Pens
A series of metal fencing panels connected by hinges that are sold at most pet stores (ask for a puppy pen or x-pen). This allows the bunny or piggy to have more space while still confined to a safe area when you aren’t around. The exercise pens are versatile, allowing you to shape a circle, divide a room in half for two critters to share. When the bunny is out, the pen can be used to protect a zone you want to keep off limits.
We have several of these at our rescue and mainly use them for outdoor time for the bunnies (can be used for guinea pigs as well but supervise closely) Make sure you get one that is high enough as rabbits can jump at least 1.5 times their own height.
Free Run
Most rabbits that have been spayed or neutered become neat enough with their litterbox to be out loose all day with a designated litterbox corner. This is where bun proofing is very important. Remember that some buns climb onto chairs, sofas and tables and can snack on fruit and plants you thought were safe. Protect cords and wires. Free run is very rewarding for you and your rabbit but if this is your goal, work up to it one room at a time to make sure you can accomplish this safely.
While this might be our favorite option we understand it is not always possible to give your bunny or little critter free run of your home. Therefore we recommend you make them the biggest possible cage you can and give them exercise out of cage daily. There is nothing more entertaining then a happy bunny running around your house doing bunny jumps in the air!