Rabbit Housing | MyPets1031

The most common type of cage is a pet store cage. These cages are costly and generally don't provide enough space for bunnies to live. The general rule is that a rabbit should be able to hop at least three times but I personally think they should also be able to jump up to a second level to work those back legs. These pet store cages could be used for small breed bunnies but for large breeds, they're nothing but travel cages.

Another common type of cage is the hutch. Rabbits are very sensitive towards significant temperature change so they should only be housedoutdoors in moderate climates. Hutches like the one shown in this picture can also be dangerous to bunnies for several reasons. One being the wire bottom cage. Wire bottom cages can cause a condition in rabbit's called sore hocks. Another problem can be the large spacing in the wire and the fact that the cage sits right on the ground. These factors can both easily allow for predators to get your rabbit. Essentially, house rabbits should never be outside unless it is for play time. During play time, rabbits should be enclosed in a safe place such as the run on the left. A safer place could be made out of all wood and no wire or maybe even bricks. If a rabbit is playing in the enclosure shown on the left, they should be supervised at all times. Outside hutches should not be made of chicken wire; the spacing can make it easy for predators to get in.

Inside cages, are preferable for your pet rabbit to live in. Or you could even allow your rabbit to run free in a bunny proof room, or throughout your whole house. A puppy pen or x-pen are cheap alternatives to pet store cages. They are much better space and cost wise for your pet and you! You can also attach them to regular cages to provide a den like area or use them for play pens indoors or outdoors. If something like this is too far-fetched for you, you can make a DIY cage out of it like my bunny Phantom has. X-pens aren't the only way you can make a DIY cage though. You can also use storage grids that you can purchase at stores such as Target or Walmart. Some people even build enclosures like the run shown above for their inside rabbits.

If you want something a bit more fancy, you can purchase a hutch. Hutches can be a bit more expensive and your rabbit might like to chew the insides but they do look nicer inside your home. My rabbit, Toby, has a three story hutch that is like a sky scraper. I've had to be creative to encourage him not to chew on the trim inside his cage, but now that he doesn't any longer I hope I can use it for many rabbits to come.