How to Design a Bunny's Cage

Rabbits are a popular pet that are able to live both indoors and outdoors. Some rabbits may spend most of their days in the cage, while others may spend more time hopping around the room or yard and only sleep in the cage at night. There are some needs to be addressed when designing the cage for any bunny, though, and those include the bunny's safety and comfort, its food and water needs, its toilet needs and how the cage will be opened and cleaned.

Things You'll Need

  • Wire mesh or plastic cage walls
  • Cardboard
  • Wood
  • Towels
  • Newspaper
  • Plastic
  • Litter box
  • Water bottle
  • Toys
  • Ceramic/stainless steel food bowl
  • Litter shavings
  • Hay
  • Unbleached, shredded paper
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Instructions

    • 1

      Consider the amount of space the rabbit will need. The rabbit needs to move around it, at least for three hops. The hutch must be at least four times the size of the rabbit. If you have a young bunny, design the cage size according to how big the rabbit will grow, not how big it is currently.

    • 2

      Think about where the cage will be. If the bunny will be leaving the cage and going around the rest of the room, set the cage up in a place that the rabbit can get accustomed to and feel like it is his personal space. If the hutch will be outdoors, place it out of the rain.

    • 3

      Divide the hutch into two sections when designing. A rabbit needs a separate sleeping area.

    • 4

      Plan the materials. Do not use wire for the flooring of the hutch; it may cause stress to the rabbit. Wire is, however, a good material for the walls. If the cage already has wire floors, cover them with cardboard, wood, towel, or newspapers. Avoid wood for any cage parts, as rabbits can easily gnaw this. Plastic is a good material but it will need to be cleaned quite often to prevent the rabbit from sitting in its own urine.

    • 5

      Plan the door. If you want a door that the rabbit can easily hop out of, place the hinges so that door opens on the side, not the bottom. This ensures that the bunny will not get his feet caught when hopping out.

    • 6

      Make space for a litter box. There should be a separate place for the rabbit to go to the bathroom. This will also keep the pet healthy and clean. The rabbit should not be sitting in the litter day and night. A small cat littler box will work.

    • 7

      Make space for a drip-feeding water bottle. Attach it securely to the mesh walls so that drinking water is always readily available.

    • 8

      Supply the rabbit with toys. Toys will prevent dental overgrowth and will also prevent boredom.

    • 9

      Set up a food bowl made of ceramic or stainless steel.

    • 10

      At the bottom of the hutch, put a layer of untreated, organic litter shavings specially made for rabbits.

    • 11

      Supply the rabbit with soft hay, without the coarse ends, to sleep in. Unbleached, shredded paper can also be used.