New Cage Question

[RoseBun1]

Hello,
I am brand new to the forum and owning bunnies, though I’ve have/had a variety of other animals. I’m just doing research at this point and do not have a Bunny yet. I’m wondering about all the different cage options. We don’t have a ton of space, so as much as I’d love to do an x pen, it just isn’t possible, and my husband doesn’t want anything that size out all the time. He has agreed that we can set up the pen for exercise time. We also have a dog, so I’d prefer bun be fully enclosed when we are at work.

Anyway, I’m wondering what size cage would be a minimum. I intend to go as big as he’ll let me, but I’m not sure what minimum would be. I don’t know what type of bun we will be getting as I plan to get one from our shelter. I also have a buffet I might consider converting, but again want to know about size.

Also, if the cage is closer to minimum but I can add additional levels, does this help, or does it not really make an impact? I was looking at someone who added a smaller cage above a larger cage and connected them.

Lastly, flooring. If I go with a plastic bottom cage, do I need to put something on it? I feel like it would be slippery. I read somewhere that upside down tile can be a good choice? Could you also use a textured contact paper and just stick it down? I’m hoping to litter train.

Thanks for your help.

[Sirius&Luna]

Hi!

It’s great that you’re doing so much research before you get a bunny. In the BUNNY INFO section of this site there’s lots of great background info on diet, vets, bonding, litter training and housing, which i recommend looking through for a general idea. I think there’s also some examples of great homes for bunnies. I don’t mean that you shouldn’t ask questions – please do! But I think you’ll also find lots of useful info there.

I think this is something that your husband is going to have to compromise on, as rabbits do need a lot of space. While unfortunately lots of people do keep rabbits in tiny cages, it shouldn’t be considered the norm, and a permanent exercise space is needed to give a bunny a good quality of life. Just as you wouldn’t keep a dog or cat in a small cage and let it out for exercise occasionally, a bunny is the same. I’ve attached a link, which shows the minimum amount of space that a bunny should have access to. As a basic guide, they should be able to stand up on their hind legs without their ears touching the ceiling, they should be able to lie across it width ways, without touching the sides, and they should be able to do at least four big hops across it.

http://www.therabbithouse.com/guide_size.asp

While additional levels are nice, they should be an addition rather than instead of floor space, as rabbits need to be able to stretch their legs and jump across a large space, which they can’t neccessarily do in a smaller space over more levels. If you watch some videos of rabbits binkying, you’ll see why they need lots of space!

For flooring, you can use a variety of things, but you’re right, rabbits do find some flooring slippy. Firstly, I would point out that most plastic bottom cages you find intended for buns are far too small. My rabbits have a spare room which has a wooden floor, and a few rugs and fleeces scattered around, plus paper pellets in their litter trays. Fleeces and small rugs that can be put in washing machines easily make good floor options. Lino works. I’ve not heard of upside down tiles, but I guess it could work. It’s important that they have soft areas though, as they are prone to getting sore feet if they don’t have anything soft to lounge on.

[RoseBun1]

Thanks for your response. We have a 2×3 cube cage with a loft from when we had guinea pigs. He is willing to allow that. We also have a 40in x 20in buffet/dresser I was looking at converting, but based on your website link, these are no where near large enough to meet the minimum 12sq. ft. Oh well. Glad I asked.

[Sirius&Luna]

Could you possibly rabbit proof a room that the dog isn’t allowed in and have a bunny free roam in that? A room like the kitchen is a good option, as they don’t tend to have lots of wires that buns can reach, and tend to have a bunny proofed floor. And they tend to be places where people spend lots of time, so the bun gets company.

They would need a cage initially while you litter trained them etc, but then you could remove it and just leave them with either a small grid cage or piece of adapted furniture like you mentioned that could be permanently open.

I understand that big cages are inconvenient and ugly, but there’s lots of beautiful things people have done with existing furniture to give bunny a cosy home base while letting them free in a single room

[Kiki]

It also depends on what size/kind of bun you get. Indie’s cage is a little less than 2 feet wide, and about 4 feet long. She’s only 5.5 lbs so that is adequate space for her, but she also get a lot of free roam time per day

[Bunny House]

I do want to add that dogs can kill bunnies by barking at them or chasing them, the bun can have a heart attack and die. Now I know many bunnies and dogs live together as both were babies when brought home or the dog is very well mannered, that is a consideration you might need to consider.

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