Whether your house rabbit only uses her cage for sleeping or spends most of the time in her cage, it needs to be a place she wants to go. So how do you make that cage into a home?
- Make sure there’s good ventilation. Don’t pick an aquarium or solid-walled cage for your rabbit; the poor air circulation can lead to respiratory problems.
- Make sure the temperature is right. More than eighty degrees Fahrenheit can lead to heat stroke! Cool and non-humid is best for your bunny; between sixty and seventy degrees is ideal.
- Keep the cage in a place where the rabbit will get some attention and feel like part of the family.
- Don’t keep the cage in a place where other animals can harass your rabbit.
- A grass mat makes a comfy floor covering and chew toy in one! Check periodically for mildew and replace mat as needed.
- Make sure the cage door is secure. Especially if your cage is off the ground (on a table or on legs) — your bun could fall and hurt herself if the door is not securely closed.
- Your rabbit needs access to fresh water at all times. A water bottle may be easier to fill than a bowl, and doesn’t take up space inside the cage.
- Your food dish needs to be heavy enough that your bun won’t tip it over and spill the food everywhere!
- Bunnies love to dig! If your cage is big enough, provide a tub of hay, a pile of newspaper, or a towel for digging.
- Bunnies love to chew! Untreated wood or natural fiber mats make great chewing subjects.
- Keep your rabbit’s cage clean! Clean and change the litterbox regularly. Wash out food and water bowls every day. Wash bedding regularly. Sweep up any debris left over from toys, food, or chewing.