Do I Have to Keep My Rabbit in A Cage?
Out in their natural habitat, wild rabbits are active animals who love to run, jump and burrow. Of course, all that scurrying requires lots of space! With that in mind, you might be wondering whether it’s okay to keep them in a cage.
Give Them Daily Roaming Time
Like lots of pets, bunnies need plenty of exercise and stimulation. While it’s often necessary to cage your rabbit when you’re gone or sleeping, confining it to a cage all day is detrimental to its well-being; it denies your rabbit vital exercise, prohibits socialization, and increases boredom and lethargy.
To keep your rabbit happy and healthy, let it out of its cage at least once a day, giving it time to roam. Though at least one hour is necessary, aim closer to three or four. As a rule, never keep your rabbit cooped up for 24 hours at a time. If you’re concerned about your rabbit getting into mischief or causing damage to your space outside the cage, you can bunny-proof your home.
Create an Indoor Pen
If you want to compromise between keeping your rabbit housed and giving them room to play, consider creating an indoor rabbit pen[Opens new window]. A large pen will ensure your rabbit stays safe in an enclosed habitat while you’re gone, yet one that gives her ample space. You can easily create a pen by purchasing a puppy pen online and setting it up in a section of your home. Add food, a litter tray and lots of toys to keep your rabbit stimulated.
Designate a Rabbit Room
If your home allows, you can keep your rabbit in a room all their own, where it’s free to wander and explore 24/7. A special rabbit-proofed room offers the same perks as an indoor rabbit pen, but of course with much more space! Similar to a pen, you’ll want to make sure your rabbit has access to its food, litter, and toys. To keep the rabbits from escaping, install a baby gate.
If you’re worried about your rabbit getting ample time outside its cage while you’re gone, our pet sitters can stop by to let him out and make sure he gets plenty of supervised time to explore.
Candace Elise Hoes is a pet sitter and blogger at Katie’s Kitty. She is a graduate of the MFA Writing Program at California College of the Arts.
Photo by Petar Starčević from Pexels
