Why don’t they make any products for large buns?

[bunnnnnnie!]

While I was picking up Zeus’s food today, I was wondering this.  Out of all the plethora of products for rabbits and/or small animals out there, practically NONE of it is suitable for a larger bun!

I’ve never seen a hidey house in stores that Zeus could even fit HALF of his body in.  And the litter boxes they market for small animals?  Zeus could fit maybe 1/4 of his butt in those.   All of the feeders they make for buns, whether the ones that mount to the cage or just little dishes you set on the ground, are too small for him to even fit his head in them.  The harnesses they make for buns are way too small for him.  Most of the toys are so teensie, his favorite toys are 1 liter empty bottles to roll around.    While most commercial cages are too small for ANY bun, some of the really expensive ones are big enough for the dwarf breeds.. none of them would EVER be acceptable for Zeus.  He was in a “large” small animal cage when I bought him and he couldn’t even flop out without his head AND feet being smashed up against either end of the cage. 

Why is it that the vast majority of bunny products are designed with small buns in mind?  Are there really that few bigger buns as pets in the world?

[LoveChaCha]

Think out of the ‘Rabbit Section.’

Have you tried a cat litter box? I use the large one, even though Chacha is 3 pounds. She loves it, loves the space and flopped in it a few weeks ago, LOL

I buy stuff in the bird and cat section as well.

I feel the same way as you do. Rabbits are considered ‘small animals’ compared to dogs, but I don’t think it is fair to have only things for small rabbits.

I have bought an item intended for dwarf rabbits, BUT my 3lb false dwarf got stuck in it.. uh.. it was major panic for the both of us.

Small Rabbit Cages should be abolished… It gives the impression that bunnies are cheap animals… but indeed they are NOT.

[bunnnnnnie!]

Posted By Brittany on 09/17/2010 03:12 PM

Think out of the ‘Rabbit Section.’

Have you tried a cat litter box? I use the large one, even though Chacha is 3 pounds. She loves it, loves the space and flopped in it a few weeks ago, LOL

I buy stuff in the bird and cat section as well.

I feel the same way as you do. Rabbits are considered ‘small animals’ compared to dogs, but I don’t think it is fair to have only things for small rabbits.

I have bought an item intended for dwarf rabbits, BUT my 3lb false dwarf got stuck in it.. uh.. it was major panic for the both of us.

Small Rabbit Cages should be abolished… It gives the impression that bunnies are cheap animals… but indeed they are NOT.

Yeah pretty much all of Zeus’s stuff is designed for a dog or a cat. 
 

[LoveChaCha]

That is pretty awesome, ya know that?
How is Zeus boy?

[bunnnnnnie!]

Posted By Brittany on 09/17/2010 03:27 PM

That is pretty awesome, ya know that?
How is Zeus boy?

He’s good!  He’s sleeping in the bathroom right now, that’s his favorite room.  Little weirdo. 

 

[AbbyGirl]

I agree. I don’t think Hugo would even fit in a cage designed for a rabbit. Those pet beds for small animals? He might get his hind leg into! You definitely can’t look at the small animal section when you have a big bun.
Even the large cat litter boxes are not big enough for him. Luckily when I adopted him they gave us the bottom of a rabbit cage (it’s at least 2’x3′) for a litter box. His hidey house is a large cardboard box that my husband pick up on his way out of Walmart. It’s a cereal box that they unpack all the cereal boxes out of! My mom is a seamstress and was nice enough to make us a pet bed for Hugo that is completely washable.

[bunnnnnnie!]

Posted By Amy&Hugo on 09/17/2010 03:28 PM

I agree. I don’t think Hugo would even fit in a cage designed for a rabbit. Those pet beds for small animals? He might get his hind leg into! You definitely can’t look at the small animal section when you have a big bun.
Even the large cat litter boxes are not big enough for him. Luckily when I adopted him they gave us the bottom of a rabbit cage (it’s at least 2’x3′) for a litter box. His hidey house is a large cardboard box that my husband pick up on his way out of Walmart. It’s a cereal box that they unpack all the cereal boxes out of! My mom is a seamstress and was nice enough to make us a pet bed for Hugo that is completely washable.

Your boy’s a giant breed of some sort, right?  So I’m sure you have an even tougher time finding stuff than I do!  Luckily Zeus fits in his dishpan litterbox just fine.  I used to have a small cat litterbox, and it was too small and too shallow.

Might I suggest going to the containers/tuppermaid section of Walmart?  They have containers of all shapes and sizes there, and quite a few flat, shallow, big ones that could maybe be converted into a litterbox. 

 

[AbbyGirl]

Yeah, he is a Flemish Giant. He’s a big boy. When we move we’ll have 2 floors so I’ll look there if I need another litter box. Those jumbo cat litter boxes at Petsmart are $15 each! I could probably get a container for half that at Walmart.

[Sarita]

Well over the years I’ve had rabbits of all sizes. My largest was a 13 NZ White (Maxine) who left me this year for the Rainbow Bridge. But rabbits are mainly medium and large right now.

I think alot of the choices stem from the fact that most rabbits that pet stores sell are small to medium sized. Also, I think traditionally our large buns were never raised to be pet rabbits.

I have found that the largest cat boxes have worked for my larger sized rabbits (never had a flemmie though). But I found an on-line store that is for rabbits only and benefits BunnyLu that has large and extra large litter boxes that I’ve used in the past. Also I found, at one time, in the dog training section, some great litter boxes for dogs – can’t find these anymore though.

The only hidey hole I’ve ever found was the large wicker tent that Busy Bunny sells.

But never anything in the small animal section at a pet store…it’s a bit frustrating but it makes you definitely think outside the box for the big bunners.

[bunnnnnnie!]

Posted By Sarita on 09/17/2010 03:43 PM

Well over the years I’ve had rabbits of all sizes. My largest was a 13 NZ White (Maxine) who left me this year for the Rainbow Bridge. But rabbits are mainly medium and large right now.

I think alot of the choices stem from the fact that most rabbits that pet stores sell are small to medium sized. Also, I think traditionally our large buns were never raised to be pet rabbits.

I have found that the largest cat boxes have worked for my larger sized rabbits (never had a flemmie though). But I found an on-line store that is for rabbits only and benefits BunnyLu that has large and extra large litter boxes that I’ve used in the past. Also I found, at one time, in the dog training section, some great litter boxes for dogs – can’t find these anymore though.

The only hidey hole I’ve ever found was the large wicker tent that Busy Bunny sells.

But never anything in the small animal section at a pet store…it’s a bit frustrating but it makes you definitely think outside the box for the big bunners.

 

They make litterboxes for dogs?!?!?! .

And you’re right – it is kind of a fun challenge to come up with things and think out of the box, that’ll work for Zeus.  But I do wish I could go the easy route sometimes and just make a quick trip down the small animal aisle and get everything I need! 

 

[Andi]

I cannot Vote b/c I have bunnies from 2lbs to over 10lbs LOL
I’m agreeing with Saritas post, how larger rabbits were not bred for pets, while smaller ones are.
I buy a lot of my toys and such in teh cat & fog areas for my bigger guys.

[bunnnnnnie!]

Posted By Andi on 09/17/2010 03:52 PM

I cannot Vote b/c I have bunnies from 2lbs to over 10lbs LOL
I’m agreeing with Saritas post, how larger rabbits were not bred for pets, while smaller ones are.
I buy a lot of my toys and such in teh cat & fog areas for my bigger guys.

Yeah sorry, I actually thought about that but couldn’t figure out how to include that in the poll, it’d be too many options, with people with like 1 tiny and 1 small, 3 giants and 1 tiny, 2 med/larges 1 tiny and 1 small, 1 giant and 1 tiny, etc, etc, etc. 

 

[Sarita]

I know!!! Dog litter boxes – not sure how I came across these at Petsmart but I was thrilled to find it.  I don’t see them there any longer.

Here’s what it’s like:

http://www.jbpet.com/second-nature-dog-litter-pan,1849.html

What I liked about this other than the size is that one side was low sided for my slow moving semi disabled rabbit at the time.  I still use it for Toffee.  It’s very sturdy plastic.

Here’s the other litter boxes I was talking about:

http://www.bunnyluv.com/exlarlit.html

The large is pretty good – the super large one is harder to use because it’s so large and trying to clean and change that is quite a challenge.

[Monkeybun]

Even Monkey has issues fitting into some of the stuff designed for bunnies lol

[bunnnnnnie!]

Posted By Monkeybun on 09/17/2010 04:07 PM

Even Monkey has issues fitting into some of the stuff designed for bunnies lol

Seriously?!  She’s itty bity! 
 

[LoveChaCha]

It is like pet stores assume rabbits are going to be half a pound or something

[Lis]

A lot of the stuff designed for buns seems to assume they’re ferret sized. Like those vest-harnesses.
Zelda (HJ’s flemmie) is rapidly growing out of her litterbox. I’m thinking bout going the Walmart-bin route and saving her existing litterbox for the new bun (which should be coming sometime near HJ’s and my 3rd anniversary – Oct 11).
As for harnesses- I’m half tempted to see if I can’t fit her into a dog harness when she’s full grown, then modify it so it breaks if she freaks out.

[Beka27]

Sarita answered it well I think. Petstores traditionally sold baby bunnies (altho now many of them don’t, but it used to be they all had babies there), and the rabbits they had available were almost always “dwarfs” of some variety. So the products available are designed to work with those bunnies. Same reason why petstore cages are way too small for 98% of bunnies. Stores don’t understand rabbits, or their needs. They only care about them when they are babies, b/c that’s when they have them, and what happens beyond that is none of their concern. They are just a vehicle to sell (mediocre) product.

In order to find products for larger bunnies, not to mention better price and quality products, you need to think outside of the “box(store)” and shop online.

[eyorelop]

I think Eyore is about the same size as Zeus I bought his litter box at Target in the cat section it is not as big as HSR had but he can jump all the way in it was dark blue and really cheap two. I had to buy 2 – 1 for upstairs and downstairs. I believe they were under $4 each. I had to make him a hidey house out of box and everything I have had to order or get from HRS for him to get him booty thru it, lol. It is frustrating.

[Lintini]

I cant vote because I can’t pick the first 3 all together! lol

I too buy the extra large cat litterbox, because they like to sit in them together and 2 buns won’t fit well with hay and a food dish in a normal sized one!

Water dish…I use dog dishes. Gotta have a big bowl of water!

I am happy to see that Petsmart is getting in lots of oxbow products. But there still isn’t really anything in the small pet section for a decent sized rabbit. BumbleBee wouldn’t be able to fit into any of the hidey houses they sell. But who needs to waste money on those when there are plenty of nice cardboard box houses for free! It is silly that we have to shop in the dog/cat and bird sections for everything but food rofl.

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