Cage too small?

[1and2bunns]

I have a xpen for my rabbits. I used to have two and join them together but for that they needed to stay in the porch. It gets really hot down here in the summer and the winter this year was harsh so I brought them into my room… But cause of this I had to shrink the cage to one xpen and it’s not even a full xpen I shrunk it one panel shorter. Although I let them play around 6-7 hours a day (they finally stopped chewing the walls yay!!) except on Wednesday cause I’m out most of the day. I want their cage bigger but I don’t want them in the porch cause I feel like I neglect them a lot when their in there and I can’t really let them run around the porch cause it’s not bunny proof. I want them in a bigger cage but I want them in my room as well! Let me know what you think. Thanks!

[1and2bunns]

And I was going to add pictures but it’s not allowing me for some reason… It says file type not available.

[Fluffykins]

Could you bunny proof your room and then have them free range in your room?

[1and2bunns]

I may do that But I’ve done that before… But one time I came home and Daisy somehow ripped a claw off it was bleeding and she injured her leg. I know Arwen didn’t hurt her cause I found her claw somehow was in my metal grid desk stationary. I don’t know how she got up there I mean I had push the chair in every time I leaved. I want to avoid a situation like that again because Daisy. And also I know Arwen can jump up on to my furniture. I’ve seen her do it plus also she has eaten plenty of things she not supposed too. Including jewelry, my sketch pencils, my drawings, knocking over ceramic figures… etc and which it seem impossible for her to do all of this but she has. I feel like I would have to take everything off my furniture to make them safe cause they always somehow managed to get into something they aren’t supposed to. And also I have a cat who’s scared to death about them and if I let them free range she may never step into my room again and she’s like a 14 year old cat. She’s been with me since she was a kitten and she loves my room she spends most of her time in there. So I don’t know if free range is the best option. So if I let them free range again I’m going to SERIOUSLY bunny proof it.

[sarahthegemini]

Well yes you’ll need to properly bunny proof. It isn’t really fair to keep your bun cooped up just because you have a cat.

[Luna]

Pics would definitely help other members offer ideas for a setup where your buns can share a larger space with your cat. Are you trying to add the pics from your phone or computer (mac or windows)?

Moving them from your porch to your room is a good idea since buns are social creatures. I found myself in a similar situation when I adopted Luna and decided to make her headquarters my room. My cat Oreo (12) spends most of her time in my room and I felt guilty – as if I were kicking Oreo out of the room by placing Luna there. However, I had to put aside that guilt and tell myself that it’s not like Oreo doesn’t have a good life with Luna.

In what ways does your cat exhibit fear of the buns? How long have they lived together?

[1and2bunns]

They’ve lived together for two years but for some reason my cat has always been scared of them even when they were tiny things she still would bat them on the head (claws weren’t extended) and she would hiss if they came near her. She does the same thing to my guinea pigs and they aren’t even half her size. And I have an iPad so I don’t know if that’s why the pics aren’t working.

[DanaNM]

One way to give them more space is to build up instead of out. Adding a second level or shelf for them will make their area more interesting and give them more sq ft. With an x-pen you just have to be careful they don’t use their shelf to escape!

I have a small apartment and opted to build a 4 level condo for that reason. Of course they still get supervised free-run, but this way they have more space while I’m away. Mine are carpet chewers, so having them free-run all the time isn’t possible. I also think they really like being able to go up and down and get a different perspective on things. It kinda seems like an above ground burrow.

Just something to consider if you want to keep them inside long term! I built my NIC condo for around $80 I believe.

. . . The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.  

[Fluffykins]

Yes I agree with the build up without having to build out.

My condo has a 2nd level (but not just a shelf) it’s a full second level with a hole in it where the ladder to downstairs goes.

He can run, binky, flop and stretch on both floors.

I’d also second making sure you properly bunny proof.. it’s important! Nothing less then 110% bunny proofing is acceptable tbh. Then you can take it in turns giving the cat and the bunny supervised free roam time.

[1and2bunns]

When I had my old cage I did have a second story (but it was much smaller) and yes one of my bunnies is a escaper (Arwen) sometimes she’s even been able to jump from the group the the very top of the cage bars and somehow managed to balance herself and then jump to the other side… (and it’s like over 3 ft) Don’t know how she does it…. She hasn’t done it in a while tho but what I used to do was get like a clear plastic roof thing that you get at Home Depot and attach it to the top of the cage with twist ties. I may do a second story again but the thing is it’s a really weird shape it’s like a half hexagon so I’ll see what I can do… Thanks for the advice!

[DanaNM]

When I go out of town and I know the buns aren’t going to get as much free-run time as usual (since I can’t pay the pet sitter to be with them like 8 hours…), I attach an x-pen to their NIC cube condo, with tiles down over the carpeted area.

Maybe you could build a condo (would be a bit of a project), and then use your current x-pen to make a sort of “front yard” for when they can’t be free-run? Or just build a condo that has the same foot print as the x-pen. I think my condo cost ~$80 to build when all was said and done (cube grids, zip ties, plywood, dowels, fleece, peel and stick tiles). Just mentioning as something to consider.

. . . The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.  

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