You can choose to house your bunny indoors or outdoors, but there certainly are benefits to having a house rabbit. Not only are they closer to you, but they are safe from predators and protected from the weather. Let’s take a look at the ways in which you can make your home your bunny’s home too!
Why Should I Keep My Rabbit Inside?
The biggest reason many owners choose to keep their bunny inside instead of outside is to protect them from predators. Depending on the part of the world you live in, your outside rabbit could be eaten by foxes or coyotes. There’s also a risk of your rabbit escaping, depending on how secure their enclosure is.
Another reason you may want to keep your rabbit in your house and not outside is to protect them from the elements. While bunny’s do have thick fur coats, they certainly won’t enjoy being stuck out in the cold, rain and snow.
Rabbits are sociable animals and, if you build a bond with them, they will want to be around you. Keeping them inside allows you to be closer to them and you can monitor their health. Rabbits are excellent at hiding pain or illness, so the more time you spend with them, the more likely you are to notice any subtle changes in their behavior.
Housing Your Indoor Rabbit
Below are some of the ways in which you can keep your house rabbit indoors. In all of these spaces you will need a litter box, food bowls and water bowls or bottles. You may also want to include a hay feeder box and any toys.
Free Rein
If you have the space, letting your rabbit have free rein of a room or even the whole house is the best option for your house rabbit. Despite being small animals, bunnies need space to move and exercise, and won’t enjoy being cramped into a tiny place.
You could convert an unused room in your house into their own space, adding their litter box and food and water bowls to one area. If you choose to let them have free rein over the whole house, it is still a good idea to dedicate an area to these items, so your rabbit knows that is their space. This can help in reducing mess and allow you to litter train them.
Whether you choose to give your bunny a designated room or allow them run of the whole house, it is important to remember you will need to rabbit proof the area. You’ll want to make sure there are no loose wires or plants they can nibble at. You may also consider putting down some kind of flooring such as an old rug or linoleum, to prevent your bunny from damaging the floors or carpets.
Take a look at our article on bunny proofing your house, so you can make sure the space is safe for your rabbit.
Rabbit Cage
Rabbit cages are a very common housing method for pet rabbits. The construction is fairly simple, either with wires on the top and sides with a plastic bottom, or completely made of wire, where the top, the sides, and the floor are all made of wire mesh. While an all wire cage can work, we recommend placing down some plastic or wood on the floor at one end, so your bunny has some relief from sitting on the wire mesh. Over time, this can hurt their paws.
The biggest problem with rabbit cages is the lack of space. Many owners do not understand just how much space a bunny needs, and they can feel very cramped. However, if you purchase a cage large enough, there should be no issue in housing your bunny in one.
As a general rule, the cage should be at least four times the size of the rabbit. A guide is 24″ by 36″ for smaller rabbits (less than 8 lbs) or 30″ by 36″ for larger rabbits. You can also purchase cages that have two levels, with a ramp between the two, which gives your bunny more space and also allows them a little exercise.
Within your rabbit’s cage there should be ample room for all of their things, such as their food and water bowls and litter box. Don’t forget that they should get at least a couple of hours outside of their cage every day for exercise, whether this in the yard or around the house. You may also decide to choose a cage with a door, so your bunny can come and go as they please.
Puppy Pen
If you’re not happy with the idea of keeping your house rabbit in a cage, but also don’t want to let them have free rein of a room or your whole house, a puppy pen can be a great compromise.
With a puppy pen, you can set your rabbit up in a corner of a room and give them a special dedicated area. Puppy pens are larger than cages, so will give your rabbit the room they need to move around, but are also secure enough to stop them from escaping.
The downside to puppy pens is that they generally do not have tops, so you will need to ensure you buy one that is at least 36 inches high to prevent your rabbit from jumping over. As with giving your bunny free rein, you may also consider putting down some flooring, so your bunny does not stain and damage your flooring or carpet.
Puppy pens can be useful in introducing your bunny to a new space, too. In order to not overwhelm them, you may choose to keep their space smaller at first, and then expand the puppy pen over time so they do not become stressed. One of the best features of puppy pens is that they are movable, too, so you can adjust the pen to your needs.
How Big Should My Rabbit Cage Be?
Rabbits need more space than you think. The general rule is that their home should be at least four times as big as they are, and no smaller. The Rabbit Welfare Association and Fund recommends that the cage should be large enough for “three hops” from end to end. Your rabbit should also be able to stand on their hind legs easily inside their cage.
For smaller rabbits, less than 8 lbs, the guide is 24″ by 36”. For any rabbits larger than this, the guide is 30″ by 36”. However, if you are ever unsure, check with your vet.
Housing Your Rabbit Indoors: Things To Remember
- Give them enough space
While rabbits are fairly small pets, they need a lot of space. Nobody wants to feel cramped in their home, and bunnies are the same! Your rabbit’s space should be at least four times the size of their body, but even bigger if you have the room. This gives them somewhere to move around and exercise, which is very important to your bunnies development and overall wellbeing and happiness.
Did you know that in the wild a rabbit can hop up to five miles a day?! Ensuring their space is big enough is important, as is ensuring they get plenty of time outside of their cage if you choose one for their home.
- Make sure they have access to the outdoors
Bunnies should have regular access to the outdoors, even if they are mainly indoor rabbits. You could put a secure run or pen in your garden or yard so your rabbit can get exercise and access to fresh air. You can use a regular puppy pen for this, but make sure it can withstand the weather.
In an ideal world, they would be able to come and go from this outside run through a catflap. However, if this is not possible, you will need to regularly take them out to it.
- They do better with company
Rabbits are sociable animals. Whether they live inside or outside, you will need to spend time with them and, if you can’t dedicate this time to them, then you might need to think about getting a second rabbit. Rabbits are prone to bunny depression, so it is important they kept are stimulated and entertained.
However, a second rabbit will take up more space, so this is something to consider if you are going to house your bunny, or bunnies, indoors. You’ll also need to make sure they get along, so bonding them is important. Read tips about bonding your bunnies here.
- You will need to house train them
If you decide to keep your rabbit indoors, you’ll need to make sure they are litter trained. Otherwise, they might do their business all over the place! House training your bunny can help to reduce the mess they make, make their litter easier to tidy up, and help to reduce any bad smells and odors.
We recommend you buy a litter tray to keep your bunny’s litter contained. You can see the list of litter trays we recommend here. While you’re at it, why not check out our tips on how to house train your bunny.
Cleaning Out Your Rabbit’s Home
It’s important that you regularly clean out your rabbit’s home, whether they live indoors or outdoors. There are three types of cleaning that should take place:
- Spot cleaning (every day): This involves removing any soiled bedding, old food and replacing their water with fresh water.
- Weekly cleaning (every week): This involves the above, but also includes cleaning out their litter tray, replacing bedding and washing their food and water bowls.
- Deep cleaning (every month): During a deep clean, everything should be removed from the hutch. The hutch should be wiped down and disinfected (with pet-safe products), and toys and hides should also be cleaned.
To learn more about cleaning out your rabbit’s hutch or cage, check out our article here.
