Sharing Small Space with Bun?

[Peapod026]

Hey Binky-Bunners!

So, my rabbit Merlin and I are moving to a new house, and I plan to let Merlin be free-range around my room. The problem is, I’m moving to a fairly small room, so am going to have to share a small space (including his litterbox) with him. He will of course be allowed to run around the house during the day and get exercise, but at night I plan on keeping him in my room with me.

Do you all have any tips for sharing small space with a bunny? Merlin makes a huge mess as it is, and I’d love to know some tips and tricks to keep the bunny smell down. As well as provide him a good space that will be his own (I was thinking making a little sleeping area for him in the closet–door open, but Buns like small spaces for sleeping, right?)

Cheers!

[Sirius&Luna]

My bunny’s litter trays honestly don’t smell. I use a paper based litter, and change them every 2-3 days.

I have one bunny in my bedroom, and two in the living room.

Best advice for bedroom bunnies is ear plugs! I get woken up by 3am crazy binkies if I don’t!

The closet sounds like it could work – I would just give him a cardboard box to sleep in, and a blanket, plus litter tray etc.

[Wick & Fable]

High walled litter boxes and litter screens will cut down on the mess a lot. Wick used to track litter and hay all over the place.

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.

[joea64]

I share an efficiency apartment, basically one big room for living/sleeping/cooking/eating plus bathroom and walk-in closet, with two small (3 lbs. or so each) rabbits. It’s a fairly tight fit and I do intend to find a larger place once I can afford it, but I manage pretty well at this time by having the largest bunny condo I can fit into my apartment (2 levels with some 17 square feet total space) to house the buns in, plus an X-pen attached to the condo with up to 24 square feet additional space for a total of over 40 square feet in which I let them have at least 9 hours’ time, up to 12 hours or more on weekends, out to run and play every evening with cardboard tunnels, hidey boxes and such. Their litterbox is located on the lower deck of their condo in a well-shaded spot, with Carefresh paper litter as the substrate, which is changed every 2 to 3 days and cleaned out every week. I’ve never had an odor problem; usually, the strongest smell is the buns’ hay.

[DanaNM]

Become one with the hay and fluff…..

Just kiddin…. sorta. I share a studio with my two fluffs. I actually think most of the mess is from me refilling their hay rack.

I use pine pellets with a screen over them to prevent digging, and it works well.

Also stock up on vacuum bags.

. . . 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.  

[princessbookworm]

When I first got Jake (pre-Yulie ), we lived in a studio apartment. Since he is a pretty chill, tidy bun we had few problems. I used a small store bought cage as a litter box and has him free range 24/7.

I just made sure all cords were tucked away before I left each morning (which wasnt hard because the apartment was so small, lol).

A few times a week, we would go early morning to a local park with an enclosed dog park. If there were no dogs or kids, he would be allowed to run around. But he is pretty lazy (especially before Yulie lol) so often he just sat.

He was happy even though our living space was small by human standards. He ate good, littered good, binkied often, and woke me up every morning for pellets ?

As long as the area is safe and your bun gets plenty of exercise time and love, I’m sure he will be happy.

Also, maybe try offering a square of tile for him to sleep on (super cheap at dept stores) as well as something a bit more “cozy” as long as he isnt a chewer.

[Peapod026]

Thanks for the tips, all!
It sounds like Merlin may need to upgrade to a high-walled litterbox with a screen. I was thinking of even buying some “storage cube” furniture and tucking his litterbox in there. He definitely tracks hay and litter everywhere, and sometimes (when he’s excited he’s done pooping) he leaps out of his litterbox and shoots his litter EVERYWHERE. High walls and a screen sounds like it may help with that!
I have become one with the hay and fluff already (and, to be fair, hay smells good), but I will definitely need to vacuum a lot as Merlin has a thick coat and is blowing his coat right now–there is fur everywhere, despite his despised grooming sessions I subject him to nightly (he knows deep down there are raisins in it for him so he tolerates it. Barely.)
I’ll try to make him a little cozy bed area in my closet–somewhere dark and quiet he can relax and snooze during the day!
When I move in and have him set up, I’ll post some pics!
Thanks again!

[alreeb]

I previously shared a very small room with my rabbits in college because I had roommates. I gave them free range of my room and kept their litter box in my bathroom. However, they are pretty messy buns when it comes to their droppings, and so I just had to deal with little poops all over my room. 

I read a lot about people with free range rabbits still giving the bunnies their “own” space and it has been a lifesaver for me. I now live in a tiny studio apartment and while they still have free range, I also gave them a pen. It is pretty much open all day except for when I leave the apt for long periods of time. They love having their own space and when they are tired or are sick of me walking around they will go and hang out in their “room.”

So just a thought if you find out Merlin is not the cleanest roommate!

I attached a picture of their “room” within my room. It is just two expandable dog fences with organizer squares in the middle for more space. 

[DanaNM]

Wow, that looks so nice! What cool looking fencing! 

Love the shoe door-stop too!  

. . . 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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