If you want to keep your rabbit indoors but are worried about damage to your furniture or already have a cat or dog that might harm your rabbit, a good option is to keep it in an cage and let it out for supervised exercise...
If you want to keep your rabbit indoors but are worried about damage to your furniture or already have a cat or dog that might harm your rabbit, a good option is to keep it in an cage and let it out for supervised exercise.
Requirements
Size
The cage must be tall enough that the rabbit can stand up on its hind legs at full stretch and long/wide enough that the rabbit can take three hops in any direction. There must be enough floor space for the rabbit to stretch out full length. If you are planning to keep two rabbits in the cage, increase the dimensions. The RSPCA recommended cage size for one average sized rabbit is 6ft x 2ft x 2ft.
Access
Cages with side access, so the rabbit can hop in and out on its own, are better than those with top access only.
Material
Metal or plastic is best as these do not degrade like wood and are easier to keep clean.
Litter tray
Unless you want to be cleaning out the entire cage every couple of days, the best option is to provide a litter tray in the corner that the rabbit uses regularly.
Sleeping area
Rabbits like to have an enclosed space that they can retire to for peaceful sleep, such as a cardboard box with a hole cut in each end.
Choosing a cage
There are many kinds of cages available in pet shops or through online retailers.
Purpose built rabbit cages
These tend to be too small and are relatively expensive. They are also quite flimsy so not good protection if you have a cat or dog.
Dog crates
These are cheaper than purpose built cages. They are made of very strong metal so are completely cat and dog proof and can also double up as a useful table. They are much taller, so you can put in a box that your rabbit can sleep in and jump on top of. Dog crates usually come with a solid metal base - if not, put a sheet of wood or plastic inside as rabbits will be uncomfortable on a wire floor.
Location
The best position for an indoor rabbit cage is in a quiet corner away from draughts, strong smells and loud noises. Avoid positioning it in direct sunlight as your rabbit may overheat, or drape a blanket over it for shade on hot days. If you have a cage with side access, make sure the rabbit has a non-slippery surface to hop out onto.
Cleaning
You should clean the whole cage out at least once a week and clean out the rabbit's toilet area more frequently, perhaps two or three times a week. For this reason it is useful to put a litter tray in the corner your rabbit uses as a toilet.
Every few months give the cage a scrub with hot water and disinfectant spray.
