Rabbit Habitat Ideas

Creating a habitat for a pet rabbit is simple and affordable. In the wild, rabbits live in nests, so these animals feel right at home in an enclosed space or pen. Important factors to consider when thinking about different kinds of rabbit habitats include ensuring that adequate space is available and avoiding products than may cause health issues.

  1. Pens

    • The best rabbit habitats are large indoor enclosures or pens. Keeping rabbits indoors and in common areas of the house allows the animal to interact with humans and feel like part of the family. Set up a pen using adjustable wire panels placed over a clean rug or piece of carpet. Puppy pens are another rabbit habitat option. Ensure that the pen offers plenty of space for all items in the habitat and allows enough space for the rabbit to walk, play and rest. The bigger the pen, the better. Another idea for a habitat is to bunny-proof a spare room and allow rabbits to freely roam in that designated area. Large rooms with open spaces work best. Use panels to establish a boundary around the edges of the room, if necessary.

    Cages

    • Cages provide the least amount of space for a pet rabbit to move around, play and live. If a rabbit must be kept in a cage, seek out the largest cage available or consider a "condo," which has two or three levels that the animals can access. Rabbits that live in cages should be allowed out into a bunny-safe room on a daily basis to allow them to get sufficient exercise and time to interact with their human owners.

    Adding to the Habitat

    • Rabbits enjoy having nests and hiding places. Tunnels and structures, much like cat houses, can be purchased at a pet store. Rabbit owners can also provide cardboard boxes or untreated wood boxes. Clean litter box tops also serve as hiding places that rabbits will use when sleeping or resting. Include soft spots for rabbits to lay using towels, bedding or specially made pet store products. Chew toys will add entertainment to the habitat and a hay box will keep feed from being strewn over the enclosure. The habitat should also have enough floor space for the rabbit to have a designated bathroom area that is far away from food and water sources.

    Creating a Safe Environment

    • The edges of any flooring used in pens or enclosures should be out of a rabbit's reach, as ingesting pieces of flooring can cause health problems. Untreated metal and all wires should also be kept away from pet rabbits to avoid dangerous chewing. Wire flooring is not a good option for a rabbit habitat, as it can cause damage and pain to the animal's paws. If a wire floor is the only material available, be sure to provide planks of wood or sections of rug for the rabbit to walk and rest on. All items and bedding in the habitat should be regularly cleaned. The pen or enclosure should be in a well ventilated room, but protected from drafts and extreme temperatures.