To keep a rabbit as a pet, you need to make sure it has a good place to live.When it isn't in your lap or leading you on a chase through your home, it's important to invest in a spacious, sturdy cage that will give it plenty of room to move around.Line the floor of the cage with recycled bedding and bring in basic necessities such as a food dish and water bottle.Make sure your rabbit is happy when you are not around by giving it toys and treats.
Step 1: Purchase a large cage to house your rabbit.
Make sure the cage is big enough to hold your rabbit.It should be able to stand upright on its hind legs without touching the ceiling.Most average-sized rabbits can be accommodated in a cage with at least 32 square feet of interior space.The English lops and Flemish Giants need a cage as large as 44 square feet.If you want to keep more than two rabbits, you need to go up to the next biggest size.
Step 2: A multi-level cage is a good investment.
Rabbits like dark, enclosed spaces.A partitioned cage with separate rooms or levels will allow your pet to enjoy a little privacy.They will be able to get some peace and quiet whenever they please.A partitioned cage is more expensive than a standard one-room model, but it is worth it for the added internal space.Regardless of the type of cage you choose, make sure the rabbit has a place to hide.A burrow is a good place for your pet to get some exercise.
Step 3: A cage with a plastic bottom is a good choice.
It is possible for rabbits to get caught in wire when standing in cages.It is easier to line and clean cages with solid bottoms.If you already have a wire-bottomed cage you want to use, slide a flat piece of cardboard or scrap wood over the bottom to give your bunny a more comfortable surface to stand on.
Step 4: There is a large door in the cage.
All the necessary accessories should fit through the wide door of your rabbit cage.This includes your rabbit's food dish, water bottle, bed, litter box, and any toys they'll be playing with.It shouldn't be too tight a squeeze for your rabbit.An extra side door or hatch in the top of a cage can make it easier to insert and remove items.
Step 5: Make sure there is room for exercise.
Rabbits don't like to sit for long.Most of your bunny's cage space should be devoted to exploration.It should be able to take 3-4 full hops from one end of the cage to the other.It will be happy and healthy if it is able to move around freely.A 32 square foot cage has about 8 square feet for feeding and sleeping.To make a miniature obstacle course for your rabbit, add a few simple exercise accessories.
Step 6: Pick up rabbit-safe bedding.
It is a good idea to look for bedding that is specifically designed for rabbits.Hay is one of the best all-around materials and will keep your rabbits warm during cold nights.pregnant females and babies should be given Timothy hay.Dust-free bedding made from recycled wood or paper can be used.Pine or cedar chips can be toxic to rabbits.
Step 7: The bedding material should be spread at the bottom of the cage.
To make sure it's evenly distributed from corner to corner, put down 2–3 inches of bedding.If you are using hay, mound it around the edges of the cage so that your rabbit can eat while still having an open area near the center for playing and sleeping.Adding a couple absorbent puppy pads or a layer of newspaper beneath the bedding material will make it easier to clean up and protect against leaks.Provide a deep layer of bedding for your rabbit.This painful condition occurs when rabbits sit on hard, damp surfaces.Your pet can be lifted off of dirty spots with the help of deep bedding.
Step 8: There should be a place for a bed.
rabbits have no problem sleeping on any soft surface, but a separate bed can make a useful addition to a well-outfitted cage.Your fluffy friend will have plenty of room to eat, play, and stretch its legs if you place the bed near one corner or wall.Woven mats, hammocks, and small plush beds are similar to the ones dogs like to curl up in.
Step 9: You can add a litter box.
Training your rabbit to use a litter box can help keep its cage clean and sanitary.If you want to cover the bottom of the litter box with paper-based litter, you should shop around for a small box.If you have any extra lying around, you can use shredded newspaper and hay.Don't clump cat litters.These can be dangerous to rabbits.
Step 10: You need a water bottle.
A bottle of water is a must for your rabbit.The bottle can be mounted from the side of the cage.Make sure the nozzle is low enough for your rabbit to get to.A water bottle will provide water for a single rabbit for two days or two rabbits for one day.It is best that each pet has its own bottle of water.Your rabbit might prefer to drink from a bowl.Since bowls are easy to turn over, you will need to clean them regularly.
Step 11: There is a food dish inside the cage.
The dish you choose should be large enough to keep your rabbit fed, but small enough that it can be passed in and out of the cage without difficulty.A little space between the food dish and water bottle or bowl will keep your pet's food from getting soggy.If you want to give your rabbit a more balanced diet, you should give it two separate dishes, one for pellets and the other for fruits and vegetables.It's pointless to have a food dish at all.Once a day, sprinkle a few pellets or greens around the cage.Foraging gives rabbits something to do.
Step 12: There is a well-balanced dry food in the food dish.
An organic dry food mix is also a good option.You should only give your rabbit a small amount of dry food each day because it is densely concentrated and has a high nutrition value.If they get hungry in the meantime, it's okay for them to have hay or grass.Dropping pieces of carrots, celery, or leafy greens into your rabbit's dish a couple times a day will give it a tasty treat and add variety to its diet.A hay rack is a must for variety in your rabbit's diet.Providing hay to your indoor pet is a close second to the best food for wild rabbits.
Step 13: There are a lot of toys for your rabbit to play with.
The tougher the toys, the easier it is for rabbits to chew through them.There are wood blocks in many pet stores.Good playthings for bunnies include rope, cardboard, and scraps of fabric.It is good for rabbits to chew on toys.It can be hard to eat if their teeth get too long.It's a good idea to avoid giving your rabbit toys made from softwoods.
Step 14: When the bedding is thinner than 2–3 inches, replace it.
Your bunny will snack on hay or straw bedding after a few days.Add a few more to fill in the bare spots when this happens.If they get wet or start to smell, you should change them.It's important that your rabbit has enough bedding in its cage at all times.
Step 15: It is a good idea to wash your rabbit's food dish and water bottle.
Give both containers a good scrubbing with warm water and a mild liquid soap once a month.It is important to rinse them out thoroughly, as leftover soap can make your rabbit sick.If you bought a ceramic food dish or water bottle for your bunny, put it in the dishwasher to save time and energy.It may be necessary to clean your rabbit's food bowl or water bottle more frequently if they look especially dirty or come into contact with urine or feces.
Step 16: Every day, scoop out the litter box.
Change out the dirty litter on a daily basis to keep the environment healthy.Fresh litter will make your rabbit less likely to use the bathroom in other areas of the cage.Use a plastic bag to dispose of your rabbit's droppings, and always wear rubber gloves.Eliminating odors andbacteria can be done with a spray of white vinegar or bleach.
Step 17: It's a good idea toDisinfect the entire cage once a week.
After moving your rabbit to a safe area in your home, take the cage outside and spray it with a mixture of chlorine bleach and water.Let the bleach solution sit for 15-20 minutes, then rinse the cage with a garden hose.Put a new layer of bedding on top of the cage.The occasional sterilizing will kill off harmful germs that could make your rabbit sick.Before allowing your rabbit back inside, make sure all traces of bleach have dissipated.
Step 18: While your rabbit is in its cage keep an eye on it.
It is a good idea to peek in on your rabbit once every hour or so.If your pet is left alone, it could hurt itself or run out of food or water.Rabbits don't do well in confinement.Give your rabbit a few hours out of its cage every day to play, explore, or cuddle.