Habitat for the supremely lazy-need advice

[RabbitPam]

Hi, you guys,

I’m on vacation, and so far Samantha and I are up early and lounging with the paper and the internet. But it’s hurricane season here in FL, so I decided to buy a small rabbit cage to keep at my parents’ house if we need to evacuate. I can’t bring my current cage over.

I’m not that crazy about my present cage for her here in the apartment. She doesn’t like heights, so it’s much higher sided than she needs. Because of that, I can’t reach down to clean it from above. It’s about a 30″ square pan, with a drop down door to open in the back or front,  but it’s too deep for me to reach in conveniently either if I’m sitting on the floor. It was a gift from my folks for Spockie several years ago after he had outgrown his starter cage. It was beautiful, and he used the two platforms for a while, but she wasn’t interested in those at all so I removed them after her spay and never put them back.

If I had my own house I would build a nice habitat, or rig up something. But I am in a carpeted apartment that I rent and need to not damage. 

Been reading MM’s post about being 50, and I find I basically don’t like the way I have to clean this cage. It is too big to fit completely in the tub, so rinsing it out is very difficult, dripping water all over, trying to turn it in the tub to get the vinegar on all sides, etc. Just hard work alone.

I don’t want Sammy to be free run totally since I am at work all day and again, it’s not really my place.

If anyone has bought a cage they especially like, or have a simple to clean habitat suggestion, I’d like to hear it. Please post pictures if you can. She sleeps on the plastic cage bottom by choice, so doesn’t need blankets. She loves to eat from her cuddle cup. She is very well litter pan trained. So all the basics are pretty good with her. Thanks.

[Karla]

I’m not sure if you can use my idea since Sammy wants to sleep on the plastic bottom, but the following is what I have done, and it has made cleaning so easy. It doesn’t even take 2 minutes to clean and change litter.

So, basically, I use a dry night mat (Pampers for babies) and cover the pan and secure it with the upper half of the cage, so it cannot move whenever one of the bunnies dig. And then I add the litter.

When it’s time for cleaning, I remove the upper half of the cage (the grates) and then just lift mat and put it into a small waste bag. That’s it. No mess at all. I don’t have to wash the cage either.

On this picture I have put some decorative paper on all sides of the cage. That was in order to keep hay and litter inside the cage. It worked really well.

I don’t know if you can use any of this, since I take that your setup is different?

[Beka27]

Xpen. You can get a simple xpen, a simple square of linoleum slightly larger than the pen, and there won’t be any damage to the carpeting. Easiest thing to clean ever. All you need is a broom. Manufactured cages are a pain in the rear end.

[SashaD]

[URL=http://s81.photobucket.com/albums/j206/LiggySasha/?action=view&current=movie.mp4][/URL]
This is a video of them ‘spinning’ and mounting. I’m guessing this is dominate behavior. Should I break it up or leave them to it?

[Deleted User]

Wow, Karla, you’re so lucky that works for you! Have you never had issues with your bunnies chewing the decorative paper and/or the dry night mat? I feel like my bun would chew them up if I put them in his X-Pen… :/

[Deleted User]

I agree with Beka. An xpen is what Sammy would buy I think.

[jerseygirl]

A pen would be super easy. If you’re not inclined to get a pen, could you use the cage upper directly on the flooring? Putting in on a waterproof, wipeable surface? It would not be as tall and you could try weight it down on the top so she can lift it. Or rig up a way to secure the flooring to the bottom wires. Even a peice of vinyl larger than 30×30″ so the excess could be wrapped up around the outside creating a guard. When it comes to cleaning you could wipe it down where it is or roll it up and take to the bath.

Not the most attractive solution but pretty simple. A caution with floor rugs or vinyl though. Sometime the backing can cause discolouration of the carpet (or other flooring) underneath.

[Ashleyyy]

Ah, hurricane season. I live in southeast Texas, so I know how it can be evacuating with rabbits lol. I usually just designate the bathroom of whatever hotel we’re staying at as the bunny room lol. I’ve actually had to repair some wallpaper with spray glue before checking out… Oops lol

[RabbitPam]

Jersey, I was wondering about that myself, just putting the cage sides squarely on a bottom piece and taking off the top since she can’t jump over it.
I am also giving some thought to storing the present cage, flattened, at my folks’ house and starting over here with something new for her. Like investing in an xpen and flooring. Good to know about the backings.

Beka, I went to L. to price linoleum, and found them selling laminated floor strips that lock into each other. The cheapest was 10 planks for $20, with 4 doing the trick, but that may be my best bet for a floor. Other than ordering more coroplast. It’s the xpens that cost a lot, but better to invest in one than pay almost the same for a new cage going to waste in storage. I love the ones with the door that opens so I can just step inside. A doofus at L. thought I could just get a piece of wood cut to size at half the price, but I mentioned that she’d pee or have wet food on it and it would soak it up. So he said I could put a sheet of plastic over it. Thus bringing me back to the laminated…I wandered away from him.

I did find that I could get a nice 1/4″ thick sheet of aspen, but won’t it be hard to clean if unfinished? Or give her splinters? Think I’m better off with laminated tiles or lengths. Haven’t priced out HD yet. Meanwhile, I got her a clean litter pan so she has a nice new one. Pink cat pan for $5. So worth it just to replace.

Keep the ideas coming, guys. Very helpful.

[RabbitPam]

SashaD, I think you want to post your reply in the Bonding section.

Question on xpens: I like the color of the bronze ones, sometimes called zinc I think. Rather than the black, or silver. But is it safe for her to chew? someone posted last year about the safety of different pen coatings, but I can’t seem to locate that post among the many habitat posts. Anyone know off the top of their heads? (Talk about lazy me! I am on vacation – writing in my jammies still at 9:30, with dozing bunny under her basket next to me. Too bad she can’t have a wicker cage. She loves it!)

[Beka27]

I have the gold Midwest 36inch xpens with door. The door is a “must-have” in my opinion. Walk-in to feed, change litterboxes, I can even fit the vacuum cleaner sideways thru the doorway, just have to lift it up a few inches.

Xpens aren’t cheap, each of ours was $75… but Pam… you are using SPOCKIE’S old cage! An xpen will last that long or longer… so I think $75 for a permanent home for Samantha (and possibly a future bunny?) is well worth the initial investment. And like you mention, you’ll spend as much or more on a regular cage.

We just have the large area rug underneath the pen and it works great. You don’t HAVE to do a waterproof floor if she’s littertrained and doesn’t eat carpet. That might be even easier for you.

[Sarita]

I have the same x-pens as Beka and they are terrific. I have never worried about them chewing or licking the metal. I don’t think it’s really an issue.

Mine have the door but honestly I just unpin it where it’s pinned and open it that way – super easy. Yeah, they can be heavy if you are moving them to do a super duper clean but it’s still manageable. I’ve been using the pens for about 10 years and think they are the best solution.

My little Dutch pair are in a Leith Cage which I LOVE but they are pricey…worth it though in my opinion if you can afford it. I’m down to the one for them but had tons of them which I gave away one by one as my rabbits who were in them passed on. They are great for the smaller breeds but not large breeds.

[RabbitPam]

http://www.amazon.com/Midwest-Zinc-Indoor-…pd_sbs_k_5

Is this the one?

I agree that she’s worth investing in a good new arrangement for her, I just want to do something we both will like. I’ve always liked the look of your set up, Beka. I think they may sell this at one of my local petstores, but this is a very good price. She never jumps, and her current cage is 30″ high, so I thought I might try taking the top off of it and see how she reacts first.

She sleeps on the plastic cage bottom, and sleeps on the rug in the living room. She actually won’t sleep in a soft bed or her cuddle cup, so I don’t know if she’d like a rug or a floor the best. But I’ve always liked that gold xpen.

Sarita, you’ve got me curious, so I’m going to google the other cage you’ve used also.

[RabbitPam]

Yep, tres expensive. I had considered one of those before and it’s good to know you love them. Actually, it’s the ability to walk in to clean that is the most appealing about the xpen. And I just noticed the free shipping!!!! It’s less $ than my local pet store, and not going to cost a fortune due to being heavy. So I’m leaning toward getting it.

I considered attaching an xpen for her to have more room anyway, so it’s worth it no matter what. I can always take it to my parent’s house if the weather turns, since it flattens.

[Beka27]

They are very convenient if she ever ends up being free-range… because they do flatten and store so much better than a regular cage.

I would recommend the 36inch tall. It’s only a few dollars more than the 30inch, and why risk getting something that ends up being *just barely* too short? And with the door, it doesn’t matter because you won’t be stepping over it anyways.

And as I always say… just because Sammy doesn’t jump, this does not mean that Sammy’s eventual mate won’t be a jumper… or a successive bunny won’t be a jumper. Better to be cautious and go the extra inches.

[RabbitPam]

Done. I ordered it. It was the same price as a small nice cage I had been considering, I like the gold best, and the 36″ made sense. It’s the free shipping that swayed me, especially since they’ll deliver it to my door so I don’t even have to carry it from the store. She’s chewing on her bars madly as I write, because although she noticed yesterday that the top was off of her cage, she hasn’t attempted to jump it. But I agree that a few extra inches will bring some peace of mind. (Beka, is there someone in particular you have in mind that’s going to live with us? Hmmm?)

I may check out rugs here and there, now that I know I can get nice laminated flooring for $20. I can always wrap the xpen around her plastic cage bottom until I am ready to move it, too.

Thanks for your help you guys. Delivery is later this month, so I’ll let you know how it looks when it gets here.

[Beka27]

Haha. No one in mind just yet, I’m just sayin’… You never know…

[Sarita]

Pam if you don’t mind shopping at Walmart, that’s where I get my rugs for under my pen – they are 5 x 7 and are $19.99.  It’s about the only place I can find this carpet which is exactly what I need.

I’m just afraid that if I shop there, I may end up on this website:

http://www.peopleofwalmart.com/

[Deleted User]

I hate walmart.

[RabbitPam]

Posted By Petzy on 07/07/2010 04:31 PM
I hate walmart.

Petzy, you’re so wishy-washy. Tell us what you really think.

Sarita, where did you find that?????? I got to the pix of the heavy woman wearing only a dress and had to leave.

BUT, I appreciate the advice because yes, I do shop at Walmart. Just this week I found a cheap snorkel mask and snorkel. Then I returned it the next day because I’d forgotten that I can’t see without my glasses, so I would be snorkeling and watching big blurry blobs underwater. So I’ve been there twice this week. I digress.

Will check out their rugs.

[Sarita]

RabbitPam I’ll be on the lookout for your picture the on that website especially if they catch you wearing those snorkels LOL.

[RabbitPam]

LOL
Headline: Woman wearing snorkel sues Walmart after running headlong into frozen food case. “where’s the fish? They said I could see fish with this thing!”

[Deleted User]

Posted By RabbitPam on 07/08/2010 05:57 AM

Posted By Petzy on 07/07/2010 04:31 PM
I hate walmart.

Petzy, you’re so wishy-washy. Tell us what you really think.

It is too big, too cheap, too scented… too bright, too illustrative of our commercialism… Of course, it sells many of our necessities at a low price but it’s the kind of store concept that makes people buy more of everything, even things they don’t need. More stuff for cheap… cheaply made…

 

 

[Sarita]

So Petzy I guess I can take the Walmart Giftcard back that I got you LOL

 

[Deleted User]

I guess….

Actually I admit to buying yarns at walmart at times. they have nice craft supplies.

[RabbitPam]

Aha! Petzy, me thinks ye doth protest too much.

And I NEEDED that noodle for the pool, even though it’s rained sometime every day this week.

[Deleted User]

Right. I bet that noodle was not made in the USA ~

[RabbitPam]

Actually, there’s a noodle farmer just down the road…

[Sarita]

Well we all know the best noodles are made in Italy, but they call it pasta :~)

[Deleted User]

 

I may be a protester but RP here is just a liar now…

[Deleted User]

I will go to walmart and see what kind of Italian pool pasta I can get.

[Sarita]

I’ll be looking for your picture then on the “People of Walmart” website!

[Deleted User]

you must like walmart, you keep going to that site

[Sarita]

I’m kind of addicted to the site because I cannot believe these people actually go out in public like that

It’s kind of like that show Hoarders for me – I don’t want to look but I can’t look away.

[Deleted User]

That’s why you got a hamster, because you like to watch hoarding?

[Deleted User]

I haven’t even checked out that site b/c I thnk it could have a virus. It seems like that sort of site.

[kralspace]

I’ll confess I like Walmart and I’m afraid to look at the site because I am probably on there somewhere!

[Sarita]

Nah, my computer has never gotten infected from this site. But it is kind of viral.

Ivan is a little hoarder LOL.

[Deleted User]

kralspace, you are on there? doing what? looking like what?

[RabbitPam]

Sarita, how did I miss that you have a hoarding hampster named Ivan?

I still haven’t seen the rugs at Walmart, though I just saw one that’s really cute cotton at BJ’s, but it was handmade and had bits of fabric sticking up. Tempting for you know who.

Petzy, I am NOT a liar. Dems fightin words. I will sick my ferocious bunny on you.

[Deleted User]

I’m out of here…

[Sarita]

RabbitPam look in the carpeting section and they are rolled and are 5 x 7 feet. They come in colors like blue, green gray, brown, just solid colors with a low low pile. Sometimes they have the “Berber” looking ones as well. You don’t want really cute, you want really functional and these are functional.

[jerseygirl]

Posted By RabbitPam on 07/09/2010 11:03 AM
Actually, there’s a noodle farmer just down the road…

Lol. You 3 are funny!
Your conversation reminds me of this image. A BBC april fools hoax from 1957.
 

The spaghetti harvest !

   

 

 

Sarita, how did I miss that you have a hoarding hampster named Ivan?

 

RP, you and Petzy suggested the name Ivan!     Remember the capybara thread?

 

[RabbitPam]

I remember the capybara thread, mostly because a guy I used to like said I reminded him of a capybara. (Naturally I haven’t seen him in years.)
Was that about Ivan?
Another of my ingenious names? I am now seriously worried about my memory.

Jersey, where did you find that photo? We have to get Petzy back to show her I am NOT a liar. Then have supper. (Fresh picked pasta, everyone!)

Sarita, I know the kind you mean. I would like cute though, since I like cute things, like Sammy. But I suppose a nice solid backdrop to herself will be OK.
Still leaning toward the laminated strips, since the rest of the place is carpet and I can sweep and wash down flooring. The xpen shipped yesterday.

[jerseygirl]

Jersey, where did you find that photo?

Google. lol I remembered from a more recent article in our local paper or on tv the BBC hoax.

The xpen shipped yesterday.

Woo hoo! So even on your vacation you will be doing installations. It’d be worth it I’m sure.

[Deleted User]

OK, I take it back then. Pam was telling the truth. Here in Canada we don’t have those pasta farms… must be the colder climate.

[RabbitPam]

Due to arrive just after I’m back at work, because I’m only taking a week off now. Maybe Sammy will install and redocate and surprise me when I get home.

Only bunnies that speak Italian can graze in a pasta farm. Ciao, Mr. MacGreggor.

[Author]

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