Rabbit Home Requirements

Rabbit Home Requirements

Housing – Rabbit Home Requirements

  • Indoors is much healthier, safer and more enjoyable for everyone
  • Roomy cage–six times the size of adult rabbit
    • Minimum size is 36” x 36” x 24”
    • A wire dog crate and/or an exercise pen make an excellent housing setup
  • Resting board of carpet, cardboard or wood (needed if case floor is made of wire) to cover part of cage floor not covered by litter box; cover resting board with comfy towel
  • Litter box fastened inside cage to reinforce litter box training (never use pine or cedar shavings)
  • Heavy pellet bowl (must be heavy enough so rabbit can’t tip over; plastic bowls will not work) or clip-on feeder
  • Water bottle or heavy crock (again, to discourage tipping)
  • Bird toys (rabbits love to toss things around; don’t use toys with loose parts that can be swallowed)
  • Stuffed toy companion (someone for your rabbit to groom)

Running Space

  • Indoors is much safer
  • Gradually increase freedom to at least 6 hours daily (an exercise pen can be used to introduce rabbits to a larger area)
  • Bunny-proof electric cords (cover with protective tubing)
  • Place second litter box outside cage (cat litter boxes work well; you can set one up in every room available to your rabbit)

Consumables

  • Hay (a must for fiber and nutritional value)
    • Timothy hay is preferable
    • Oat and grass hay can be used
    • Alfalfa hay is acceptable if no other source can be found but should be the last choice
  • Fresh vegetables and fruits (feed fruits very sparingly)
  • Rabbit pellets
  • Fresh water
  • Wood for chewing and recreation (pinecones, fruit tree twigs–no pesticides; untreated wood or reed baskets)
  • See pages 2-5 of HRC’s Rabbit Care Guide for specific amounts and varieties of hay, vegetables, pellets, and fruit

Grooming

  • Nail clippers (most cat and dog clippers will do)
  • Brush (flea comb works well)

Handling

  • Very important:  learn the proper way to handle a rabbit.  If rabbit is struggling, either restrain against your body or squat down or release immediately.  See pages 16-17 of HRC’s Rabbit Care Guide.

Veterinary Care

  • Schedule a check-up with a rabbit-savvy vet at least once a year.
  • Consult your vet about the benefits of spaying and neutering; see page 42 of HRC’s Rabbit Care Guide.

Companion(s)

  • Consider adopting a spayed or neutered companion for your rabbit.