Bunny upstairs?! Please Help!

[CMarie]

Hi All!

I’m new to this forum, and I’m hoping this question hasn’t been asked before I got a baby bunny for Christmas, and I get to pick her up in about six weeks. I really want to keep her indoors and I’m trying to prepare a place for her. 

The problem is, my family isn’t excited about having a bunny cage on the main floor. My bedroom is upstairs, and I’m moving everything out of my closet to make it into a place for her–I’ll take off the door of course and extend the hutch out into my main room

I spend a lot of my time on the main floor, but I want to be with my bunny. The only thing I’m worried about is making sure she’ll be willing to go up and down the steps to be with me. I want to bunny proof them, but they are wood–will that be okay? Also, would it work if I made a little bunny ramp to the side of the stairs for her to go up and down? I can also set up a little place for her (litter box and such) on the main floor.

So is it okay to keep her main cage upstairs in my room?

I really appreciate any advice!

Thanks!

[bonilla&BUB]

If the steps are wood, they will be very slippery for your bunny. If your bunny is only 6 weeks I would give her some time to get used your room first before introducing her to new areas of the house. She may eventually be confident enough to go up and down the stairs on her own – but I don’t know how you would go about introducing her to this.

I think building a ramp would be great – with little wood pieces as grips all the way up. Just make sure it is nice and sturdy & that it is untreated wood. Good luck!

[sarahthegemini]

You’ll need something grippy on the stairs for sure. Or on the ramp. Wood alone won’t have enough traction which could be very dangerous.

Your bunny might not want to go up and down the stairs though – I’ve had my two for a couple of months now and they still won’t go any further than the first step lol

[CMarie]

Thanks for the replies! Yes, I’m hoping that eventually I might be able to train her…and I did wonder if wood would be dangerous.

I know you aren’t supposed to take her out of the cage unless she comes herself, but if she does some out, would it be okay if I carried her downstairs? And do you think I can litter train her to a second litter? (One that I put on the main floor) I just don’t want her to be scared if she can’t get back to her cage…

Any thoughts?

Thanks again!

[Sr. Melangell]

I was thinking maybe a gate on the stairs and keep bun bun upstairs, Olly is in my bedroom, that way I can keep an eye on him and he keeps an eye on me, he stays in my bedroom, I wouldn’t like him getting in the kitchen, he could get hurt, but I’m almost blind so it is a bit different and I have to be even more careful, I’m in a ground floor flat (Apartment) But Olly is happy being in my bedroom.

[Mari and Lilo bunny]

For the stairs I would recomendo some sort of rubber mat that your bunny could use to grip on. Like sarahthegemini said, it would be dangerous to have a ramp without anything for your bunny to grip on. I would not recommend taking her down the stairs in your arms for two reasons: one bunnies do not like to be picked up and will often become scared or nervous, two with you holding your bunny you could easily not see where your going and hurt you and your bunny. As for the litter box… I would say you can try it! Most bunnies will get used to having two litter boxes, but some might jut not get it. What you said about the cage, well I think that you should probably set up one little corner that has her litter box, hay,water, and a small hideaway. Nothing fancy just somewhere she can go to rest. This should get your bunny to get used to this change! Wish you luck! ?

[CMarie]

Thanks everyone! This is my first time trying to keep a bunny indoors so all thoughts help! 

[Cheesecake]

Hiya and welcome! I sometimes take my bunnies for a run around on my (carpet) stairs. It’s good exercise for them although I only do it under close supervision. At first they just sat on the bottom step but I then put some veggies on higher steps and their confidence slowly grew. Now they sprint up and down… VERY cute!

[Author]

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