The Case for Keeping Rabbits Indoors

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indoor rabbit hutch

indoor rabbit hutch – You may be used to seeing rabbits maintained in hutches outside, but we think it’s best to keep your bunnies indoors. There are a number of people on the internet who ask about indoor rabbit hutch. 

Rabbits often inhabit in burrows in natural habitats, where temperatures seldom rise beyond 10 °C. This implies that our four-legged buddies aren’t fans of severe weather. Living outside puts rabbits at risk from the weather, whether scorching summer heat or freezing cold in the winter. If you are one of the people who ask about indoor rabbit hutch, then you will find some crucial details about this topic in this article. 

In addition to limiting the amount of time your bunnies might spend with their beloved human partner, keeping them outdoors increases the danger of predators. As a family here at Kavee, we love having our fluffy friends around, especially when they have their own rabbit-proof indoor habitat. Let’s discuss everything you should know about indoor rabbit hutch in detail. 

The Care of Household Rabbits

Give your bunnies the freedom they need in a large, open space as well as the security of a cage they may enter and exit whenever they choose. The latter may serve several purposes: as a bedroom, a dining space, and a cozy hiding spot. Here you will get some important information about indoor rabbit hutch.

You can keep them safe in a cage even when you’re not home to watch them closely.

All of your rabbits’ typical behaviors, such as running, banking, standing on their hind legs, and stretching out completely, will be encouraged in our rabbit-friendly indoor cages

Although our Bunny Blossom line is sure to turn heads, that’s not all it’s about. No, your rabbit’s well-being, security, and longevity depend on its having a solid, spacious, and well-furnished cage.

To sum up, appropriate housing is essential for the health and happiness of all bunnies. One that gives them access to:

  • Proper nourishment and availability of potable water.
  • Room to relieve oneself.
  • Places of peace and safety where people may relax.
  • A place to sleep.
  • Sturdy, slip-resistant flooring.
  • Ample room to stretch out and work out in comfort.
  • Engaging playthings that are both safe and educational.

A spotless and well cared-for setting.

Bunnies are sociable creatures, therefore it’s best to have at least two of them in the same home.

Neglecting to give your pet rabbit with an appropriate environment may lead to a host of health concerns, including obesity, painful hocks, gastrointestinal difficulties, and behavioural disorders. Taking the effort to prepare their living space for a pleasant extended life is a great way to show them you care (and save money on vet expenses!). Keep reading to know more about indoor rabbit hutch. 

Getting the Best Indoor Rabbit Cage for Your Pet

Think about the rabbit’s size, the kind of material, and how easy it is to clean before purchasing a cage. 

We know it might be difficult to narrow down your selections to just one since there are so many on the market. A brief overview of the benefits and drawbacks of the most popular cage styles follows.

Indoor Rabbit Cage Varieties

TIE NETS

The indoor rabbit hutch with wire sides are by far the most frequent. Their popularity stems from the fact that they are both secure and well-ventilated. Additionally, a pull-out tray is usually included beneath the unit, which facilitates cleaning.

Having said that, the negatives far exceed the advantages. Bunnies can’t have the greatest life in the wire cages available at pet stores because they’re too little. Those with wire flooring are very hard on rabbit feet, and many owners are unaware of this fact.

Your rabbits may develop big, painful sores on the heels of their feet, sometimes known as sore hocks, because to the unusual way their weight is distributed on the wire flooring. Besides, rabbits don’t need a pull-out tray for litter training, which is very easy. Read the below listed portion extremely carefully as you will find important details about indoor rabbit hutch. 

Encased in plastic

You may give your rabbit a little extra room to go about by enlarging the wires on their cage with plastic-coated mesh. 

But rabbits will undoubtedly eat through the plastic covering as they are relentless nibblers. Obviously, this is harmful to the rabbits’ health as plastic is not an animal-friendly substance. This is why you should stay away from plastic cages.

Timber boots

The material most often used to construct a rabbit hutch is wood. Similar to wire and plastic cages, they are often too little for rabbits, even if they’re better suited for bunnies maintained outside.

The RSPCA states

“The traditional way of husbandry, which involves confining rabbits in tiny hutches all the time, is completely unsuitable for the long-term housing of rabbits that are kept as pets.” Also, unlike other materials, wood may absorb cleaning solutions rapidly and leave a visible residue, making it a pain to maintain clean.

GAUGES WITH MANY LEVELS

Because of their role as prey in the wild, rabbits may be rather timid and frightened. Because of this, they should have little trouble finding hiding spots in their house. These requirements may be satisfied with a ramped, multi-level hutch that offers lots of hiding spots. 

Keep in mind that the top level of a two-story cage does not contribute to the total square footage of their dwelling if you are concerned about space constraints. It also shouldn’t affect their headroom.

Caages C&C

C&C stands for the materials used to build the cage, which are cubes and coroplast. A “cube” is the interlocking grids that make up the cage’s framework, while a “coroplast” is the durable plastic that serves as the cage’s foundation.

A need in the market for rabbit housing was filled by C&C cages, which are spacious, simple to construct, long-lasting, non-toxic, and designed with the rabbit’s welfare in mind (as well as your home’s aesthetic preferences, of course).

With plenty of room to roam, a side door for easy access, and padding to protect your house rabbit’s sensitive feet, these containers are perfect for your fluffy pet. An assurance of contented binkying rabbits!  

The Kavee 6×2 C&C Cage is home to two rabbits.

Rationale for Rabbit Cage Dimensions

When designing your rabbit’s cage, the most crucial factor to consider is the available space. 

More of it is required for bunnies than what you may think at first. When rabbits feel cramped in their cage, it may lead to tension, irritability, and even illness.

There shouldn’t be any restriction on mobility when your bunnies are back inside their cage, even if they receive lots of chances to jump outside and stretch their legs.

Criteria for an appropriate indoor rabbit hutch

A primary dwelling space for your rabbits should be at least 8 to 12 square feet. To make sure it’s right, your rabbit has to be able to:

Go around the whole length three times by hopping.

Get on all fours without touching the top of the cage.

Extend your body completely and turn around.

We usually recommend going larger if you have the room, but please keep in mind that these are the minimal requirements. No less than 11.8 square feet is our minimum recommended size for a 3×3 C&C rabbit cage. 

Don’t be shy about getting the largest cage you can find; your bunnies will be eternally grateful.  On top of that, there is a wide range of sizes and forms among rabbit breeds, from the little Flemish Giant to the enormous Dwarf fluff ball. Using these dimensions as a starting point, you should choose a cage that is three times their length, one and a half to two times their width, and one and a half to two times their height. 

How Much Activity Must Rabbits Get Every Day 

To burn off excess energy and maintain good health, rabbits—passionate little athletes—need to exercise every day. Therefore, they need at least 24 square feet of space to run around in, play, and binky around in. 

It may be the whole room you’ve bunny-proofed to prevent accidents, or it could be a specific area you’ve marked off with a fence or a playpen that’s quick to set up. No matter where it is, if the flooring are hard, cover them with carpet or fleece to avoid painful paws! Hare resting atop a Kavee safety barrier encased in a Kavee fleece lining

Questions of Content and Security

Safe, strong, non-toxic, and chew-proof cages are essential for the long-term health of your pet rabbits. So, before you choose one, think about the following:

Are the materials long-lasting and safe for pets? 

Here at Kavee, we’ve thought about everything while designing our rabbit cages, which is why we only utilise top-notch materials. Everything following is considered standard practice for the highest well-being of your rabbit so you can relax:

No tape, glue, or do-it-yourself skills are needed, thanks to the sturdy locking slot structure. Because of its durability, resilience, and pleasant feel, a correct foundation was selected. For your bunnies’ convenience, there is a hinged (and modifiable) side door. Durable grid covering that won’t wear off, making it safe to chew (with extra bite protectors!).

Rabbits may benefit from an optional cover that keeps them safe from household animals (but you should always keep a close eye on them if any other pets go near their cage!).

Making an Informed Decision About Rabbit Cage Linings

The next step, after settling on a cage, is to figure out what, if anything, (apart from floofers!), will go inside. Which lining will be most comfy for your rabbit’s paws on each hop should be your priority. Bedding should ideally be non-toxic, warm, soft, and absorbent. Since wood shavings are often found in rabbit hutches, you may consider utilising them. On the other hand, fleece liners are all the rage now. Because of this, how do you choose the best? We have listed the benefits and drawbacks of both options to assist you make a decision, but ultimately, it comes down to personal taste.

FLEECE LINER BENEFITS

Hypoallergenic and devoid of dust

Pleasant, secure, and clean

More economical over time

Sustainable and reusable

Mild on pets’ fur

Simple to clean

Various patterns are available for customization.

Fleece liner drawbacks

Rabbits kept indoors only

Greater initial investment

Needs to be emptied every week.

BENEFITS OF WOOD SHREDS

Apt for both indoor and outdoor rabbit housing

Keeping you warm and secure (as long as you use the right kind)

Initially, it was cheaper

Simpler to clean in a pinch

Problems with Wood Chips

Respiratory difficulties might be brought on by dust.

Cluttered and unsanitary

Requires frequent replacement

Please keep your rabbit away from pine and cedar wood shavings because of the harmful toxins they contain. Before you buy shavings for your rabbit, be sure they are safe to use.

Considering these factors, we personally prefer using fleece for the sake of our rabbit’s well-being and the environment. Take a look at the rabbit fleece liners we made if you share my enthusiasm for the material.

A Kavee fleece liner with two bunnies on it

Caring for a Rabbit House

While cleaning may not be your first thought upon welcoming a new rabbit into your house, it is an essential and often overlooked aspect of pet ownership. 

Aside from the unpleasant odour that will develop in an unclean cage, the emotional and physical well-being of your rabbits will suffer as a result. 

In order to keep your rabbits healthy and happy, we suggest spot cleaning their cage every day and thorough cleaning it once a week.

Take your bunny out of its palace and put it in a safe, rabbit-proof spot before you give it a good scrub.

Regular Spot Cleaning

After each meal, throw out any perishable fresh foods that may have remained.

Put fresh water into their bottle.

If any faeces managed to escape the litter box, be sure to pick it up.

Take a look in the litter box and add additional as required; this will help you detect any health problems early on.

Weekly De-cluttering

Remove everything from the cage and throw the discarded fleece lining in the wash.

Using a spray bottle, apply a gentle, pet-safe solution to the Coroplast base. A homemade solution made of hot water and vinegar will suffice.

Always be sure to rinse off with water and dry completely after using harsher disinfectant agents.

Clean the playthings and their attachments.

Disinfect serving dishes and refillable water bottles (a bottle brush is helpful for this).

Swap out the old litter with new in the litter box. 

Put a fresh fleece mat under the cage’s foundation.

Remember to bring everything back inside, including your rabbit (who will be overjoyed to see clean bedding!).

We at Kavee think cleaning your rabbit cage shouldn’t be a burden. As a result, we made sure that our cages are really simple to clean.

No matter what you’re working on, you can always remove the lid to reach any part of your C&C cage. We’ve even made a little dustpan and brush to reach those hard-to-reach places to ensure you don’t miss any dung, dirt, or hay. 

Important note: Unneutered rabbits may spray their cage and exhibit other territorial behaviours. For a better environment and happier bunnies, you could think about having them fixed.

Indoor Rabbit Cage Add-Ons

Your rabbit’s health and personality are both compromised by boredom, making it their biggest adversary. When rabbits are bored, they may act destructively, such as chewing on whatever they can get their teeth into. This is an annoyance, and it might be harmful as well.

So, to avoid damaging your furniture while keeping your rabbit occupied and content, you may add a series of items to their play area:

Bunny-friendly blocks or sticks made of wood.

Their Wondrous Wooden Bunny Castle & House may serve as an ear-splitting example of a multi-level platform that they can hop up and down.

Toys that are healthy for them to play with and chew on.

How to Make burrowing enclosures and tunnels for rabbits?

In case you forgot, rabbits will chew on… well, pretty much everything. We suggest giving them tried-and-true bunny-safe enrichment accessories wherever feasible, while do-it-yourself toys are always a choice when supervised. Rabbits are prey animals that feel more secure when they have places to hide; hence, it is important to provide them with plenty of warm and inviting hiding spots.

Why Purchasing Rabbit Cages from Kavee Is Beneficial

We are a group of dedicated pet owners who understand how important it is to ensure the health and safety of your rabbits. We are proud of the bunny cage items we sell, which result from extensive testing of various materials and designs throughout the early phases of manufacture. Obviously, it’s a very individual and subjective choice on your part. Use this guide as a checklist to ensure that the cage you choose meets all of the requirements.  

In summary

As one would expect from an animal with such a charming personality, endearing button nose, and floppy ears, rabbits rank third among American pets, after only cats and dogs. However, their small stature should not be taken as an indication that they need less room or less attention.

We believe that everyone, whether they are already pet parents or just starting out, should be aware of the unique requirements of our fluffy pets. To keep your rabbit healthy and active for the long haul, it’s crucial to choose a good indoor rabbit hutch.

Our goal in writing this rabbit cage tutorial was to increase your understanding of the subject. So enjoy your rabbit home purchasing experience and be sure to peruse our assortment of irresistible accessories as well! If you have any queries about our indoor rabbit cages or any of our other items, or if you are still hesitant, feel free to send us an email.